Amba
Why we love it: Amba’s small plates are so filling and full-flavored that even meat lovers can leave happy. Chicken, lamb and venison all make menu appearances, but the majority of dishes are meatless. “It’s a nice assortment of flavors, textures and options,” says chef-owner Douglas Katz. “There’s something for everyone, but the idea is that everything works well to eat together.” Try this: If you’ve never had savory lentil donuts ($12), now’s your chance. These South Indian snacks are served with a sweet and spicy serrano chili jam and cooling coconut chutney. 1430 W. 28th St., 216- 417-6718, ambacle.com
Balance Pan-Asian Grille
Why we love it: Feeing picky? This health-conscious cafe welcomes and encourages you to customize your
order to your exact liking, from bowls and tacos to bright bubble tea. The owners also run an 8,600-square-foot aquaponics farm that serves as the source of their greens, herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Try this: The Filipino Adobowl ($9.50) is as flavorful as it is colorful, thanks to ingredients like fried garlic, seasonal potatoes and crunchy red cabbage. Make it meatless by choosing tofu or lentils as your protein. 515 Euclid Ave., 216-523-1111, balancegrille.com
Barrio Tacos
Why we love it: Let’s taco ‘bout just how easy it is to be a vegetarian at this Northeast Ohio chain. Choosing from options such as gochujang barbecue tofu, pan-seared portobellos, cauliflower rice, napa slaw, black beans and more; plus nine sauces ranging from cloyingly sweet to practically on fire, design the taco of your dreams. Try this: Don’t trust your DIY skills? The El Vegano ($5.50) goes hard. It’s stuffed with mushrooms, caramelized veggies and three kinds of salsa in a double shell held together by guac. Various locations, barrio-tacos.com
Beet Jar Juice Bar & Takeaway
Why we love it: This teeny-tiny hipster hang wouldn’t be out of place in Los Angeles or Portland, but here it is in the heart of Hingetown, sating Clevelanders’ green juice and imaginative sandwich fix. “Having a finite menu of items created in small batches is the trick,” says co-owner Joseph Joseph. Try this: The Buffalo Springpea Wrap ($10) is a chickpea-based take on chicken salad is not only super yummy but also super healthy. 2600 Detroit Ave, beetjar.com
Bright Side
Why we love it: This new and aptly named Ohio City spot is all vivid colors and ephemeral vibes — and we don’t just mean the decor. “The menu features comfort food prepared with healthful ingredients, the wine list is champagne-forward and the cocktail program is bright and adventurous,” says owner Sam McNulty. Honestly? That kind of says it all. Try this: Pickled mustard seeds and creme fraiche give a new-American spin to fried spaetzle ($13), an old German favorite. 1948 W. 25th St., 216-274-1010, brightsidecle.com
Cloak and Dagger
Why we love it: Eerie vibes, creative cocktails and vegan food reign supreme at this elegant but laid-back Tremont hotspot. “We don’t want to just be the best vegan, we want to be the best,” says owner Cory Hajde. Try this: Though the bar’s themed food and drink menus change with the seasons, one item remains consistent: the red miso and sumac popcorn ($4). 2399 W. 11th St., 216-795-5657, cloakanddaggercle.com
Cleveland Vegan
Why we love it: More than a decade in business has made this an OG spot for local, plant-based cuisine. As a full-
service catering company with a bustling cafe and organic scratch bakery, it offers just about everything but animal products. “It's always been our goal to showcase a wide variety of vegan foods,” says co-owner Laura Ross. Try this: This juicy gyro is made with Cleveland Vegan’s homemade seitan, which includes a little bit of chickpea flour and a lot of spices ($13.50). 17112 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216- 221-0201, clevelandvegan.com
Corner 11
Why we love it: Thiwaporn Sirisuwan noticed that there weren’t many fast casual spots in Tremont, so she opened her own. Now, her poke place is so well-known for its tasty, healthy options that many diners tell her they first learned about it from their doctors and nutritionists. “We try to focus on the healthy food,” Sirisuwan says. Try this: The vegan ramen ($15), made with fried tofu, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and more, is so creamy that some customers insist it can’t be vegan. Don’t worry: It really is! 2391 W. 11th St., 216-713-1757, corner11cleveland.com
Empress Taytu
