Cro Meg Cath sent this off just the other day and its pretty massive. This is chock full of great finds and makes me actually want to leave Niagara (just for a weekend though) and go down to NYC. If you have never been, then you have a sweet foundation to base some trips on. If you have and have some input, be sure to leave it in the comments section.

VEGAN NYC – Megan Catherine Duckworth

NEW YORK CITY is a goldmine of Vegan activity. In the six trips I’ve made to the city in my lifetime, I have come across a number of fine establishments that boast Vegan, Vegetarian, Fair-Trade, and Organic Cuisine. I’m no authority on NYC by any means, but I do like to eat food and find new places to do such, so here are some gems that are worth you reading about. There are so many that I haven’t even tried yet – and believe me, there’s dozens out there – but here are a few to get you started in the right direction.

LEGEND

COST $: Under $5 $$ $5 to $10 $$$ $10 to $15 $$$$ FANCY

1. WORTH THE TRIP If you don’t, you’re a fool.

2. Totally delicious; totally legit.

3. If you happen to come across it, sure.

LUNCH/DINNER

VIVA HERBAL PIZZERIA (LES) – 179 2nd Ave (AT 11th)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? You won’t find pizza quite like it. If you don’t at least check it out, you’re a fool.

I found this restaurant on a random search of the Internet before heading to NYC last summer, and it seemed awesome and worth checking out. What I didn’t know was that this place was coveted by the likes of every hardcore kid/band/otherwise on the lower east side. On my most recent trip this May for the Black and Blue Bowl, we headed over to the place afterwards for a slice. We were joined by the likes of John Joseph, Craig Ahead, Mike Dijan, Tim McMahon, and about thirty other post-show goers; so, other than getting a great slice of pizza, you never know who you’ll run into at this joint. As far as the pizza goes, there are about five to eight Vegan slices (obviously they don’t always have all of them out, all the time) that range from a classic Daiya cheese slice to mountain of greens (and believe me when I say mountain – these slices are usually about an inch in height) to meatball and red onion, to Seitan and veggies thrown in great amounts atop either spelt, cornmeal or whole wheat crust. Everything is organic and fresh – superbly unreal. Additionally, they carry many Vegan Deserts (cake slices, chocolate and pumpkin whoopee pies, brownies… you name it), Vegan iced cream and beverages. It’s the perfect place to hit up after a show – or just in general, because really, who needs an excuse to eat pizza?

CAFÉ VIVA GOURMET PIZZA – 2578 Broadway (at 97th)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP Totally delicious; totally legit.

I had been to the lower east side location of this pizza joint (however I am still unsure of the affiliation – I think they are owned/operated by the same people) and I was stoked to find 7 Vegan pizzas – so my excitement for this location had promise. There were about 5 Vegan pizzas at this location, however the prize gem was a Daiya slice (this is dated pre-Daiya hype) and it was delicious and cheesy like I have often dreamed about, on a thin crust – New York pizza, without you know, the animals and things. Like the LES location, they also have some deserts and things (although the LES location seems to have a better selection of both slices and treats). This location is small (maybe about 5 tables or so) but it’s definitely a sweet little spot (if you get off the 1 train at 96th, you can’t miss it on the East side of Broadway).

HARRY’S BURRITOS – 93 Ave A (at 6th)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? Vegan for free. Totally delicious; totally legit.

I stumbled across this joint with a non-Vegan friend, knowing that if nothing else, I could at least find something to eat that didn’t include cheese. What I didn’t know was that their vegetarian menu covered and entire page – of which they offered Vegan cheese and sour cream available by request (and at no extra charge). Our lunch came with a salad or a bowl of nachos & salsa (this stuff was made right then and there, and boy was it good), as well as a drink. We had burritos stuffed with beans, veggies and mounds of cheese – we were barely able to finish our meals, and it ended up being $10 a piece. We left stoked beyond belief that we had such an awesome meal for such a reasonable price. The fact that they are down with the Vegan is definitely a plus. This place is undoubtedly backed.

CARAVAN OF DREAMS – 405 East 6th Street (at 1st Ave.)

COST $$$ $10 to $15

WORTH THE TRIP? Hidden gem. Totally delicious; totally legit.

