Las Vegas named second best city in US for vegans and vegetarians. See who's No. 1.

From eu.rgj.com

As it turns out, they don't call themselves Las Vegans for nothing.

Las Vegas was named the second best city in the country for vegan and vegetarian food by Buycycle, a blog focused on all things cycling.

Buycycle based its study on plant-based restaurants per capita. Las Vegas, which has 507 vegan eateries, was beat only by Portland, Oregon, for density of meat-free food opportunities.

Forbes also named the Southern Nevada city as a top destination for vegan food last year, and WalletHub ranked Las Vegas high on its list of best vegan cities in the country in 2025.

Here's a look at Buycycle's list of the best vegan and vegetarian destinations in the country and what animal product-free restaurants locals recommend.

What are the most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly cities in the U.S.?

Buycycle's list of the most vegan and vegetarian eatery dense cities in the U.S. are ranked below.

It's worth noting Buycycle used the population of the urban cities within city limits, not the major metropolitan area. That means Las Vegas' population does not count Henderson, Paradise or the other various towns and unincorporated areas we commonly refer to as Las Vegas.

1. Portland, Oregon: 639 restaurants for a city with 622,882 population
2. Las Vegas: 507 restaurants, 665,640 population
3. San Francisco: 593 restaurants, 788,478 population
4. Seattle: 571 restaurants, 759,915 population
5. Atlanta: 366 restaurants, 514,465 population
6. Washington, D.C.: 420 restaurants 681,683 population
7. Denver: 438 restaurants, 716,234 population
8. Tampa, Florida: 244 restaurants, 408,510 population
9. Miami: 247 restaurants, 460,289 population
10. Minneapolis: 222 restaurants, 423,250 population
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Highly rated vegan and vegetarian restaurants on the Strip

• Crossroads Kitchen has been featured in Forbes, Yelp and City Cast Las Vegas for its vegan fine dining experience. According to Forbes, Crossroads, which is in Resorts World, is the first ever fully plant-based upscale restaurant. The menu features vegan caviar, grilled lion's mane steak and eggplant filet. Location: 3000 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
• Sinatra is one of the restaurants in the Wynn that was highlighted on Las Vegas Reddit boards as the casino with the best vegan options, as long as visitors are OK with a more expensive experience. Sinatra offers various plant-based options including a vegan chick'n parmesan and mushroom agnolotti. Location: 3131 Las Vegas Blvd.
• Din Tai Fung in the Aria offers vegan buns, vegan wonton soup and a variety of vegan greens. Din Tai Fung was named in Yelp's vegan fine dining in Las Vegas list and featured in Conde Nast Traveler. Location: 3730 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
• Truth & Tonic in the Venetian has options including vegan banh mi sandwiches and red lentil hummus toast. The restaurant was featured in Las Vegas Restaurant Week and Visit Las Vegas. Location: 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Level 4, follow the signs for the Canyon Ranch Spa.
• Slice of Vegas in the Mandalay Bay has a full vegan menu that has typical pizzeria bar food like buffalo cauliflower bites and half Sicilian non-meat lovers pizza. Slice of Vegas was mentioned on Reddit and Vegas Means Business. Location: 3930 Las Vegas Blvd., Suite 120.
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What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian?

A vegetarian does not eat the flesh of an animal, but may eat animal by-products such as milk, cheese or eggs. Vegans do not eat animal flesh or any animal by-products.

https://eu.rgj.com/story/life/food/2025/02/17/what-u-s-city-has-the-most-vegan-vegetarian-restaurants-per-capita/78472222007/ 

Vegan Copycat Fast Food Fish Filets Are A Breeze With Pinky Cole Hayes' Tips

From mashed.com

When it comes to finding a vegan alternative for a beef burger, many fast food chains have stepped up their game, like Burger King offering an Impossible Whopper. Since fish burgers aren't quite as ubiquitous as beef burgers at fast food joints, however, plant-based diners may not have yet found a vegan version of their seafood-based favourite. It can be challenging to know which items are truly vegan on a fast food menu without reading all of the fine print — as just one example, several fast food joints serve up non-vegan french fries. That's why the solution for many plant-based diners is to simply make their own copycat version of their old favourites, and the experts can help. Slutty Vegan's CEO and founder, Pinky Cole Hayes, gave Mashed some insight on how to make vegan fish filets that you'll swear are straight from the fast food fryer — and the secret ingredient is one you might not have thought of.

