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A bowl to go at E and Rose.
E + Rose is a Nashville-born health food mini-chain.
E and Rose

14 Essential Restaurants for Vegans and Vegetarians in Nashville

Meatless meals are getting much easier to find in Music City

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E + Rose is a Nashville-born health food mini-chain.
| E and Rose

Gone are the days when ordering vegan or vegetarian meant smiling politely over limp green salads or a haphazard array of vegetable-based sides: these days, Nashville is home to a vibrant vegan dining scene. From walnut chorizo-studded nachos blanketed in coconut queso to hefty, plant-based Italian deli sandwiches and even vegan barbecue, the Music City has many options that put vegetables in the starring role.

Leaving the list this round are Barcelona Wine Bar and True Food Kitchen, two national chains with a solid number of dishes starring vegetables. Deep Sea Vegan, a pop-up serving deep-sea “fish” sandwiches and Sicilian “sea dogs,” also makes an exit to make room for open restaurants; keep an eye on Deep Sea’s Instagram for future dates and online ordering options. Also, Vegan Vee vegan and gluten-free bakery has temporarily closed its storefront with pick-up only available on Saturday.

*Restaurants are listed alphabetically, not ranked.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Luring in thirsty guests with its widely acclaimed avocado margaritas, Avo packs a punch for vegetarians with abundant brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. Plant-based plates here include kimchi spring rolls, lion’s mane mushroom “crab” cakes, and nachos blanketed in coconut queso and walnut chorizo.

Kimchi spring rolls at Avo.
Avo’s serves kimchi spring rolls with a side of Thai peanut dipping sauce.
Avo/Facebook

The BE-Hive Deli & Market

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Popular fake meat purveyors BE-Hive opened up a deli and market back in 2018, and even the most dedicated meat maniacs flock for a taste of their rotating crunch wraps and steak and chz and hot Italian sandwiches. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week, the market sells all of its popular proteins, from the famous seitan to vegan takes on to pepperoni, bacon, and chorizo.

Butcher & Bee

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The chefs over at Butcher & Bee showcase their vegetable wizardry way in dishes like avocado crispy rice, an undeniable fire-roasted carrot mezze and turnips pomodoro, making vegetarian dining a breeze for even the most devout meat-eaters. A roomy patio dotted with plants opens seasonally.

Dishes at Butcher & Bee
Butcher & Bee serves a standout menu starring vegetables.
Butcher & Bee/Facebook

E+ROSE Wellness Cafe of Brentwood

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With multiple locations around town, E+Rose is a plant-based fast-casual restaurant founded by a registered dietician. On the menu, find made-to-order superfood bowls and smoothies, toasts, and beverages from nut milk and cold-pressed juices to wellness shots. Or, grab on-the-go packaged juices, salads, wraps, soups, and noodle bowls at any location.

Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant

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This South Nashville Ethiopian standout’s vegetarian menu section features traditional dishes like shiro wet — ground, seasoned chickpeas with onion and garlic. The cabbage sauteed with garlic, ginger, and turmeric and the vegetarian combo are also favorites.

Graze Nashville

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Owned by the same folks as the Wild Cow, Graze also serves up a plant-based menu for dinner and weekend brunch. Menu highlights include the hot tempeh sandwich — a vegetarian take on hot chicken; a burrito stuffed with seitan chorizo and potatoes; and a mock tuna melt. The Wild Cow, also worth of visit, dishes buffalo tempeh strips, queso-topped nachos, and sweet potato and black bean tacos.

Jamaicaway Restaurant

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Many people flock to Jamaicaway for a fix of vegetarian Caribbean food. Meatless offerings like curry tofu, spicy jerk seitan, and barbecue soy chik’n are popular among the regulars. Jamaicaway is located at the Nashville Farmers Market.

The Southern V

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This North Nashville restaurant is 100 percent vegan and manages to combine classic unhealthy favorites with slightly better-for-you, cruelty-free ingredients. Think loaded barbecue jackfruit nachos, mac and cheese, and a convincing vegan take on Nashville hot chicken that people say tastes remarkably like the real thing. As of March 2022, the Southern V’s dining room is closed, but online ordering and curbside pick-up are available. Limited opening hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Succulent Vegan Tacos (at Nashville Farmers Market)

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Find Mexico City-style vegan tacos brimming with seitan al pastor, chipotle carrots tinga, and soy asada alongside esquites and black beans at Nashville’s first-ever plant-based taqueria. Founded by Adriana Ortega and Ronald Cerdas, who moved to Nashville more than two decades ago from Mexico City and Costa Rica, respectively, Succulent is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch inside the Nashville Farmers’ Market.

Sunflower Cafe

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Nestled in a cute cottage in Berry Hill, Sunflower Cafe offers a wide variety of veggie burgers, salads, vegetarian barbecue (yes, that is a thing), and more. Visit sister restaurant Sunflower Bakehouse in Donelson for additional options: completely vegan and gluten-free baked goods like cupcakes, scones, cookies, and upside-down cakes.

Taj Indian Restaurant

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Ask a local where to find the best Indian food in Nashville, and Taj will likely be near the top of the list. It’s so popular, in fact, that a wait is common during peak dinner times. An array of vegetarian menu items center around paneer, eggplant, and lentils, with varying levels of spice and heat.

Vege-licious, LLC

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The North Nashville vegan restaurant opened in summer 2018 — serving its own meatless versions of hot chicken, lasagna, burgers, and Philly cheesesteaks. Find totally vegan-friendly takes on mac and cheese, and even cheesecake here, too. There’s a second location in Antioch.

