New Orleans has always been known for its rich food culture. When I first visited years ago, there weren’t any vegan restaurants in New Orleans. However, now there are plenty of fully plant based places. Pretty much more than in my home city of Washington, DC.
So when you travel to the big easy, there’s more than just jambalaya, shrimp and grits and gumbo. Here are 9 vegan restaurants in New Orleans worth checking out. And if you really want to do the most, don’t miss this Vegan Food Tour in the French Quarter for the ultimate vegan foodie.
Vegan Restaurants in New Orleans
1. Sweet Soulfood
📍 1025 N Broad St
🍽️ Cuisine: Southern comfort food
🌱 Diet: 100% Vegan
One of the first vegan restaurants in New Orleans to open was Sweet Soulfood. Not only is it vegan but also soy free and fully organic. Looking for plant based soul food? Here you’ll find dishes like vegan mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, gumbo, collard greens, the best cornbread, and so many other delicious southern dishes.
👉 Pro tip: Get there early — they close in the late afternoon, and popular dishes sell out fast!
2. I-tal Garden
📍 810 N Claiborne Ave
🍽️ Cuisine: Cajun & Jamaican fusion
🌱 Diet: 100% Vegan
Like Sweet Soulfood, I-tal Garden also serves southern “soul” food. Here you’ll find delicious dishes like jackfruit BBQ “ribs”, mac and cheese, cornbread, and more. Their mission is to prove that plant-based food can carry the same spirit as New Orleans classics.
⚠️ Note: They sometimes close temporarily — check social media for updated hours before heading over.
3. 2 Phat Vegans
📍 1303 Decatur St
🍽️ Cuisine: Vegan comfort food
🌱 Diet: 100% Vegan
2 Phat Vegans serves dishes like vegan fish sandwiches, all kinds of po-boys, buffalo “chicken” wraps, quesadillas, milkshakes, and more. They certainly have a large menu with a variety of choices.
4. Breads on Oak
📍 8640 Oak St + Carondelet St location
🍽️ Cuisine: Bakery & café
🌱 Diet: 100% Vegan
Breads on Oak is the perfect vegan bakery to start your day. This beloved bakery is fully vegan and organic. Think pastries, quiches, breakfast sandwiches, soups, and desserts. I love their Egg O’Vegan.. a sandwich with tofu scramble, bacon, and melted cheese on organic homemade buttermilk biscuits. They also serve hearty sandwiches if you’re looking for more of a lunch item.
5. Sprouts Organic Cafe
📍 2305 Veterans Memorial Blvd (Metairie)
🍽️ Cuisine: Healthy & organic
🌱 Diet: Vegan-friendly / Mostly plant-based
Sprouts Organic Cafe serves things like wraps, smoothies, organic bowls, and desserts all made with local ingredients. Great for a lighter, nourishing meal that still tastes good.
6. Original Thought NOLA
📍 1452 N Broad St
🍽️ Cuisine: Caribbean-inspired vegan
🌱 Diet: 100% Vegan
Looking for Caribbean inspired vegan food? Original Thought NOLA is a food truck but their dishes are absolutely packed with flavor. This was one of my favorite vegan restaurants in New Orleans. Try dishes like jerk jackfruit tacos, plantains, smoothie bowls, and more. You can’t go wrong at Original Thought NOLA.
7. E-co Vegan Cuisine
📍 2020 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
🍽️ Cuisine: Soul & Creole
🌱 Diet: 100% Vegan
This vegan restaurant serves vegan Louisiana style food. Here you’ll find vegan twists on dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, vegan po boys, vegan crab cakes, bread pudding, and more. E-co’s got you with mouthwatering southern comfort food with a conscience.
Bonus: Vegan French Quarter Food Tour
If you’d rather sample a little bit of everything (and get the stories behind it), check out the Vegan French Quarter Food Tour, a highly rated vegan tour that takes you to all the best places.
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Group size: Small (about 9 people max)
- What you’ll eat: Vegan po’boys, pralines, gumbo, and more at the above locales
- Why it’s worth it: You get both the food and the history — a guide explains New Orleans’ culture while introducing you to its vegan side.
👉 Book in advance — spots are limited, and this is one of the only dedicated vegan food tours in the city.
Plan Your Trip with These Trusted Resources 🔗
Planning your trip to New Orleans? To make things easier, I’ve linked all my favorite booking platforms below — the same ones that I use. If you book through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support The Hopeful Veganista and keeps this blog full of helpful vegan travel content. 🙏
- 🏨 Book hotels on Booking.com – For boutique hotels, budget stays, and sea-view villas.
- 🚐 Book tours with GetYourGuide – From boat trips to paragliding adventures to food tours and more.
- 🚐 Book tours with Viator – Another site offering tours and activities.
Thanks for supporting the blog — and happy planning! 🧡
Wrapping It Up ☀️
Now that there are several vegan restaurants in New Orleans, plant-based travelers can eat well. Whether you’re sinking your teeth into vegan gumbo, a vegan “fish” sandwich, or joining the Vegan French Quarter Food Tour, you’ll leave full and happy.
💡 Planning your trip? Don’t forget — I offer free custom travel itineraries (yep, free!) to help you make the most of your visit. All I ask is that, if you find my affiliate links helpful, you consider using them to book your hotel or activities. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps me keep creating resources like this.
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