The vegan food scene in Dallas has evolved beyond legumes and seaweed and fried tofu (although, those things are still fun to eat) and have reached a new, robust, adventurous, even, state of plant-based dining. There is Tex-Mex and bakeries and late-night options. There’s American comfort food and Chinese and Thai. It’s no longer just in Uptown and Oak Lawn, either. Restaurants span from South Dallas to East Dallas. There are plenty of vegan options to choose from, so get to it.
Bam’s Vegan
Brandon Waller started Bam’s Vegan at the Dallas Farmer’s Market, and it’s grown into a Dallas vegan classic. Customer favorites include jackfruit nachos and tacos, and wraps loaded with vegan mac and cheese and veggies. 2301 N. O’Connor Rd., Irving.
El Palote Panaderia
Vegan Mexican food. Yup. You read that correctly. People love this place. We love this place, too. Soy taco filling-styles include al pastor, bistec, and carne guisada. There’s also tortas, burritos, flautas, and enchilada. Bonus: there’s an on-site bakery. 2537 S. Buckner Blvd.
Kalachandji’s
Former D Magazine dining critic Eve Hill-Agnus writes of the Hare Krishna temple and vegetarian restaurant (which offers vegan-friendly options that lean Indian): “Kalachandji’s is perhaps best known for its restaurant, one of the city’s treasured spots for vegetarian fare. Cooking classes, held in three seasonal sequences of eight classes per year, are another way they gently spread the gospel of vegetarianism.” Good food and cooking classes. There you have it. 5430 Gurley Ave.
Maiden
If you care to venture to Fort Worth, Maiden will surely take care of you in the fine dining aspect. Maiden comes from Amy McNutt and James M. Johnson, the couple who owns Spiral Diner & Bakery. At Maiden, they’ve curated a vegan tasting menu that changes “with every solstice and equinox.” And it’s a menu we really love. 1216 Sixth Ave., Fort Worth.
Nature’s Plate
Five words: to-go plant-based food. Five more words: way fun meal-prep classes. And five more words: you should check it out. Sorry, that was terrible. I’m done. But yeah, this vegan spot, which is located in a Lake Highlands shopping center, is worth visiting. Plus, they have a ton of gluten-free options. 10233 E. Northwest Hwy., Ste. 432.
Recipe Oak Cliff
Dining options at this Cedar Crest restaurant are limited, but worth a try. They offer a juice bar with fresh-squeezed fruits and vegetables. We recommend the sweet and tangy pulled jackfruit sandwich, dusted with chile, onion, garlic paprika, and liquid smoked, squished between house-made apple-and-flaxseed bread. You can read more about it here. But honestly, just go try it for yourself.
Spiral Diner & Bakery
We’ve probably written about this place a bazillion times, and for good reason: it slays. Spiral Diner has been serving vegan comfort food since 2002. And we hope they continue to do so for, at least, a century longer. The Oak Cliff location closed in 2022, but luckily there are two other North Texas locations: the OG in Fort Worth and another in Denton. Some favorites off the menu: loaded nachos, the pickle sandwich (weird, we know, but trust us), the All Raw Salad with walnut vinaigrette dressing, and arguably the best vegan mac and cheese in Dallas. (Sorry to everybody else on this list.) 1314 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth; 608 E. Hickory St., Ste. 100., Denton.
TLC Vegan Café
Chef Troy Gardner—formerly of V-Eats in Trinity Groves—leads the kitchen of TLC Vegan Café in Richardson. The restaurant comes from TLC Vegan Kitchen, the ghost kitchen concept from Gardner that operated out of Garland. TLC stands for “tastes like chicken,” which stems from his popular oyster mushrooms, which do indeed taste like chicken. Also on the menu: chicken fried steak, chocolate lava cake, and lasagna. All. Vegan. (P.S. Inside TLC Vegan Cafe—for online orders only—is World Party Pizza Co., an all-vegan pizza concept. The menu overlaps with TLC Vegan Cafe’s, so you’ll find items such as the Sausage and Mushroom and the Pig-less Pepperoni pizzas.) 1930 N. Coit Rd., Ste. 140, Richardson.
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