Grand Rapids boasts a vibrant food scene with an increasing number of restaurants catering to health-conscious and vegan diners. From fully vegan establishments to restaurants with extensive vegan-friendly menus, there's something for everyone seeking nutritious and delicious plant-based meals in the city. This article explores some of the best options available, highlighting their unique offerings and commitment to healthy eating.
Dedicated Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants
For those seeking exclusively plant-based cuisine, Grand Rapids offers several standout choices:
Gaia House Café
Gaia House Café revived the legendary recipes and laid-back vibe of the original Gaia, which closed in 2014. This restaurant offers all vegetarian offerings. Local vegans and vegetarians rejoiced when Gaia House Café opened in 2021. Gaia is also a coffee and juice bar serving naturally vegan coffees and fresh-pressed juices.
GoJo Ethiopian Cuisine
Every item on the menu at this Ethiopian restaurant one mile from downtown GR is both vegetarian and vegan (and incredibly delicious, to boot). Entrées include authentic Alicha, Azifa, Gomen, Kik, Mesir, Shiro and Soy Curry, all lovingly prepared using fresh vegetables, legumes and spices. All entrees come with injera, a traditional flatbread made from fermented teff batter. Order a group platter so you and your friends can sample multiple entrees together.
Rise Authentic Baking Co.
Despite operating as an entirely vegan bakery, Rise Authentic Baking Co. offers Tastefull Vegan Frozen Desserts.
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Restaurants with Extensive Vegan Options
Many Grand Rapids restaurants are embracing the growing demand for vegan cuisine by incorporating plant-based options into their menus:
Chez Olga
This Caribbean/Creole restaurant in the city’s Uptown neighborhood offers a number of vegan entrees - including Potato Lasagna and Mixed Vegetables with White Rice - and they’re very happy to substitute tofu as protein in their gumbo, creole, curry, pasta, fried rice and salad dishes. Substitute tofu in gumbo, creole, curry, and more for a hearty vegan meal.
The Mitten Brewing Co.
The Mitten Brewing Co. is a vintage baseball-themed microbrewery that expertly pairs handcrafted beers with gourmet pizzas. Virtually all of its pizzas can be made vegan (and gluten-free) - even the Pesto Chicken, Aloha BBQ and Hog Heaven pies. You can get a pizza flight of six vegan pizzas that will serve 4-6 people. Even most of the appetizers and sandwiches that round out the menu here can be made vegan. Servers are knowledgeable about all the vegan options available, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Stella’s Lounge
While it’s known for its giant stuffed burgers - the Stella Burger was named America’s Best Burger by GQ magazine - Stella’s Lounge also impresses with its vegan and vegetarian menu options. Try the “chicken” wings made with potatoes or chickpeas and the sweet potato burrito. Stella's Is For You (And Us). Our menu goes way beyond the typical freezer bag to fryer crap you find at a lot of bars. Our famous giant stuffed burgers were named Best in America by GQ in 2012 and Best in Grand Rapids by Grand Rapids Magazine and On the Town. We even make our own vegetarian and vegan burgers, beer-battered avocados and stuffed tots.
Two Beards Deli
Our top-vote getter is this downtown deli serving sandwiches, salads and house-made soups. The 90 or so sandwiches on the Two Beards menu include 18 grilled vegan selections named for famous people, real and fictional. For example: The Woody Harrelson, evoking the vegan actor, features vegan bacon, assorted veggies and chipotle veganaise on a sundried tomato wrap, while The Dr.
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Lai Thai Kitchen
A quaint, bistro-like eatery in northeast Grand Rapids, Lai Thai Kitchen offers a broad selection of authentic Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes that can be made vegan - from pho noodle soups and noodle dishes to curry dishes and desserts. Start your meal with some veggie rolls, summer rolls, dumplings, edamame or fried tofu.
Quarantino’s Pizza
Opened in GR’s Uptown neighborhood in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic - the name is a play on “quarantine” - Quarantino’s Pizza has evolved from a pop-up takeout shop into one of the area’s favorite pizza joints. Quarantino’s offers its signature square pizzas in an 8-inch by 10-inch size meant to serve one to two people. Cheesy breadsticks, side sauces, and Caesar Salad are also on the vegan menu.
Noble Restaurant
This Wyoming restaurant promises “a noble way to eat,” featuring scratch-made meals free from artificial colors and flavors, high fructose corn syrup and artificial nitrates.
Mithu Sri Lankan & Indian Cuisine
All the vegetarian appetizers here are vegan, and many vegetarian curries can be made vegan upon request.
Other Restaurants with Vegan-Friendly Options
In addition to the restaurants listed above, many other establishments in Grand Rapids offer vegan-friendly options:
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- Anna's House: A separate vegan menu at this retro-style breakfast & lunch diner lists 12 delicious options.
- CoreLife Eatery: Choose from healthy salads, grain bowls, bone broth bowls, soups and more, many of which can be made vegan friendly. At CoreLife Eatery, we’re all about real food. Welcome to CoreLife Eatery, where clean eating meets bold flavor. Our menu is scratch-made with whole ingredients you can pronounce-and probably have in your own kitchen. We chop, simmer, roast, and sear everything right here, so you can enjoy meals that are craveable and clean.
- Mod Pizza: Gluten-friendly crust, dairy-free cheese and plant-based Italian sausage are among the vegan-friendly options at this national chain restaurant.
- JB's Pizza Parlor: Build your own pizza with vegan meats (chicken, pepperoni and sausage) and vegan Mozzarella cheese at this Alger Heights neighborhood pizza joint.
- Good Judy's Market & Juice Bar: Vegetarian options take up nearly a third of the menu here, and virtually all of them are also vegan.
- Clean Eatz: Located at 6080 28th St. SE Clean Eatz in Grand Rapids is a healthy food restaurant that offers a variety of delicious and affordable options for our customers. Our dine-in cafe menu includes burgers, wraps, flatbreads, meltz, build your own bowls, smoothies and more. You simply place your online order, pick up your meals at Clean Eatz in Grand Rapids, take them home, and then just heat and eat. Most meals are under 500 calories. In addition to our café menu and meal plans, healthy food options at Clean Eatz in Grand Rapids include Grab ‘N’ Go meals, protein smoothies, healthy snacks, and catering for all occasions. Fresh. Fast. Meet our latest limited-time lineup - the Mediterranean Meatball Bowl and Peach Bubbler Beverage. Our scratch-made meatballs are seasoned with bold Mediterranean spices, served over warm grains with fresh veggies, harissa , spicy hummus, feta cheese, and drizzled with tzatziki.Pair it with our refreshing Peach Bubbler, a lightly sparkling drink bursting with sweet, juicy peach flavor.
Markets and Other Options
- Furniture City Creamery has a fun selection of both dairy and dairy-free (Vegan friendly) options so everyone can enjoy a scoop.
- Go Vegan GR: Savor delicious plant-based sandwiches, wraps, burgers and more at this Grand Rapids Downtown Market restaurant, whose mouthwatering dishes delight vegans and non-vegans alike.
- Vegan Avocado Toast is a favorite at this breakfast and lunch eatery (with a full bar).
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