I'm a vegan food blogger in Las Vegas. Here are my 10 favorite plant-based and vegan-friendly restaurants in town that everyone should try.

When I moved to Las Vegas almost 20 years ago, plant-based eateries were few and far between, but in the last few years and especially since 2016, vegan dining in the city has taken off with an influx of new restaurants and chefs.

I went vegan in 2016 and thought it would be difficult to enjoy dining out, so I set out to discover and share all of the food I was eating around the Valley to help others see they could go vegan and still eat out and enjoy great food.

Since then, I've spent the last six years exploring vegan cuisine around town and blogging about it, promoting Las Vegas as a vegan destination. In that time, I've started an annual Vegan Dining Month held every January, curated Las Vegas-focused dinners at the James Beard House in New York, and run what was named one of the top nine vegan food tours in the world. It's been my mission to discover the best vegan eats and show people that vegan food isn't boring — in fact, it can be downright amazing. 

From only five fully vegan restaurants in 2015 to more than 20 now, and dozens more eateries with worthy vegan options, the city has become a hotbed for plant-based cuisine. It's been ranked consistently as one of the most vegan and vegetarian friendly cities in the US. So if you're looking for something delicious in Las Vegas, here are my top 10 recommendations for the best vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in town.

What started out as a pop-up almost a decade ago, today is one of the vegan favorites of Las Vegas. It started as a pop-up and quickly amassed a cult following before they opened their doors years later as a brick and mortar.

Garden Grill offers crispy fried chick'n with juicy meat in a variety of options — as a fried chick'n sandwich, buffalo sandwich, Nashville Hot (my personal favorite thanks to the crispy crunch, heat, and slaw with dill that is incredible), and even a bucket o' chick'n. They also serve up yummy sides like beer-battered mushrooms and carne asada fries with plant-based steak.

But my best advice is, whatever you do, save room for dessert — their soft-serve cone dipped in butterscotch, aptly named the butterscotch dip cone, takes me right back to my pre-vegan childhood when Dairy Queen visits were the norm.

Another all-vegan restaurant, Tacotarian has expanded quickly in Las Vegas — in only four years, it's opened four locations across town.

I love eating here because the restaurant claims to have "the largest selection of plant-based tacos in the universe," and based on my experience, I think they just might. Tacos range from perfectly-spiced mushroom asada to tender jackfruit birria in a gooey grilled cheese. They've even got the "World's Largest Vegan Taco" that measures more than the length of my forearm and comes jam-packed with all the taco fixings.

I usually order the mushroom asada tacos, but Tacotarian also serves burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, cauliflower ceviche, and sweets like arroz con leche and a to-die-for coconut cake.

I think Chef Kenny Chey has mastered veganizing Chinese and other Asian cuisines' most popular dishes. From the thick, sweet orange sauce-drenched puffs of chick'n to sushi, Chef Kenny's Asian Vegan Restaurant is a stand-out in my eyes. If I hadn't known it was a vegan restaurant, I would have been questioning whether or not I was served meat on my first visit. 

There's also Chef Kenny's Dim Sum, which features many of the same dishes as his first restaurant, plus an entire dim sum menu with vegan pork dumplings and mushroom tofu wrap — my personal go-to is usually sesame balls.

When I'm not in the mood for vegan meat substitutes, I go to Chikyū, which I think stands out for its veggie-forward dishes. They don't use vegan meat substitutes, and instead spotlight the versatility of fruits and veggies with vibrant sushi rolls, sashimi, ramen, and more. It's also one of the few vegan restaurants where you can get booze since most don't have licenses, so pair your sushi with some sake and enjoy.

I always change up my order, but the one roll I get every single time is the Desert Gold. It's got tempura-fried tofu and tapioca with shredded, spicy tofu, negi, ito togarashi, sesame, microgreens, and a secret, spicy sauce drizzled on top — it's a show-stopper I dream about.

Another veggie-forward restaurant, Graze Kitchen serves hearty, comforting meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a stellar weekend brunch.

I can't get enough of their crispy cauliflower that comes with biscuits smothered in gravy on the brunch menu, or their Korean nachos with perfectly seasoned, meaty TVP (textured vegetable protein) on top available any time of day. Both of these dishes and others are shareable, which makes a great meal for dining with friends so you can taste a bit of everything.

One of the only vegan restaurants on The Strip, and the only high-end vegan restaurant in town that rivals the celebrity-chef driven, white tablecloth spots, Crossroads Kitchen is an upscale gem. They serve up a variety of dishes from pasta and pizza to hearty eggplant filets, vegan caviar with chips, and a chestnut foie gras. I think this is the best spot to take non-vegans for an nice night out and show them what magical possibilities exist when it comes to veganizing dishes.

It's hard for me to pick a favorite dish here, but I'm a big fan of their hearty lasagna bolognese and the new weekend brunch, with items like stuffed french toast and plant-based chicken and waffles. Since it's upscale, expect to pay more than you would off-Strip.

Pizza has always been one of my favorite foods etc, and when I went vegan, the idea of never having pizza again was a tough one to swallow.

Enter Guerrilla Pizza, and my worries were gone. Tucked into the historic Hard Hat Lounge just off the north side of The Strip, this eatery makes Detroit-style pizzas with vegan substitute options that are the best I've ever had.

The crispy-edged crust is topped with tangy sauce with a hint of heat, and a healthy smattering of vegan cheese and veggies. I find it to be tasty and filling after a long day of seeing the Vegas sites. 

In 2019, I curated a Las Vegas plant-based chefs dinner at the James Beard House in New York, and Chef Oscar Amador Edo of EDO Tapas + Wine was one of the chefs to cook. Hailing from Barcelona, he's in a league of his own having mastered plant-based Spanish food. 

His restaurant, EDO Tapas + Wine, is an intimate, sultry venue with a vegan tasting menu that's one of the best in town. It's one of the many restaurants in Las Vegas that aren't fully vegan, but is a fantastic option to take mixed groups or for people looking for creative, vegetable-focused Spanish cuisine. They have a few different tasting menus to choose from, including a vegan one.

I recommend first-time visitors order the vegan tasting menu which features seven courses for $60 per person, including dessert. If you're not that hungry, you can order a la carte. Make sure to try their patatas bravas, featuring thinly-sliced potatoes that are pancaked and fried together.

Finally, there's Barry's Downtown Prime. A sexy steakhouse in Circa Las Vegas Downtown, Barry's is an upscale restaurant with plentiful steak and seafood options for the meat-eaters in your party, alongside equally delicious vegan dishes. The truffle meatloaf is one of my favorites — it's hearty, umami-rich, and decadent. 

No matter what, save room for one of the two vegan desserts — a rich, chocolate cake dripping in berries, and a creamy housemade cheesecake.

My hope is that any visitor to Las Vegas will see that our plant-based offerings have something for everyone. So as you explore the many options in town that showcase vegan cuisine, know these eateries will serve a delicious dining experience for vegans and non-vegans alike.