Set foot in Lexington, a vibrant city full of Southern charm and experience the breathtaking natural scenery, rich culture, history and diverse cuisine.
Known a the “Horse Capital of the World”, Lexington is not only acclaimed for its heritage of horses, but also for their incredible bourbon, history and more recently their vegetarian restaurants that never fail to impress.
So luckily whether you’re on holiday, a resident or here for the thrilling horse racing, you’re sure to find exceptional vegetarian restaurants in Lexington, KY that offer affordable choices, some fine dining options, as well as internationally-inspired dishes.
So read on to discover Lexington’s vibrant dining scene.
Five Exceptional Vegetarian Restaurants In Lexington, KY: Food Worth Waiting For!
1. The Social Vegan
Restaurant with casual atmosphere serving internationally-inspired dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
Located just a short walk from Castlewood Park, The Social Vegan is the ideal stop for refueling during your adventures. This restaurant serves nutritious and wholesome food, all prepared using ingredients that are sourced from trusted farmers and vendors. So expect loads of fresh, high-quality, nutrient-rich food at this place which features a globally-inspired menu.
From the service and atmosphere, to the food and drinks, this first choice on our list of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Lexington, KY has definitely excelled in every aspect of their dining experience. The casual dining space boasts a bright and spacious dining area, as well as a bar and a cozy patio, perfect for grabbing some food while catching up with friends and family.
As for the food, you won’t find any dish containing cheese or egg here, but believe us when we say you won’t feel like you’re missing out on these ingredients!
For starters, we recommend going for the all-time favorite Fried Coconut Shrimp which consists of vegan shrimp breaded in panko and shredded coconut and then served with a sweet pineapple dipping sauce.
For entree, one of the popular dishes is the Social-licious Chicken Philly which is prepared with vegan chicken and topped with sauteed green peppers, onions, mushrooms, vegan melted provolone cheese, vegan mayo and many more tasty ingredients. Another great choice is the Classic Impossible Social Burger which is prepared with a patty and topped with vegan mayo, mustard, ketchup lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle and vegan cheese.
You’ll also find the ‘Social Classics’ on their menu and one of those dishes that stands out the most is the Cajun Shrimp Linguini consisting of roasted cherry tomatoes, basil and olive oil blended in a creamy cashew sauce and served with vegan shrimp.
The Social Vegan is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for lunch from 11am to 2:30pm and for dinner from 3:30pm to 8pm. As for Friday and Saturday, they’re open for lunch from 11am to 2:30pm and for dinner from 3:30pm to 9pm.
Address: 101 W Loudon Ave, Lexington, KY 40508
2. Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant
An easy-going eatery offering some of the best Mediterranean cuisine in town with plenty of dishes to choose from.
If you want authentic Mediterranean cuisine right in the heart of Lexington, then this has to be one of the most vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the area for Mediterranean food.
Step into this easy-going restaurant and experience the exotic aromas wafting from the kitchen. The decor is minimal at this down-to-earth eatery with its booth seating, but one thing that does stand out is their excellent vegetarian dishes!
The menu consists of dishes prepared with mainly organic produce to ensure freshness and quality. You’ll find a large array of vegetarian dishes to pick from, as well as a tempting variety for their lunch buffet.
So if you’re visiting with friends and family and want to have a taste of different starters, then we recommend you start with their Oasis Sampler consisting of hummus, baba ghannouj, falafels, veggie grape leaves and tabbouli. Some other great choices from their mezza section are the delicious Spinach Pie, and their signature Oasis Dip Baked which is prepared with eggplant, onions, tomatoes, green pepper, mint and parsley.
You’ll also find a menu section with exclusively vegetarian entrees and among those, the one that keeps regulars coming back for more has got to be the Stuffed Zucchini, Eggplant and Grape Leaves.
We also highly recommend the Moussaka which is a flavorful dish prepared with eggplant, tomato sauce, chickpeas, celery, green peppers, onions, spices and served with rice.
Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8:30pm,but is closed on Sunday.
Address: 837 Chevy Chase Pl, Lexington, KY 40502
3. Taj India Restaurant
Family-friendly restaurant serving incredible Northern and Southern Indian cuisine, as well as a lunch buffet.
We all know that Indian cuisine never disappoints when it comes to vegan and vegetarian options. Nor does it disappoint when you’re looking for rich and diverse taste and spices incorporated in each dish. And that’s why we think Taj India Restaurant is one of the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Lexington, KY.
