10 Grand Rapids restaurants to try during World Vegan Month

Celebrate World Vegan Month with a plant-based meal at these Grand Rapids restaurants. 

With more than 200 restaurants—plenty of which offer drool-worthy vegan dishes—Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s best destinations for plant-based dining. Once known as the Furniture Capital of the U.S., in recent years, Grand Rapids has made a name for itself as the best food city in Michigan and America’s Greenest City. So it comes as no surprise that the vegan food options in Grand Rapids are plentiful and delicious. 

To celebrate World Vegan Month, we’re highlighting some of the Grand Rapids restaurants that are serving up the best vegan dishes. Whether you follow a strict vegan diet or are simply interested in eating fewer animal products, Grand Rapids has something to satisfy every palette.

These restaurants are great to check out during World Vegan Month—or any time of year. Keep reading to discover our plant-based picks, and get ready to indulge in tons of tasty vegan eats. 

1. Rise Authentic Baking Co.

1220 Fulton St. W

At Rise Authentic Baking Co., you don’t have to scan the menu for non-vegan ingredients or look for symbols that indicate a dish is plant-based because everything is vegan (and gluten-, soy-, and dye-free). This allergen-friendly bakery—named one of the best vegan bakeries in the U.S. by VegOut Magazine—makes donuts, scones, muffins, Yum Tarts (a twist on Pop-Tarts), and other tasty treats with flavors that change daily. It also serves a variety of cupcakes, cakes, and tarts. (Pro tip: If you want to know what flavors are available before stopping in, check out Rise’s Instagram Stories).  

Rise Authentic Baking Co. also has a savory menu that changes seasonally, with some fall highlights including a spinach and artichoke grilled cheese, a breakfast sandwich with mung bean egg, chickpea sausage, Violife cheddar cheese, and spicy mayonnaise, and toast topped with housemade goat cheese and roasted and spiced peaches. 

There’s plenty of indoor seating if you want to hang out and eat, but you can also take your order to go. 

Photo courtesy of Britteny Dee.

2. Bobcat Bonnie’s

1968 Breton Rd. SE

Bobcat Bonnie’s is a popular Michigan eatery with multiple locations throughout the state, including one in Grand Rapids. The restaurant is known for its comfort food and lively brunch scene, and thankfully, it offers vegan versions of many of its menu items, so those following a plant-based diet aren’t left out. The brunch menu features a vegan rendition of the popular Uncle Jesse sandwich, and the dinner menu has potstickers as an appetizer, “fish” tacos, and a chick’n avocado sandwich. 

Even a couple of Bobcat Bonnie’s iconic cereal shooters (the Cap’n Crunch and Fruity Pebbles flavors) are vegan, and the Black Forest Donut Sundae is a vegan and gluten-free dessert option. 

3. The Mitten Brewing Co.

527 Leonard St. NW

Experience plant-based pizza perfection at The Mitten Brewing Co. This baseball-themed microbrewery serves gourmet pizza and offers vegan versions of almost all of its specialty pies for an additional $3. For example, the Aloha BBQ (pictured) features vegan mozzarella, chicken, and bacon, plus pineapple, green onion, and a chipotle barbeque sauce. 

If you can’t make up your mind, order a pizza flight and try six different pizzas. You can also build your own pizza if nothing on the menu speaks to you. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, some of the restaurant’s other menu items can be made vegan, too, such as the Cuban sandwich, stromboli, and cheesy breadsticks. 

Photo courtesy of Britteny Dee.

4. SpeakEZ Lounge

600 Monroe Ave. NW

SpeakEZ Lounge is a casual pub with an eclectic food menu that takes inspiration from classic dishes from across the world. While not fully vegan, the establishment does offer plenty of plant-based options that are downright delicious.

Vegan appetizers include black bean hummus and Korean barbeque tofu tacos, and the Korean barbeque bowl is a solid entree option. The vegan Crunchwrap is a standout selection and features tofu chorizo, coconut rice, avocado, corn tortilla chips, diced tomato, charred red onion, poblano, and pico aioli stuffed inside a flour tortilla. 