Vui's Kitchen

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Fresh Vietnamese restaurant Vui's Kitchen in Berry Hill, Franklin, and East Nashville offers many vegetarian-friendly options. Most of its menu can be made vegetarian upon request, like the lemongrass tofu banh mi or the pho with tofu, mushrooms, and vegan broth.

Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

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The Indian vegetarian fare at Woodlands is some of the more well-loved vegetarian-friendly food in town. The weekend lunch buffet offers a way to sample a bunch of dishes. Favorites a la carte items include the aloo gobi and the vegetable korma.

Avo

Luring in thirsty guests with its widely acclaimed avocado margaritas, Avo packs a punch for vegetarians with abundant brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. Plant-based plates here include kimchi spring rolls, lion’s mane mushroom “crab” cakes, and nachos blanketed in coconut queso and walnut chorizo.

Kimchi spring rolls at Avo.
Avo’s serves kimchi spring rolls with a side of Thai peanut dipping sauce.
Avo/Facebook

The BE-Hive Deli & Market

Popular fake meat purveyors BE-Hive opened up a deli and market back in 2018, and even the most dedicated meat maniacs flock for a taste of their rotating crunch wraps and steak and chz and hot Italian sandwiches. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week, the market sells all of its popular proteins, from the famous seitan to vegan takes on to pepperoni, bacon, and chorizo.

Butcher & Bee

The chefs over at Butcher & Bee showcase their vegetable wizardry way in dishes like avocado crispy rice, an undeniable fire-roasted carrot mezze and turnips pomodoro, making vegetarian dining a breeze for even the most devout meat-eaters. A roomy patio dotted with plants opens seasonally.

Dishes at Butcher & Bee
Butcher & Bee serves a standout menu starring vegetables.
Butcher & Bee/Facebook

E+ROSE Wellness Cafe of Brentwood

With multiple locations around town, E+Rose is a plant-based fast-casual restaurant founded by a registered dietician. On the menu, find made-to-order superfood bowls and smoothies, toasts, and beverages from nut milk and cold-pressed juices to wellness shots. Or, grab on-the-go packaged juices, salads, wraps, soups, and noodle bowls at any location.

Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant

This South Nashville Ethiopian standout’s vegetarian menu section features traditional dishes like shiro wet — ground, seasoned chickpeas with onion and garlic. The cabbage sauteed with garlic, ginger, and turmeric and the vegetarian combo are also favorites.

Graze Nashville

Owned by the same folks as the Wild Cow, Graze also serves up a plant-based menu for dinner and weekend brunch. Menu highlights include the hot tempeh sandwich — a vegetarian take on hot chicken; a burrito stuffed with seitan chorizo and potatoes; and a mock tuna melt. The Wild Cow, also worth of visit, dishes buffalo tempeh strips, queso-topped nachos, and sweet potato and black bean tacos.

Jamaicaway Restaurant

Many people flock to Jamaicaway for a fix of vegetarian Caribbean food. Meatless offerings like curry tofu, spicy jerk seitan, and barbecue soy chik’n are popular among the regulars. Jamaicaway is located at the Nashville Farmers Market.

The Southern V

This North Nashville restaurant is 100 percent vegan and manages to combine classic unhealthy favorites with slightly better-for-you, cruelty-free ingredients. Think loaded barbecue jackfruit nachos, mac and cheese, and a convincing vegan take on Nashville hot chicken that people say tastes remarkably like the real thing. As of March 2022, the Southern V’s dining room is closed, but online ordering and curbside pick-up are available. Limited opening hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Succulent Vegan Tacos (at Nashville Farmers Market)

Find Mexico City-style vegan tacos brimming with seitan al pastor, chipotle carrots tinga, and soy asada alongside esquites and black beans at Nashville’s first-ever plant-based taqueria. Founded by Adriana Ortega and Ronald Cerdas, who moved to Nashville more than two decades ago from Mexico City and Costa Rica, respectively, Succulent is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch inside the Nashville Farmers’ Market.

Sunflower Cafe

Nestled in a cute cottage in Berry Hill, Sunflower Cafe offers a wide variety of veggie burgers, salads, vegetarian barbecue (yes, that is a thing), and more. Visit sister restaurant Sunflower Bakehouse in Donelson for additional options: completely vegan and gluten-free baked goods like cupcakes, scones, cookies, and upside-down cakes.

Taj Indian Restaurant

Ask a local where to find the best Indian food in Nashville, and Taj will likely be near the top of the list. It’s so popular, in fact, that a wait is common during peak dinner times. An array of vegetarian menu items center around paneer, eggplant, and lentils, with varying levels of spice and heat.

Vege-licious, LLC

The North Nashville vegan restaurant opened in summer 2018 — serving its own meatless versions of hot chicken, lasagna, burgers, and Philly cheesesteaks. Find totally vegan-friendly takes on mac and cheese, and even cheesecake here, too. There’s a second location in Antioch.

Vui's Kitchen

Fresh Vietnamese restaurant Vui's Kitchen in Berry Hill, Franklin, and East Nashville offers many vegetarian-friendly options. Most of its menu can be made vegetarian upon request, like the lemongrass tofu banh mi or the pho with tofu, mushrooms, and vegan broth.

Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine

The Indian vegetarian fare at Woodlands is some of the more well-loved vegetarian-friendly food in town. The weekend lunch buffet offers a way to sample a bunch of dishes. Favorites a la carte items include the aloo gobi and the vegetable korma.

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