Black, Gold, and Vegan: How to Eat Vegan in Pittsburgh

ICYMI, vegan food is popping up everywhere, and Pittsburgh is no exception. Repeatedly making The Economist‘s list of America’s “Most Liveable Cities” and home to 446 bridges, three rivers, and a diverse group of residents—from a young booming tech community to retired steelworkers—Pittsburgh has a lot to offer, including many delicious vegan meals at hundreds of restaurants in the city’s 90 neighborhoods.

Check out our list of where to get the best vegan eats in Pittsburgh:

All-Vegan Restaurants

Apteka

Pittsburgh loves pierogies. There are pierogi festivals, pierogi food trucks, and even pierogi mascots who race midgame at Pirates baseball games. During a pierogi tour, a Wall Street Journal writer recently profiled Apteka. This new all-vegan restaurant, which opened after a successful “Pierogi Night” community pop-up dinner series, is the place in Pittsburgh to get your pierogi fix. In addition to pierogies, its menu features Central and Eastern European small plates, soups, sandwiches, and desserts. (And if you enjoy drinking, it also has delicious handmade cocktails.)

B52 Cafe

If you’re visiting Pittsburgh, exploring the trendy neighborhood of Lawrenceville is a must, and B52 is the perfect place to start your morning or stop for lunch. This all-vegan café features a fusion of American and Middle Eastern cuisine, with house-baked goods, chocolates, and a full-service espresso bar. It’s hard to choose from all its drool-worthy options, but if you can’t decide, I recommend the avocado toast, which is like no other.

Amazing Café

Organic, all-vegan, locally sourced, gluten-free, and BYOB—yes, this place is truly amazing. Right next to Amazing Yoga, this café is perfect for breakfast or lunch, whether you just finished shavasana or need to grab a smoothie while shopping in Pittsburgh’s bustling South Side.

Randita’s Organic Vegan Cafe

Located in beautiful Aspinwall on the very edge of the metro area, Randita’s offers stunning healthful and delicious plant-based food. In addition to its adorable location, the café has a food truck that tours Pittsburgh. (See its events page for times and locations.)

Fortuitea Café & Bakery

If you venture southwest of the Pittsburgh metro area, you’ll find Washington, Pennsylvania, the home of Fortuitea Café. This cozy restaurant will satisfy all your vegan comfort-food needs, especially those involving vegan cheese. Its mac ‘n’ cheeses are basically what vegan dreams are made of.

Onion Maiden

You will definitely want to find this all-vegan pop-up during your time in the City of Bridges. Brunch foods, cupcakes, noodle salad, and vegan hot dogs are just a few items that it offers. Luckily for those who can’t make it to a pop-up event, it’s teamed up with local favorite Lili Cafe to open the new Liliput Coffee and Cafe in the Oakland neighborhood.

Loving Hut

Pittsburgh is home to one of the many locations of all-vegan Asian restaurant Loving Hut. You’ll have a hard time choosing what to order from its huge menu, which includes spring rolls, soups, noodles, rice dishes, and vegan meats. You can avoid having to choose among them by checking out the buffet on Saturdays. 😉

Vegan Options Galore

Spak Brothers

It may look like your typical neighborhood pizza shop, but Spak Brothers offers food that will convince your friends that vegans don’t miss anything. There’s a vegan version of nearly every menu item, including a Vegan Seitan Pittsburgh Steak. The pizzeria also offers tons of veggies, vegan cheeses, and vegan meats to help you build your perfect pizza.

Eden

If you’re looking for a health-conscious or raw meal, head to Shadyside and visit Eden. This eclectic, seasonally focused restaurant will have you exploring tastes that you’ve never tried before and learning new things about your dining partners with its table cards.

Mad Mex

Mad Mex is a vegan’s best friend in Pittsburgh. You can “veganize” just about any item on the affordable California-Mexican menu, and there are locations all over the city and suburbs. Its Buffalo Wingorito with tofu, vegan cheese, and vegan ranch is super-filling and super-yummy.

Tin Front Café

In the heart of the Homestead neighborhood’s historic shopping district, you can visit all-vegetarian Tin Front Café before or after buying bags and bags of cute vegan clothes. Tin Front offers many soups, sandwiches, and Italian-inspired menu items, along with the cutest back patio—the perfect spot for sipping some wine. The café has many vegan options, and several other items can be made vegan by request.

Burgatory

Catching a Steelers or Penguins game? Or staying in the suburbs during your visit? Burgatory is your place. With locations all over the city, suburbs, and in sports stadiums, this popular spot is easy to find. And it’s not just a “spot”—it’s an experience. Build your own vegan “Custom Creation” by choosing the vegan veggie patty, and be sure to choose vegan cheddar cheese. Check with your server about which toppings are animal-friendly, and take a huge bite. I recommend finishing your meal with a vegan milkshake, because why wouldn’t you?

Zenith

All-you-can-eat vegan brunch—need we say more? Visit this charming South Side antique shop slash vegetarian restaurant on the weekend for unlimited cakes, pasta dishes, salads, and sides, along with an entrée of your choice. It also offers lunch and dinner options that change weekly.

Lili Cafe

Lili Cafe is a local’s spot nestled in the Polish Hill neighborhood, and you’ll get to see beautiful views of the city on your way up. It offers many vegan sandwiches and breakfast options as well as vegan versions of its brunch dishes. Also visit the Liliput Coffee and Cafe in the Oakland neighborhood, opened jointly with Onion Maiden.

Franktuary

Sometimes, you just need a good veggie dog, and Franktuary’s got you covered. With locations in popular Lower Lawrenceville and downtown’s famous Market Square, along with a traveling food truck, it’s easy to fit this restaurant into any day’s plans. Start with the vegan dog on a wheat bun and then choose your favorite vegan toppings. You can also opt for the beet balls, chickpea fries, vegan chili, salads, or vegan sausages.

Round Corner Cantina

Right next to Franktuary, and home to one of Pittsburgh’s best patios, Round Corner Cantina offers an excellent Mexican meal to any hungry vegan. In between margaritas, check the menu for green “Vs” for vegan options.

Brillobox

Brillobox is a hip drink lounge, music, arts, special events, and food space on the border of the Lawrenceville and Bloomfield neighborhoods. Be sure to be there on Sundays for its special vegan dinners, but it always has plenty of vegan options clearly marked on its menu.

Square Café

With tons of vegan options, this Regent Square gem is loved by both neighborhood locals and the whole city. It’s super-easy to order vegan—just look for the orange sprout symbol and ask a server if you have any questions.

Double Wide Grill

We can’t have a guide to Pittsburgh without including a sports bar. This quirky bar and grill—formerly a gas station—has three locations and a full veggie menu. Its food is satisfying when you’re craving a hearty meal, but it also has salads if you want something lighter. Look for the blue heart marking the vegan items.

Vegan Pittsburgh

For restaurant specials, delicious entrées, pop-up or food truck locations, and more, check out the Vegan Pittsburgh website. The site and social media feeds offer quick and easy ways to find vegan options in the Steel City.

Pittsburgh’s vegan restaurants aren’t the only places where you can get delicious meals. Text “GOVEGAN” to 73822 to order our free vegan starter kit. You’ll learn how to make vegan food in your own kitchen and how to order vegan at nearly any restaurant.

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