The signature cocktail menu features unique sips, and there are also plenty of beer and wine options. 

Photo courtesy of Britteny Dee.

5. Stella’s Lounge 

53 Commerce Ave. SW

Stella’s Lounge is known for its giant stuffed burgers—and vegans don’t have to miss out. The Hippie Stuffed features a housemade black bean and lentil burger with vegan Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, tomato, and a vegan onion ring served on a pretzel bun. 

But burgers aren’t the only thing on the menu. Other vegan offerings include nachos, a sweet potato burrito, and two plant-based takes on chicken wings (breaded potato wedges tossed in sauce and another option made from chickpeas). The Chronic Fries and Vegan Supreme (chorizo, chipotle black beans, tostada shell, jalapeños, tomato, and vegan cheese) are also suitable for plant-based diners. 

Stella’s Lounge also has tons of retro arcade games and more than 250 whiskeys to sip. 

6. Furniture City Creamery 

958 Cherry St. SE

Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted to know that Grand Rapids ice cream shop Furniture City Creamery serves up vegan-friendly scoops of most of its menu items. The vegan flavors are scratch-made in the shop and made with coconut milk. Furniture City Creamery’s housemade waffle cones and sauces are also vegan-friendly.

You don’t have to settle for a simple scoop, though. Vegans can also indulge in sundaes, shakes, and ice cream sandwiches at this quaint creamery. 

Photo courtesy of Furniture City Creamery.

7. Lucy’s 

1747 Plainfield Ave. NE

When it comes to brunch in Grand Rapids, it doesn’t get much better than Lucy’s.

The menu is full of classic brunch dishes—from French toast and omelets to avocado toast and pancakes—and many of the items can be made vegan. The avocado toast is already vegan, and the breakfast poutine, breakfast sandwich, pot pie, and biscuits and gravy can all be modified to satisfy vegan eaters. You can also build your own breakfast with your choice of toast, sides, and protein (there’s a tofu scramble and vegan sausage). 

8. Two Beards Deli 

38 Commerce Ave. SW

Featuring 90 sandwiches and 11 salads, the menu at Two Beards Deli is massive. Luckily, there are tons of vegan options to choose from.

In fact, there are 17 vegan grilled sandwiches and a few vegan salads. Sandwich-wise, there’s ​​The Dale Earnhardt (blackened tofu, sauerkraut, red onion, pickles, Russian dressing, and veganaise on marble rye), The Jack Black (barbeque pulled jackfruit, spicy slaw, avocado, pickles, and vegan ranch on a white sub), and The Allen Ginsberg (vegan bacon, veganaise, tomato, and romaine on white bread) to name just a few. 

9. Chez Olga 

1441 Wealthy St. SE

Escape to the Caribbean without leaving Grand Rapids when you dine at Chez Olga, where owner Olga Benoit has been sharing her family recipes since 2010. Some of the Haitian- and Creole-inspired menu items at this eatery are naturally vegan, such as the fried plantains, accra (a fried root vegetable), curry, and potato lasagna. Other dishes, including the gumbo, fried rice, and creole, can be made vegan by choosing tofu as your protein. 

10. San Chez Bistro

 38 Fulton St. W

San Chez Bistro also offers Michigan diners an escape to a faraway land through its mouth-watering food that’s a blend of European, Mediterranean, and Latin American cuisine. 

San Chez Bistro serves brunch and tapas and has a separate vegan menu, making ordering easy. While some of the items on this menu are actually vegetarian, instructions for ordering them vegan are provided. Some vegan options include pan con tomate (grilled baguette slices with a tomato and garlic spread and olive oil), paella, and a breakfast sandwich featuring a white bean quinoa cake, red onion, fried jalapeños, arugula, and chilindron sauce on ciabatta.

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