3 Phoenix restaurants named among the 100 best vegan spots in US

Four Arizona eateries, including three in the Valley, were named among Yelp's list of the country's best vegan restaurants.

By Tirion Boan

October 25, 2024

Image: UNiQ Burger serves nostalgic smash burger-style sandwiches that are entirely plant-based.

UNiQ Burger serves nostalgic smash burger-style sandwiches that are entirely plant-based. Tirion Boan

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Just ahead of National Vegan Day on Nov. 1, review site Yelp released its 2024 list of the 100 best vegan restaurants in America. Four Arizona restaurants made the cut, with three located in metro Phoenix.

To select the winners, Yelp's "data team analyzed business rating and review volume."

Here's a look at who got a national mention from Arizona.

No. 3 - Urban Fresh

73 E. Pennington St., Tucson Urban Fresh, a plant-based restaurant located in Tucson, nearly topped the list of the nation's best vegan eateries, taking the number three spot. The downtown Tucson restaurant has been serving healthy meals with no artificial ingredients for nearly a decade.

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The Uprooted Kitchen is located in Barnone and uses many ingredients from the nearby organic farm.

Chris Malloy

No. 14 - The Uprooted Kitchen

3000 E. Ray Road, Building 6, #105, Gilbert The first metro Phoenix spot on the list went to The Uprooted Kitchen in Gilbert. Coming in at number 14, this East Valley restaurant is located inside Barnone, a collection of businesses in Gilbert's Agritopia neighborhood. The neighborhood includes an organic farm, which provides many of the ingredients used in The Uprooted Kitchen's menu. Owned by Erin and Chad Romanoff, the company got its start as a food truck in 2012 before expanding into its permanent home.

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At UNiQ Burger, the Southwest Burger is topped with avocado, jalapenos, fried onion strings, spicy aioli and vegan cheese.

Allison Young

No. 33 - UNiQ Burger

7730 E. McDowell Road, #108-B, Scottsdale The number 33 spot on Yelp's list went to UNiQ Burger. This Scottsdale restaurant was number one in our hearts, and recently won the 2024 Best of Phoenix award for Best Vegan Restaurant. The business resides in a shopping center on the northwest corner of McDowell and Hayden roads in south Scottsdale. There, customers can pick up food from the drive-thru or enjoy their plant-based burgers and loaded fries in the dining room. The restaurant also serves vegan chicken sandwiches and nuggets along with salads.

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Order by the scoop at Desert Roots Kitchen.

Tirion Boan

No. 53 - Desert Roots Kitchen

414 S. Mill Ave. #111, Tempe For a cool and refreshing meal perfect for combatting the Arizona heat, lunch at Desert Roots Kitchen is a winning choice. This Tempe staple is tucked in the Courtyard Shops just off Mill Avenue and serves an ever-changing daily menu. This little spot has been serving students and Tempe visitors since 2012 and is one of our top 10 vegan spots in the Valley. We love perusing the glass case to see the day's selection of salads and pastas. Meals are served in single, double or triple scoops, so mix and match your way to a delicious plant-based meal.

Tirion Boan is the Food Editor of Phoenix New Times where she’s worked since May 2022. Tirion keeps a close eye on restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on metro Phoenix food news and trends. She also publishes major annual lists like Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the Best of Phoenix project. Tirion previously worked for publications including The Arizona Republic and The Tucson Weekly. She holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from the University of Arizona.

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