Best Vegan Restaurants in Tempe, Arizona: The Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for Tempe vegan restaurants, you’re in luck. Tempe, Arizona is super vegetarian and vegan friendly. One of my very favorite things to do in Tempe was finding all of the vegan food, and I had an amazing time eating my way around the city.

There are so many vegan options in Tempe, Arizona, partially due to the high university student population as the home of ASU. I’m going to show you all of the delicious ways to pile those veggies high on your plates while traveling here.

Or perhaps you live in Tempe and you’re looking for the best vegan eats? I’ve got you covered, too!

While it wasn’t possible to try every vegan restaurant in Tempe during my three days in the city, I sampled as much food as humanly possible…for research purposes, of course. Here are my favorite Tempe vegan restaurants and dining options in Greater Phoenix, Arizona.

Tempe Vegan Restaurants: Green New American Vegetarian

After boarding an early morning flight and traveling from Toronto to Phoenix, I was pretty hungry. My first stop in town and my first Tempe vegan restaurant was Green New American Vegetarian.

It’s rather fitting because Green is the oldest 100% vegan restaurant in Tempe. I was so pleased to see such a variety of menu items, and it was so difficult to choose. Everything sounded amazing, especially considering that I was pretty starving.

Green serves mostly American style comfort foods gone vegan, although you shouldn’t think that means it isn’t healthy. There are plenty of healthy and comforting meals on their menu, as well as the not-so-healthy ones. Whatever your indulgence, I feel like you really can’t go wrong.

There are appetizers (spicy Buffalo “wings” or chili cheese fries, anyone?), as well as sandwiches and burgers. Perhaps you could try their “Big WAC” or “BBBQ Bacon Burger”, rather than their fast food equivalents.

I ordered the Thai Peanut bowl, while my veggie loving non-vegan dining companion ordered the Coconut Curry bowl. Mine had a great balance between the fresh veggies and the spicy kick from the sauce. I’d order this one again in a heartbeat. Apparently, the coconut curry bowl was a huge hit, too!

While there were tons of different beverages to order, I tried the Sweet Lime juice and it was super refreshing. Definitely visit Green when you travel to Tempe (or if you live in Tempe and you’re looking for a great lunch spot).

Vegan Restaurants in Tempe: Desert Roots Kitchen

Desert Roots Kitchen is a 100% vegan deli in downtown Tempe. This is a smaller spot in town without indoor seating, but everything is made fresh daily. The staff at Desert Roots Kitchen are quite creative as the menu is continually changing from day to day.

They’re only open for lunch on weekdays (Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm), so hopefully that aligns with your schedule. Some dishes that may be available when you visit include cheezy sunflower bowties, sweet and spicy black beans, cajun sunflower lentil hummus, spicy kickin’ quinoa and more.

Vegan Restaurants in Tempe: Early Bird Vegan

Early Bird Vegan serves up delicious plant-based eats with everything from healthy eats to comfort fare. It’s always great to have a breakfast/lunch/brunch spot in the city as vegan breakfast food can be a bit tougher to find. This is one of the most amazing vegan restaurants in Tempe.

Try the breakfast burrito, waffles, pesto grilled cheese, mac and cheese, Buffalo chicken sandwich and more. Early Bird Vegan is the sister restaurant to the plant-based food truck, Trash Panda Vegan, with the same owner and chef. Chef Krystal is a personal chef to NBA stars and you can find her food at both Early Bird Vegan and at many events with the Trash Panda vegan truck.

Vegan Restaurants in Tempe: Loving Hut

Who doesn’t love the Loving Hut? I’m still mourning the loss of our Loving Hut location in Toronto. Tempe has not one, but two Loving Hut locations. This is a worldwide vegan restaurant chain inspired by Supreme Master Ching Hai, a vegan advocate.

You can order both Asian and American dishes at Loving Hut, though I’ve only ever had Asian food at the restaurant. There are rice dishes, noodle dishes, curries, banh mi, soups, mock meats and more. The portions are always excellent with enough for leftovers the next day, and the food always tastes great.

Vegan Restaurants in Tempe: Drink Me Tea Room

Don’t you love afternoon tea? Drink Me! Tea Room is a completely vegan and gluten-free afternoon tea experience. Choose one of their tantalizing blends of tea (or how about a tea cocktail?) combined with a tiered platter full of goodies.

