Vegan hotspots in Brooklyn

While plenty of restaurants offer vegetarian and vegan options in Brooklyn, there are surprisingly few full-on plant-based eateries. But at Amituofo it’s all about sharing the passion for a vegan lifestyle. The menu is a mix of pan-Asian cuisine, from batter-fried king oyster mushrooms to General Tso’s ‘chicken’, with a light touch of classic American fare, like the ‘Beyond Burger’. All set in an elegant, bright and airy interior.

The lines outside Bunna Cafe after 8 pm may be longer than you would expect for a space that is both vegan and cash only, but locals who know the food will tell you it is all worth the wait. The plant-based dishes are filling, savory and perfect to share with friends. Ethiopian cuisine uses injera, the flat bread made from teff and barley flour, as a utensil. Don’t miss the seasonal cocktails and traditional Ethiopian honey wine.

Little Choc Apothecary, NYC’s first 100% vegan creperie, serves a wonderful selection of both sweet and savory gluten-free crêpes along with fresh pressed juices, smoothies, coffees, teas and baked goods. Former fashion model and owner Julia Kravets sources her ingredients from farms and distributors who focus on sustainability, with their local, organic, and fair-trade products. On the second floor there’s an entire wall of loose teas from which guests can request personalized blends based on their health benefits or taste preferences.

This all-vegan, pan-Latino low-key cafe in the heart of Park Slope was founded by Columbian brothers Danny and Alex Carabaño. They serve dishes like a Colombian traditional plate of bandeja paisa, buffalo wings, and burrito carne molida, as well as Jamaican-style empanadas and Carabaño arepas (in honor of the founding brothers), their amazing tacos. They now also have a V-Spot Express in the East Village.

Xilonen, which opened during the pandemic, is an upscale plant-based Mexican restaurant by rockstar-chef Justin Bazdarich, the man behind Speedy Romeo and the Michelin-starred Oxomoco. Named after the Aztec goddess of young corn, Xilonen aims to convert carnivores by using intense Mexican flavors to enhance the vegetables with a menu that that is 75% vegan and 25% vegetarian.