Updated: Jan 3, 2018
The new year is a time for change. Some folks join a gym, many commit to a month without alcohol, and others vow to go vegan. If you fall into the last category, you are in luck. Nashville makes it easy for vegans to dine out and enjoy everything our city’s bustling culinary scene has to offer. Places like The Treehouse and Little Octopus clearly denote which dishes are available for those avoiding meat; you can find a veggie burger on most menus in town (ask if the bun is vegan9; and Southern chefs truly know how to elevate vegetables. Other eateries, such as the 8-year-old Wild Cow, are dedicated to serving only vegan fare, and they have mastered the craft. Regardless of whether you follow a vegan diet, you will no doubt enjoy every restaurant on this list.
12 Vegan Restaurants in Nashville
AVO
3 City Blvd., #200, Nashville, TN 37209 • (615) 329-2377
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A personal favorite, AVO serves 100% plant-based and Kosher-certified food. There are both raw and cooked items ranging from kimchi spring rolls, smashed avo toast and a kale caesar, to Pad Thai and a squash bowl. And it just so happens those are five of our favorite dishes. The most surprising thing on the menu is the cheese board, featuring nut-based cheeses. Pair your meal with the avocado margarita, which is downright delicious, and you have a perfect vegan outing!
Graze
1888 Eastland Ave., Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 686-1060
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In the spot formerly home to The Silly Goose, Graze opened their doors in 2016 with a plant-based menu, and these restaurateurs know their way around a vegan kitchen. Vegan options come in the form of small plates, sandwiches, entrees, salads, burritos, wraps and sides. Potatoes are loaded with cashew cheese and seitan chorizo, sandwiches are stacked with creative combinations of vegetables, and linguine is tossed with a house-made dairy-free Alfredo sauce. On the weekends, a large brunch menu gives you even more to choose from.
The Grilled Cheeserie
2003 Belcourt Ave., Nashville, TN 37212
Hours:Â Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
At a place with cheese in the name, you wouldn’t expect to find vegan options. But The Grilled Cheeserie surprises diners with the chance to make their own melt with the option of vegan cheese. You can pile on tomatoes, avocado, onions, jalapeño relish or house garlic dill pickles to make it a hearty sandwich.
Related: The Grilled Cheeserie’s Crystal De Luna-Bogan: FACES of Nashville
I Love Juice Bar
Click here for locations and hours.Â
In addition to juices and smoothies, I Love Juice Bar sells savory snacks and small meals, all of which are plant-based. We are partial to the Pad Thai noodle bowl and daily soups that are vegan and gluten-free.
Little Octopus
505 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 454-3946
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Little Octopus makes dining easy for anyone choosing to be dairy-free, gluten-free, pescatarian or vegan. Each dish is clearly marked so there is no guessing. For vegans, options for brunch, lunch and dinner vary. Currently on the dinner menu, the shishito peppers, fingerling potatoes and squash are three vegan dishes catching our eye. At lunch, the grain bowls are filling options, and we can’t wait to try the lentils grain bowl, with mushroom, tofu, Jamaican sauce, kale caesar and roasted carrots.
The Southern V
Update: The Southern V is currently working on its move to 1200 Buchanan Street — see website for details.
The Southern V is a small, family-run business that has been serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner two days a week. The menu changes weekly, and while the selection is small, it is filled with delicious vegan options. You are likely to find a spin on Southern favorites, such as chik’n and waffles and biscuits and gravy. We can’t wait to check out the new location opening spring 2018.
Sunflower Cafe
2834 Azalea Place, Nashville, TN 37204
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Located in Berry Hill, Sunflower Cafe is a longtime favorite of vegans and non-vegans alike. The cafe offers regular menu items as well as hot bar items that are vegan, unless paired with gluten-free bread (which contains egg whites). Our go-to is the veggie burger, which can be served a variety of ways. Choose your topping style: traditional, all-American, jalapeño, arugula bistro, garlic mushroom, aloha, bánh mi or Southern BBQ.
Related:Â What Health Experts Order When They Eat Out in Nashville
The Treehouse
1011 Clearview Ave., Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 454-4201
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Similarly to Little Octopus and The Grilled Cheeserie, The Treehouse does not have a dedicated vegan menu but notes each dish that is. Their menu changes daily, but two staples are the warm black pepper focaccia bread and the grilled broccoli, both of which can be suitable for vegans. They also cater to vegetarians, gluten-free and pescatarians.
Vegan Vee Gluten-Free Bakery
306 46th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209
Hours:Â Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At Vegan Vee, vegan and gluten-free baking is applied to products that range from muffins and donuts to cupcakes and cookie sandwiches. Their products are so delicious that you won’t even miss the pounds of butter typically found in baked goods. They are only open on the weekends, but you can also find their baked goods at The Wild Cow, The Produce Place and Thistle Stop Café if you get a mid-week hankering.
Vui’s Kitchen
2832 Bransford Ave., Nashville, TN 37204 • (615) 241-8847
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
1120 Fourth Ave. N., #101, Nashville, TN 37208 • (615) 610-3383
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Offering a fresh approach to Vietnamese favorites, Vui’s Kitchen offers another menu that intentionally caters to vegans and non-vegans alike. The lettuce wraps are served with vegan soy dipping sauce, and the bone broth can be swapped for vegan broth, meaning you can enjoy Vui’s pho. Vui’s recently opened a second location in Germantown, so there is now double-the-access to fresh, vegan Vietnamese food!
Related: Vui’s Kitchen: A Fresh Take on Vietnamese
The Wild Cow
1896 Eastland Ave., Nashville, TN 37206 • (615) 262-2717
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Wild Cow has been bringing vegetarian and vegan options to East Nashville for eight years. The vegan queso merits a mention, as do the nachos, far Eastland bowl and tacos. Every item on the menu is vegan, with the option for dairy cheese for the non-vegans. They make the most of local ingredients and are big supporters of local farmers.
Woodlands Indian Restaurant
3415 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 463-3005
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We were at a loss when Woodlands closed as their building underwent renovations. Thankfully, they are up and running again, with a menu full of vegetarian Indian dishes, and each item on the menu is clearly marked if it is vegan or gluten-free. Start with a bowl of coconut tomato soup before digging into veggie tikka masala. And, since the renovations, they now offer their buffet for dinner as well!
Nashville’s chefs are known to be accommodating. If you don’t see your favorite restaurant on this list, reach out to them and see if they are able to accommodate your vegan needs. It never hurts to ask!Â
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