Looking for the Best Vegan Asian Restaurants? Start Here.

As more people embrace a plant-based lifestyle, restaurants are taking note and offering an array of vegan options. In particular, vegan Asian restaurants are leading the charge, with innovative chefs redefining traditional dishes and creating new ones that are both delicious and cruelty-free.

From vegan ramen and sushi to dumplings and curry, these restaurants offer a variety of mouthwatering options that are sure to please vegans and non-vegans alike. Here are some of the top vegan Asian and Asian-owned restaurants (listed in no particular order) across North America that you have to try.

ManEatingPlant’s Garlic Noods and Fried Shroom Bao | ManEatingPlant

1 ManEatingPlant

Los Angeles, CA

Owners Candice Tzeng and Phil Kwan helm this vegan pop-up-turned-food-truck that draws throngs of crowds with the flavors of their Chinese and Taiwanese roots. Street food favorites like crispy mushroom bao buns, garlic chili noodles, and steamed dumplings have helped ManEatingPlant amass a loyal following (that includes VegNews editors).
FIND IT HERE

Pow Pow’s Korean BBQ’d Jackfruit on Trolley Fries | Pow Pow

2 Pow Pow

Washington, DC

An all-vegan, fast-casual eatery featuring Chinese, Japanese, and Korean flavors? It’s a delicious reality at Pow Pow in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, DC. Spearheaded by Stephen Cheung, John Yamashita, and Shaun Sharkey, Pow Pow’s fun and creative brand of “New Asian” cuisine includes dishes like gigantic pineapple kimchi-chicken egg rolls, a sweet-and-sour Natalie Porkman bowl, and Taiwanese fried plant-based chick’n.
FIND IT HERE

Bodhi Kosher’s Vegan Steamed Green Jade Dumplings | @thelilpufferfish

3 Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant

New York, NY

One of the most beloved spots in New York, Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant’s entirely vegan take on traditional dim sum attracts diners from all around the country. Expect authentic plant-based bites like soup dumplings, fried shrimp dumplings, and lemon vegan chicken.
FIND IT HERE

Spicy Moon’s Dry Pot | @tastynybites

4 Spicy Moon

New York, NY

With locations in both the East and West Village, as well as Chelsea and the Bowery, New York’s buzzy vegan Szechuan spot is making its mark with bright, bold, Instagrammable dishes. Traditionalists flock to classic fare like dan dan noodles, vegetable wontons in chili oil, and spicy mapo tofu, while fun bites like cumin-dusted fries and chopped cheese spring rolls lure more modern gourmands.
FIND IT HERE

Hangawi’s Sesame Leaf Tofu | Hangawi

5 Hangawi

New York, NY

This NYC institution, owned by Seoul native Terri Choi, aims to share with the Western world the innate beauty and vibrance of Korean cuisine, artfully veganized with the help of ancient mountain greens and roots, sea vegetables, and wild mushrooms. Choi and her team approach food adhering to the tenet of um and yang (Korean for yin and yang), or balance. Find that inner balance for yourself with not one, but two spicy kimchi stone bowls.
FIND IT HERE

Jade Rabbit’s Chili Oil Wontons | @reneezmudadesign

6 Jade Rabbit

Portland, OR

A standout among Portland’s excellent vegan eats, the cozy restaurant Jade Rabbit boasts an impressive menu of carefully curated teas and an assortment of small plates and bowls that are available for delivery and pick-up. Head chef Cyrus Ichiza, a former drag queen and traveling body piercer, draws upon his backgrounds in Filipinx and Taiwanese cuisine for pan-Asian dishes like chicken adobo and ramen.
FIND IT HERE

Chef Kenny’s assorted vegan sushi | @thee_brutal_unicorn

7 Chef Kenny’s Vegan Dim Sum

Las Vegas, NV

Local Vegas legend Chef Kenny Chye brings his brand of approachable, hearty Chinese-style food at this strip mall favorite just west of the Las Vegas Strip. Expect to find takeout classics like General Tzo Chicken, Spicy Kung Pao Beef, and Orange Chicken. But a refined menu of vegan sushi—including plant recreations of salmon, eel, and tuna—is what makes the place special.
FIND IT HERE

