The new kids on the block are redefining what it means to follow a plant-based diet, creating spins on healthy dishes as well as fast food and comfort options unlike any other. These restaurants join a host of longtime essential spots that have been serving vegan and vegetarian customers for years. New and old, they come together to create a vibrant plant-based dining community across the Valley.
Featuring menus packed with excellent and enticing options, these 10 vegan restaurants offer some of the best food in town, sure to please everyone — omnivores and herbivores alike.
The Coronado
2245 N. 12th St. The Coronado is a classic spot that has been serving delicious plant-based eats for years, but not always in the same place. The original location opened on Seventh Street in 2015 and served customers from its tiny bungalow before moving to bigger digs in its namesake neighborhood just a few streets east. For breakfast, fill up on a short stack of pancakes with vegan butter and maple syrup or a savory burrito loaded with tofu scramble. At dinner time, add a delicious cocktail to your order. Settle into one of the cozy tables inside or sip on a spicy margarita on the patio in the evening. Bonus: The Coronado also has a connected coffee shop and bakery called Dark Hall Coffee that serves strong coffee and some of the tastiest vegan pastries in the Valley. Stop in after breakfast or lunch at The Coronado for some cookies and desserts to take home.
The Vegan Napoleon Dynamite is a hearty burrito filled with Beyond carne asada and tater tots.
Tirion Boan
Dilla Libre
1339 E. Northern Ave.
8018 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale
Quesadillas and lucha libre are the name of the game at this locally owned restaurant. Admire the artwork and memorabilia from colorful wrestlers as you peruse the double-sided menu. One side features completely vegan options, while the other offers meat- and cheese-filled plates, making Dilla Libre the perfect destination for a group of friends or family with mixed diets. In the quesadillas, the vegan cheese seems almost impossibly melty and gooey. The cauliflower wings give a strong Buffalo sauce kick, and the burritos come packed with hearty fillings such as fries and tater tots. For something a little outside of the Mexican food realm, try the Papa Thai'd, a unique creation stuffed with potatoes, serrano chiles, grilled onions, sweet chile sauce, Thai basil and mint.
Early Bird Vegan
2152 E. Broadway Road, TempeEarly Bird Vegan is the brick-and-mortar cafe from Trash Panda Vegan food truck owner Krystal Harris. The breakfast and lunch spot serves plant-based versions of comforting sandwiches, bowls and baked goods from its cafe and kitchen inside the Sonoran University of Health Sciences. Don’t let that throw you off – access is easy, thanks to complimentary parking behind the building and ample seating inside and out. The chef, who has served professional basketball players, made a name for the cafe with the Famous Dr. J breakfast sandwich, but lunch has plenty of stars as well, including the Crispy Mushroom Tenders & Mac Bowl. Local mushrooms meet the deep fryer and take on an almost chicken-fried consistency, with a crisp exertion and tender, meaty core. In addition to its weekday breakfast and lunch service, Early Bird is open for weekend brunch and hosts occasional ticketed dinner events, which the restaurant promotes on its social media. 
Earth Plant Based Cuisine
1325 Grand Ave., #7
Goji Berry Eatery & Bakery
1325 Grand Ave. #8While Goji Berry Eatery & Bakery is physically connected to Earth Plant Based Cuisine, this Grand Avenue spot has an entirely unique menu. Decorated with greenery, woven basket light shades and floral wallpaper, this light and airy cafe is a pretty place to grab a coffee. The menu includes a wide selection of lattes and matcha drinks, along with colorful smoothies blended with fresh fruit and coconut cream. A stacked pastry case looks like a jewelry box filled with gorgeous fruit-topped croissants, cakes and cookies. If you get hungry while reading, chatting or working at this cute cafe, the food menu includes sandwiches, mac and cheese, salads and more. Got a birthday coming up? This bakery makes intricately decorated vegan specialty cakes to celebrate. Everything, from the creme-filled croissants to the mac and cheese, is 100% plant-based.
Vegan versions of backyard classics like burgers and wings are available at Green New American Vegetarian.
Jacob Tyler Dunn
Green New American Vegetarian
2022 N. Seventh St.
2240 N. Scottsdale Road, #113, Tempe
If you are following a plant-based diet but really miss your favorite fast food burger, Green New American Vegetarian has got you covered. Head to either of the restaurant's Phoenix or Tempe locations and order a Big Wac, which the menu describes as "two hand-packed patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun." This burger is a straight-up cravings satisfaction. Pair your sandwich selection with one of three loaded fries flavors, or savor some mock crab puffs.
Nami
2014 N. Seventh St.The big draw at Nami, the sibling cafe to Green New American Restaurant, is its tSoynami soft serve stirred up with cookies, peanut butter, fresh fruit and more. But don’t sleep on the rest of this all-day vegan cafe’s menu, which includes coffee, pastries and a slate of breakfast dishes. Diners can choose from breakfast sandwiches, bagels, yogurt parfaits and burritos until 10:30 a.m., but a selection of those wraps is available until 2 p.m. For a surprising take on a classic, try the Hot Mess Burrito. It starts with a traditional foundation: scrambled tofu, homestyle potatoes, melted cheddar and spicy Beyond Sausage that’s been split and griddled. Before it’s wrapped and toasted, this burrito is dressed with a smoky dill pickle aioli. The pickle chips in the burrito are a quirky surprise, but they work by adding some brightness and crunch. Before you leave the cafe, grab a sweet treat, like the Oatmeal Cream Pie. In this ode to the nostalgic packaged treats, two housemade, cinnamon-scented cookies are sandwiched with vanilla icing.
Tacos Veganos
3301 E. Indian School Road
1579 N. Dysart Road, Avondale
When Tacos Veganos opened on Indian School Road, replacing another vegan restaurant that closed in late 2022, it already had a loyal following from its earlier days as a food truck. Then it brought its plant-based eats to more fans with a new location in Avondale. Both serve an impressive menu of Mexican street food favorites and taqueria staples. Fillings for tacos, burritos, mulitas, sopes and tortas include vegan versions of al pastor, carne asada, birria, chicken and chorizo. The tortillas are soft, the spicy salsas are on point and the vegan refried beans are smooth, salty and satisfying. Wash it all down with a bottled soda, agua fresca, Modelo, or extravagant michelada at this bright and modern counter-service spot. 1579 N. Dysart Road, Avondale
Uniq Burger
7730 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale
Tucked into a strip mall anchored by a Fry's supermarket in Scottsdale, Uniq Burger is a destination of its own. Walk into this new restaurant and the color strikes you — everything, including the walls, tables, chairs, and counter is painted pitch black. The color here comes from the food. Order the Southwest Burger for a spicy jalapeno-topped lunch, or take a trip to the tropics with the Paradise Burger, complete with a slice of grilled pineapple and Teriyaki sauce. The burgers and sandwiches come a la carte and are best paired with an order of loaded fries. Pick between regular or sweet potato base smothered with heaps of melty vegan cheese and tasty fixings. This little burger joint also offers a few local beers on tap to complete your meal.
Vegan and Vine
502 E. Thunderbird Road
A lot of the vegan and vegetarian restaurants around town serve lunch and dinner. But Vegan and Vine is an all-day affair, complete with a buzzy brunch service. Stop by on a weekend morning for mimosas, tofu scrambles and breakfast pizza. Later in the day, the menu switches over to selections of pizza, salads and sandwiches that pair perfectly with a glass of wine. The restaurant is located in north Phoenix's Moon Valley shopping center and boasts a cute brick exterior and a bright, sunny dining room. The coffee is strong, the burritos are hearty and the staff is friendly at this plant-based neighborhood hangout. Grab some cookies on your way out.
