America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities

#8 Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is a vegan oasis in the land of dairy. Between the city's gorgeous parks and its great vegetarian-friendly restaurants, it's no wonder that Madison has become such a popular place to live.

A great place to start is the Blue Plate Diner, which offers a terrific selection of animal-friendly fare, including Meatless Meatloaf, Vegan BBQ Pork, and vegetarian chili. If you're cruising the campus of the University of Wisconsin, duck into the Elizabeth Waters Dining Hall to try something off the fabulous daily vegetarian lunch menu, or help yourself to the giant salad bar. For a taste of Jamaica, try the delightful Mango Rundown Tofu, BBQ Tofu, and Jerk Tofu at Jamerica.

King of Falafel offers a great falafel sandwich and a delicious vegetarian platter. If you're more inclined toward Indian cuisine, then check out the spectacular food at India Darbar Restaurant, or snag some samosas and dhal at Himal Chuli. If you have a sweet tooth, you must head over to Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream for its delicious, all-natural vegan ice cream. Mother Fool's Coffeehouse serves tasty vegan pastries, muffins, scones, and cookies. With the Dane County Farmers' Market held on Madison's Capitol Square every Saturday during the warmer months, there's always plenty of fresh produce to go around. Madison also boasts five natural-food stores, co-ops, and markets, all loaded with vegetarian fare.

Top Tip: VegMadison.com provides the lowdown on eating to your heart's content on the isthmus.

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