Small savory sandwiches, flaky scones, bite-sized sweets, macarons, tarts, mini doughnuts…this is an extravagant afternoon tea that you need to attend. There are a number of options with a range of prices depending on how many treats you’d like. Reservations in advance are required as this place books up fast.

Vegan Tempe: Cinnaholic

Cinnaholic is a vegan cinnamon bun chain and they’ve got a location in Tempe. I love frequenting Cinnaholic back at home, so be sure to pop by to pick up a tasty treat.

They have dozens and dozens of different toppings, and every cinnamon bun is fully customizable with different icing, syrups and toppings. They also have cookie dough, cinnamon bun cakes, Dole Whip and coffee beverages.

Vegan in Tempe, Arizona: Snakes & Lattes

Now, Snakes & Lattes isn’t a 100% vegan Tempe restaurant by any means, but they’re certainly vegan-friendly. Snakes & Lattes is a board game cafe that comes straight from my home, Toronto! There are three Snakes & Lattes locations in Toronto and they’ve opened their fourth cafe right in Tempe, AZ. I was delighted to visit a little piece of home right in the middle of Arizona. 

It’s actually pretty hilarious as I had this explained to me. In Canada (and the rest of the world), there’s a popular board game called Snakes and Ladders. For some reason, in the United States, someone at some point decided to call the game, Chutes and Ladders. Are snakes offensive to Americans? Do Americans prefer chutes to snakes? I have no idea.

Anyway, the point of this story being that the play on words, Snake and Lattes for a board game cafe doesn’t really make much sense in the USA. Well, hopefully everyone eventually learns the meaning behind the name and why it makes total sense.

Snakes & Lattes Tempe is a fabulous outing for you and your besties. Grab your favorite group of friends and enjoy a night of food, drinks, and games.

There are shelves and shelves full of every game imaginable, from the newest releases to your childhood faves (Electronic Mall Madness, anyone?). Our group played a game that was brand new. The best part is that there are staff members on hand to quickly explain the rules to get you started. 

While you’re playing games, you can order from their menu of comfort foods, shareables, poutine (gotta bring the Canadian influence!), burgers, pizzas, and desserts. The vegetarian items are marked with a little leaf, the vegan choices have a little vegan V, and the gluten-free ones are also clearly marked. Our table split the Vegan Disco Fries, which are one of the most popular items on the menu. It’s portobello gravy, vegan cheddar, tomato, and scallion, poured on top of fries. Yum! 

For my main meal, I ordered the Impossible Burger that had mac sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and vegan cheddar, along with a side of fries. I also ordered a local wheat beer, the Santan Mr. Pineapple out of Chandler, AZ. I had never tried a pineapple beer and I was such a fan! I’d drink this one all the time if we had it at home. 

While you might not think about Snakes & Lattes as one of the top downtown Tempe restaurants, it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s a fantastic casual dining spot if you’re getting a group of friends together. You’re certain to have a really fun evening, even if you decide to strictly stick to games and coffee.

Culinary Dropout

When we arrived at Culinary Dropout, it seemed as though all of Tempe was there! It’s a huge restaurant space with multiple rooms, a live band, and games. With locations in Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson (and also Las Vegas and Austin), it’s a popular place for a reason and you won’t want to miss it.

While it’s not a vegan or vegetarian restaurant by any stretch of the imagination, they have a number of options for the veggie folks in the gang. It’s a wise choice as it seems like there’s at least always one or two of us in the bunch, right? It’s a great choice for a vegan-friendly restaurant in Tempe.

Our group ordered a few appetizers, and the one that I gorged on was the hummus. What can I say, if there’s hummus around, I’ll find it! I could live off hummus quite easily.

If I got to live off the hummus served at Culinary Dropout, I’d be more than okay with that. It’s one of the best hummus appetizers that I’ve had at any restaurant. Topped with cucumber relish and za’atar, and served with flatbread, I could have simply eaten a giant order of this hummus as my meal.

However, there’s one vegan main course that I had to try, mainly because it’s the only vegan main course. But, our server informed me that it’s actually one of the best things you can order off the menu and it’s a favorite item among many guests. The Spicy Vegan Curry was quite delicious, especially with the griddled sweet potato at its center. There were also shiitake mushrooms, snap peas, cauliflower, and eggplant over black rice.

