Home to a plethora of history, art and culture alongside some of America’s most prestigious universities, it’s no wonder Cambridge is known as a hub for museums, a dynamic performing arts scene and incredible restaurants.
And luckily when it comes to vegetarian restaurants, Cambridge, MA, boasts a fantastic selection! Whether you’re looking for traditional comfort food or ethnic cuisine, Cambridge has it all thanks to its super diverse population!
You’ll find purely vegetarian joints here, as well as one restaurant that serves both meat and vegetarian dishes – but we just had to include it as their vegetarian menu is worth checking out.
So read on to discover the perfect vegetarian restaurant in Cambridge, MA for you!
Six Exceptional Vegetarian Restaurants In Cambridge, MA: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. Life Alive
Life Alive is a fantastic vegetarian restaurant in Cambridge, not only for their large variety of 100% organic and colorful dishes, but also because they make a real effort to cater to most dietary needs and restrictions.
This solely vegetarian café goes the extra mile to customize your meals, which are all served in a super laidback atmosphere that has a bit of a hippie vibe.
You can order from their counter on the ground floor and either have your food quickly delivered to you in their spacious, airy basement with comfy seating (you’ll find the perfect nook there for enjoying a book or planning the next revolution!), or you can grab a quick bite in their equally cozy ground floor.
When it comes to the food, you’ll be spoilt for choice here. From nutritious breakfast dishes, rainbow bowls, acai bowls to burritos, vegans and vegetarians will find a large selection of innovative and organic food here.
Try out their Breakfast Burrito Wrap comprising of black beans, cheddar, kale, pink onion, purple cabbage and many other delicious ingredients. But if you’ve got more of a sweet tooth, their Blueberry Superfood Waffles or Super Berry Acai will fit the bill, and be relatively good for you too.
As for lunch, Life Alive has got plenty of nutritious farm to table dishes such as their Rainbow Harvest and Watermelon Poke. But regardless of what you end up picking, their food is filling, and the service is excellent and fast.
You can also grab one of their smoothies or cold pressed juices for a quick pick-me-up during your day. Their signature Life Alive Cold Pressed Juice is particularly popular, as is the colorful Blue Magic Smoothie which includes blue-green algae, vanilla, chia, cinnamon, cayenne and loads of coconut based ingredients.
This vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Cambridge, MA is open from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 10pm and on Sunday from 8am to 9pm.
Address: 765 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
2. PlantPub
How does pub food favorites (all 100% plant-based of course) paired with local craft beers sound? PlantPub offers you just that and so much more!
Ideal for gatherings with friends and family, this vegetarian restaurant in Cambridge, MA offers a lively and bright setting, along with pub grub that’s ideal for sharing (or you can have it all to yourself!) Enjoy your meal on their outside patio which is decorated with loads of plants, or grab a seat inside and people watch thanks to the large windows.
It might be confusing when you first see pulled pork, chicken and pepperoni on the menu. But worry not as this pub is very passionate about their ‘Eat Plants. Drink Beer’ ethos, and only offers meatless options!
What would we recommend? For starters, their Loaded Nachos, Chili Queso Fries and Fried Cauliflower Wings are great picks. Best of all, these starters are gluten free! There’s loads of burger and pizza options too, and the ones that stood out the most were their Kimchi Burger and Wild Mushroom & Truffle Pizza.
This exclusively plant-based restaurant in Cambridge, MA is open everyday from 11am to 9pm.
Address: 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142
3. Veggie Galaxy
Whether you’re vegan or vegetarian, we believe you shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to eating out. Luckily Veggie Galaxy, which serves up traditional diner comfort food in a lovely relaxed atmosphere, has dishes that are out of this world!
Situated just two minutes walk from MIT, this eatery oozes charm and vintage vibes. Step into Veggie Galaxy and be launched into a 1980s old-school diner with loads of comfy booths and those iconic classic red barstools that face a busy open kitchen.
