America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Large Cities

#4 New York, New York

The Big Apple is a veritable vegetable mecca, with enough vegetarian-friendly eateries to last a lifetime of New York minutes. If you're really obsessed with good food, visit them all—they're just a train ride away!

There are so many vegetarian options in New York City that it's impossible to pick the best one. FineTuning.com hails Red Bamboo, Gobo, and Hangawi, while New York magazine praises Sukhadia's Gokul's Bombay Pav Vada (deep-fried potato turnover) as the city's best vegetarian sandwich. We think that the Big Mack Daddy Veggie Burger at Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop is one of the nation's best meatless creations. For a sophisticated array of creative and tasty dishes, head over to Counter. Angelica Kitchen has a highly acclaimed all-vegan menu. We at PETA are also fond of Pure Food and Wine and its chef Matthew Kenney.

New York is home to two of the best organic vegan restaurants in America—Candle Café and Candle 79. Seitan fans, rejoice, because the fiery folks at these restaurants have "wheat meat" perfected—try the Seitan Piccata at Candle 79. Once you have practiced spelling "seitan," you'll be ready to join the Vegetarian Scrabble Club.

In New York City, many nonvegetarian restaurants also dish up delicious cruelty-free options. Atlas Café now has vegan dessert crêpes, sandwiches, and an excellent Moroccan Vegan Chicken Crêpe, which is filled with soy chicken, onions, and peppers and covered with a spicy sun-dried tomato sauce. Two Boots offers some delicious vegan pizzas on its menu.

Plug in at Soy Luck Club if you have work to do. Its signature Green Tea Soy Latté (along with several vegan snacks) will refresh you, and the complimentary high-speed Internet access will keep you connected. The place to see and be seen is Teany, a café-style restaurant run by vegan music superstar Moby. And every fashionable, animal-friendly shopper should stop by Moo Shoes for a new pair of über-stylish pedal pushers or pavement pounders.

Top Tip: For the best late-night munchies in New York City, try Food Swings in Brooklyn. This vegan fast-food-style hangout has its own cult following (its "drumsticks" and vegan milkshakes are legendary). Its whole menu is mouthwatering!

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