Eating meat-free isn’t always easy, but in Madison, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.
Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From vegetarian barbecue to scrumptious vegan tacos, here are 20 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in the 608.
🍊 The brunch bunch
Marigold Kitchen, 118 S. Pinckney St.
The bright, inviting spot near the Capitol often has lines outside the door for its breakfast burritos, omelettes, and wraps.
Short Stack Eatery, 301 W. Johnson St.
This popular breakfast spot features a menu sprinkled with vegan and vegetarian plates. Check out the Vegan Hacks menu.
Willalby’s Cafe, 1351 Williamson St.
The menu includes multiple options specifically for vegetarians and vegans. Try this: Vegan biscuits and gravy.
🥪 The lunch munch
Ahan, 744 Williamson St.
The hip restaurant’s new digs are in an old candy factory, and serves top shelf Asian-inspired dishes.
Harmony Bar and Grill, 2201 Atwood Ave.
The dive bar has City Editor Jonathan’s favorite burger in the city: it’s vegetarian walnut burger.
Monty’s Blue Plate Diner, 2089 Atwood Ave.
This spot offers a full vegan menu and is retrofitted into an old gas station, for a 50s-diner-meets-hipster vibe.
☕ Coffee shops
Black Locust, 829 E. Washington Ave.
This menu is vegan-, vegetarian-, and omnivore-friendly. Plus, the avocado toast is Instagram-worthy.
Daisy Cafe and Cupcakery, 2827 Atwood Ave.
All food items are made from scratch, including an expansive vegan menu. Don’t forget to save room for a cupcake.
Indie Coffee, 1225 Regent St.
One of City Editor Ally’s favorite spots, this coffee shop’s menu includes plenty of vegetarian options and you can choose from soy, almond, and oat milk for your latte.
🧁 Delicious desserts
Good News Ice Cream and Cafe, 117 King St.
Rich and creamy vegan ice cream? Yes, please.
Level 5 Donuts, 3241 Garver Green Ste. 140 (Pick-up only, Ledger Coffee)
These donuts are a crowd-pleaser for vegans and omnivores alike, and can be found at several locations throughout the city.
Paleo Mama, 409 S. Few St.
Owner Belle Pleva is dedicated to crafting baked goods that are Paleo and Keto. Her vegan Twix bars are a must-try.
Mad Rabbit Cafe, new to Willy Street, has a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options. | Photo via Mad Rabbit Cafe
🌱 Plant-based bites
The Green Owl, 1970 Atwood Ave.
Everything on this menu is vegetarian and can be made vegan upon request, like the cauliflower steak sammy or Madison Philly.
Justveggiez, 540 State St.
Black-owned, family-owned, and 100% vegan, this State Street spot even has plant-based cheese curds. Wisconsinites rejoice.
Mad Rabbit Cafe, 805 Williamson St.
Whether you want grilled tofu and kimchi tacos or fried chick’n sandwiches, the Mad Rabbit will hop to it.
Sookie’s, 502 State St.
Curb your burger craving at his spot that’s self-proclaimed as “100% plant-based, and tasty as hell.”
The Vibrant Veg, (Order online)
Chef Lauren specializes in innovative, nutrient-rich, plant-based dishes that you can get delivered to your doorstep on a weekly basis.
🍸 Date night
Everly, 2701 Monroe St.
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner — the warm and modern ambiance, with Californian-style dishes (vegan and vegetarian included) make for a great summer spot.
Himal Chuli, 318 State St.
Vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters can all enjoy this Nepalese spot before grabbing drinks on State. Don’t skip dessert, order the vegan peda.
Jardin, 829 E. Washington Ave.
Your date will be impressed with the morel and wild mustard pesto pasta and the green curry in this upscale restaurant near Breese Stevens Field.
🍽️ Chef it up at home
Check out our favorite tips and tricks for serving veggie-focused fare from your own kitchen:
- To make zucchini, carrot, or beet noodles, try a veggie spiralizer that magically turns vegetables into noodles.
- Tired of wasting money on spices you use once? Broth Bomb combines all the spices you need for a flavorful meal.
- Harness the power of fresh and high-quality spices from James Beard Award-winning chef Meherwan Irani.
- A tofu press draws out water and can help tofu firm and crisp up once you cook it — the one linked here is dishwasher safe + works in twenty minutes.
- If your least favorite part about veggie prep is chopping, this all-in-one vegetable chopper can minimize prep time.
- Use a sprouting jar kit to grow microgreens and sprouted beans at home.
- If you’re making fresh bread, this Sourhouse starter jar was designed to be the easiest-to-clean sourdough starter jar in the world.
- For the ultimate veggie food prep, this glass storage container set keeps lunches and leftovers organized.
Need some good recipes? Browse cookbooks “Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals” for veggie spiral recipes, “The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100” for plant-based ideas, or “The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook” from America’s Test Kitchen.
What did we miss? If you know a restaurant that’s not on the list, guide us in the right direction using this survey.
