Top Vegan Restaurants in Nashville
In a city renowned for hot chicken, honky-tonks, and meat ‘n’ threes, you might not expect to find much vegan food. However, venture out into any Nashville neighborhood, and vegan dining is plentiful. From upscale restaurants serving local and seasonal vegetables to dive bars and soul food joints, Nashville’s vegan restaurants deliver exquisite flavors and satisfying dishes.
The Southern V
Feeling left out of the Nashville hot chicken craze? Don’t worry! The Southern V, located in the Buchanan Street Business District, offers a completely vegan version that is just as spicy and flavorful as the original dish.
As locals say, hot chicken is so popular it’s a 24-hour commitment. The Southern V also serves regional classics like turnip greens, mac ‘n’ cheeze, and coleslaw, plus chick’n and waffles for breakfast on weekends.
Koko’s Ice Cream
Koko’s is a delightful ice cream shop born from the love story of two musicians—one from Wisconsin, the other from Amsterdam—who met in Nashville. Initially a tiny scoop shop powered by a bike, Koko’s has since grown into a brick-and-mortar location in the shipping container village of OneC1ty.
Their ice cream is not only vegan but also completely nut-free. With six rotating seasonal flavors, you’ll always find “holy chocolate” on the menu. As co-owner Jerusa van Lith describes it, “It’s the smoothest, richest, most seductive chocolate ice cream you’ll find.” Don’t forget to check out Koko’s social media in warmer months to track down their ice cream bike at special events.
The BE-Hive Deli & Market
For fans of faux meat, The BE-hive Deli & Market in East Nashville is a must-visit. Owner Ben Stix, a musician turned restaurateur, has created a space that celebrates plant-based eating.
The “B” and “E” in BE-hive represent his former band name, and he has a rich background in the kitchen, previously working at Wild Cow. The deli offers vegan “meat” options such as seitan, deli slices, chipotle chorizo, breakfast sausage, and chicken wings that are distributed to various restaurants throughout the area.
Regulars particularly rave about Italian hoagies and crunch wraps. The market is small with a few picnic tables, making it ideal to grab your vegan subs to-go for a picnic in Cornelia Fort Park, a transformed abandoned airport just 10 minutes away.
Crying Wolf
A dive bar near the heart of East Nashville is probably the last place you would expect to find great vegan food. Nevertheless, Crying Wolf offers some of the best options among Nashville vegan restaurants.
With kitchen manager Beca Lewis, known as the Feral Pastry Chef, most menu items have a vegan counterpart. This means you can indulge in crispy, late-night bar food like sloppy joe sliders, breakfast burritos, and totchos (vegan tater tot nachos).
After enjoying their vegan mac & cheese burger with a refreshing drink, consider catching a show in the back room or relaxing on the patio among locals.
The Wild Cow
The Wild Cow was the first vegan restaurant on the Eastside, and after a decade of business, it’s clear why it remains a beloved community staple.
Dine on vegetable-heavy meals such as a quinoa bowl topped with local produce from White Squirrel Farm and house-made aioli, or indulge in comfort food like buffalo tempeh strips paired with ranch dressing.
Furthermore, The Wild Cow offers vegan, gluten-free, and peanut-free desserts made by Nashville’s Vegan Vee bakery. While the Wild Cow presents a casual café atmosphere, its nearby sister restaurant, Graze, operates as a full-service bistro and bar focusing on brunch and dinner.
Avo
For those seeking light, healthy, seasonal vegan cuisine in a charming setting, Avo is the destination. Nestled in a trendy shipping container village within the new-age development OneC1ty, Avo features an airy, modern, and earthy ambiance. The menu showcases produce from local growers such as Lauren Palmer of Bloomsbury Farm and Jeffrey Orkin of Greener Roots Farm, Nashville’s first large-scale hydroponic venture. Visit Avo for beautiful seasonal options and indulge in the avocado margarita—a local favorite cherished by both vegans and meat lovers alike.
Riddim n’ Spice
An exciting addition to Nashville’s culinary landscape, Riddim n Spice is run by the sons of iconic Jamaica Way proprietor Ouida Bradshaw. Their menu focuses on Caribbean flavors, featuring dishes such as arroz con gandules (rice and beans), cucumber mango salad, and fried plantains.
While they do offer jerk chicken, the majority of their selections are vegan, including house-made island spice seitan, BBQ jerk jackfruit, and soy chick’n guisado. As they continue to grow, many more vegan options are on the horizon, including drinks crafted from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice.
