Atlanta is one of the biggest cities in the Southeast and is quickly becoming a magnet for awesome vegan restaurants. Currently, ATL is ranked as one of the top ten cities for vegans in the United States! There’s an ever-growing list of excellent vegan food throughout the city.
Whether you’re looking for vegan BBQ, plant-based hibachi, vegan desserts, vegan soul food, or just a great vegan burger, Atlanta has just about everything you could ever ask for.
Plus, there are tons of locally-owned grocery stores and specialty stores that offer a range of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Atlanta for a five-day trip with my boyfriend and one of our good friends. As usual, we made a point to check out some of the city’s top-rated vegan restaurants.
Today, I’m going to show you guys some of the best vegan food in Atlanta, based on my recent trip!
Is Atlanta Good For Vegans?
Atlanta is right in the middle of Georgia – this state is known for being a bit “behind the times” and not very accepting of vegans (or anybody else they deem as “snowflakes”).
Unlike the rest of the state, though, Atlanta is one of the most progressive, vegan-friendly cities on the entire East Coast!
In fact, a recent survey by WalletHub ranked Atlanta as the sixth-best city in the United States for vegans. This ranking was given based on a number of different factors, including:
- The number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the city.
- The percentage of residents who are vegan.
- The average cost of food at vegan restaurants compared to non-vegan restaurants.
- The amount of healthy, veg-friendly grocery stores in the city.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Atlanta is the best vegan-friendly city in the South. Everywhere you go, you’ll find new vegan restaurants popping up, and there are literally hundreds of non-vegan restaurants that offer vegan-friendly foods on their menu as well.
The Best Vegan Food In Atlanta To Try In 2024
Before coming to Atlanta, I had the opportunity to try some of the best vegan food in Boston. However, I’d say that the food I had in Atlanta was just as good as (if not better than) the vegan cuisine I tasted up North!
With that in mind, here is where to find the best vegan food in Atlanta this year!
1) Herban Fix
- Website: http://herbanfix.com/
- Location: 565 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
- Favorite Dish: Spicy Ramen Noodles With Soy Shrimp
Herban Fix is one of the best upscale vegan restaurants in Atlanta! It’s the latest project by Chef Wendy Chang, a Taiwan-born chef who immigrated to Atlanta when she was seventeen and who currently owns several other massively successful restaurants.
Chang’s vision with Herban Fix was to show people that vegan food can be both incredibly healthy and incredibly delicious.
She takes a fine-dining approach to all of the dishes on the menu, and you’ll find artistic interpretations of your favorite vegan dishes as well as some garden-fresh creations that rotate around seasonal availability.
Herban Fix primarily focuses on pan-Asian food. They offer popular noodle dishes like Ramen, Pad Thai, and Pho, as well as tofu, soups, spring rolls, glazed mushroom dishes, and salads.
When we went, I got the Spicy Ramen Noodles With Soy Shrimp. I loved the savory meat-free broth and the flavor of the spicy chili!
2) SluttyVegan
- Website: https://sluttyveganatl.com/
- Location: 1542 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
- Favorite Dish: Sloppy Toppy Vegan Burger
SluttyVegan is easily one of the best vegan burger joints that I’ve ever been to! Their creations are unlike anything else that I’ve ever experienced.
The theme of the restaurant is very 18+, and all of the menu items are very sexual, so I wouldn’t recommend bringing young kids here. For adults, though, the jokes are just as good as the food.
Unlike most vegan restaurants I’ve been to that serve a wide range of food, SluttyVegan only sells plant-based burgers and plant-based fried chicken sandwiches.
I got the Sloppy Toppy, which features an extra-large patty topped with jalapenos, caramelized onions, vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, and their famous “Slut Sauce,” all on top of a sweet Hawaiian bun.
My boyfriend got the Hollywood Hooker, which is their take on a vegan cheesesteak sub. Both of us absolutely loved our food, and the vibe was awesome.
3) Tassili’s Raw Reality Vegan Cafe
- Website: https://www.tassilisrawreality.com/
- Location: 1059 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30310
- Favorite Dish: Punany Wrap
If you’re on the raw vegan diet, then Tassili’s Raw Reality Vegan Cafe is an awesome little lunch spot to check out! This quaint little restaurant is locally owned and operated and offers a variety of wraps, vegan snacks, and small sides, including salads, noodles, and okra.
