The Ultimate Austin Vegan Guide: Restaurants, Sights, & More

I had heard the rumblings that Austin is a vegan oasis nestled in the land of BBQ, ten-gallon hats, and cattle ranching, but I was always a little skeptical. How could the capital of such a conservative, gun-toting state also have a love affair with soy chorizo? Could it be possible?

After a recent visit, I can confirm what seems impossible is possible. I think that quirky contradiction is what makes Austin, Austin, or as locals like to remind visitors, keeps it weird. 

Austin draws a diverse and eclectic crowd — musicians, hippies, hipsters, tech gurus, cowboys — and somehow, it works. It’s why you’ll find a parking lot of vegan food trucks buzzing with long lines, honky tonk line dancing lessons, and LGBTQIA+ clubs all saddled within the city limits. This diverging mix of cultures is what sets Austin apart.

If you’ve been pushing Austin down your must-visit list, this vegan travel guide will make you think again. Get ready to eat your body weight in the form of those iconic soy-rizo tacos!

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Is Austin Vegan-Friendly?

Heck, yes, Austin is amazingly vegan-friendly! The capital of Texas is home to around 50 vegan and vegetarian restaurants and bakeries — including the city’s iconic vegan cheese shop, Rebel Cheese (you probably didn’t think you’d find that in Texas)!

In addition to the vegan and vegetarian spots, many restaurants also have vegan options. If restaurant jumping wasn’t enough to fill your food cravings, Austin is also the home of the original Whole Foods. You’ll find the massive flagship motherland right in the heart of downtown Austin.

Of course, you’ll find all the usual grocery needs, but it’s also home to a vast prepared foods section, a vegan burger joint, a smoothie shop, and a wine bar (yep, you can sip sauvignon blanc and shop).

Vegan Restaurants in Austin You Can’t Skip

Rebel Cheese

2200 Aldrich St, Suite 120, Austin, TX 78723
Highlights: the Flake and Bake (croissant breakfast sandwich) at brunch and dessert cheese board.
As soon as you get off the airplane, you must make a beeline to this vegan cheese shop and café. You will seriously be blown away once you lay your eyes on their massive house-made cheese lineup. They’ve got every cheese you could imagine — Chèvre, Gruyere, Dill Havarti, Truffle Brie, and so many more. Aside from stuffing yourself with their moo-free goodness, they also have a fantastic lineup of salads, sandwiches, and a weekend vegan brunch menu that can’t be beat!

ATXFOODCO.

517 S Lamar Blvd LOT 1, Austin, TX 78704
Highlights: the BBQ brisket + almost everything on the menu is gluten-free!
This bright green food truck is green in more ways than one! Their entire menu centers around recreating fan-favorite dishes with high-quality ingredients in a healthy way — you won’t even realize it’s healthy! If you’ve been craving smokey BBQ flavors, you can’t skip their mouthwatering BBQ brisket made with heirloom black bean tempeh — I still can’t figure out how they packed all that lovely smokiness and spice into that tempeh!  

Nori 

3208 Guadalupe St B, Austin, TX 78705
Highlights: the sweet and savory shitake roll.
You’ll never look at a sushi roll the same way after dining at chic Nori. This sophisticated Japanese restaurant is ready to delight your senses with its super creative fare. Basic cucumber avocado rolls are swapped for rolls stuffed with spicy Good Catch tuna, Just Egg tamago, tempura asparagus, miso caramel sauce, and that’s only the start. Aside from sushi, you’ll also find a slew of other dishes like creamy ramen, onigiri, Japanese meatballs, and more. 

Tellus Joe

3108 Windsor Rd, Austin, TX 78703
Highlights:  creative and sophisticated Tex-Mex + it’s very gluten-free friendly!
This sweet little spot acts as a brunch café by morning and transforms into a Mezcal cocktail bar with sophisticated Tex-Mex dishes by night. No matter what time of day you wander in, you’re in for a difficult eating decision.

You can’t skip the Cosmico taco in the morning — their crispy plant bacon is seriously out of this world! At night the decisions get even more challenging — I say you’ve got to try the Tlayuda, a house-made beet tortilla with whipped lentils, chayote, roasted squash, chorizo, and salsa matcha. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it?

The Beer Plant

3110 Windsor Rd, Austin, TX 78703
Highlights: epic beer menu + weekend brunch
Tucked right next door to Tellus Joe is this vegan beer pub — if you’re a beer lover, you can’t miss this spot. On tap, they always have a rotating mix of ales, IPAs, sours, ciders, and beers produced in Texas. You’ll find a great blend of veganized comfort favorites in the kitchen — French fries covered in poutine, cauliflower wings, truffle grilled cheese, and more. 

