Situated on the eastern shoreline of Lake Champlain, Burlington is steeped in rich culture and art. This small city is home to captivating museums, plenty of outdoor pursuits all year round, as well as a splendid dining scene.
With a nice selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Burlington, VT, as well as great eateries that serve both meat and vegetarian dishes, you’re sure to find something right up your alley! We had to include some of those non-vegetarian restaurants on our list as the tempting vegetarian options are a must.
So let’s embark on the outstanding dining experience this city has to offer by discovering the six best vegetarian restaurants in Burlington, VT!
Six Exceptional Vegetarian Restaurants in Burlington, VT: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. Pingala Café
Who doesn’t love great healthy creative dishes that will keep you full for long, and come at a very affordable price?
Well that’s where Pingala Café & Eatery really deliver! Situated at Chace Mill, you’ll find some of the best food truck inspired cuisine around (albeit this time with comfortable seating) in a very inviting and homey atmosphere.
Just a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Winooski River, we think you’ll love taking in the views of the water on their outdoor patio whilst digging into some tasty vegan food.
Pingala Café’s interior has beautifully incorporated elements of that outside space in their interior decor too, thanks to the mural paintings they have of the scenic Vermont landscape, mountains, gardens, and trees.
When it comes to the food, expect well-seasoned dishes with lots of flavor and big portions. Some crowd pleasers include their ‘Nacho Cheesier Nachos’ topped with chili, cashew queso, n’ avo, tomato, pickled jalapeño and cilantro, while another is the Broccoli Bites that are infused with flavor thanks to the combination of either ‘buffalo & what-tha-dilly-o ranch’ or ‘Thai Peanut & Korean BBQ’ sauces.
As for main dishes, we’d recomment Pingala’s ‘Bfast Sammy Deluxe’ which is an english muffin filled with herby tofu, melty American, aioli and hash brown is a great pick. Another awesome Vietnamese inspired dish is their ‘Bahn-Me Dawg’ consisting of hickory smoked carrot, in locally-baked hoagie roll with crispy skin tofu, ginger pickled veggies, cilantro and smoked chili aioli – you won’t be disappointed.
This budget-friendly vegan restaurant is open everyday from 10am to 4pm, and was always going to make it on our list of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Burlington, VT.
Address: 1 Mill St, Burlington, VT 05401
2. Revolution Kitchen
How does an exclusively vegetarian restaurant serving excellent food, all prepared with some of the freshest local and organic ingredients around sound?
This vegetarian restaurant in Burlington, VT is just that! Revolution Kitchen has a very comfortable, chilled vibe, great food, and very welcoming and polite service. The super knowledgeable and helpful staff appear always willing to help and answer questions too.
There are frequent changes to the menu and that’s mainly because Revolution Kitchen offers up dishes made from scratch using some of the freshest farm-to-table, organic ingredients that they source from local producers. This place is passionate about helping everyone discover the flavors, crunchiness and freshness that can be found in internationally-inspired vegetarian dishes. So expect delicious food that’s good for your body too.
Some of popular dishes here include their Salad Rolls, Wonton Salad, Ravioli, Tacos and Noodle Pots. And when it comes to desserts, prepare to be amazed by the Insta-worthy presentation and creativity they put into their sweet treats here.
We also love their nice selection of organic and natural wines and if you’re more of a beer lover, worry not as the several Vermont craft beer they serve comes chilled, and ranges from mild flavors to some bolder and more bitter tastes.
All in all, Revolution Kitchen offers mid-priced dishes with high quality ingredients that will please all.
Address: 9 Center St, Burlington, VT 05401
3. Tomgirl Kitchen
If you’re an early bird who enjoys a nutritious breakfast or smoothies, all prepared with some of the finest ingredients around, then Tomgirl Kitchen will be right up your street as it opens as early as 7am on weekdays.
This easygoing juice bar has a hip vibe thanks to the Bohemian décor, vibrant plants and friendly staff. If your visiting in the morning, we recommend grabbing their popular Sunshine Latte and then heading to their very snug outside area. It has limited seating, but it’s great if you love to soak in the morning sunshine.
Located just a short walk from Burlington Bay, this spot serves up some of the most colorful, flavorful and vibrant food and drinks in the area. From lunch bowls to soups, rainbow smoothies, organic juices and baked goods, you’ll be spoiled for choice here.
Some of popular choices include their Avocado Pickle Toast topped with cashew ‘cheese’, avocado, roasted almond & apricot salsa macha, kimchi, cilantro and lemon. Or if you’re looking for a really colorful dish, our top pick would be the Tomgirl’s Seven Chakra Bowl which consists of organic baby greens, red quinoa, seasonal vegetables, apricots, cashew ‘cheese’, sunflower seeds and a tangy cilantro lime juice dressing.
