Best vegan options in the city?

Submitted by Sunfish-Studio t3_zxfgt3 in pittsburgh

Not just vegan restaraunts (although I do want to go check out Onion Maiden at some point) or even places that are exclusively vegan but I'm newish to both Pittsburgh and veganism and am trying to plan out my options. Any grocery stores that you know sell good vegan products, pizza joints with dairy free cheese options, ice cream bars with coconut milk ice cream, and restaraunts with good vegan options!

Whole foods has decent options but they're really pricey and I'd rather support local businesses if I can. Any recommendations would be very appreciated!

Edit: man my first concern was having enough places to get ingredients and go out to eat while vegan to keep things fresh, now that concern is just keeping my weight under control when all these options so sound good 😅

49

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

chuckie512 t1_j1zyfhg wrote

Milkshake factory has dairy free milkshakes!

East end brewing's pizza kitchen can make vegan any of their specialty pizzas

Brewdog has some good cauliflower wings.

15

nemoonski t1_j1zzen3 wrote

I think east end co-op has vegan options and they're local, but I would say they're around whole foods prices

30

booptcgo t1_j1zzk4c wrote

You will definitely hear this again but as a non-vegan, Apteka is my favorite vegan restaurant, maybe even my favorite restaurant in the city period. It's often the place that I'll take my friends who live in bigger cities with larger food scenes.

20

bb72pp t1_j1zzlsl wrote

allegro hearth has amazing sandwiches and baked goods. all vegan

25

mvc594250 t1_j200gu6 wrote

Bae Bae's vegan options are really solid

13

livinthebloolife t1_j200v91 wrote

Cheese specific -- Chantal's makes their own vegan cheese and stocks a few others (I think). The owner said he's been trying out different styles/flavors. Great local shop!

​

Also Spak for their vegan wings.

25

Kate_Pansy t1_j201c0m wrote

the facebook group "pittsburgh vegans" is super active and really helpful!!

pizza: spak, spirit

ice cream: milkshake factory, millie's

restaurants: apteka, noodlehead, round corner cantina, thai gourmet

44

SNAPscientist t1_j203h3h wrote

Allegro Hearth in Squirrel Hill has nice sandwiches, soups, breads, and pastries although it’s on the pricier side for not being a sit down place. Udupi Cafe is Monroeville has southern Indian food which is traditionally vegan (just skip the items that have dairy). Pigeon Bagels in Squirrel Hill has has lots of good vegan options.

19

chuckie512 t1_j207xwr wrote

Replying to PoorGuyCrypto (#1,122,131)

I know milk/cream quality can vary seasonally (as the cow's aren't eating as much "fresh" food in winter).

Not that I'm getting milkshakes frequently, but their vegan ones have always been really good when I had them.

2

NBThrowbe89 t1_j2082q2 wrote

Round Corner Cantina has quite a few vegan/vegetarian options. Got their corn and black bean enchiladas, which had a vegan cashew crema and a really tasty mole colorado on top of it.

8

OutrageForSale t1_j208o7x wrote

Not the best option, but worth noting that most Giant Eagle locations have a vegan section in their “market district”. I really like the spiced jackfruit pouches, and the creamy vegan cheese substitute.

11

Dackidvich t1_j209g2e wrote

Onion Maiden has the best vegan cheesecake, I haven't tried other options there though.

Double Wide grill surprisingly has a lot of options in a vegan section of their menu.

13

rambored89 t1_j20cfxa wrote

East End Co-op and trader Joe's have the best vegan grocery options. Not necessarily a vegan grocery but Linea Verde Green Market in Bloomfield is excellent for produce shopping. And there's usually a farmers market on Saturday mornings in Bloomfield (not sure if they are done for the season though)

7

rammaine t1_j20cjyj wrote

Check out El burro. Both locations have some dope vegan and vegetarian options but dos in regent Sq. has alcohol and actual seating. Additionally burgatory is a good option when you're meeting up with big time carnivores. They cook an impossible patty pretty much as good as you can and I hear have some good actual meat burgers. MOLA and Subba both have good veggie options but I'm not sure how vegan they are. Subba is most likely pretty vegan friendly). Spak bros has the best vegan pizza and the best seitan in the city (Pear and Pickle used to be best seitan, RIP). Tana (Ethiopian) has amazing veggie options that i believe are almost all vegan. Udipi is a little further out but worth it. Very vegan friendly, amazing authentic Indian. Now for the vegan restaurants, you'll want to check out:

Onion Maiden, duh Zenith (Sunday Brunch preferred) Apteka (100% this is Pittsburghs best restaurant IMO) Shadobeni (so good and at some farmers markets) Kaibur Coffee Plus others that I have yet to visit or try.

