Vegan and vegetarian dining is both good for you and good for the planet. And with so many amazing restaurant options now available, it can’t hurt to give plant-based food a try, even if you’re new to it. 

Whether you’ve been on a plant-based diet for years or are just starting out and still wondering what arugula is and how you get milk from a cashew, you’ll want to try some of these delicious eateries. These vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the Chandler, Arizona, area offer everything from veggie bowls and smoothies to tacos, burgers, and even doughnuts. Is your mouth watering yet? Which of these spots will be your new favorite?

Ruchi Indian Cuisine

“The Host” by SteFou! is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Dedicated to “cooking up your cravings,” Ruchi Indian Cuisine is filled with delicious food. They use only the freshest ingredients to whip up authentic Indian cuisine. Fully vegetarian with many vegan options, the menu includes dhal, soups, vegetable pakora, silky vindaloo, kormas, and paneer butter masala. It’s everything you could want in an Indian restaurant! 

Try their crispy lentil papadums, or treat yourself to their rasmalai, a dairy dessert with rose water and pistachio. For drinks, they have coffee, teas, plain lassi or lassi with rose or mango, and more. They are closed Mondays and are located on West Warne Road.

Pomegranate Cafe

Pomegranate Cafe specializes in fresh, local, and organic vegan food, which is served in an inviting community cafe setting. They offer sustaining meals, refreshing drinks, scrumptious sweets, and event catering. Brunch is served until 2 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Sunday. The restaurant is all vegan, except for options that include farm eggs. 

You can enjoy breakfast burritos, tacos, vegan biscuits and gravy, or gluten-free pancakes. The lunch and dinner menu have heartier fare, including curry bowls, walnut or chickpea burgers, gluten-free alfredo, and nachos. Drinks include fair-trade coffee with house-made vegan milk, superfood smoothies, and juices. And you won’t want to leave without snagging yourself a vegan pastry!

The Uprooted Kitchen

The Uprooted Kitchen is a plant-based eatery serving up seasonal fare in Gilbert, just 16 minutes north of downtown Chandler. Their mouthwatering menu includes a breakfast sandwich with a house-made tempeh patty, an organic tofu scramble with sautéed vegetables topped with vegan parmesan, buckwheat crepes filled with roasted vegetables, and a breakfast crepe filled with fresh fruit, coconut yogurt, and granola. 

Uprooted also has a selection of hearty baked treats, from walnut, chocolate chip zucchini, and banana breads to berry scones, cookies, cream pies, and tiramisu. To quench your thirst, they offer teas, kombucha, a house-made ginger brew that can be served hot or cold, and locally roasted Sumatra coffee. 

Seed Shack

Seed Shack is family-owned by two sisters who want to provide vegan food for their community. Their offerings include cauliflower tacos with chickpeas and red cabbage, mango ceviche tostadas, truffle mac, and a barbecue jackfruit pita. You won’t want to miss the beet burger with its Shack-made beet patty, mashed avo, cucumber, lemon tahini. Or try the Rainbow Tofu Vermicelli Bowl with five-spiced tofu, rainbow slaw, and glass noodles tossed in soy caramel sauce. 

Their drink menu includes Golden Mylk with warming spices like turmeric, ginger, and nutmeg mixed into coconut milk. To finish off your meal, you can order a delicious lemon berry tart.

24Carrots Cafe

“Plant-Based Dishes, Raw Food” by Ella Olsson is licensed under CC BY 2.0

With a tagline like “botanically inspired cuisine,” you know you’ll be getting some unique veggie creations from 24Carrots Cafe. This establishment is invested in the local community, and a portion of proceeds from every plate supports their #carrotcares campaign. They serve only vegan food and support organic, seasonal, and local produce.

For breakfast, try their carrot cake pancakes topped with maple syrup. Their lineup of starters and sides is filled with vibrant veggie creations, from the zucchini noodle salad to the pepper poppers and the bountiful collard wrap. For your main dish, try the Harvest quesadilla, which is updated weekly to incorporate the best of seasonal produce.

Tryst Cafe

Tryst Cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a bar and desserts, so they are sure to have something for everyone. Although they are not 100% vegetarian, they focus on wholesome, healthy ingredients and can make many menu items vegetarian and gluten-free upon request. They also have some vegan options. 

Their breakfast menu features classics like French toast and omelets, while the more internationally inclined may enjoy the Asian jackfruit bowl. For lunch or dinner, you could try the sweet potato burger or kale wrap. Their happy hour menu has the option of hummus and pita bread or spring wraps to enjoy with a nice beverage.

Cherish Farm Fresh Eatery

Another restaurant that isn’t exclusively vegetarian, Cherish Farm Fresh Eatery serves some wonderful vegetarian and vegan options. They use only natural meats and fish, and they cater to a variety of dietary needs with vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and keto options. They have a breakfast/brunch menu and lunch/dinner menu. 

For breakfast, you might try the vegan scramble or French toast with grass-fed butter. Lunch options include sandwiches, the vegan impossible burger, grain bowls, or a custom plate where you can mix and match side options with your choice of protein. Drinks include fresh-pressed juices, organic coffee, and fountain drinks.

Sojo’s Donuts

Of course, we had to end with dessert. Sojo’s Donuts makes 100% vegan doughnuts and is located over in Mesa. They open Wednesday through Sunday at 7 a.m. and often sell out. Not all doughnuts are available every day, so call ahead if you want something in particular. They also offer a savory breakfast sandwich featuring a house-made vegan egg patty, vegan cheese, and house-made veggie bacon or veggie sausage on an English muffin. They have a locally roasted, organic specialty coffee not available anywhere else in the area, because what goes together better than coffee and doughnuts?

Nurturing your body along with your soul and the planet is always a good idea, so hop on over to one of these restaurants and order up a steaming plate of your favorite meal, sans meats. We hope you’ve enjoyed this list by your friendly neighbors at Crème de la Crème of Chandler, AZ. Which place do you want to try first? Why not try them all and let us know which is your favorite.