Lil’ Nonna’s

440 E St Elmo Rd A1, Austin, TX 78745
Highlights: NY-style vegan pizza with creative toppings like Beeteroni!
There might be witchcraft happening inside this pizza truck — how in the world can they create such epic pizza pies there!? The giant NY-style slices are covered in an array of creative house-made toppings — spicy Beeteroni, smokey tempeh, mozzarella, balsamic glaze, and much more. They also have fantastic gluten-free pizzas!

Vegan Nom

2324 E Cesar Chavez St #A, Austin, TX 78702
Highlights: nachos loaded with everything under the sun + breakfast tacos!
This vegan Tex-Mex truck is tucked back in a parking lot with three other vegan food trucks (including the next one on this list) — coming here means you can stuff yourself silly!

If you roll in before 4 pm, you’ll want to check out some of their creative breakfast tacos — no matter the time of day, you can’t go wrong with a taco loaded with cactus, chorizo, or potatoes! On top of a colossal taco lineup, you’ll also find giant stuffed burritos and bomb nachos covered in everything from Korean BBQ chick’n to traditional ground beef-less beef!

Nom Burgers 

2324 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Highlights: Insta-worthy vegan junk food
Welcome to the land of insane vegan junk food! Get ready to devour giant burgers covered in special Nom sauce, crispy fried Nashville hot chick’n, and tater tots covered in queso! What more could you want?  

Nissi Vegan Méxican Cuisine

9012 Research Blvd Unit C-6, Austin, TX 78758
Highlights: EVERYTHING & its gluten-free friendly
I’m not joking when I say you must try everything at this authentic Mexican spot. They’ve found a way to veganize traditional dishes like Birria and carne asada. Everything is so flavorful that I don’t even think an avid meat eater would know it’s meat-free! After one bite of their Birria tacos, I thought, we need a second order! 

Arlo’s 

Two locations in Austin
Highlights: late-night vegan comfort food + their house-made burger is gluten-free & soy-free
If you’ve ever thought mac-n-cheese or smokey chili belongs on a burger, then you need to check out Arlo’s! This vegan comfort food-focused truck is slinging bac’n cheeseburgers stuffed with mac-n-cheese and street tacos into the wee hours (depending on the location). Don’t forget to add an order of crispy tater tots!

Even More Outrageously Delicious Vegan Restaurants in Austin

Can you believe there are more amazing vegan restaurants to check out in Austin? You’re not going to go hungry, but I bet you might suffer from a case of vegan food, FOMO! 

Fabrik

1701 E MLK Blvd. #102 Austin, TX 78702
This vegan fine dinning restaurant is a recent addition to the plant-based scene and has set out to show diners that vegan cuisine isn’t all burgers and pizza! Their menu will celebrate the seasons and celebrate the diversity of plants. It’s set to open in the summer of 2023.

Forking Vegan 

807 East 4th Street, Austin, TX 78702
This new vegan food truck is all about brunch! Head here to enjoy sweet French toast pudding in a cardamom custard or savory rosemary biscuits and gravy with smashed potatoes. 

Bistro Vonish 

701 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
If you love mac-n-cheese and are gluten-free, this Southern comfort spot has your name all over it! They don’t stop with traditional creamy mac; you’ll find spicy mac-n-cheese, brussels mac-n-cheese, and more! On the weekend, don’t miss their brunch specials. 

Citizen Eatery 

5011 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
This trendy, health-conscious café has something for everyone to enjoy, including an all-day breakfast menu! No matter what you choose, save room for a tiramisu tart or chocolate avocado mousse — both are gluten-free to boot!

Theano Vegan Greek 

Food Co, 5610 N Interstate Hwy 35 #5610, Austin, TX 78751
Mama mia! If you’ve missed traditional Spanakopita or meaty gyros covered in creamy sauces, you’ve got to check out this vegan food truck! On top of featuring an array of traditional Greek dishes, you’ll find a few Middle Eastern favorites too. 

Plant Box 

3318 Harmon Ave, Austin, TX 78705
Located inside the Austinite Market is this flavorful Asian spot whipping up an incredible selection of bowls. They’ve got everything from fried popcorn chicken dipped in a sweet orange sauce to savory sesame basil Beyond Beef. Make sure you save room for their special black sesame rice pudding with cashew brittle! 