                                             Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency

"You can get hearts of palm, bread it, and make it a vegan fish patty," she explained. Cole Hayes confessed that she has a bit of a soft spot for vegan copycat fish filets because of how often she enjoyed fish filets when she was a pescatarian and not yet a vegan. She suggested pairing the homemade patty with a vegan brioche bun, vegan cheese (Violife is the particular brand she recommended), and homemade vegan tartar sauce.

The versatility of hearts of palm

                                            The Washington Post/Getty Images

You may have seen canned hearts of palm on grocery store shelves, or if you often eat plant-based, you might have even tried them once or twice. For those who aren't familiar with what hearts of palm are or what they taste like, they have a relatively mild, delicate flavour and tender texture, making them an ideal fish substitute. They're also firm enough that they won't fall apart when you're breading them, which can sometimes be a risk for very thin fish filets.

When you're making a copycat fish filet, you'll likely want to cut your hearts of palm into larger circles that look a bit like fish patties, which you can then position atop burger buns. However, hearts of palm can also be used to create copycat versions of dishes like fish sticks if they're sliced lengthwise, so there are plenty of options with the versatile ingredient. Plus, their mild flavour means they'll pair beautifully with all the toppings and sauces you want to put on your fish burger — you can create a spicy fish filet, a veggie-forward version, or whatever else you prefer.

Any plant-based food aficionados who find themselves in Las Vegas in October may run into Pinky Cole Hayes while she's participating in the Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency, although instead of a vegan take on fish filets, she'll be sharing her signature Fussy Hussy burger.

https://www.mashed.com/1676688/vegan-copycat-fast-food-fish-filets-expert/

Las Vegas Restaurant Makes a Splash on PETA’s ‘Roll’ Call of the Best Vegan Sushi

From peta.org

Las Vegas – Ahead of Fish Amnesty Day (September 28), PETA has named the Top Vegan Sushi in the U.S., and Las Vegas’ own Daikon Vegan Sushi has nabbed a spot in the top 10 with its mouth-watering Yellow Magic Roll. The delectable roll features pickled carrots, avocado, and jackfruit salad topped with roasted yellow peppers, pineapple sauce, and furikake. In addition to its wide variety of fish-free sushi, the vegan restaurant offers fried rice, miso soup, ramen, and more. 

                                                          Daikon Vegan Sushi’s Yellow Magic Roll. Credit: Daikon Vegan Sushi

“Daikon Vegan Sushi is making waves with a magical veggie-packed roll that will delight even the most discerning sushi lover,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “All the animal-friendly sushi rolls on PETA’s list prove that fabulous food and kindness to fish go hand in fin.”

PETA introduced Fish Amnesty Day in 1997 to encourage kindness to fish, who feel pain, have long memories, sing to each other, share knowledge, and have cultural traditions. Some fish can recognize themselves in a mirror, and others woo potential partners by creating intricate works of art in the sand on the ocean floor. Yet more fish are killed for food each year than all other animals combined. Each person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals every year, dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint, and avoids ingesting the many toxic chemicals found in the flesh of fish, including mercury, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help those looking to make the switch.

Other vegan sushi rolls on PETA’s list include the Love in the Edo roll at Wellness Sushi in Denver, the Spicy Jackfruit Crab roll at Beyond Sushi in New York City, and the Amakara Roll at The Yasai by RakiRaki in San Diego.

https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/las-vegas-restaurant-makes-a-splash-on-petas-roll-call-of-the-best-vegan-sushi/ 

The Top Vegan Cities in the US

From vegoutmag.com

Book your flight now to one of these vegan-friendly cities! 