If it’s your first time visiting, some popular items include their Central Square Omelet, Southwestern Breakfast Burrito and their Mac ‘N Stack Burger prepared with seitan chick’n, tempeh bacon, lettuce and sriracha mayo between mac & cheese waffles (a real delight!). You will also discover other great comfort food dishes thanks to their weekly specials.
The delicious Classic Strawberry Frappe will take you to another planet, yet it’s still vegan as it’s made up of coconut-based vegan strawberry ice cream, house-made strawberry sauce & oat milk. In fact it’s worth mentioning that all of their delicious Frappes are vegan!
This vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Cambridge, MA is open from Tuesday to Thursday from 11am to 9, Friday from 11am to 10pm, Saturday from 9am to 10pm and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.
Address: 450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
4. Veggie Grill
Veggie Grill has earned its reputation thanks to their inventive, seasonal menus that cater to all tastes. From colourful and super filling salads, to hearty sandwiches, this restaurant serves some of the best American classics in Cambridge, MA, and it’s all 100% plant based!
So whether you’re vegan or vegetarian, you’re sure to find something right up your street here. The setting is nice too, and we love the bright, open and sleek look – the large windows, light wood tables and open kitchen add to its charm.
If it’s your first time visiting, why not try their Masala Chickpea Curry Bowl or their 7 Layer Bowl packed with layers of brown rice, lettuce, ranchero beans, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, chipotle crèma and mashed avocado. Both dishes are light, yet really showcase Veggie Grill’s ability.
However, if you’re after a more hearty option, their Double BBQ Mac Burger will satisfy your cravings! The combination of two patties, lettuce, creamy ranch, BBQ sauce, and then all topped with mac & cheese is a real winner in our eyes! You can also make the most of their Lunchtime Meal Deal which comprises of taco or wrap, one side, and one beverage all at a very affordable price.
This sustainable vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Cambridge, MA, really focuses on freshness and flavour and their use of ingredients that are in season add a delectable and bold taste to each dish.
This exclusively vegan spot is open everyday from 11am to 11pm.
Address: 57 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138
5. Red Lentil
Although this vegan and vegetarian restaurant isn’t located in Cambridge, but it’s just a short drive away and well worth the journey in our eyes!
Why? Well, this award-winning eatery offers some of the finest globally inspired vegetarian and vegan cuisine in Massachusetts. To add to that, the friendly and meticulous service, attention to dietary requirements, super Instagrammable dishes and relaxed ambience make this place a fantastic evening out.
But you don’t just have to visit for dinner. You’ll actually spoilt for choice thanks to the separate lunch, brunch and dinner menus. On top of that their daily specials are impressive.
Some of their most impressive dishes are the Pistachio & Coconut Herb-Encrusted Tofu with Corn Cake, Jamaican Jerk Tempeh, and super creative and tasty Rustic Paella.
Red Lentil’s take on the traditional paella is done to perfection – the blend of orzo pasta, green peas, cauliflower florets, onions, bell peppers, Kashmiri saffron, roasted butternut squash, and soy sausage is an awesome combination.
This spot is open from Monday to Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday from 11am to 9:30pm, Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday as from 9am.
Address: 600 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472
6. Oleana
Relaxed and peaceful, is the best way we can describe Oleana. Photoworthy plates, excellent service and some of the most creative Eastern Mediterranean dishes you can find, it’s no wonder this place is popular.
Although the menu is not solely vegetarian, the variety and exquisite quality of the vegan and vegetarian dishes on offer is what makes this place stand out. Plus, their garden patio is undoubtedly one of this restaurant’s top features. The atmosphere there is tranquil especially when the trees have fully blossomed during summer.
Some popular dishes at Oleana include their Spinach Falafel, mouth-watering Warm Buttered Hummus from their hot meze section, and the 7-Vegetable Brik which is prepared with mushrooms, garlic, potato, fava and peas from their large plates section.
And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll likely be impressed by their famous Ricotta Atayef which is a fried pancake stuffed with sweet cheese and soaked in syrup!
This restaurant is open from Sunday to Thursday from 5:30pm to 10pm, and on Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 10:30pm.
Address: 134 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