If you’re not familiar with raw vegan food, the concept is simple – all of the food is uncooked, and everything is made using raw ingredients.
Of course, there are a few cooked items on the menu (such as rice and noodles), but the majority of the menu caters to those on a raw vegan diet.
When I went, I grabbed the Punany Wrap with a side of Curried Plantains. The wrap is made with a whole wheat tortilla wrap and stuffed with spicy kale salad, soy-based mayo, coconut corn, couscous, avocado, and sun-dried tomatoes.
None of the dishes at Tassili’s are very protein-heavy, but if you’re just looking for a quick, healthy, raw veggie snack, then you can’t go wrong!
4) Grass VBQ Joint
- Website: https://grassvbqjoint.com/
- Location: 1318 Sylvan Rd SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
- Favorite Dish: Nashville Hot Chic’n Sandwich
If you like vegan BBQ, then Grass VBQ Joint offers some of the best-tasting VBQ that I’ve ever had. They currently operate as a food truck and also cater events as well.
The founder, Chef Terry, has over twenty years of cooking experience and started Grass VBQ Joint after he made the choice to go vegan.
Shortly thereafter, he opened Atlanta’s first vegan BBQ restaurant! Just last year, he was voted as the Chef of the Year by Southern Living magazine, which is unprecedented seeing as he only cooks vegan food.
When we went, I got the Nashville Hot Chic’n Sandwich, which features a thick vegan chicken patty tossed in smoky spicy seasoning sauce, topped with mustard aioli, and pickles, and placed on a delicious vegan brioche bun.
They also have some incredibly delicious vegan soy wings as well! Chef Terry makes all of his sauces in-house, using vegan ingredients to replicate the same delicious BBQ sauces that he grew up eating with his family.
5) Asian Vegan Kitchen
- Website: https://asianvegankitchen.com/
- Location: 800 Forrest St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
- Favorite Dish: Spicy Basil Fried Rice
If you like vegan Thai food, then Asian Vegan Kitchen has some of the best in the ATL! Thai food naturally lends itself to vegan cooking, thanks to its focus on using rice, noodles, fresh vegetables, and herbs.
The only difference between vegan and non-vegan Thai is that vegan Thai is 100% meat and dairy-free.
Asian Vegan Kitchen is a no-frills eatery that has a relaxed, clean eating environment. They also offer takeout and delivery if you’re just looking for a quick bite.
I got the Spicy Basil Fried Rice as my main course and ordered a side of coconut soup as an appetizer.
The Spicy Basil Fried Rice is made with stir-fried rice, carrots, basil leaf, broccoli, onions, and bell peppers, and is topped with a fiery-hot Thai chili paste that lit my tongue on fire (something I enjoy all too much). The coconut soup was also quite delicious and not too filling.
In addition to rice-based dishes, they also serve a number of great-tasting noodle dishes, such as Pad Thai, Ramen, and Udon!
Where’s The Best Late-Night Vegan Food In Atlanta?
Atlanta has a lot of late-night eateries, but most of them aren’t vegan. Slutty Vegan ATL is open till 12 am (midnight) all weekend, which makes it a great place for a late-night snack while you’re out bar-hopping at one of Atlanta’s many vegan-friendly bars.
The juicy, fatty burgers are just what you need to satisfy your deepest hunger cravings!
What Is The Best Upscale Vegan Restaurant In Atlanta?
If you’re looking for an upscale vibe where you can really impress your date (or business client), then you can’t go wrong with Herban Fix. It’s a little on the pricey side, but the attention to detail, flavor of the food, and service are nothing short of excellent.
Conclusion – What’s The Best Vegan Restaurant In Atlanta?
If I had to pick, I’d say that Grass Vegan VBQ is the best vegan restaurant in Atlanta! The flavor of the food and Chef Terry’s homemade BBQ sauces really sealed the deal. It’s easy to see why he was awarded Chef of the Year by Southern Living.
To learn more about BBQ sauce and what makes vegan BBQ sauce different from traditional BBQ sauces, be sure to check out my latest post on vegan BBQ sauce ingredients!