Save some room for dessert though, as their Banana & Toasted Coconut Crown, Carrot Sesame Cake and Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookie are all great sweet treats with a healthy twist.
And if you’re simply looking for a juice cleanse, there’s no better place than Tomgirl Kitchen as their raw juice cleanse packages – which are prepared with some of the finest ingredients – should help boost your immune system.
Tomgirl Kitchen is open from Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm, and on weekends from 10am to 3pm.
Address: 266 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401
4. The Friendly Toast
Situated just a short walk from the University of Vermont, we think The Friendly Toast is the most fun, colorful and lively restaurant on our list of vegetarian restaurants in Burlington, VT.
The funky interior here incorporates lots of red and green and you’ll find an eclectic mix of decorations, ranging from hot air balloons, seahorses, monkeys, skulls and basketball memorabilia. In fact if you love basketball, you’ll be delighted by their wall dedicated to jerseys and loads of basketball teams.
While this restaurant does serve meat, they also offer up some very creative vegetarian dishes including ‘Sally’s Avo Toast’. With that you’ll get to enjoy one slice of toast served with arugula, a sunny side up egg & everything bagel aioli, and another slice with tomato, cotija cheese, Chimichurri & pickled onions, all served with a side of fresh fruit salad.
Another great option is the ‘Sam’s Garden Omelet’ which is prepared with arugula, asparagus, braised mushroom blend, tomatoes, garlic and goat cheese. But for a more filling dish, we think you’ll be impressed by their ‘Medley Crue’ which consists of sweet potato hash, home fries, garlic, onion, braised mushrooms, asparagus, spinach & roasted red peppers which is then topped with poached eggs and avocado-cilantro sauce.
Although not solely vegetarian, we just had to include The Friendly Toast on out list of vegetarian restaurants in Burlington, VT for their delicious food and cheerful vibe. This place is open everyday from 8am to 3pm.
Address: 86 St Paul St, Burlington, VT 05401
5. Pascolo Ristorante
Italian cuisine always hits the spot (at least for us!) when dining out with friends and family. After all, who doesn’t love the satisfying combination of crispy pizza crust, well-seasoned sauce and bubbly cheese, coupled with sharing slices with your friends.
Although not exclusively vegetarian, we included Pascolo Ristorante on our list of vegetarian restaurants in Burlington, VT because of the super high quality wood-fired pizzas and upmarket pasta dishes they serve. It’s a perfect upscale place for those special evenings with your loved one.
This rustic-chic Italian restaurant features super comfortable booths, dim lighting, wall art, a nice outdoor patio and of course incredible Italian classics. The super polite staff are knowledgeable about both the menu and the wines they serve, so definitely ask them questions about what they recommend.
As for what we think you should try, the Funghi Pizza which comprises of toppings such as smoked mushrooms, mozzarella, whipped ricotta, scallions, truffle oil and parsley, is well worth ordering. A great non-pizza option is their Sorrentina hand-rolled gnocchi prepared with pomodoro, mozzarella, garlic, basil and parmigiano.
In our opinion, Pascolo Ristorante is also the ideal place to commemorate special occasions whether that’s a birthday or bidding farewell to your child for move-in day at university.
This restaurant is open from Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm and on Sunday from 4pm to 9:30pm. Give them a try, the pizza is fantastic!
Address: 83 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401
6. The Daily Planet
The Daily Planet stands out on the Burlington restaurant scene thanks to its unconventional decor and some of the tastiest craft cocktails and eclectic food around. They’re not an exclusively vegetarian restaurant, but we think The Daily Planet is still worth visiting.
We think you’ll like the Bohemian-esque vibe here, and the hip décor adds a lot of charm. This is a friendly place, so if you’re a social butterfly, you can grab a seat at their very appealing bar area and make a new friend or two. Or if you want a more intimate and cozy setup to enjoy food and drinks with your partner, then the tranquil solarium or romantic dining room will be perfect.
One of the most popular vegetarian dishes here is The Einstein Burrito filled with beyond meat vegan sausage, vegan ‘egg’, ‘cheese’, roasted red pepper and scallions. Another delicious option is the Buffalo Seitan Sandwich which is prepared with fried seitan with vegan buffalo sauce, lettuce and blue cheese dressing or vegan ranch.
The Daily Planet is open on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am to 10pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 10pm.
Address: 15 Center St, Burlington, VT 05401