Keep an eye out for anything that is a pop up or new spot from the chef of Crumb (pop up vegan burgers) and Viridis (vegan brunch esque Cafe and coffee shop). Viridis unfortunately is no more, but the chef Abbi is one of Pittsburgh's gems.

15

ziggynightmare t1_j20efvo wrote

east end food co op has lots of vegan friendly options. also everyday cafe has some vegan options as well.

7

mbotto t1_j20f5cb wrote

Golden Age Brewing's new menu is predominantly Vegan and excellent

7

HannahLola21 t1_j20gncs wrote

There’s a great vegan pizza place on Penn Ave across the street from mr robotic

2

Avenirex t1_j20gpd8 wrote

Sree's Foods downtown is fantastic and has vegan and vegetarian options.

8

Tako-Jerome t1_j20jjga wrote

Udipi out in monroeville has some good Indian food that's not just the usual curries and tikkas.

5

Nite_Boat t1_j20lszu wrote

Trader Joe's (store) is a no brainer for Pittsburgh vegans with Whole Foods as supplemental

I'd skip the more traditional supermarkets like Giant Eagle, Shop n Save entirely. Someone from the 1970's stocks their shelves and they're expensive

Onion Maiden is great!

I like Spak Bros seitan wings but i think their vegan pizza is lackluster. YMMV

7

dale_zilla t1_j20mowx wrote

Vegan Here! Lots to eat around the city, but pretty much everything has already been covered here… Except Pigeon Bagels! Walking distance from Allegro Hearth, they make some dynamite bagels and the best damn tofu cream cheese spread you’ve ever had.

6

HaleeVictoria t1_j20pm2s wrote

Cafe Delhi in Carnegie has some wonderful options!

1

bobilygarvelan t1_j20s0jt wrote

There’s two grocery stores, Fresh Market in Mt. Lebanon area by South Hills Village and Fresh Thyme which has locations in Bridgeville, Cranberry, and on 51, they both seem to have a really good selection of vegan options. I am not vegan but shopped for Instacart during covid and would get tons of vegan orders at both stores.

2

guyonlinepgh t1_j20t6o7 wrote

Pastolie's Pizza in Squirrel Hill has a vegan pizza option. Haven't had it myself, but a vegan friend I know enjoys it.

2

_smojface t1_j20t7pq wrote

The answer, as always, is Salem’s

2

Sunfish-Studio OP t1_j20wntq wrote

Replying to Kate_Pansy (#1,121,648)

Awesome! I'd love to meet some vegan friends here (especially since I know if I ask to go somewhere to eat as a vegans with people who aren't the reactions can be mixed lol)

Apteka seems to be a favorite, I'll definitely check it out

2

ebrokaw t1_j20xqsv wrote

Sugar Spell Scoops is the best vegan ice cream I have ever had!!

9

infiniteatbest t1_j20z5lh wrote

Someone just told me about Eden in mount Lebanon but I personally have never been there. It’s a small grocer and health foods store

2

BananerMuffin t1_j20zlq7 wrote

In terms of casual restaurants, Mad Mex is extremely vegan friendly Tex-mex with a lot of tasty options. Burgatory has an amazing homemade vegan veggie burger that is my absolute favorite around. Both places are local chains and are my go-tos for a mixed crowd as there are also plenty of meat options but truly delish vegan food for me and my fam/kids.

In addition to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, Costco has some good prices on tofu, grains, condiments, and fresh fruits and veg and is where I get the bulk of my basic food staples

7

HarlockMKII t1_j210yzf wrote

For me the best way of discovering was either going to farmers markets as lot of business will have booths there or follow them on Instagram as you likely will discover more great places via collabs and shoutouts to other businesses!

Some of our fav places tho:

  • Grocery/Markets: East End Co-Op, Bloomfield Farmer's Market (Year-Round)
  • Pizza: Spak Bros, Black Cat Pizza (Instagram Order Only)
  • Baked Goods/Ice Cream: Sugar Spell Scoops, Allegro Hearth, Valkyrie Donuts
  • Restaurants: Shado-Beni, Apteka, Con Alma (Ellsworth Location is 100% vegan, Downtown is partial)
  • Food Trucks/Pop-ups: Veggies N'At, Chick Habit
9

tigerlily_223 t1_j2137ah wrote

If you’re ever in Millvale, Duncan Street Sandwiches has great options for lunch, and Abeille Voyante Tea Co is all vegan and changes their menu I think monthly.

5

Sunfish-Studio OP t1_j21995e wrote

Replying to Nite_Boat (#1,125,241)

Oh yeah I had trader Joe's turkeyless roast this Thanksgiving, it was great!