Sunny’s Backyard 

3526 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
This laid-back outdoor spot serves a fantastic selection of vegan bar eats — Korean fried chick’n wings, giant golden pretzels, loaded French fries, cheese-covered burgers, and much more! In addition to great food, they also host a fun trivia night during the week.

Possum Pizza 

2324 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Move over, Chuck E. Cheese; there’s a new rodent in town! This vegan pizza truck is tossing up amazing thin-crust pizza covered in seitan pepperoni, bac’n, garlic oil, roasted garlic, and more! Just don’t forget to add an order of cheesy bread! 

Plow Burger

Multiple locations throughout Austin
This spot is all about the burger! Whether you enjoy your burger plain or covered in special sauce, onion rings, and melty cheese, you’ll never look at burger options the same! Your burger will also need a sidekick — don’t skip an order of buffalo fries and a thick and creamy milkshake. 

Project Pollo 

Two locations in Austin
This vegan fast food spot has an epic lineup of junk food favorites (including a couple of gluten-free options). Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty double Bac’nator or crispy chick’n tender basket, you’ll find it here.

Community Vegan 

1124 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
This cheeky junk food spot pokes a little fun at what some of us “used to eat” with its downright drool-worthy lineup of eats. You can’t go wrong with a basket of Lemon Pepper Wangz or Crab Cake Totchos!

Next Level Burger

525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Located inside the flagship Whole Foods store is another terrific spot for vegan fast-food favorites. Can there ever be too much junk food?

Casa de Luz Village 

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704
After that massive lineup of vegan junk food, you might feel like you need a giant bowl of hearty veggies! If that’s the case, head here. Casa de Luz creates a daily menu (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) that is organic, gluten-free, and refined oil free. The perfect place for an eating reset! 

Conscious Cravings 

Multiple locations throughout Austin
If you’re on the go, pop in for one of their creative wraps rolled up with eggless salad, Cajun-style tofu, spicy chickpeas, and more! 

Bodhi Viet Veggie Cuisine  

2301 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727
For bowls of piping-hot noodles and sticky rice dumplings, don’t skip a visit to this vegan Vietnamese restaurant! Their extensive menu features loads of traditional dishes along with their own house-made creative fare. 

The Vegan Yacht 

2000 Southern Oaks Dr, Austin, TX 78745
Although you might think you’ll end up on a boat, this casual spot is securely attached to land and ready to delight its visitors with its Tex-Mex fare! You’ll find a variety of burritos stuffed with smoked buffalo tempeh, chili, mac-n-cheese, and more! On top of burritos, they also have super creamy queso, bowls, loaded hot dogs, and more.

Lick It Up

2421 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78702
You might have caught this fantastic Mexican street food spot on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives!” The newfound fame helped the business expand locations and delight even more people with its queso-covered nachos, papa asada tacos, loaded burritos, and more!

The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Austin 

Boudin Creek Café

1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
This hippie haven has been serving the Austin veggie community for over 20 years — long before Austin was a vegan hot spot. Their comfort-focused menu has a ton of Tex-Mex inspiration, but there is something for everyone! You can start your day with their special grilled house-made blueberry cornbread cakes, but you will want to come back for chips n’ queso, along with one of their fantastic veggie-packed bowls. 

Mr. Natural 

Two locations in Austin
Whether you’re looking for decadent cakes or Cowboy Scramble with soy-rizo, you’ll find it at this incredible Hispanic family-owned vegetarian restaurant. With one look at the menu, you’ll want to start and end every day here! For breakfast or brunch, don’t miss the delicious tofu Migas and at dinner, you can’t skip their house-made tamales. They also sell the tamales frozen so that you can take some home!

Vegan Bakeries & Ice Cream Spots in Austin

If you want even more epic sweets, don’t miss our lineup of the most decadent vegan bakeries in Austin!

Gati 

1512 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
Get ready to be delighted with creamy vegan ice cream and vegan and gluten-free baked goods — the perfect combo, right!? This creamery and bakeshop is 100% gluten-free, and all of its ice cream flavors are vegan. They have over 40 creative house-made flavors like black sticky rice horchata and golden milk.

Capital City Bakery 

2211 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
What started as a home baking operation has become one of Austin’s best vegan bakeries. The woman-owned shop specializes in all things cake, from Fauxstess cupcakes to gorgeous wedding cakes! Aside from cake, you’ll also find cookies, brownies, and a small breakfast menu. 

Zucchini Kill

701 E 53rd St Suite C, Austin, TX 78751
This little bakery is punk rock meets decadent gluten-free sweets! Everything in the shop is vegan and gluten-free and includes veganized retro favorites like Cream Coffins (Twinkies) to an enormous selection flavor selection of cupcakes. 

