10 Best Vegan Restaurants in Buffalo, NY is a list of some of my favorites and definitely worth a stop the next time you visit. The City of Good Neighbors is an all-around great place, and the food makes it better!
When we moved to Western New York, I had no idea what to expect. I knew all my vegan haunts in OKC and Norman, but in Buffalo? I had no clue.
How quickly I learned! Buffalo is far and away one of the most beautiful cities I have ever lived in and is full of great vegan eats.
Something that surprised the pants off of me is how large the vegan community is in Buffalo! There are Vegan Festivals, our very own Vegan Grocery Store in nearby Tonawanda, and more places with vegan options than you can shake a stick at.
Since moving here, I’ve taken it as my personal quest to find and eat at as many vegan restaurants in the area as possible. Rounding up the 10 best vegan restaurants in Buffalo was a pleasure, and reflecting on all the fun times I’ve had at these places makes me love them even more!
Vegan Restaurants in Buffalo, NY: Date Night
Betty’s
There are some restaurants you visit that just instantly become close to your heart. Betty’s is that place for me. When I first visited Buffalo, NY, my boyfriend (now husband) wanted to show off his hometown. Betty’s was one of the places that charmed the pants off of me. Betty’s great drinks and wine list, incredible specials, and extremely vegan-friendly menu made this Buffalo restaurant a must every time we visited.
Years later, when we celebrated our wedding, we wanted to do something small but special – and we both knew Betty’s was the place. They were kind enough to host our 50 guests, had a custom vegan menu created, and helped us along every step of the way. I can not say enough nice things about this establishment!
While their specials change regularly, there’s always something amazing to try. Some of my favorites are The Vegan Tour of Buffalo, which includes; a vegan “beef” on weck, buffalo chick’n wyngs, and vegan bleu cheese, and their Vegan Big Mac Pizza.
Whether you stop in for a happy hour on their beautiful patio or make it an evening dinner party, this excellent vegan-friendly restaurant will be sure to please.
370 Virginia Street Buffalo, NY 14201
The Beer Keep
The Beer Keep is located on beautiful Elmwood Avenue. While not an exclusively vegan restaurant in Buffalo, their menu is more than accommodating. Vegan Hot Dogs, curly fries, cookies, and more!
With more than half of this restaurant’s menu having a vegan option or substitution, you will have no problem finding something to satisfy those late-night snack attacks.
Their food isn’t all there is to write home about, though. As you would suspect, the Beer Keep has beer. Lots of it. Six rotating taps featuring local breweries and a beer cooler full of sours, ales, triples, hard kombucha, sparkling wine and more that can please even the biggest beer snob.
Try this vegan-friendly restaurant’s Vegan Stinger, which has Franks tossed chicken fingers, slider patties, coleslaw, and bleu cheese. We’re going back this weekend, so maybe I’ll see you there!
1002 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14222
Taste of Siam
No roundup of vegan restaurants would be complete without mentioning the local vegan Thai favorite. For vegans in Buffalo, NY, that place is Taste of Siam. Located on cute and colorful Elmwood Avenue, this vegan-friendly restaurant can cater to any appetite.
I like to spend late Saturday mornings stopping into some of the shops on Elmwood Avenue, like Revolver Records and the Lexington Co-op, and then stopping in for a long lunch at Taste of Siam.
This vegan restaurant in Buffalo has a fantastic lunch special that runs Monday through Saturday from 12 to 3. For around 12 dollars, you can get a lunch-sized portion of any of their most popular items, along with a spring roll and soup!
I like their noodle dishes the best! Try their Pud See Ew or Pud Kemow. Both feature some of the best house-made noodles I’ve ever had.
Or try the Taste of Siam Fried Rice which has pineapples, tomatoes, and cashews in a sweet and sour sauce.
You really can’t go wrong with this Buffalo favorite!
810 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
Vegan Restaurants in Buffalo, NY: Burgers, Pizza, & More
Guud & Evul
The next Vegan restaurant on the list isn’t in Buffalo proper but just a short drive from the city center in North Tonawanda. Guud & Evul is located on a beautiful tree-lined street near Ellicott Creek Park and bridge. Guud & Evul is an all-vegan, soul food, and comfort food cafe with some of the best damn vegan food I’ve ever had.
Owners Shawn Mereau and Clarence Middlebrook are the geniuses behind this fantastic vegan restaurant. Middlebrook and Mereau are classically trained chefs who use their knowledge and expertise to experiment with comfort food favorites!
Try this vegan restaurant’s specialty, This Ain’t Chicken Strips which are perfectly fried portobello mushrooms with amazing dipping sauces and fries. Or The Smack Burger – a house-made burger with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, onion, and their secret smack sauce.
If you’re really hungry, definitely check out The Evul Plate! A take on a Western New York classic, the Garbage Plate, this vegan version features beans, rice, fries, a hot dog, and a burger, all topped with chili sauce and bearnaise.
21 Main St. Tonawanda, NY
Sunshine Vegan Eats
When I polled the Western New York Vegan Facebook group hive mind for the 10 best vegan restaurants in Buffalo, NY, Sunshine Vegan Eats was at the top of the list. Known for over-the-top flavors, cheerful customer service, and incredible specials, Sunshine Vegan Eats really shines in the Buffalo community.
