Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Chattanooga, 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, vegan and vegetarian bites across town. From vegetarian barbecue to scrumptious vegan tacos, here are 34+ restaurants serving up meat-free fare in the Scenic City.
It’s easy eating green with this guide.
Photo by Karen Culp Photography & Design provided by @southernsqueeze
🌱 100% vegan and vegetarian eats
Cashew, 149 River St. | This vegan cafe offers a wide range of options, including three takes on a burger + has an in-house bakery — all of the classics, veganized. Try this: Vegan Philly cheesesteak with BeHive seitan slices, cashew cheese, sauteed peppers, onions, and mushrooms on a Niedlov’s wheat hoagie.
Southern Squeeze, 1301 Dorchester Rd. | With smoothie bowls, hand-crafted juices + food freshly made with local produce, this spot offers it all, including a rotating specials menu each month. Pro tip: Try one of the specialty waffles, and sip it down with a Rhinestone Cowboy.
Sluggo’s, 505 Cherokee Blvd. | Get your southern-comfort fix at Chattanooga’s first vegan restaurant. Bonus: Stop in for Sunday brunch.
Plant Power Cafe, 6215 Lee Hwy. | “Chattanooga’s best-rated vegan cafe” offers a bit of everything — from burgers + sandwiches to juices and more.
Real Roots Cafe, 607 N. Market St. | This spot offers breakfast + lunch items like paninis and smoothies.
High Su Vegetarian, 9408 Apison Pk., Ooltewah | Head over to nearby Ooltewah to sip on teas + smoothies or try out one of the Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese-inspired dishes. Try this: The crispy vegan fried chicken cutlet rice bowl.
The Local Juicery + Kitchen, 48 E. Main St. | Get your daily wellness shots, juices, and more at this Southside joint that uses almond milk in several of its smoothie recipes. Pro tip: Get a smoothie bowl without the honey to make it fully vegan.
Eating vegan doesn’t have to mean missing out on the fun stuff, like these donuts.
Photo provided by @sleepyheadchatt
☕ Coffee shops
Sleepyhead Coffee, 735 Broad St. + 2602 E. Main St. | Grab a cup of coffee + a vegan housemade pastry to get your day going — always be on the lookout for a new donut and latte flavor.
Oaks Coffee House, 2916 Silverdale Rd. | This spot offers several vegan options, with dishes like the breakfast plate and a patty melt where vegan sausage can be requested.
Mean Mug Coffeehouse, locations vary | Check out this popular spot that has superfood lattes + vegan and vegetarian-friendly food options like a tofu breakfast plate and burrito.
Milk and Honey, 135 N. Market St. | Not only does this restaurant offer non-dairy alternatives, but you can make several dishes vegan. Try this: Curry cauliflower bowl with quinoa, sweet potato, sauteed veggies + curry roasted cauliflower.
Be Caffeinated, locations vary | Take your cup of coffee with various milk alternatives + pair it with a vegan pastry from Poppytons Patisserie.
Buenos Dias Coffee Cafe, 802 Chickamauga Ave., Rossville, GA | This Mexican-inspired cafe offers vegan options for certain menu items such as the chocolate waffle topped with fruit + drizzled in chocolate sauce.
Stone Cup Cafe, 208 Frazier Ave. | Try out this spot’s wide menu like the hummus wrap. Pro tip: Look for the special markings on items that you can request to be vegan.
Keep your eyes out for a new menu coming soon to Final Girl Vegan Food.
Photo provided by @finalgirlveganfood
🌮 Food trucks
Final Girl Vegan Food, locations vary | You can find this fully vegan truck around town + at the Chattanooga Market. Try this: Fritos topped with chili, “cheze,” crema, and scallions.
Asarum, locations vary | This truck offers a vegetarian KimCheese sandwich + one other rotating vegan option on the menu.
California Smothered Burrito, locations vary | Check out their vegetarian options like the burritos or nachos. Need it vegan? Get the nachos sans the cheese.
Yummy Thai, 1910 Dayton Blvd. | This Asian cuisine truck serves up various delicious made-to-order meals that can be customized + the yellow curry, spring rolls, and pad Thai sauce are all vegan. Bonus: Stay tuned for the opening of its new storefront in NorthShore.
Jonny Poppers, locations vary | Check out the house-made black bean burger — skip the sriracha aioli to make it vegan. Bonus: This spot uses vegan buns.
Windy City Eatz, locations vary | This pink truck is known to go around town at major events — stop by to order its impossible burger.
The Oatmeal Experience, locations vary | Stop by this truck to build your own oatmeal with fresh toppings, the way you like it.
Flora takes customized orders for parties + other events.
Photo provided by @floraveganbakes
🍰 Delicious baked goods
Flora Vegan Bakery, online | Order specialty-made desserts like cakes, cookies, donuts, and bread. Bonus: You can find them at The Daily Ration + Be Caffeinated’s Northshore location.
Bread & Butter, 3955 Dayton Blvd., Red Bank | This shop specializes in artisan bread, freshly hand-crafted + the best part — almost all of it is naturally vegan (unless they add cheese to the bread).
Carving Rock Kitchen, 301 E. MLK Blvd. | This micro-bakery recently reopened in its new location downtown, offering housemade treats that are not only 100% gluten-free but also can be made vegan and vegetarian — we have our eyes on the cinnamon rolls.
Poppytons Patisserie, locations vary | Get your sweet fix with this food truck’s vegan line of “fresh, seasonal, and sensational” pastries. Try this: Strawberries n’ cream poppytart (a vegan take on the classic Pop-Tarts).
The Bakery, 9408 Apison Pk., Ooltewah | Located in nearby Ooltewah, this vegan-vegetarian artisanal bakery offers a full menu of classic sweets like turnovers filled with apple, guava, chocolate ganache + more.
Clumpies Ice Cream Co., locations vary | Our local ice cream shop doesn’t leave anyone out with its options, serving up various dairy-free scoops like the raspberry lemonade sorbet. Pro tip: Check out what ingredients each flavor contains before ordering.
🥗 Casual + fine dining
Bluegrass Grill, 55 E. Main St. | Enjoy your next brunch date with vegetarian-friendly dishes like the portabella mushroom eggs benedict + vegan dishes like the tofu hash.
Vibrant Meals, locations vary | This on-the-go food service has several vegetarian dishes. Try this: The plant-based red curry meatballs with cauli rice.
Kabob-ster, 1408 Gunbarrel Rd. | Try out Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine from this local spot that offers a variety of vegetarian dishes, from plates to wraps.
The Hummus Bowl, 3931 St. Elmo Ave. | Build your own hummus bowl, wrap, or pita at this locally-owned casual Mediterranean-style restaurant that is friendly for both vegan and vegetarian customers.
Spice Trail, 850 Market St. | Get Indian-inspired plates at this downtown spot for lunch that offers an array of vegan and vegetarian options. Try this: Pan-fried mixed vegetables, tawa masala, topped with chopped cilantro (this dish is also gluten-free).
Honey Seed, 1705 Market St. | Whether you’re popping in for a hand-rolled Montréal bagel or a wood-fired pizza — this spot has vegan cream cheese, vegan cheese, chickpea chorizo, and more options for meatless fare.
Zaya 1943 Korean Steakhouse, 300 Cherokee Blvd. | Enjoy your lunch or dinner in the intimate setting of this Korean-forward restaurant that offers dishes like soybean stew + a tofu traditional bibimbap (a rice bowl with veggies and more).
🍽️ 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.
Have you eaten at a local vegan or vegetarian restaurant recently? Let us know.