Luv Fats Ice Cream

7135 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752
This bright pink, Black-owned vegan creamery will delight you before you even lay eyes on their stellar lineup. All their house-made ice creams are made with coconut milk and avocados to make them exceptionally creamy! The flavors rotate, but if you’re lucky, you might get to sample lavender and blackberry jam, caramel rosemary, or Kenyan chai.

Fat Cats Organic Coffee & Desserts

7020 Easy Wind Dr # 140, Austin, TX 78752
Right around the corner from Luv Fats, you’ll find this purrfect vegan bakery and coffee shop! It’s the best place to pair a flaky croissant or soft kitty sugar cookie with a hot cup of coffee or sweet Horchata. 

Milky Way Shakes

2324 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
A whole truck dedicated to vegan milkshakes, can you believe it!? While you can build a basic chocolate or vanilla shake, I encourage you to check out their super creative drool-worthy signature shakes packed with brownies, blueberry compote, candied edible flowers, and more! 

Zeds Real Fruit Ice Cream 

1814 Harvey St, Austin, TX 78702
This vegan-friendly ice cream shop takes inspiration from New Zealand with its fruit-forward creations. First, you start with a dairy-fee soft serve vanilla base and then add a mix of fruit and yummy toppings. 

Cinnaholic

10000 Research Blvd UNIT 136, Austin, TX 78759
Cinnamon bun fans, this spot is for you! This vegan bakery specializes in the most creative cinnamon bun creations covered in marshmallows, cookie dough, peanut butter frosting, or traditional cream cheese. They also have brownies, cookies, and scoops of cookie dough in case the buns aren’t your thing.

Vegan Coffee Shop in Austin

Dear Diary Coffee

1212 Chicon St #103, Austin, TX 78702
There is no better place to go when you need a caffeine fix than this woman-owned vegan coffee shop! While they have plenty of caffeinated drinks to get you going, you won’t want to miss their lineup of locally made vegan treats, from plump pop tarts to peanut butter cups. 

Vegan Market in Austin

Rabbit Food Grocery 

2425 Exposition Blvd Ste A, Austin, TX 78703
Even if you’re not in the market for locally made vegan cheeses or frozen nuggets, you still need to pop into this cruelty-free market! Their shelves are stocked with everything from holiday-inspired candies to new and exciting vegan products.  

Vegan Options in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

I didn’t think I would find any vegan food, let alone these four fantastic options! So, if you forgot your airport snack, no worries — the airport has everything from burritos to ice cream to delight vegan travelers. One note, all of these options are in the Barbara Jordan terminal; the South terminal has one taco shop, De Nada, which has a couple of options that can be made vegan.

Lick It Up

The popular Mexican Street food restaurant partnered with Ruta Maya and Tacodeli to sell its vegan dishes. Maybe one day you’ll find an actual Lick it Up shop in the Austin airport!  

Mad Greens

This vegan-friendly salad shop offers some salads that can be made vegan or create your own. 

Juice Land

Get your smoothie fix here! Juice Land has everything from chocolate smoothies with animal-free whey to berry-filled smoothie bowls to fuel your travel day. Their menu is almost 100% vegan; some items have honey. 

Amy’s Ice Cream Creations

You’ll always find at least one vegan ice cream flavor at this popular Austin chain! In addition to ice cream, they also have a small selection of smoothies. 

Vegan-Friendly Hotels in Austin

Park Lane Guest House

221 Park Ln, Austin, TX 78704
This eco-friendly B & B is located just outside downtown Austin and steps from all the terrific shops on South Congress. The location is ideal for exploring all that Austin has to offer. Aside from having a fantastic location, the B & B prioritizes taking care of Mother Earth and is a member of the Green Hotels Association.

All the guest cottages are solar-powered, and EV charging stations are available for free. When breakfast rolls around, you’ll be delighted with their house-made vegetarian and vegan specialties, everything from ginger lemon and rosemary pancakes to savory breakfast tacos. 

Book The Park Lane Guest House

Carpenter Hotel

400 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704
If you’re looking for a hip and trendy spot, look no further than this spot that was once a Local Union Hall. It’s ideally located near Barton Springs, Zilker Park, and Lady Bird Lake — perfect if you’re interested in Austin’s greenspaces, but it’s also just a 15-minute walk to downtown Austin.