So So weird that spak's delivers on uber eats but doesn't seem to show up when searching for vegan friendly options near me. Glad someone mentioned it here!

6

CaptainAxolotl t1_j21b252 wrote

East End Brewing has a different pizza of the week each week of the year and all of their pizzas (including the special) can be ordered vegan (and are delicious).

2

sensualsqueaky t1_j21bhlr wrote

Butterwood Cake Consortium for pastries and cakes!! Super good. Got them for brunch with a vegan friend and she was giddy. Best vegan desserts I’ve ever had as a non-vegan!

3

EchoChaotic t1_j21ceyi wrote

Farmer x Baker in Aspinwall. During the spring/summer/fall they have an outdoor restaurant in the Aspinwall rivertrail park. They also have a store on powers run rd. in Fox Chapel (might be blawnox, not sure).

7

Mtt76812 t1_j21d70o wrote

Onion Maiden = incredible

Alta Via Pizzeria = best vegan pizza I've had outside New York City

Spak Brothers = great Philly cheese steak

Sugar Spell Scoops = rad ice cream

Apteka, we didn't enjoy our first time there, but we've heard great things and will be giving it another chance.

3

KarlMars71 t1_j21dw0l wrote

Spak is my favorite hands down especially their sandwiches

2

Sunfish-Studio OP t1_j21fy1f wrote

Replying to AdeptAdaptor (#1,130,273)

Same! Tried the first one skeptically, my first exposure to seitan, and my "red meat and potatoes" grandma even wanted my dad to pick up an extra just for her and my folks sometime after I went home. And my own freezer has 3 as well. Great to have something to just stuff into the oven on a day where I'm super busy or have a headache

3

malepitt t1_j21xmet wrote

Just before Thanksgiving I visited Trader Joes and loaded up on a wide variety of vegan cheeses and dips, since two visiting daughters are vegan. Would do again

2

ButterscotchAway3635 t1_j225jwl wrote

Washington County, Fortuitea cafe. Everything there is amazing if you are into vegan. Crazy no one has mentioned it even though it’s outside of the city.

3

Hank_the_Beef t1_j22ahlk wrote

Is Onion Maiden vegan or just vegetarian? Also I seem to remember Zenith Tea Lounge on South Side having vegan brunch.

1

WRWhizard t1_j22lrdg wrote

I have never understood Vegan. Why in the world would you work so hard to decide what to eat when God gave so many options and told you that they are good for you?

−5

Sunfish-Studio OP t1_j22r8em wrote

Replying to WRWhizard (#1,137,657)

Yeah wasn't really a thread asking for other people's opinions on veganism but I'm agnostic if that answers that question. I wasn't "given" anything, just here on accident like everyone else, hoping to help people out and do less harm to animals while I am. And i hope it does answer the question because that's about the end of it for me

5

Ok_Awareness1326 t1_j23rhoc wrote

I got laughed out of the shop and save in Lawrenceville for asking if there was vegan cheese 🤣 it was funny but just as a heads up to you the shop and save prob isn’t the most vegan friendly

2

enemy_of_your_enema t1_j23voyk wrote

Replying to Russlethud (#1,125,590)

Such a bummer. I have very few opportunities to go out to eat, but had 2 in the last year. Unfortunately, one time Apteka was closed for "fall break" and the other was a Thursday. I don't understand how they can pay rent adequately if they are open so rarely. Please, let me eat your food, Apteka!

5

Troginfinity t1_j23wons wrote

ShadoBeni is Trinidadian Vegan in the northside. Place is unreal.

5

lorlor2424 t1_j245oix wrote

1:11 juice bar and eatery in southside works!!!!

2

kawey22 t1_j26vq87 wrote

Mad Mex is my favorite place to take my omnivore family and friends.

3

kawey22 t1_j26xwnq wrote

Replying to Sunfish-Studio (#1,166,845)

It’s great for finding specific options at random places and hearing about events tho! The one lady is suuuuper dedicated to having cool events. I just remember the one time there was debate about a certain restaurant (in Washington PA) being pretty right wing and most of them were like who caressss basically. The food is bomb though honestly

2

dbilly t1_j27i7df wrote

Caffè d’Amore in upper Lawrenceville has recently started offering vegan soups and sometimes wraps. They also have vegan muffins, cookies, and scones. And vegan cream cheese to go on the really good bagels that they carry. Watch their Instagram for current offerings. (@caffedamorepgh)

2

betterashthandust44 t1_j2bsuw2 wrote

Valkyrie Donuts opened this year in bellevue. all vegan donuts. i've been meaning to stop by there

2