A Local’s Guide to Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Austin
October 5, 2026
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Some of our favorite vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Austin are a two-block walk from our front door in East Austin. Others are worth the drive across town, like the seasonal vegan tasting menu at Fabrik and the southern-fried king oyster mushrooms at COMMUNITY Kitchen + Taproom, which now sit next door to each other on Windsor Road in Tarrytown.
We put this guide together for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone traveling with one. Every spot below is fully vegetarian or vegan, with one exception we’ve noted, and we’ve grouped them by distance from the Heywood Hotel so you can plan around where you’ll already be. Here are our team’s picks.
In this post:
Walkable from the Heywood
1. Mr. Natural
Mr. Natural is a family-owned vegetarian restaurant, bakery, and juice bar two blocks from the Heywood. The walk-up counter serves vegetarian and gluten-free Mexican food like enchiladas, corn tacos, and fresh juices. Before you head back, take a look at the bakery case and pick something out for the walk home.
2. The Vegan Nom
The Vegan Nom has been making 100% plant-based tacos since 2012, when owner Chris Rios started out in a seven-by-twelve-foot trailer. Today the truck anchors the Vegan Nom Food Park at 2324 E. Cesar Chavez St., about half a mile east of us. Order the vegan migas taco, built with tofu scramble, sautéed bell peppers, crispy chips, and vegan cheddar, and add a side of queso.
Enjoy vegan tacos from The Vegan Nom, just down the road from the Heywood.
3. Arlo’s Jr.
Arlo’s Jr. is parked at Four Five Six, a bar just down the street from the Heywood. The fully plant-based menu sticks to comfort food: burgers, tots, and fries. It’s an easy dinner when you’d rather walk than drive, and the bar is right there if you want a drink with your burger.
4. Gati Ice Cream
Gati means coconut milk in Thai, and it’s the base of every ice cream at this Holly Street shop. Owner Jam Sanitchat, who also runs Thai Fresh, built a rotating lineup with flavors like Thai Basil and Lavender Caramel. The bakery is all gluten-free, and there’s a full coffee bar if you stop by in the morning.
A Short Drive Around East Austin
5. Dear Diary Coffeehouse
Dear Diary Coffeehouse is a 100% vegan coffeehouse at the corner of 12th and Chicon, run by Amalia Litsa and Joshua Adrian. Small journals sit around the room for guests to flip through or add to, and a wall of prints and art supplies from local artists fills out the space. It’s one of our favorite East Austin coffee shops, and they serve beer and wine too.
6. Austin Daily Press
Austin Daily Press is the one spot on this list that isn’t strictly vegetarian, but vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are built into the menu. This sandwich stand started as a food truck and now holds down the corner of MLK and Chicon. Get the jalapeño hushpuppies, then carry your tray next door to The Wheel if you want a drink with dinner.
7. Casa de Luz East
Casa de Luz has been feeding Austin from its garden campus off Barton Springs Road since 1983, and Casa de Luz East brought the same nonprofit kitchen to East Austin in 2024. The menu is plant-based and built on seasonal ingredients. If you have time on the south side, the original Casa de Luz serves a cafeteria-style fixed menu, and the grounds have a secret-garden quality worth a slow walk after lunch.
Casa de Luz is a fixture in Austin’s vegan and vegetarian community.
Eat Plant-Based on the East SideStay two blocks from Mr. Natural and a short walk from The Vegan Nom and Arlo’s Jr. at the Heywood Hotel, a seven-room boutique hotel on East Cesar Chavez St. Tell us what you’re in the mood for, and our team will point you to the right table. |
Central Austin and Tarrytown
8. Nori
Nori serves an all-vegan Japanese menu on Guadalupe Street near the UT campus. Start with the nigiri sampler, six bites topped with things like cured tomato, Just Egg tamagoyaki, and marinated shiitake. The room is warm and low-lit with a full bar, which makes it a good fit for a date night in Austin, and Nori serves brunch on Sundays.