Again, this place has never revealed itself to me – despite the fact that I have walked past it probably a dozen times before. On my way to a different Vegan eatery, I recognized the place (the restaurant is inset and the porch shade with the name is hidden by trees) and decided to check it out instead. Everything about this restaurant is exceptional – worth the slightly higher price tag. Everything is organic and made in house, and their water is filtered 6 times… yep – it’s great. No refined sugars, oils, or baking ingredients; they aren’t kidding around. There are so many things on the menu that it’s really hard to decide, but the breakfast menu – complete with omelets, tofu scrambles and breakfast burritos – is a great place to start. On top of the fabulous meal itself, you also get a side house salad, freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee. Speaking of salad – the Caesar salad is incredible – filled with Kalamata olives, radishes, carrots, croutons and mixed greens (not to forget the damn good Caesar dressing), so definitely add it onto whatever you’re having. The friend I was eating with got a platter that came with the entrée of the day (sushi rolls); avocado, mango and radish slices, complimented with flax chips and placed on a mound of salad – it looked amazing. Everything on this menu is unique and incorporates fresh fruits and vegetables – moving away from a lot of the typically fried Vegan stuff that can be found elsewhere. Definitely recommended (Note: John Joseph approved). Go!

RED BAMBOO 140 West 4th Street (at 6th Ave.)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? Believe the hype. Totally delicious; totally legit.

Now, I know I just kinda slashed the whole fried Vegan food thing – but – if you are looking to get in on what everyone is talking about, I would grace you this exception. Red Bamboo is a New York Vegan classic. They say it’s Asian fusion meets soul food, but they have a little bit of everything that it seems really hard to be able to define it exactly. Let’s just get down to the favorites: Barbeque Wings – they taste like classic pub wings. If you miss real chicken wings, find reprieve with these bad boys. Seitan skewers – there’s only two of these ones, but damn are they good. If you’re looking for something light, grab the mini-burger. At just under $5, it’s topped with caramelized red onions, pickles, tomato and vegan mayo – another classic. One of my personal favorites is the sweet and sour chicken bites, which taste like fried chicken mixed in a pineapple sauce and come with assorted vegetables and lychees. Of course, everyone I have ever dined there with has his or her favorite too, so you should really just check it out for yourself.

SACRED CHOW – 227 Sullivan Street (at W. 3rd)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? My secret. If you don’t, you’re a fool.

I would like to think that I could take some credit for this one. Again, I came across this restaurant through an Internet search and decided to check it out. Everything about this place screams awesome – locally grown ingredients, fair-trade exotic ingredients, organic, vegan – you name it. Focusing on Tapas, Heroes and Salads, there is something delicious no matter what you like to eat. I am a huge fan of the Italian soy meatball sandwich that comes with, arguably, the best Caesar salad I have ever had (and would contest you will as well). I’ve seen lots of stuff come out of the kitchen, and none of it ever looks anything but amazing. As well, these guys are awesome in letting picky vegan girls create their own deserts (Blueberry brownie with ice cream – what?). Definitely recommended, definitely backed, and judging by the fact that when I suggest this restaurant to others as a possible alternative and no one knows what I’m talking about – you should get there before the hype beast eats it up too.

BUDDHA BODAI – 5 Mott Street (at Lower Bowery/Worth St.)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? If you happen to come across it, sure.

To be fair, I didn’t get to eat here in its entirety, but I did stop by for some iced cream during the Chinese New Year celebrations in February. Upon observing the menu, this place looks like a great little gem with some tasty dishes. They also have packaged stuff to take home for cooking, as well as iced cream – which you can buy a cup of on your way by. If you are ever out and about in Chinatown, I recommend trying this place out for yourself.

LAN CAFÉ – 342 E. 6th (at 1st Ave.)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? If you happen to come across it, sure.

Again, I didn’t get a chance to eat here either, but I’ve passed it several times on many visits to NYC, and I hope to get to it sometime soon. Vietnamese vegetarian – believe it or not – and it appears to be pretty standard, decent vegan fare. I’ve heard good things about this place, so again, definitely something to look out for.

QUINTESSENCE – 263 E. 10th street (at 1st Ave.)

COST $$$$ $ FANCY

WORTH THE TRIP? If you happen to come across it, sure.

On a trip to Little Atlas Café, the girl behind the counter highly recommended we check this place out. Unfortunately, when we got there, we realized that our wallets just couldn’t afford to humor our taste buds, so it was a no-go. While the place looks awesome, and boasts fresh raw menu selections, the cost (upwards of $15 to $20 an entrée) doesn’t seem to be worth the amount of food received (and upon closer inspection of the clientele, it appeared that this place was for fancy people with fancy bank accounts). I’m not writing this place off entirely, as it was highly recommended, but unless you’re sitting on some cash and don’t mind the splurge, you can probably find just as decent of a meal elsewhere.

TREATS/OTHER

LULA’S SWEET APOTHECARY – 516 E. 6th St. (at Ave. A)

COST $ Under $5

WORTH THE TRIP? Totally delicious; totally legit.

Did someone say Vegan soft-serve? Yep, believe it. This place is a little shop, hidden (like almost everything) on the LES, with the weirdness and charm to match. Set up like a small soda and candy shop, there are candy jars lining the walls filled with assorted vegan treats. There is also an ice cream bar, where you can choose from a variety of ice cream flavors – or, of course, you can also grab that soft serve goodness. This place offers a unique atmosphere, which is worth the trip, so check it out.

