Whether you’ve adopted a vegan or vegetarian diet, are trying it out, or you’re looking for a healthy place to grab a bite, Duluth, Georgia, has plenty of great options. Several local restaurants offer a fully plant-based menu, while others have a wealth of vegan and vegetarian options while also offering meat and other animal products. Here are five local restaurants that provide plant-based menu items. 

1. Avocado Vegan Cafe and Juice Bar

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A totally plant-based spot, the Avocado Vegan Cafe and Juice Bar on State Bridge Road, up in Alpharetta just about 15 minutes from Duluth, is the perfect spot for any meal of the day and juice cleanse options. Check out their juice clean program for a serious reboot of your immune system and overall health. Popular juices include the Everyday Green made with cucumber, kale, apples, lemon, and celery, and the Metabolism Booster made with beets, apples, lemon, ginger, and cucumber. 

If you’re coming in for a meal, Avocado Vegan Cafe and Juice Bar is great for lunch and early dinner. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Enjoy options like the BBQ tofu sandwich, avocado toast, a meatball sub made with vegan meatballs, and Sloppy Joes made with soy meat. Their tostones are also worth trying. These are fried plantain chips served with fresh guacamole. Avocado Vegan Cafe and Juice Bar is also great for kids! They’ve got kid-friendly menu options like vegan chicken fingers and an almond butter and banana sandwich. 

2. VeGreen2Go 

Open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day except Tuesdays, VeGreen2Go is on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. Most fast-food places are not vegan or vegetarian friendly, so VeGreen2Go is a welcome addition to the neighborhood as it allows those looking for plant-based meals to grab something quick. Keep an eye out for regular specials and new menu items as well; they’re always trying to keep things exciting and new. 

The VeGreen2Go menu features noodle bowls, vegan burgers, entrees with steamed rice, vegan poke bowls, and even vegan drumsticks. All shrimp, chicken, and other meats are totally vegan and made with soy protein. Stop by for your daily juice intake with a Morning Sunrise or Afternoon Refresher or a fruit smoothie. They also offer Milk Tea, a unique sweet treat you’ve got to try. Take-out, catering, and meal plans are all also available to meet all of your vegan food needs. 

3. Udipi Cafe

Udipi Cafe is a unique spot offering eclectic Indian vegetarian cuisine that’s vegetarian and vegan-friendly. They are open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesdays. Come by for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. or dinner from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Stop in for a meal, pick up something to go, or have it delivered. Check the Udipi Cafe website for coupons and specials. 

If you’re ready for a full meal, start with an appetizer like Dahi Vada, which are lentil donuts that are dipped in yogurt and sprinkled with spices, or the assorted appetizer sampler platter featuring vegetable Samosas, Medhu Vada, potato Bonda, vegetable cutlets, and Pakora. All soups are made fresh and in-house. Try the traditional south Indian sour and spicy soup called Udipi Rasam. For your main dish, you’ll have your choice of many traditional Indian dishes like curries, Uttapam, Thali, and Dosai. You’ll want to come back at least a few times to try everything they offer. 

4. Banh Mi Cafe

For some plant-based Vietnamese food, stop into Banh Mi Cafe on Satellite Boulevard Northwest in Duluth. They are open every day, except Mondays, from 9:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. You can dine-in, order over the phone, or order takeout at the restaurant. Banh Mi Cafe is not a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, so you will see menu options featuring meat and animal products. Still, they have a wide-range of plant-based options, and they are sensitive to special dietary needs and preferences. 

Start with some vegetarian egg rolls or sweet banana egg rolls served with sweet coconut sauce. The noodle soup dishes can be made with a mushroom-based vegetarian broth upon request. Try the mushroom and tofu soup to warm up on a cool day. You can’t go to Banh Mi Cafe without trying a Banh Mi sandwich. Try one with pineapple, tofu, mushrooms, or avocado. Other popular menu items include their refreshing fruit smoothies, rice bowls, and Vermicelli noodle bowls. 

5. Epicurean Cafe

Another vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurant, the Epicurean Cafe, is an ideal spot for people with any dietary restrictions thanks to their provisions for gluten-free and plant-based diets. Located on West Lawrenceville Street in Duluth, Epicurean Cafe welcomes customers to dine-in or carry out or even order delivery Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended for dinner, especially on the weekends. 

Enjoy something light and healthy like a garbanzo bean salad or kale and pear salad for lunch. The kale and pear salad is topped with carrots, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, pepitas, lime honey vinaigrette, and Tupelo honey. If you’re craving a sandwich, try the vegan kale wrap filled with hummus, kale, roasted red peppers, basil, and tzatziki sauce.

If you’re coming by for dinner, call ahead to check on their daily special. Regular menu options include roasted acorn squash and veggie pasta which are vegetarian and can be prepared as vegan friendly. Don’t miss out on Epicurean Cafe’s amazing cocktails. Their drink menu features some classics that are done right, like a Gimlet and Old Fashioned, as well as an Epicurean Sunrise made with black rum, mango, and lime. 

Be sure to make time to check out these great local spots for vegan and vegetarian options recommended by Crème de la Crème of Sugarloaf (Duluth), GA. Contact us to let us know what you thought of your experience. Did we miss one of your favorite places in the area? Let us know. We might even add it to the list!