Situated just a short walk from the center of the reservoir where you can catch some of the most stunning sunsets, Taj India is a great place for winding down and sharing what you discovered that day around tasty food.
This family-friendly restaurant is by no means bland in its look or its food, and has plenty of wall art, booth seating, and a large variety of Northern and Southern Indian dishes. Plus they even have a lunch buffet.
Although not exclusively vegetarian, Taj India Restaurant has separate sections on their menu for vegetarian appetizers, vegetable specialties and vegetarian rice dishes, so you don’t have to worry about any of those dishes containing non-vegetarian ingredients.
For appetizers, we recommend starting with the Vegetable Platter comprising of an assortment of veg pakoras, samosa, aloo tikki and cheese pakora. Another great appetizer is the Samosa Chaat which is a chaat prepared with samosa, chana masala, and served with tasty chutneys and spices.
As for mains, some of the popular vegetable specialties are the Saag Paneer – a flavorful dish prepared with spinach, paneer, ginger, garlic, onion, tomato and cream, and the Malai Kofta which are vegetable balls cooked with fresh ginger, garlic, onion, tomato, cream an garnished with nuts and raisins.
We also recommend their Vegetable Biryani from the vegetarian rice dishes on the menu. This super aromatic dish is cooked with vegetables, nuts, green peas, raisins and spices.
Taj India Restaurant is open everyday for lunch from 11:30am to 3pm and for dinner from 5pm to 10pm.
Address: 154 Patchen Dr #68, Lexington, KY 40517
4. Bourbon n’ Toulouse
An eclectic and art-filled restaurant specializing in Cajun and Creole food, including big portions and reasonable prices.
We just had to throw in a wild card in this mix of our favorite vegetarian-friendly restaurants in town. Bourbon n’ Toulouse does sound very French, but expect one of the most funky, art-filled and eclectic interiors at this restaurant that specializes in exquisite Cajun and Creole food.
But one of the best parts of this eatery is their wall solely dedicated to a large selection of bottles, including bourbon, beer and new seasonal releases that are just waiting to be savored.
When it comes to the food, you’ll find about five vegetarian and vegan dishes to choose from and each of those is known for being extremely good. On top of that, they come in huge portions at reasonable prices.
We recommend getting your hands on the popular Vegan Jackfruit BBQ as this sandwich is perfectly cooked jackfruit stewed in their house-made BBQ Sauce and topped with creamy coleslaw. Some other tasty vegetarian options include the Artichoke & Parmesan Cream with Mushrooms, as well as their Black Beans & Caramelized Corn.
You might also find one dish on their Specials that is not always on the menu, but well worth the hype. So if you can, ask the staff if they’re serving the Tami’s Thai Peanut Sauce – we’re sure you won’t regret it. This meal consists of a Thai peanut sauce cooked with baby corn, mushrooms and red bell peppers and finished with a cream reduction – no doubt it’s got its own cult following!
Bourbon n’ Toulouse is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 9pm, but is closed on Sunday.
Address: 829 Euclid Ave, Lexington, KY 40502
5. Honeywood Restaurant
A fine-dining experience where you get to discover creative and seasonally inspired dishes right in the heart of Lexington.
If you’re after a romantic evening, celebrating a special occasion or want a more intimate setting, then this fine dining option will be right up your street.
Owned by a renowned chef, Ouita Michel, Honeywood is a super spacious restaurant with attentive table service, a stylish bar, as well as food that is prepared using the freshest ingredients locally available.
The stylish and contemporary interior incorporates beautiful white and black tiles, dark wood furniture and stunning chandeliers. You can also grab a seat on their outdoor patio, perfect for enjoying one of their exquisite cocktails under the sun.
Coming back to the food, Honeywood has three different menu options for lunch, dinner and brunch. Since this restaurant specializes in classic comfort dishes which are all prepared using farm-to-table produce, the menu changes seasonally and offers several vegetarian options ranging from starters, salads, entrees, to sandwiches and delicious sides.
So expect some delicious creative dishes that will expand your palate and since all the dishes are well presented, take some Instagram-worthy pictures whilst you’re at it!
Honeywood serves lunch Monday to Friday from 11am to 4pm, dinner Monday to Saturday from 5pm to 9pm and brunch on Saturday from 11am to 4pm, as well as on Sunday from 11am to 3pm.
Address: 110 Summit At Fritz Farm #140, Lexington, KY 40517
