Metro Detroit’s best breakfast & brunch spots for vegans

Start your day on a delicious note at one of these restaurants serving up Detroit’s best vegan breakfast and brunch dishes. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and brunch is arguably the most fun. And fortunately for vegans (or those who are trying to reduce their consumption of animal products) in Metro Detroit, there are now plenty of places to enjoy these meals. From plant-based pancakes and waffles to breakfast burritos and sandwiches, the Motor City is home to many restaurants serving up all sorts of mouthwatering vegan bites. 

Continue reading to discover the Detroit area restaurants with the best vegan breakfast and brunch dishes.

Bobcat Bonnie’s

Multiple locations

Photo courtesy of Bobcat Bonnie’s via Instagram.

For a lively brunch atmosphere with a build-your-own Bloody Mary and mimosa bar and plenty of vegan comfort food, head to one of Bobcat Bonnie’s several Detroit-area locations. The restaurant’s brunch menu is fairly extensive and features vegan versions of many items.

For example, non-vegan brunch goers can enjoy Bobcat Bonnie’s popular Uncle Jesse dish (house potatoes, ham, bacon, sausage, cheddar cheese, and two fried eggs), and those avoiding animal products can order the Vegan Uncle Jesse (house potatoes, vegan sausage, vegan cheddar, and a tofu scramble). 

Some other plant-based options include the Vegan Chick’n Avo sandwich, the Vegan Big Burrito, and the Vegan Spicy Hash. For dessert, try a flight of Cereal Shooters (the Cap’n Crunch and Fruity Pebbles shooters are vegan). 

Weekend brunch at Bobcat Bonnie’s runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

Ferndale Project

567 Livernois St., Ferndale

Photo courtesy of Ferndale Project via Instagram.

Ferndale Project—a laid back beer hall with tons of unique brews and cozy comfort food to pair with them—is the ideal location for weekend brunch. 

Of the three starters on the brunch menu, one is vegan (Sriracha Aioli Potatoes) and one can be modified to be vegan (Ferndale Hash). When it comes to entrees, the NY-BLT Sammy is vegan, and the breakfast burrito and brunch burger can be made vegan. There’s even a plant-based grilled cheese option on the kids menu. If you prefer something sweet, Dooped Donuts are also available (we’ll talk more about this fully vegan donut spot later in this post). 

For those who prefer caffeine instead of alcohol with their brunch, Ferndale Project has an expansive coffee menu, and several of the house syrups (including lavender and rose) are vegan. 

Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Spacecat V-stro

255 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale

Photo courtesy of Spacecat V-stro via Instagram.

Spacecat V-stro in Ferndale dishes out vegan and vegetarian comfort food that’s out of this world. Some standouts from the brunch menu include the Chkn and Waffle Sandwich, the Spacecat Purrito, Brunch Quesadilla, and the Spacecat Brunch Salad.

All proteins (chkn, sausage, burmese tofu, and seitan) and sauces are all homemade. End things on a sweet note with a slice of Cinnamon Chocolate Coffee Cake or an order of Salted Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

Spacecat V-stro is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The Fly Trap

22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale

Photo courtesy of The Fly Trap: a finer diner via Instagram.

The Fly Trap—a self-proclaimed “finer diner” featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”—is a great option for a casual breakfast for a weekday brunch. 

There are tons of vegetarian options on the menu, all of which can be made vegan (except the Mac Loves Cheese). If you have a sweet tooth, try the Gingerbread Waffles, served with sautéed apples, cherries, and cinnamon syrup, or for a savory bite, get the Tempting Tempeh burger.

The Fly Trap is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Public House

241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale

Photo courtesy of Public House via Instagram.

If you’d rather not think about modifying menu items to make them vegan, plan to dine at Public House, a casual-chic gastropub that has a dedicated vegan kitchen and brunch menu. 

There’s classic brunch dishes like the Cajun “Shrimp” Benny, served on an English muffin, and the “Sausage Egg n Cheez Sandwich, made with JUST Egg and Beyond Meat sausage patty. Lighter bites include the Vegan Garden Scramble (JUST egg, zucchini, roasted fennel, onion, white cheddar, chives, and fingerling potatoes) and a sweeter standout is Birthday Cake, cinnamon swirl bread topped with whip cream and sprinkles.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the gorgeous garden patio with a flower wall that makes the perfect backdrop for post-brunch selfies. 

Public House hosts weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ⁠

Ale Mary’s Beer Hall

316 S. Main St., Royal Oak

Photo courtesy of Ale Mary’s Beer Hall Royal Oak via Instagram.