Âu Lạc’s Lemongrass Fish | Âu Lạc

8 Âu Lạc

Los Angeles & Fountain Valley, CA

After a plant-based diet helped her overcome a serious illness in 1997, Mai Nguyen set out to share her story with the world by way of her tasty, meat-free twists on Vietnamese food. Since then, Nguyen, her longtime partner Chef Ito, and daughter Linh have helped this stunning restaurant become a long-lasting institution, garnering praise for its delightfully healthful, full-flavored cuisine.
FIND IT HERE 

Fat Choi

9 Fat Choi

Toronto, ON, Canada

When Lauren and Johnny Soo started adopting a more plant-based diet, they knew their traditional Malaysian restaurant would soon have to follow suit. So in 2018, their über-popular, family-run eatery Soos began operating as a completely vegan kitchen two nights out of the week as Fat Choi, where customers can’t get enough of dishes like Mango Cashew Tofu, Rempah Fried Mushrooms, and Mapo Noodz. Today, patrons can stop by Soos after 5 pm from Wednesday to Sunday for a taste of Fat Choi.
FIND IT HERE 

Wild Chive

10The Wild Chive

Long Beach, CA

With years of working in vegan kitchens and super-successful pop-ups under her belt, Long Beach resident Soozee Nguyen opened her comfort food eatery’s first brick-and-mortar location in the spring of 2020. Known for its epic vegan Sunday brunches, towering sandwiches, and riffs on international cuisine, Wild Chive has developed a cult following thanks to menu items such as Southern Fried Chick’n Sammies, Crispy Zucchini Bites, Carne Asada Torta, and more. 
FIND IT HERE

The Herbivorous Butcher’s Korean BBQ Ribs | The Herbivorous Butcher

11 The Herbivorous Butcher

Minneapolis, MN

After growing up with a meat-heavy diet in Guam, Aubry Walch decided to follow a vegan diet and spent years perfecting meatless alternatives with the same flavors she grew up with. After a few years watching Aubry thrive on a vegan diet, her brother Kale followed in her footsteps and the two later opened up Minneapolis’s first and only vegan butcher shop. From pepperoni to Korean BBQ ribs, The Herbivorous Butcher’s vegan meats have reached high acclaim with features in Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and stints at Coachella feeding hungry festival-goers.
FIND IT HERE 

Shojin’s Shojin Gyoza | @theorangeofmyeye

12Shojin

Culver City, CA

A favorite among Hollywood celebs, Shojin draws from shojin ryō—a vegan/vegetarian Buddhist devotion diet that aims to purify the body and mind. The extensive menu features carefully crafted dishes such as Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, Shojin Shiso Gyoza, and a generous selection of sushi. Pro tip: save room for the tempura banana and chocolate mousse cake.
FIND IT HERE

Kati Vegan Thai’s Kati’s Green Curry with Thai Eggplant | Kati Vegan Thai

13Kati Vegan Thai

Seattle, WA

Focusing on fresh, healthy fare, Seattle’s Kati—“coconut milk” in Thai—uses fresh ingredients and spices for its vast selection of curry, noodle, and rice dishes. Kati crafts mouthwatering Thai staples such as popular street food favorite Kuay Tiew Kua Gai (stir-fried wide noodles, housemade tofu eggs, napa cabbage leaves, and pickled radish, served with chili sauce) and Northern Thai classics like the Khao Soi featuring rice noodles in a rich curry broth topped with pickled cabbage, fried tofu, and red onions.
FIND IT HERE

Shizen’s Surprise Ending Sushi | @chrisschard

14 Shizen

San Francisco, CA

This Bay Area mainstay attracts long lines and wait times with diners coming from far and near to try a taste of Chef Kin Lui’s innovative, fish-free creations. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Hawaii, Lui brings plant-based sushi to the masses as a way to do his part for his first love, the ocean. And it shows through the cult-favorite sushi bar’s main mission: to conserve the ocean through responsible yet delectable dining. Savor vegan tempura rolls, ramen, and fish-less nigiri and never look back.
FIND IT HERE

