America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Large Cities

#5 Atlanta, Georgia

Life is peachy for vegetarians in Atlanta. From soul food to sweet treats to authentic global cuisine, Atlanta and its surrounding towns have a terrific variety of vegan food options.

You won't want to miss the all-vegetarian Green Sprout, which our sources say has some of the best soups they've ever tasted. Several people also told us that when they want a taste of the sea without hurting Nemo, they order Green Sprout's delicious "Fish" Filets With Crispy Bean-Curd Skin. For a lazy evening, use its free home-delivery service for an order of Empire "Chicken" and some Pan-Seared Veg Pancakes, which are made with spinach, mushrooms, and onions. The faux shrimp at Harmony look and taste like the real thing, and the Indian food at Udipi is tantalizing, though you should wear loose pants if you are trying the buffet! Lush Café, where you can sit on a patio in the middle of a gorgeous garden, offers upscale vegetarian cuisine. Need an energy boost from fresh fruits and vegetables after your meal? Arden's Garden, which makes fresh vegetarian juices and smoothies, has four locations in the Atlanta area.

Soul food is a must below the Mason-Dixon line. For cooking that's better than your mama's, nobody is better than Soul Vegetarian, which has two Atlanta locations. Gather your crew for vegan chocolate milkshakes and a heap of onion rings. Café Sunflower, one of USA Today's "10 Great Places to Eat With an Easy Conscience," has two locations in Atlanta. The vegetarian-friendly menu includes Italian, Thai, Mexican, Chinese, and American dishes (leave room for the vegan chocolate cake). The Flying Biscuit Café also has two locations and serves several animal-friendly options, including the Vegan Southern-Style Burrito, which is loaded with barbecued tofu, collard greens, and mushrooms folded into a sun-dried tomato tortilla that's topped with salsa verde.

Top Tip: No bones about it, Harmony makes the best vegan sesame chicken anywhere. The chunks of "chicken" are dipped in a sesame batter, fried, and served with a thick-and-sweet sesame sauce.

Next >