After exploring Austin, you might be interested in a snack! The onsite dining has a creative mix of vegan options, from cashew queso dip to a veggie-packed grain bowl. They also have a fantastic onsite gift shop loaded with locally made, zero-waste, and vegan products. Oh, and I forgot to mention that there’s a shade-covered guest pool!

Book The Carpenter Hotel

The Best Things to Do in Austin

Sip vegan wines at The Austin Winery 

I was surprised when I found a winery in Austin but even more surprised when I learned that Texas is the fourth-largest wine-producing state in the US! This hip winery is led by a team of self-taught winos that have set out to make natural, low-intervention wines that are vegan and accessible to all Austinites. The best way to experience their wine lineup is with a tasting — if you like light and fruity (but not super sweet), don’t skip the Red-Nat. 

Aside from sipping sweet wines, there is one more bonus to visiting this spot — Lil Nonna’s vegan pizza truck is right around the corner. You can take your glass of wine, pizza pie, and sit on the picnic tables outside!

Take a tour by bike, foot, or bus of Austin

There is a lot to explore in the Live Music Capital of the World, and the best way to do it is on a guided tour. I always take some type of tour, no matter where I go. It’s the best way to learn a little backstory and discover what locals like to do. 

Enjoy a Central Texas-inspired five-course vegan dinner with Loam Supper Club

If you can time your itinerary just right, you’re not going to want to miss these creative vegan dinner events. The plant-powered chef-curated menus feature local and seasonal ingredients with favorites like chickpea socca with lemon garlic confit aioli, romesco, charred scallions, and micro greens. Wine and drink pairings are also available. Currently, the dinners are offered every other Saturday; make sure you check their website for updates!

Check out Whole Foods

You might be wondering, is she really suggesting going to the grocery store? I promise I haven’t lost my mind; this Whole Foods is unique! It’s the very first location, and it’s a natural foods mega mall! There are multiple levels (there is also a free parking garage, so park there if you’re exploring downtown) that include a Next Level Burger, Juice Land, beer and wine bar, and a massive prepared foods section. It’s a great place to grab a snack before wandering around downtown.   

Check out a drag show at Cheer Up Charlie’s

There is truly no shortage of entertainment in Austin. You’ll find loads of music and comedy options, but why not pair a mix of both with a fun show at this vegan and queer bar! Cheer Up Charlie’s is located right downtown and offers a variety of events, from “Big Tits and Bigger Dreams” open mic nights to live DJs spinning funk, disco, and more. The bar offers fresh juice cocktails, kombucha, and when you get hungry, Arlo’s vegan burger truck is right next door!

Explore all of Austin’s green spaces 

Austin is well known for its love of all things green (not just food)! Whether you’re looking for a park to wander in the city or want to go for a hike, you have options! A few places to check out include:

Zilker Park — this is one of Austin’s most popular parks. Its 351 acres are home to a natural spring-fed swimming pool, sculpture garden, botanical garden, and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. 

Lady Bird Lake — Named after the late Lady Bird Johson for her efforts to green Austin, this park is in downtown Austin and features a 10-mile trail. Aside from hiking or biking, this is a great spot to kayak or stand-up paddle board. 

Mount Bonnell — located in Covert Park, it is the highest point in Austin, offering terrific city views! To get to the top, there are over 100 stairs you have to climb, but it’s worth it, if you’re able.

How to Get Around Austin

Do I Need a Car in Austin?

Yes, I think it’s easiest to have a car in Austin unless you’re only going to explore the downtown area. Although getting from South Austin to Central Austin is only about 10 miles, with public transit, it can take almost an hour (or longer, depending on traffic); if you add in multiple places you want to visit along the way, you could quickly eat up an entire day. I don’t love renting cars, and generally, I avoid it as much as possible, but I found it necessary in Austin. 

When renting a car, make sure you add on a toll pass — it’s not very easy to avoid toll roads. If you skip the pass and accidentally end up on a toll road, the rental company will send you a hefty bill. 

Public Transit in Austin

If you plan to skip the rental and stick to public transit, download the CapMetro app before you go. From the app, you can purchase and use tickets for the bus and Metro Rail (the rail is only one line from North Austin into downtown, it’s meant as a commuter line, not really for visitors). Also, you can plan your travel route in the app, but using Google Maps is easier. A single bus or rail ticket is $1.25, or you can purchase a day pass for $2.50 and a 7-day pass for $11.25. 

The Vegan Fun Doesn’t End in Austin

If you’re planning other adventures, don’t miss our other travel guides and tasty articles — we’ve done all the hard work for you. All you have to do is eat and have fun!

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