Why we love it: Vegan and vegetarian cuisine are a big part of Ethiopian culture, so it’s no surprise that this authentic local spot in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood offers a variety of hearty meatless entrees and rainbow-hued sides. Soak it all up with spongy injera, a soft, lightweight flatbread made of wheat flour and teff. Try this: Tibs, a popular stir-fry-meets-stew dish, is often made with beef or lamb, but the inguday tibs ($22.50) feature sauteed portobello mushrooms instead. To go vegan, ask for oil instead of butter. 6125 St. Clair Ave., 216-391-9400, empresstayturestaurantcleveland.com
Forage Public House
Why we love it: Forage’s neighborhood-
bar-meets-artisan-restaurant vibe means it’s somehow suitable for everything from brunch with friends to a business lunch or a fancy night out. The menu centers around sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients, and each dish’s source location is listed on the menu. Try this: The cauliflower tacos ($15) are beautifully crispy and slightly spicy, thanks to scallions, ginger and a sweet chili gastrique. 4600 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-2000, foragepublichouse.com
Happy Dog
Why we love it: It would be all too easy — expected, even — for a hot dog joint to exclude diners who don’t eat meat. Instead, Happy Dog has created a fully inclusive menu with the option to choose vegan dogs or burgers in an egg-free bun. And because its menu is all about DIY-ing your own wacky creation, this is one hot dog joint where it’s surprisingly easy to avoid meat. Try this: With 45 vegetarian-friendly toppings to choose from (many of them vegan), order your Field Roast Artisan Vegan Dog ($7.50) and go wild. 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com
India Garden
Why we love it: India is home to the world’s largest vegetarian population, so it makes sense that this authentic Lakewood spot offers nearly two dozen vegetarian entrees, almost all of which can be made vegan upon request. From korma to kofta and masala to daal makhani, this menu offers carnivores and herbivores alike a variety of foods fit for feasting. Try this: The rich, creamy vegetable korma ($15.95) is packed with cauliflower, peas, carrots and more in a thick coconut sauce. 18405 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-221-0676, indiagardencleveland.com
Johnny Mango World Cafe & Bar
Why we love it: With the word “world” in its name, you know what kind of cuisine you’re going to get from this funky, vibrant Ohio City eatery. What you might not expect are so many meatless options, from jackfruit tacos and Khmer-style fried rice to a tofu/tuna surf-and-turf — and many of the dishes have been on the menu since the '90s. “It’s about being consistent without being complacent,” says co-owner and chef J.T. Haynes. Try this: Since its big menu debut in 2005, the
vegan pad Thai ($10.50) has been one of the restaurant’s bestsellers. 3120 Bridge Ave., 216-575-1919, jmango.com
Jukebox
Why we love it: Good music and great pierogies make for a Clevelander's dream come true at this friendly Hingetown haunt. Known for music trivia nights and a truly excellent back patio, Jukebox also offers a dedicated vegan and vegetarian menu that always includes at least two kinds of scratch-made pierogies and roasted butternut squash and sweet potato soup ($9). “We hone the classics while also pushing things a little bit,” says chef Tony Smith. Try this: Smith uses flaxseed instead of eggs in the dough of his buffalo chickpea pierogies ($9), filling them with mashed chickpeas, tahini paste and a blend of hot sauces. 1404 W. 29th St., 216-206-7699, jukeboxcle.com
Propaganda Coffee
Why we love it: Gluten-free, soy-free, vegan and full of flavor? This indie cafe is pulling off the seemingly impossible with a menu of creative drinks and light bites that hits all the marks, no matter your dietary restrictions. Try this: Hanukkah’s potato pancakes get the year-round treatment in the form of Propaganda’s crispy latke waffles ($9), served with traditional applesauce and vegan sour cream. 17806 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216- 767-5811, propagandacoffee.com
The Root Cafe