Chef Nikki puts her love and exuberance for life into every dish she makes. Her smile radiates from the counter or kitchen, and you really feel welcome in this lovely space.
Try the popular Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich, which is topped with their iconic blue slaw, sweet pickles, buffalo sauce, and house-made ranch. Or, the Jefferson – a shrimp po’boy with lettuce, pickles, and onions.
This vegan restaurant in Buffalo, NY, also features salads, wraps, smoothies, breakfasts, and fresh juices! Whatever you choose, you’ll be happy you stopped by!
893 Jefferson Ave Buffalo, NY 14211
Wurlitzer Pizza
What would a list of the 10 best vegan restaurants in Buffalo be without a pizza joint? When we first moved here, and I learned about the vegan pickle pizza at Wurlitzer, I knew I had to try it as soon as possible.
While not in Buffalo proper, the short drive is absolutely 100% worth it, in my opinion! The good folks at Wurlitzer offer everything from vegan chicken finger subs, garlic knots, vegan wings, and of course – pizza.
I’ve ordered just about all of their specialty vegan pies. Some of my favorites are The Vegan Pickle Pizza (a Buffalo classic), The Stuffed Banana Pepper (which is loaded with their vegan banana pepper dip, vegan sausage, and tons of banana peppers), and their hometown classic, vegan Buffalo Chicken.
With so many vegan options, Wurlitzer is one of my favorite vegan restaurants in Buffalo!
1401 Nash Rd, North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Vegan Restaurants in Buffalo, NY: Sweets and Treats
Frosty’s
For vegan ice cream in Buffalo, there’s no other place I want to go other than Frosty’s. With two locations, one in Depew and one in Lancaster, both just a quick drive from Buffalo, these cute shops have more vegan treats than your little heart could hope for!
They feature an incredible list of vegan hard and soft-serve ice cream available, custom vegan ice cream cakes, and some of the most ridiculously amazing vegan Sundaes I have ever seen. From classics like Peanutbutter or Strawberry to specialty Sundaes like Chocolate Oreo and Peanut Butter Banana. They even have a Sundae of the Month that features something exceptional, like the one pictured below with the classic Buffalo treat, sponge candy!
Father and son team David and Nicholas Del Carlo started their ice-cream enterprise back in 2003 and have been growing ever since. I spoke with Nicholas recently, and he told me that last year, their number one selling ice cream was their vegan vanilla. How cool is that?
Stop in for a cone, sundae, or shake – you’ll be happy you did!
Like most ice cream shops, Frosty’s hours are seasonal from late March to around October 10, depending on the Buffalo weather.
2424 George Urban Blvd. Depew NY 14043
5500 Broadway Lancaster NY 14086
Swan Street Diner
If you’re looking for a vegan restaurant in Buffalo that serves breakfast, my go-to is the Swan Street Diner. Located in a fully restored 1937 diner car, this adorable shop has all the charm you would expect from a classic diner experience.
While not fully vegan, their breakfast menu and location make it a place I like to bring out-of-town visitors. Get there early! The dining car is small and fills up fast!
Last fall, I went with a vegan friend from Oklahoma, and we had the best time! Try their tofu scramble, the classic BLT made with tempeh bacon, or go all in and get one of their plate-sized vegan waffles!
No matter the weather, you will love your experience in the warm and cozy environment of this adorable vegan-friendly restaurant!
700 Swan Street • Buffalo, NY
Lexington Co-op
A Co-op might seem a strange addition to a roundup of the 10 best vegan restaurants in Buffalo, but the Lexington Co-op deserves a place on this list. Their in-house chefs prepare an incredible variety of vegan grab-and-go items every day.
Their two locations, one on Elmwood and the other on Hertel, are open early and have lovely patio seating. I like to go shopping at the Hertel location on Saturday mornings and then sit outside with a great vegan tofu wrap, some delicious sesame noodle salad, or just a big-ass vegan chocolate chip cookie.
In addition to the baked and prepared foods available, they also have a fantastic selection of sparkling waters, kombucha, bulk items, and beautiful in-season produce.
Stop by one of their locations, grab some lunch, and enjoy the beautiful Buffalo weather at nearby Delaware Park!
807 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
1678 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
Little Black Heart Coffee
Rounding out this list of the 10 best vegan restaurants in Buffalo, NY, is the Little Black Heart Coffee Shop. Featuring exclusively vegan pastries, cookies, coffees, and teas, this little shop has everything you could want!
Located on Oliver street, Little Black Heart Coffee is affiliated with The Vegan Grocery Store, just across the street! Stop in and grab one of their amazing Vegan Croissants or a slice of rainbow vanilla cake. Pair that with the Lavender Honee Latte (vegan bee-free honee and lavender espresso with an oat milk foam), and just consider yourself the luckiest person ever!
321 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, NY 14120
All the places I listed are small businesses, often run by families or individuals. Shopping small and supporting local businesses is very dear to my heart! <3
I sure had a good time thinking about all the delicious places to eat in this beautiful city! If there’s something you think I missed, please let me know! Follow me on Instagram @vegansfordinner and share your experiences at these great places with me!
Thanks a bunch, and happy eating!
<3
Sonia