LITTLE ATLAS CAFÉ – W. 4th (at Broadway)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? You won’t escape for under $15. The best $15 you have spent on food in a long time. If you don’t, you’re a fool.

So this place is more or less a hole in the wall, but it is stacked with Vegan gold. I’m not even going to wait – eat the chocolate cake. While you’re at it, grab a whoopee pie, a sandwich, a smoothie and some packaged treats for later. They have a wall of packaged vegan food that’s great if you want something for later; as well as fresh sandwiches made to order. The girl behind the counter is also super nice and helpful, so going in here is always a pleasure. There’s a bench holding the front door open that you can sit at, otherwise there’s nowhere else to really hangout and eat, so it’s great for breakfast or lunch on the go.

THINK COFFEE – 123rd 4th Ave (at 12th)

COST $ Under $5

WORTH THE TRIP? If you come across it, sure.

This place is a pretty hip and fancy coffee house, but they do have an assortment of vegan treats and breakfast options. I grabbed a bagel with peanut butter (which for some reason is hard to come by in some delis in NYC) and was pleasantly surprised. I’m pretty sure they do all their own baking in house (or at least close by) because the bagel was certainly fresh, and the peanut butter was the good natural kind – not the processed stuff that we are all so used to. Barring being hit on by the hip staff, this place is great to check out if you’re looking for some Vegan breakfast in NYC.

WHOLE EARTH BAKERY & KITCHEN – 130 St. Marks Pl. (At 8th)

COST $ Under $5

WORTH THE TRIP? If you come across it, sure.

I stumbled across this place on a walk down St. Marks, and upon taking a peek I was impressed by the selection of Vegan treats lurking inside. Both food (lasagna, soups, chili, sandwiches, scrambles – you name it) and deserts (cinnamon buns, fruit bars, cupcakes, cake) with gluten, soy or wheat free alternatives. I was too stuffed from a previous Vegan eatery to be able to grab anything, but I think it’s safe to say you could grab anything from here and it would be awesome. Check it out.

HEALTH NUTS – 2611 Broadway (At 99th)

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? If you come across it, sure.

I came across this health food store when I was forced to walk to a different subway stop by the hostel I usually stay at. This place isn’t anything out of this world, it’s just a really good health food store stocked with tones of good things for Vegans. If you are hanging around NYC for more than a couple days and you want to cook some of your own food, this would be a great place to start, as they have fresh stuff too. If you end up near this place, stop by and take a look.

WHOLE FOODS

COST $$ $5 to $10

WORTH THE TRIP? If you come across it, sure.

I know everyone knows what Wholefoods is, but again, if you are staying in NYC for any extended periods of time, and/or you are just hungry and want to grab a decent snack, then one of these guys are helpful to have around. Off hand, there is one on the LES at Houston and the Bowery; as well, there is another in Union Square. There are more around the city – check out the website to pinpoint where one of these guys may be hiding.

STOGO ICED CREAM – 159 2nd Ave (at E. 10th)

COST $ Under $5

WORTH THE TRIP? This joint wins on personality alone. If you don’t, you’re a fool.

I first checked out this place last summer (the fact that it’s only about 30 seconds from Viva Herbal doesn’t hurt either), and this place is a total win. Not only do they use all organic ingredients, but they also have soy, hemp or coconut milk based ice creams to choose from (coconut wins, just in case you’re curious). There’s usually about 30 flavors on hand to choose from – and the staff is not shy in letting you test-drive the assortment. That’s the other thing I adore about this place – the staff. These guys are so stoked on life, that it totally amps the already awesome experience of buying and eating iced cream. Fun fact: on my most recent visit, after grabbing a slice of Viva Herbal, a friend and I ran over to get a scoop for desert – however, it was midnight and the place was closing. Just as the shop owner was locking the door for the night, she saw us frantically racing over – to which she said “are you guys wanting to come in here?” (to which of course we replied hopefully “uhh, yes … !”), to which she let us come in to grab our treasured treat. She was stoked, we were stoked – sorry, but that’s awesome. Backed. Get goin’!

SOME OTHER THINGS TO CHECK OUT Like I said, there are many more places I haven’t tried yet, so get out there. Here are some places you can go to if you’re heading to the big apple and want to try something else. These guys are on my to-do list:

ANGELICA KITCHEN

FOODSWINGS

VEGETARIAN PARADISE 2

HUMMUS PLACE

RAW SOUL

MAOZ VEGETARIAN

PEACEFOOD CAFE

And if you feel like finding something else on your own, try these:

VEGAN NYC

SUPER VEGAN

FRIENDS OF ANIMALS

MENU PAGES

HAPPY COW

VEGAN NYC.