I really enjoyed this dish, though I prefer a little less sauce and a little more rice in my curries. It had the perfect amount of spice and I love anything made with coconut milk, really. So, please go to Culinary Dropout on the weekend with your best buds and give their vegan menu items a try.

Singh Meadows

On my last full day in Tempe, we started out the morning by visiting the wondrous Singh Meadows, a farmers market in town. If you love locally sourced food, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find Singh Meadows on 75 acres of property with green spaces, walking trails and shady spots. It’s a great place for a stroll or a picnic with the family.

Indoors, you’ll find a bustling farmer’s market with locally sourced food, as well as a 100% organic cafe, coffee and juice bar. When we visited on a Saturday morning, there were tons of samples of various oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit slices to taste.

We also stopped here for breakfast, and I am still dreaming about my glorious picnic basket full of delicious eats. Yes, I received my meal in a picnic basket! I ordered the Meadows Picnic Basket with Swiss chard, falafel, tempeh, wheat berry tabouli, and crispy pita (hold the feta for me). The menus change with the seasons, depending on what’s readily available. 

If there’s nothing purely marked as vegan on the menu, just ask the staff. They’ll be able to modify some vegetarian meals to make them vegan for you. It’s really not a problem; they focus on using their own fresh fruits and vegetables in their meals. In fact, make a whole morning of it: dine at Singh Meadows, do some shopping there, and go for a walk around the beautiful property.

Four Peaks Brewing Company

I recommend checking out one of the best breweries in Tempe, Four Peaks Brewing. Sign up for a beer tour, and your guide will teach you all about their methods for beer production. I think that this was one of the most thorough and well explained beer tours I’ve ever taken.

Perhaps it’s because Four Peaks Brewing takes their beer seriously. They even scientifically alter the water composition to create the same water as the style of beer it’s modeled after (now that takes commitment!). And yes, the beer is vegan-friendly, too. 

The behind the scenes tour was enjoyable and insightful. Most importantly, it didn’t take long until we sampled the beer, too. Why not stay for a while after the tour and order a beer flight to try some different varieties, too? I loved ordering a flight of beer because I got to try several that weren’t offered on the brew tour that caught my eye.

The 8th Street Brew Pub uses beer as an ingredient in many meals, so I had to try their beer bread. My veggie beer bread was both colorful and delicious, and they easily altered the meal slightly for my vegan diet. In fact, our server happened to follow a vegan diet, so she went over my dining options with me.

They aren’t clearly marked, but you can easily ask a staff member for assistance. For instance, their pretzels are also vegan! They also have beer sorbet in various flavors, like green tea and lychee, and it’s absolutely delicious. Cheers!

Ghost Ranch

Inspired by the multicultural history of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico, Ghost Ranch serves hearty and healthy southwestern fare combined with refreshing cocktails and beer. You can clearly see the vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals denoted on the menu.

Our whole table enjoyed a massive plate of chips, salsa, and guacamole, which was the perfect start to the meal. It was a tough choice, but I decided on the vegetable enchiladas smothered in red sauce, which were absolutely delightful.

My enchiladas came with a side dish, which are typically the Ranchero beans and rice. However, the server was quick to point out that they cook the beans and rice with pork, so I ate a side of roasted vegetables instead that were awesome.

I also indulged in a Prickly Pear Frosé Rita – a Rosé margarita with prickly pear, lime, and of course, tequila. It was dangerously delicious and the perfect way to beat the heat.

Pedal Haus Brewery

Pedal Haus Brewery features award-winning craft brews and a delicious menu to match. It’s a really vegan-friendly restaurant with multiple plant-based offerings. This is a great place to frequent with your omnivore friends or family members, especially if you love beer. Even though it’s not 100% vegan, this is one of the best vegan restaurants in Tempe.

Pedal Haus Brewery makes things really easy for those following a vegan diet as there’s a separate vegan section on the menu. Here you’ll find a Bavarian pretzel (with vegan beer cheese), cauliflower wings, guacamole, nachos, a Mediterranean salad, vegan mac n’ cheese, two vegan burgers and a vegan pizza.

Cafe Lalibela

Cafe Lalibela is an Ethiopian restaurant in Tempe that’s vegan-friendly. There are seven different vegan offerings on the menu that you can order as a vegan platter. It’s great that you can sample a little bit of everything with a large helping of injera. You can also order traditional Ethiopian coffee or special herbal tea from Ethiopia.