Why we love it: Since 2009, this Lakewood staple has been setting the bar for quick, easy and delicious plant-based food on Cleveland’s West Side. Boasting a fully vegetarian kitchen and organic scratch bakery, The Root is many local’s go-to for work-from-home days, meetings and friend dates. Filling, health-conscious meals are made with seasonal heirloom veggies and caffeinated creations are made with local duck-rabbit coffee. From faux tuna salad sandwiches to breakfast burritos, we suggest trying whatever specials are offered. Try this: Move over, corned beef, there’s a new kid in town. The tempeh Reuben ($13) makes for a perfectly plant-based version of this old-school deli fave. 15118 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-4401, theroot-cafe.com
Sage Karma Kitchen
Why we love it: Suburban hippies, rejoice! This Willoughby sit-down spot is everything you want in a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly date night: extensive meatless options with far-out names like the Karma Bowl and the Go With the Flow Flatbread, plus CBD-infused mocktails, an organic vegan wine list and the scent of — what else? — lightly burning sage to set the atmosphere. Try this: The Parvati ($14) is the perfect white pizza, loaded with caramelized onions, Ohio sweet corn, pickled peppers and a little bit of vegan ranch. This is still the Midwest, after all. 4051 Erie St., Willoughby, 440-946-2300, sagekarmakitchens.com
Superior Pho
Why we love it: Nothing is cozier than a steaming-hot bowl full of pho, which is also a sneaky way to get your fill of nutritious veggies while feeling like you’re eating something ridiculously indulgent. Try this: There’s only one vegetarian-friendly pho on the menu, but when this one’s so good, who needs more? The pho chay ($9.95/$10.95) is chock full of bean sprouts, herbs and soothing spices like roasted cloves, coriander and star anise. 3030 Superior Ave., No. 105, 216-781-7462, superiorpho.com
Tartine Bistro
Why we love it: It’s not always easy to find meat-free French food, so thank goodness for this upscale Rocky River restaurant. A surprisingly large and fully vegan menu is available for diners who want to indulge in a little culinary joie de vivre, sans animal products. You can even order the freshly baked bread service with vegan butter! Try this: The wild mushroom pizza ($21) is a freshly foraged delight, baked to a crisp and complemented by caramelized onions, leeks, and roasted garlic. 19110 Old Detroit Road, Rocky River, 440-331-0800, tartinebistro.com
Tommy's Restaurant
Why we love it: This Coventry mainstay is known for its massive menu, and it’s not the kind of place with a “no substitutions” clause. Recognizing that Clevelanders’ appetites and food preferences are as diverse as the community itself, owner Tommy Fello has intentionally worked popular substitutions into the restaurant’s offerings, which include milkshakes, brunch fare and some of the area's earliest Middle Eastern-inspired offerings. “We know a lot of people can't have things like dairy, gluten or soy,” says Fello, who opened the restaurant in 1972 as a 19-year-old Cleveland Heights High School graduate, “so we try to offer something for everybody.” Try this: Tommy’s is probably most famous for its milkshakes and malts ($5.79 to $7.59). Tofutti and oat milk options mean vegans don’t have to miss out on the fun. 1824 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-7757, tommyscoventry.com
The Vegan Club
Why we love it: Chef Porsche Phillips is up for the challenge of convincing non-vegans to love vegan food. “I really want to change people's minds,” she says. Though she dabbles in Asian, Indian and Spanish flavors, her entire menu is infused with a taste of her Southern roots. Down-home touches like okra, pecans and Cajun seasoning provide a true South-in-your-mouth experience, no butter or bacon required. Try this: Phillips is particularly proud of her crab fries ($12), which are, of course, crabless. Hearts of palm and artichoke replicate the texture of clawed crustaceans, and flaky seaweed lends a bit of fishiness. 13228 Shaker Square, 216-465-2054, theveganclubcle.com
The Vegan Doughnut Company
Why we love it: Sisters Kharisma and Kyra Mayo got into the business of making vegan doughnuts for a simple reason: They wanted to eat them. “Once we went vegan, we couldn’t find doughnuts, so we started making them at home,” Kharisma says. Now, they run one of the only bakeries in town that makes desserts that are big on flavor but completely free of eggs, milk, nuts, peanuts and tree nuts. Try this: Flavors rotate seasonally, but the reliably refreshing lemon lavender ($2.50) is available all year long. 14811 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-712-4192, thevegandoughnutco.com
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