9. Zucchini Kill Bakery
Everything at Zucchini Kill is vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free. Owners Cece Moon and Jessica Freda are former bandmates, and the name is a nod to the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill. Try the Cream Coffins, their take on a Twinkie, at the North Loop shop or the second location on Fruth Street next to Tweedy’s. You’ll find more of our favorite sweets in our guide to the best bakeries in Austin.
10. Li’l Nonna’s
Li’l Nonna’s makes New York-style pizza with house-made vegan mozzarella and Beeteroni, a pepperoni made from beets. Gluten-free crusts are available for any pie. Now that the trailer serves from Tweedy’s on Fruth Street, you can get pizza and a Zucchini Kill cupcake within a few steps of each other.
11. Fabrik
Fabrik has moved from East Austin to Tarrytown, and the new room has more seats and an open kitchen. Chef and co-owner Je Wallerstein serves a fixed, fully plant-based tasting menu that changes every three months, with local Texas produce at its center. The optional wine pairing pours vegan, biodynamic, and organic wines. In 2025, the MICHELIN Guide added Fabrik to its list of recommended Austin restaurants, so book ahead.
Enjoy vegan fine dining at Fabrik.
12. COMMUNITY Kitchen + Taproom
You may know this one as Community Vegan, the food truck that served out of a 1973 Winnebago on East 11th Street. Co-owners Marlon Rison and Ericka Dotson have moved into their first brick-and-mortar as COMMUNITY Kitchen + Taproom, right next door to Fabrik. The plant-based Southern menu now includes surf and turf and barbecue plates alongside the fried chick’n made with king oyster mushrooms. Save room for the dairy-free banana pudding.
South of the River
13. Bouldin Creek Cafe
Bouldin Creek Cafe is an all-vegetarian cafe on South 1st Street, about two miles south of the hotel. Breakfast runs all day, and alongside the coffee bar you’ll find beer and wine. If you’re planning a weekend morning, our guide to breakfast and brunch in East Austin has more ideas closer to home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Austin?
Our team at the Heywood Hotel recommends Fabrik for a plant-based tasting menu, Nori for all-vegan sushi, COMMUNITY Kitchen + Taproom for Southern comfort food, and Mr. Natural for vegetarian Mexican food and baked goods. For tacos, The Vegan Nom has served 100% plant-based tacos in Austin since 2012.
Are there vegan restaurants within walking distance of the Heywood Hotel?
Yes. Mr. Natural is two blocks from the Heywood Hotel on East Cesar Chavez St., and The Vegan Nom, Arlo’s Jr., and Gati Ice Cream are all a short walk away.
Where is Fabrik in Austin now?
Fabrik, Austin’s fully plant-based tasting menu restaurant, moved from East Austin to 3108 Windsor Rd. in Tarrytown. The menu changes every three months, and reservations are recommended.
What happened to Community Vegan in Austin?
Community Vegan, the food truck that served out of a 1973 Winnebago on East 11th Street, became COMMUNITY Kitchen + Taproom. The restaurant is at 3110 Windsor Rd. in Tarrytown, next door to Fabrik, and serves plant-based Southern comfort food.
Can the Heywood Hotel help me find vegetarian and vegan restaurants during my stay?
Yes. Our team at the Heywood Hotel shares vegetarian and vegan recommendations with guests before and during their stay, matched to where they’ll be and what they’re in the mood for.
Stay Close to Your Next Meal
Four of the spots on this list are a short walk from our door, and the rest are an easy drive. With just seven (fantastic) rooms, the Heywood Hotel is a boutique hotel in East Austin that holds One MICHELIN Key for the third consecutive year, and our team is happy to help you plan every plant-based meal of your trip.
Your Friends in Austin Know Where to EatTell us about your group and your plans, and we’ll share our favorite vegetarian and vegan spots for the days you’re here. |
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