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Vegan and vegetarian eats in Charleston

Dig into delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian fare in every corner of Charleston.

Four cardboard plates of hot dogs and sandwiches with fries and sauce.

Food like this is nobody’s understudy — it’s the star of the show.

Table of Contents

Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Charleston, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.

Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From vegetarian chicken to scrumptious vegan tacos, here are 28 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in Charleston.

This image shows two people holding up their smoothies.

Let’s toast to summer.

Photo provided by Huriyali.

🍊 The brunch bunch

Alcove Market, 320 Broad St. | Stop in for a few different vegan or veggie options — you can add tofu to any lunch item for $3.

Brown Dog Deli, 225 Calhoun St. | At Brown Dog’s Calhoun Street location, grab a vegan breakfast sammie with vegan scrambled eggs, vegan sausage, vegan cheese, and avocado on a homemade “buttermilk-ish” biscuit.

Harbinger Cafe, 1107 King St. | Pick up a vegan dessert at the bakery after enjoying one of the many vegetarian and vegan menu items at the cafe. Try this: Grasshopper toast with avocado, seeds, Tahini, Sriracha, garlic cashews, and micro greens.

Huriyali, Multiple locations | This spot offers multiple açaí bowl variations, savory brunch items, and smoothies.

Three Little Birds, 65 Windermere Blvd. | Vegans will love the lunch menu featuring items like the BBQ Tempeh Melt and Birdhouse Burrito, but there are plenty of vegetarian options on the breakfast menu as well.

🍔 For the vegan carnivore

Brown Dog Deli, Multiple locations | This spot’s Broad Street location has a special vegetarian menu featuring non-meat options like an Impossible burger, fried non-chicken, and a chili cheese veggie dog. The Calhoun Street location serves up a vegan breakfast biscuit sammie.

The Junction Kitchen, 4438 Spruill Ave. | The Junction serves up its own vegan bacon, along with various vegetarian dishes (many of which can be made vegan upon request). Try this: Veg BELT with Shitake bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato, and sourdough (can be made vegan).

Vegan cookie

This vegan gelato cookie sandwich looks delicious.

Photo provided by @annie_o_loves_cafe

🧁 Delicious desserts

Annie O Love’s Cafe of Sweet Abundance, 1901 Ashley River Rd., Ste. 9 | This fully vegan and gluten-free spot serves up delicacies like cheesecake and cookies, in addition to food items like nachos, waffles, and sandwiches.

BKeDSHoP, Multiple locations | Choose from six different vegan donuts and pastries while checking out the plants for sale in-shop. Try this: Vegan apple fritter donut.

Off Track Ice Cream, 6 Beaufain St. | Scratch-made vegan ice cream? Say no more. Try a variety of vegan flavors like chocolate PB fudge and strawberry cheesecake swirl.

🌮 Food trucks

Bangin’ Vegan Eats, Multiple locations | Track this 100% vegan food truck on Street Food Finder to try its mouthwatering burgers, sandwiches, crunchwraps, and loaded fries.

Platia, 720 Magnolia Rd. | This Greek food truck with several vegetarian-friendly options is often at its home base on Magnolia Street, but you can keep track of other spots it may visit via Street Food Finder.

Vined | Formerly a restaurant, Vined has transitioned to a food truck. The kitchen serves up vegan items like “chicken” and waffles, burgers, and nachos.

Bowl with quinoa, chickpeas, kale, sweet potato, avocado, and a green dressing.

Basic Kitchen’s vegan options are anything but basic.

Photo via @basic_kitchen

🍕 Casual eating

Ali Baba, 186 Seven Farms Dr., Ste. 500 | Check out some of the various falafel and veggie options at this Mediterranean deli and cafe.

Basic Kitchen, 82 Wentworth St. | This restaurant offers vegan and vegetarian brunch, lunch, and dinner options, from vegan caesar salad to veggie hash. Try this: Cauli wings with buffalo sauce and vegan ranch.

Bon Banh Mi, Multiple locations | Add the five spiced tofu to a sandwich, taco, salad, or bowl — just ask for vegan mayo or no sriracha-lime cream, if you’re vegan.

Caviar & Bananas, Multiple locations | Build your own salad or sandwich with options like Asian fried tofu and balsamic roasted veggies.

El Pincho Taco, 616-B Meeting St. | Choose from four different vegetarian/vegan options, like grilled mushroom or soy chorizo tacos.

Five Loaves Cafe, Multiple locations | Try the vegan citrus tofu sandwich or vegetarian Portobello goat cheese burger at this local spot.

Jack of Cups Saloon, 34 Center St. | This Folly Beach restaurant serves up comfort food for vegetarians, vegans, and meat eaters alike. Try this: Pad Thai burger with an Impossible patty.

Kid Cashew, 1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd. | With a separate fully-vegan menu featuring items like a wood-fired Portobello gyro, this makes for a great spot to bring along any non-vegan friends.

Ladles, Multiple locations | Choose from a number of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free soups and sandwiches.

Verde, Multiple locations | Try vegan menu items like The Bowled Buddha or the Unbeanlievable Burger at this salad and bowl spot.

Xiao Bao Biscuit, 224 Rutledge Ave. | This restaurant housed in a former gas station offers up a vegan Mapo Tofu dish, in addition to a few other vegetarian options.

jack of cups_CHStoday

Check out this Impossible burger.

Photo provided by @jackofcupssaloon

🍸 Date night

CO Restaurant, 340 King St. | Check out the separate vegan menu at this Vietnamese restaurant for delicious items that are 100% animal-free — the spot also has a delicious cocktail menu. Pro tip: This spot is temporarily closed for renovations.

Sorghum & Salt, 186 Coming St. | A number of menu items at this locally sourced restaurant can be made vegan, if not already. Keep in mind that the menu changes seasonally.

🍽️ Chef it up at home

Check out our favorite tips and tricks for serving veggie-focused fare from your own kitchen:

  • To make zucchini, carrot, or beet noodles, try a veggie spiralizer that magically turns vegetables into noodles.
  • Tired of wasting money on spices you use once? Broth Bomb combines all the spices you need for a flavorful meal.
  • Harness the power of fresh and high-quality spices from James Beard Award-winning chef Meherwan Irani.
  • A tofu press draws out water and can help tofu firm and crisp up once you cook it — the one linked here is dishwasher safe + works in twenty minutes.
  • If your least favorite part about veggie prep is chopping, this all-in-one vegetable chopper can minimize prep time.
  • Use a sprouting jar kit to grow microgreens and sprouted beans at home.
  • If you’re making fresh bread, this Sourhouse starter jar was designed to be the easiest-to-clean sourdough starter jar in the world.
  • For the ultimate veggie food prep, this glass storage container set keeps lunches and leftovers organized.

Need some good recipes? Browse cookbooks “Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals” for veggie spiral recipes, “The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100” for plant-based ideas, or “The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook” from America’s Test Kitchen

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