Need a weekend away? Book your flight now to one of the top vegan cities in the US! Catch a show, browse the museums, and hit all the tourist sights. You’re sure to enjoy a wide selection of vegan eats during your stay.

Los Angeles, CA

Consistently ranked as one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the US, Los Angeles is the place to go for plant-based eats! Whether your cravings are for tacos, burgers, sushi, or pasta, you have a variety of options to choose from. Looking to support women-owned restaurants? Try Hey, Sunshine Kitchen; Pura Vita; and Little Barn Coffee House to start. Want to uplift Black-owned businesses? We suggest Coffee and Plants; Hart House; Berbere; and more.

New York, NY

NYC never looked so good! This vegan hot spot not only boasts plant-based eats, but also offers a number of vegan-friendly sustainable hotels. From 1 Hotel Central Park to citizenM Times Square, you can rest in planet-conscious comfort while exploring the town. Might we suggest starting your vacation food journey with pasta? Try Soda Club. Or maybe you prefer burgers, pizza, cookies, or bagels. No worries! They’ve got all of that and more!

                                                                                COURTESY OF SODA CLUB

Atlanta, GA

From gluten-free stir-fries to elevated plant-based dining, Atlanta knows where it’s at when it comes to vegan eats! We’re talking Stir House, PLANTA, La Semilla, and more. And let’s not forget the area’s own Slutty Vegan. There you will find burgers like the One Night Stand, Dancehall Queen, Fussy Hussy, and beyond. Want to have a little plant-based fun? Use the “10 Black-Owned Vegan Restaurants to Support in Atlanta” as your bucket list while you’re there.

Portland, OR

What’s not to love about 100% plant-based ice cream, craft cocktails, vegan caviar, and more? Whether you are searching for brunch or dinner and drinks, Portland has what you need. Check out Vertical Diner, Fermenter, and Blossoming Lotus, among others. In addition to all-vegan eateries, you will find a wide selection of vegan-friendly mainstream spots like Salt & Straw! Vegan cities for the win!

Austin, TX

One of our favourite vegan cities is Austin. The famously rebellious, quirky Texas town offers a plethora of vegan options. From restaurants and food trucks to a vegan Queer-owned bar and nightclub called Cheer Up Charlies, this city can’t be beat. We’re especially loving Casa De Luz, a vegan sanctuary right in the middle of Texas, offering communal macrobiotic meals, meditation, and more. And hat tip while we’re at it to University of Texas Austin. Half of all meals served there are now 100% plant-based!

                                                                                         COURTESY OF CASA DE LUZ

Philadelphia, PA

You will find more in Philly than just vegan cheesesteaks! The city offers some great brunch spots like Bar Bombón, Fitz on 4th, and Primary Plant Based. Or grab an ice cream at Van Leeuwen or Scoop DeVille. Of special note is that Philadelphia has recently been home to plant-based product testing such as Oatly’s new cream cheese! Before you catch your flight back home, be sure to pick up some vegan donuts from Dottie’s Donuts.

Las Vegas, NV

Check out our Guide to Vegan Dining at Las Vegas Resorts if you’re headed to Caesars, the Bellagio, or Mandalay Bay. At The Venetian, be sure to hit up Truth & Tonic. They offer frittatas, smoothies, wraps, and other nutrient-dense picks. At Resorts World, head to LA’s own Crossroads for Fusilli Pesto, Spaghetti Carbonara, Tagliatelle Bolognese, and more. There are also numerous vegan restaurants located off the strip, such as Chef Kenny’s, The Modern Vegan, and Plant Power Fast Food.

https://vegoutmag.com/travel/top-vegan-cities-in-the-us/