Orlando is a foodie’s haven with hundreds of concept restaurants, upscale chains, and local hotspots serving everything from surf-and-turf platters to classic Southern comfort food. If you’re on a strict vegan diet, you’ll find several vegan restaurants littering the Downtown Orlando and Thornton Park landscape. These dining venues beyond the tourist track serve vegan-friendly fare in a friendly neighborhood atmosphere — and some even offer kid-friendly menus and dessert options.
Here’s where you’ll find some of the best vegan restaurants in Orlando:
Ethos Vegan Kitchen
One of the most popular vegan restaurants in Orlando — drive by on any given day and you’ll see almost every table is full — Ethos serves up ”homestyle” vegan fare with menu offerings, such as Irish potato pancakes, a black bean burger, and their rendition of crab cakes made with chickpeas instead of crab meat. This is one of the few Orlando vegan restaurants with a kid’s menu, so head here when the little ones are in the mood for pasta, pizza, or a treat like the gluten-free Ethos Sundae.
Location:
601-B South New York Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 228-3898
Cafe 118 Degrees
When you’re looking for nutrient-dense food made with raw ingredients, head to Cafe 118 Degrees in Winter Park for creative concoctions like a shiitake mushroom ‘lasagna’ made with macadamia ricotta cheese and an herb pesto sauce, or the chile rellenos made with monta-raw jack cheese and mole sauce. This is Orlando’s ‘living cuisine cafe’ and also has its own juice and smoothie bar. My favorite smoothie here is the Sundae Drive, a blend of banana, cacao, walnut milk and hemp protein.
Location:
153 East Morse Boulevard
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 389-2233
Dandelion Communitea Cafe
If you’re in the mood for a quick snack or want to meet some friends for coffee and dessert, head to the Dandelion Communitea Cafe for freshly-prepared vegan baked goods and lighter fare. This Orlando vegan restaurant has developed a menu based on ‘flexitarian’ principles – a concept that promotes conscious consumption decisions to eat more whole foods. It’s the place for Henry’s Hearty Chili made with organic tempeh, black bean quesadillas made with vegan queso, and the sweet potato burrito. The kid’s menu here includes an almond butter and jelly sandwich and a grilled cheese sandwich made with organic dairy cheddar.
Location:
618 North Thornton Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 362-1864
Loving Hut
A local favorite for those following a plant-based diet, the Loving Hut is the place to treat your tastebuds to healthy Vietnamese food like summer rolls, tempura dishes made with soy protein, and sushi made with fried tofu. Everything is 100% vegan and you’ll even find healthy renditions of Western dishes like a club sandwich made with tofurkey ham and the aloha burger made with vegan patties and vegan mayonnaise. Don’t miss the buffet offerings from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Location:
2101 East Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 894-5673
