In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the plant-based food scene has caught fire, and vegetarian and vegan restaurants thrive in every neighborhood. Some places feature a single meatless menu item that shines, others offer dozens of tasty vegetarian options, and a few maintain a strictly plant-based menu.
Whether you’re looking for excellent vegan tacos, dairy- and egg-free baked goods, or a veggie burger that isn’t boring, this list is a nice introduction to plant-based dining throughout the Metroplex.
Recipe Oak Cliff
From the moment you walk through the door into the bright, airy space, you’ll experience the sunny homage to natural food that is Recipe Oak Cliff. You won’t find meat or processed meat substitutes here. The chalkboard menu lists fresh juices and vegan lunches at reasonable prices. The homemade veggie burger is all oats and vegetables (no soy), and the chipotle tacos are filled with homemade walnut “meat”. Check out Recipe Oak Cliff’s calendar of vegan cooking classes. 1831 S. Ewing St., Dallas, recipeoc.com
Bánh Mí Station
Who says bánh mí, the delicious Vietnamese-French fusion sandwich on baguette, is only for meat-eaters? The vegan menu at this popular bánh mí shop offers buffalo un-chicken bánh mí, built with tender chunks of soy in homemade buffalo sauce and vegan aioli, blanketed in carrot, cilantro, cucumbers, and jalapeños. Other vegan options include a wide variety of salads, bao, and crispy spring rolls. 1818 Sylvan Ave. C100, Dallas, banhmistationdallas.com
Highland Noodles
Chinese takeout menus often have plenty of options to satisfy those on plant-based diets, but any vegetarian who craves hot and sour soup knows the struggle. More often than not, it’s prepared with beef broth. Not at Highland Noodles. Known for its hand-pulled noodles, this Chinese restaurant in Frisco offers a flavorful, satisfying hot and sour soup sans the beef broth. Spicy and tangy, it’s just as good as the real thing. Highland’s mapo tofu, a recipe that typically includes pork, is also tasty and vegetarian-friendly. 9188 Prestmont Pl., Frisco, 39miles.com/p/11292226
Sanjh
While most Indian restaurants are vegetarian-friendly, not all feature a vegetarian menu alongside one of the top cocktail programs in the city. Enter Sanjh, where the meatless options include both vegetarian and vegan delicacies, like the bhindi do payaza, a spiced and smoky array of okra, shallots, and tomatoes. Pair with a sandalwood hi-ball, crafted with vodka, sandalwood syrup, ginger juice, ginger beer, and lime juice. 5250 N. O’Connor Blvd. Ste. 146, Irving, sanjhrestaurant.com
Sankofa Kitchen
The vegan menu at this cozy, comfort-food restaurant adorned with cool portraits of Black icons includes several veggie burgers, whole-wheat spaghetti with homemade marinara, and a vegan “chicken” mushroom swiss sandwich. Take time to peruse the little store inside the restaurant. The family that owns Sankofa previously owned a bookstore, and the shop is stocked with books, teas, essential oils, and plenty of merch. 4141 West Wheatland Rd., Dallas, sankofakitchen.com
Queen of Sheba
Vegetarian or not, those who have not tried Ethiopian food are missing out, in part because of injera, the spongy flat bread used in lieu of silverware for scooping. Everything tastes better in injera. One of the top Ethiopian restaurants in the Metroplex, Queen of Sheba offers plenty of injera with each entrée, and an extensive vegan menu that reimagines traditional East African dishes. Tibs, a meat stir-fry dish, are reimagined as tofu tibs with vegetables cooked in a garlic sauce and seasoned with berebere, a hot Ethiopian spice mix. 14875 Inwood Rd., Addison, thequeensheba.com
Swirled Peace
Switching to a plant-based diet inspired Sara Saginaw to develop an oat milk-based ice cream recipe and open this soft-serve shop in the Bishop Arts District. Now vegetarians and the lactose-intolerant alike—not to mention those on gluten-free diets—can enjoy creative flavors like frozen hot chocolate, supersonic strawberry balsamic, and maple waffle. Enjoy your plant-based ice cream on the outdoor patio when the weather permits. 309 W. Eighth St., Dallas, swirledpeace.com
The Dream Tacos by Chetra
With dozens of faux flower garlands hanging from the ceiling, jewel-toned banquettes, and a neon “Feed me tacos and I’m yours” sign on the wall, this fusion taco restaurant with locations in Plano and Lewisville was made for Instagram photos. The menu offers a vegan section, where options include a tempura tofu and avocado taco, a vegan philly cheese taco, and a vegan skirt “steak” taco. Multiple locations, thedreamtacos.com
Rodeo Goat
Veggie burgers are a dime a dozen, but a great veggie burger can be hard to find. Enter beloved burger joint Rodeo Goat’s vegan patty, made in-house from lentils, carrots, black beans, rice, and oats. Guests can opt to swap out meat patties from any of the burgers on the menu. Those who like a little heat will enjoy the Hot Bastard, made with habañero cheddar, aioli (not vegan), marinated Fresno peppers, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Multiple locations, rodeogoat.com
Sweet Gilly’s Specialty Bakeshop
You would never know by tasting the cupcakes and cinnamon rolls, the rich quiches, or elaborately frosted cakes that Sweet Gilly’s is a gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free bakery. With its pink furniture and a flower arch around the door, the space feels like a fairytale setting. The menu changes daily, allowing those with dietary restrictions to experience the joy of a wide variety. 3266 Parkwood Blvd. #100, Frisco, sweetgillysbakeshop.com
Brya Zan
From the owners of the wildly popular Malai Kitchen, Brya Zan is a Southeast Asian restaurant with fast-casual prices and fine dining-caliber food. The recipes come from the owners’ regular trips to the region and their conversations with street food-vendors,; the noodles are handmade,; and the beers are brewed inside Malai Kitchen’s Lakewood outpost. Not only does the menu have a ton of vegetarian options, but every item is customizable. Don’t miss the drunken noodles with fried tofu. 1909 Preston Rd., Plano, bryazan.com
Written By the Seasons
For those who prefer to center plants, it’s rare and wonderful to stumble upon a restaurant that really cares about vegetables. This Michelin-recommended spot isn’t a vegetarian restaurant, but the menu celebrates and elevates produce. As the name suggests, what’s on the menu depends on what’s local, seasonal, and available. A couple of plant-based examples include grilled asparagus and burrata with frisee, watercress, and pistachio aillade; and kimchi pancakes with daikon radish, radish sprouts, and scallions. Multiple locations, writtenbytheseasons.com
Jashan
This upscale Indian restaurant made a splash when it opened last fall. Offering a tasting menu with wine pairings, as well as a la carte options, Jashan highlights the cuisines of a number of Indian regions. Those enjoying the tasting menu can request a vegetarian meal ahead of time, while diners ordering off the menu will enjoy plant-based recipes they won’t see in any other Indian restaurants around the Metroplex, including lotus stems with yogurt and mango chutney and bhutte ki seekh, a corn dish made with coriander and mint. 7401 Lone Star Dr. Ste. B 120, Plano, jashan.us
