Families today understand the importance of eating a more plant-based diet. Eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains gives your body essential nutrients to live a healthy life. Introducing your kids to plant-based meals early in their life helps them develop a lifelong appreciation for nutritious food and may even inspire them to take a kid’s cooking class. All of us at Crème de la Crème understand the importance of eating a mostly plant-based diet. So, we’ve put together this list of the best five restaurants in the Alpharetta, Georgia, area that have several vegan and vegetarian items on their menu.

Moctezuma Mexican Grill

Everyone in the family can find something tasty to eat at the Moctezuma Mexican Grill. Kids love Mexican food, and this restaurant offers several plant-based dishes sure to satisfy their south-of-the-border cravings. Start your meal by sharing an appetizer like a bowl of creamy guacamole with tortilla chips.

On a chilly afternoon, enjoy a warm cup of black bean soup, and when the temperature climbs, cool off with a taco salad without the meat. Under the vegetarian menu, you’ll find offerings like enchiladas, nachos, burritos, and fiery fajitas filled with vegetables. Make sure and save room for dessert items like the tres leches cake or crunchy churros.

Location: 13020 Morris Road, Alpharetta

Contact: 470-275-3819

Moctezuma Mexican Grill is the perfect restaurant to fuel the family up after a day of exploring nature-filled experiences in the Alpharetta area.

Local Expedition Wood Fired Grill

With two locations in the Alpharetta area, you can always get plant-based menu items at Local Expedition Wood Fired Grill. This contemporary restaurant has open ceilings, an open kitchen, and plenty of light for a pleasant dining experience. The chefs at Local Expedition have put together a simple menu of plates, wraps, salads, hummus bowls, and sides. For the plates, order your protein, which includes portobello mushrooms and vegan falafel patties. Next, you add rice or salad. The plates come with pita bread and unique sauces.

Choose wraps filled with hummus, vegetables, pickled onions, and a lemon garlic sauce served in a piece of warm pita bread. Your mouth will water at the offerings of sides that include caramelized Brussels sprouts, butternut squash with kale, and grilled zucchini. Other vegan items include falafel balls served on hummus, mini pot stickers with an Asian dipping sauce, and crispy fries smothered with cotija cheese, fresh parsley, and secret spices. Finish and cleanse your palate with the charred pineapple served with vanilla ice cream.

Location: 5315 Windward Parkway Suite B, Alpharetta

Contact: 470-448-1249

Vitto’s Pizza and Ristorante

When you love Italian food and want vegan and vegetarian options, head over to Vitto’s Pizza and Ristorante. The chefs at this restaurant use the freshest ingredients possible with several items that anyone who enjoys plant-based meals will appreciate.

Vegetarian entrees include crisp salads, eggplant parmigiana, or eggplant rolletini. If your family is craving a pizza, you can find plenty of vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options. Plant-based pasta dished includes broccoli with penne and baked ziti with savory tomato sauce and ricotta cheese. Your little ones have a special menu of kids-size portions of cheese ravioli, spaghetti, or baked ziti. Don’t forget to order Italian dessert favorites like tiramisu or cannoli.

Location: 3665 Old Milton Parkway #60, Alpharetta

Contact: 770-475-0369 

The kids will want to chow down on healthy Italian food after a day of having fun at these family-friendly attractions in Alpharetta.

Thoom’s Kitchen

Nothing beats eating Thai food when you’re striving for a plant-based lifestyle. The food that Thoom’s Kitchen offers will delight your senses with the vibrant colors of the vegetables, thrilling scents of herbs and spices, and the burst of flavor with each bite you take. Once seated, order appetizers like rice paper rolls filled with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs, or vegetable tempura. You’ll enjoy the exotic appeal and taste of the green papaya salad tossed on a spicy lime dressing.

Any of the rice or noodle dishes can come with tofu in place of meat, chicken, or seafood, and includes the very popular Thai curry noodle dish with bamboo shoots, green beans, and a red curry sauce. You can choose from a variety of stir-fry dishes with or without tofu, and delicate green or yellow curry dishes with coconut milk and cashew nuts. After your meal, sit back with a cup of tea and share a piece of coconut cake or a bowl of mango sticky rice for dessert.

Location: 5950 Northpoint Parkway Suite 100, Alpharetta

Contact: 678-585-4848

VeGreen Vegetarian Fusion Restaurant

Every item on the VeGreen Vegetarian Fusion Restaurant is vegan. For any dish that states it has meat, chicken, or seafood, they’re made with soy protein so you can still experience their Asian-inspired flavors. Begin your vegan fusion meal with a cucumber mushroom salad, quinoa salad with vegetables, or crispy fried kale chips. If you’re craving the flavor of crab, try the vegan crab salad or the spicy mock crab sushi rolls.

When it’s time to order your main meal, choose from dishes like flash-fried eggplant, the mushroom medley, or sesame tofu. You have an assortment of rice and noodle dishes like “chicken” fried rice, “beef” and broccoli, or General Tso Chicken made with mock chicken. VeGreen Vegetarian Fusion Restaurant makes a wide assortment of vegan sushi with items like a spicy “tuna” roll, veggie temaki, and the Philadelphia roll with mock smoked salmon, and vegan cream cheese and “eel” sauce. This innovative restaurant wants to serve healthy, flavorful foods integrating international flavors into creative vegan dishes.

Location: 3780 Old Norcross Road Suite 106, Duluth

Contact: 770-495-8828

Our team at Creme de la Creme of Alpharetta (Haynes Bridge Road) hopes you enjoy dining at these healthy plant-based restaurants. Which one is your favorite and why? What dish does your child want to eat time and time again? If there’s a hidden gem of a plant-based restaurant we missed, let us know and we’ll add your recommendation to our list.