10 Women-Led Vegan Restaurants to Check Out

Pinky Cole revolutionized the vegan burger scene with the launch of the first Slutty Vegan food truck in Atlanta in 2018. Following immense demand and celebrity endorsements, she opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2019, which has since expanded into an 11-location chain across the US. The menu features mouthwatering vegan burgers, all packed with vegan meat, cheese, and their signature sauce.

Kusaki is a vegan sushi restaurant led by chef and owner Pearl Steffie, opened in January 2023 in West Los Angeles. Kusaki offers a stunning and innovative plant-based omakase experience. Popular dishes include maitake wontons, torched miso eggplant, tuna sashimi crafted from peas, avocado crispy rice and portobello tempura fries.

Chef Tara Punzone opened her first restaurant, Pura Vita, in West Hollywood in 2018. She has since expanded with Pura Vita Pizzeria next door and another Pura Vita location in Redondo Beach. Her restaurants offer a range of hearty pastas and pizzas, delighting diners with veganized traditional Italian recipes.

Chef Makini Howell transitioned from a career as a men's denim designer in New York to crafting vegan dishes for all. Inspired by her mother's innovative tofu sandwiches, Howell opened Plum Bistro in Seattle in 2009. The upscale restaurant features plant-based meals made with organic, seasonal produce from family-owned farms.

​​Sugar Taco is a vegan Mexican restaurant founded by Jayde Nicole and Nia Gatica. The restaurant is known for its eco-conscious and animal-friendly approach, using ingredients like jackfruit, seitan, and house-made queso, paired with vibrant Dia de Muertos-inspired decor.

In 2009, Tamerra Dyson founded and became the head chef of Souley Vegan in Oakland, California. The restaurant features dishes like Jambalaya with house-made seitan and Hearts of Palm Battered Calamari. Dyson has since expanded Souley Vegan with additional locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Established by renowned vegan chefs and sisters, Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel, this fast-casual concept revolutionizes vegan cooking, inviting both committed vegans and those curious about sustainable dining. With a menu featuring warm bowls, salads, hot sandwiches, tacos, and sides crafted from high-quality, non-GMO ingredients and local produce, Hey Sunshine Kitchen caters to diverse tastes.

Pure Grit BBQ, founded by Kerry Fitzmaurice, ensures you'll never miss out on barbecue again. Pure Grit offers a tantalizing array of smoky, tender, and meaty vegan mains. Choose from options like the Impossible cut, grilled BBQ tofu, BBQ Daring chicken, or pulled jackfruit.

Evanice Holz, the founder of Señoreata, embarked on her journey by realizing she needed to take charge of her dream of starting a food business. She launched Señoreata, a modern Cuban cuisine rooted in plant-based dishes. Some of the dishes on their menu include Cuban sandwiches, meat pies, Guava cheese strudels, picadillo and arroz con pollo.

Isa Chandra Moskowitz, renowned in vegan cuisine, brought her Omaha, Nebraska restaurant to Williamsburg, offering locals "swanky vegan comfort food." Moskowitz infuses Italian, Jewish, Jamaican, and Southern influences into her plant-based renditions of hearty classics. Must-try dishes include the truffled poutine and the tangy Mac & Shews.