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.
🍊 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).
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.
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.
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