Don’t let the name fool you—Ale Mary’s Beer Hall serves much more than beer and bar bites. Ale Mary’s also has a dedicated vegan brunch menu with tons of tasty dishes. 

Start with an order of the Buffalo Cauliflower, served with vegan ranch, or Chili Cheese Fries, topped with Follow Your Heart cheese sauce and Impossible Foods chili. 

Some entrée options include Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast (cinnamon raisin bread French toast with a cinnamon toast crunch crust) and the McMary Impossible Burger (vegan Thousand Island dressing, McClure’s pickle chips, lettuce, and Follow Your Heart provolone).

If you save room for dessert (you should!), try one of the many vegan shakes. The Cookie Monster features vegan ice cream topped with a chocolate chip cookie served in a cookie-crusted glass. The Cotton Candy is vegan vanilla ice cream and whipped cream topped with cotton candy and has a candied rim. 

Ale Mary’s serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Honest John’s

488 Selden St., Detroit

Honest John’s might be known as one of Detroit’s best last night spots, but don’t sleep on its brunch offerings. Breakfast is served all day at this greasy spoon, and the plant-based offerings are plentiful. There’s a vegan scramble and a breakfast sandwich that can be made vegan. The French toast (vegan Texas toast, coconut cream, orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg) is a must-try. 

The chicken tender basket and burger can also be veganized if you’re craving something more lunch-y. 

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que

6529 Woodward Ave., Ste. A, Detroit

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que is Detroit’s only demonstration kitchen and culinary shared space, but the innovation doesn’t stop there. The weekend brunch menu is equally as impressive.

Consisting of “earth-conscious meals,” the menu features items like Apple Butter Pancakes with Oat Crumble, Loaded Creamy Grits, and The “D” Block, which features JUST Egg, Beyond Meat breakfast sausage patties, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and vegan provolone topped with a chili garlic aioli sauce and served on a pretzel bun. 

Latte lovers should treat themselves to a matcha or mocha variety (both made with dairy-free vanilla creamer). All of the restaurant’s smoothies are vegan as well, should you want breakfast to go. 

The Kitchen’s weekend brunch menu is available on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Brooklyn Street Local

1266 Michigan Ave., Detroit

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Street Local via Instagram.

Fans of farm-to-table dining should check out The Brooklyn Street Local, which sources its ingredients from local farms whenever possible. While the restaurant isn’t fully vegan, there are several plant-based dishes to choose from.

On the sweeter side, the Banana Walnut Pancakes are topped with Michigan maple syrup, candied walnuts, and fresh berries. The Vegan Breakfast Sandwich is made with grilled tempeh, vegan cheese, caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato, jalapeno, and mayo, and the Vegan Poutine (the owners are originally from Canada) consists of hand-cut fries, vegan cheese, and mushroom gravy.

The Brooklyn Street Local is open for breakfast, lunch, and brunch Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Dooped Donuts

1555 Broadway St., Detroit

Photo courtesy of Dooped Donuts via Instagram.

If you don’t have time for a sit-down meal but still want to start your day with something delicious, Dooped Donuts is your best bet. Every donut is made by hand, completely vegan, and totally delicious. At Dooped, you’ll find classics like glazed and chocolate sprinkle donuts, as well as innovative Signatures, such as the Masala Chai, which features a glaze made from a house chai blend and is drizzled with orange cardamom.

Dooped also drops new flavors every month. At the time of writing, one of the Rotating Signatures is the Mexican Hot Chocolate, which has a “milk” chocolate glaze and is dusted with cinnamon and cayenne and topped with a gooey vegan marshmallow.

Don’t forget the caffeine. Dooped offers drip and iced coffee, matcha and chai tea lattes, and fun flavors like lavender, miel, and mocha.

Dooped is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Trap Vegan

20198 Livernois, Detroit

Photo courtesy of Trap Vegan via Instagram.

Trap Vegan is another superb spot for a quick meal. This fast-casual restaurant serves up tons of smoothies with a variety of add-ins like ashwagandha, elderberry, and B12, as well as several acaí bowls and salads.

If you want something heartier, there’s a plethora of burger varieties. The D.Boy features a plant-based patty topped with vegan cheese, a deep-fried onion ring, Trap Bar B Que sauce, lettuce, and pickles served on a brioche bun, while the Bar B Que Jackfruit Burger is topped with grilled onions, mushrooms, spicy vegan cheese, avocado spread, and Trap sauce served on a grilled brioche bun.

Tap Vegan is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.