Amitabul’s Cold Buckwheat Noodle Salad | Amitabul

15Amitabul

Chicago, IL

Founded by Chef Bill Choi, this Chicago mainstay has cranked out vegan dishes that marry traditional Korean techniques with Western flavors since 1995, and it’s all thanks to Buddhist monks. After monks at Choi’s Buddhist temple brought fresh produce for vegan Bi Bim Bop to the chef’s omnivorous restaurant, the dish was such a hit that he was moved to open an all-vegan restaurant. Don’t miss Choi’s vegan dumplings, grilled tofu stir fry, or spicy noodle soup. 
FIND IT HERE

Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen & Sushi

16Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen & Sushi

Studio City, CA

Tucked away in Studio City, this all-vegan sushi and ramen shop offers over 20 different specialty rolls and fragrant bowls of creamy ramen made with more than 20 bold, natural ingredients for an explosion of flavor. Founded in 2016 by Shanshan Liu Estacio, Gokoku is a must-stop for its spicy Mayu Garlic Jalapeño Ramen, crunchy vegan shrimp rolls, and bento boxes.
FIND IT HERE

Golden Era Vegan’s Mama’s Claypot | Golden Era Vegan

17Golden Era Vegan

San Francisco, CA

For a taste of Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisines, look no further than downtown San Francisco’s Golden Era Vegan. This plant-based institution has been feeding the masses since 1999 with its Asian fusion menu. Golden-fried egg-less rolls, fresh green papaya salads, and pan-fried chow fun keep customers coming back for more. Don’t forget the organic Vietnamese iced coffee perfect for busy work days. 
FIND IT HERE

Mirisata’s Deviled Pork | Mirisata

18Mirisata

Portland, OR

Although mirisata loosely translates to spicy curry, there’s more to be explored on the menu at this employee-owned Sri Lankan eatery. The co-operative taps into its owner-workers’ family traditions and recipes to whip up jackfruit-stuffed croquettes, fishless patties with a side of hot green chili sauce, and crispy fried rolls filled with Impossible beef and potato curry. For dessert, don’t skip the flan-like watalappan made from a blend of cashews, creamy coconut milk, and thick kithul jaggery syrup.
FIND IT HERE 

Tane Vegan Izakaya’s Asparagus and Avocado Nigiri | Tane Vegan Izakaya

19Tane Vegan Izakaya

Multiple locations

From the founders of San Francisco’s Shizen comes Tane Vegan Izakaya, Honolulu’s first plant-based Japanese restaurant. On an island where fish reigns supreme, Tane’s vegan sushi, specialty rolls, ramen, and shared plates are guaranteed to satisfy. Cozy up with a bowl of spicy garlic miso ramen or choose between tofu-stuffed shiitake mushrooms and eggplant nigiri. Tane Vegan Izakaya also has locations in Palo Alto and Berkeley in the California Bay Area.
FIND IT HERE

Vegan Glory Noodles | Vegan Glory

20 Vegan Glory

Los Angeles, CA

Located in LA’s Beverly Grove neighborhood, Vegan Glory is a must-try when in the City of Angels—just ask Usher himself. The restaurant’s menu offers a taste of multiple Asian cuisines, including Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and more. Start your meal with steamed Impossible dumplings or go for the fried Impossible Vietnamese Spring Rolls. For your main, you can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s signature Glory Noodle, stir-fried flat rice noodles made with fresh chili, mushrooms, onions, garlic, sweet basil, bell pepper, and your choice of protein. The restaurant’s soul-soothing curries (choose between red, green, and yellow) are also sure to please. Enjoy your feast with a Thai iced tea.
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Island Fried Chicken Plate | Lucky Catsu

21Lucky Catsu

Los Angeles, CA

Founded by Diana Colmenar, Lucky Catsu is the city’s first vegan Hawaiian street food pop-up-turned-ghost-kitchen, making these mouthwatering eats available to even more hungry patrons. Her menu boasts veganized Hawaiian favorites such as the Island Fried Chicken Plate or the Hibachi Spam & Egg Fried Rice.
Find it here