7 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Louisville,KY

Although fried chicken is a big thing here in Kentucky, our wonderful state also grows plenty of vegetables year-round. Whether you’re a full-blown vegetarian, prefer a mostly plant-based diet, or dabble in veggie-hearty meals, there are a number of local restaurants that offer exactly what you’re looking for. Explore the benefits of vegetarianism and learn more about seven of the best vegetarian restaurants in Louisville.

Benefits of Being a Vegetarian

Because vegetarians don’t eat meat, their meals tend to include more wholesome plant-based foods that are known for nutrients like fiber and antioxidants. If you eat vegetarian, you may also realize that you keep unhealthy fats to a minimum, typically stay away from processed food, and consume less alcohol than your meat-loving counterparts, all of which usually indicates a healthier lifestyle overall.

If you choose the vegetarian lifestyle, you may also be able to reap these associated benefits:

• Reduced risk of metabolic issues, like type 2 diabetes and obesity.
• Lowered chance of cardiovascular disease.
• Weight loss.
• Reduced risk of cancer.
• Lower cholesterol levels.

Even though Kentucky is known for its fried chicken, there are still plenty of restaurants throughout Louisville that offer vegetarian fare you’ll love. Here are some of them:

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The Grape Leaf

The Grape Leaf has been open for nearly 30 years, and for good reason. They were one of the first, and remain one of the best, spots for Mediterranean cuisine in all of Louisville. At The Grape Leaf located on Frankfort Avenue, Chef Nabil Al-Saba takes great pride in serving authentic cuisine to his restaurant’s guests and making sure that everyone leaves with a happy stomach and spirit.

While The Grape Leaf appeals to everyone, with plenty of meat dishes for the excited carnivore, there are also a number of vegetarian dishes. The Grape Leaf is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with menu offerings like their fava bean dip, a Greek-inspired scrambled egg dish, grilled za’atar pizza, cauliflower shawarma wrap, and vegetarian curry masala.

Shahar Cafe

Located on Bardstown Road, Shafar Cafe is a plant-based restaurant with both vegetarian and vegan choices on their menu. Instead of traditional meats like sausage and beef, Shahar Cafe uses vegan meat options so you can still get a meat taste and texture without altering your diet.

At Shahar Cafe, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on legendary favorites because you can enjoy dishes like their Vegan-Legen No Dairy Fries made with seasoned crispy fries, Beyond Meat, vegan cheese, grilled onions, and their house sauce. Also, make sure to order their vegan samosa stuffed with spicy potatoes and peas or the classic vegan burger.

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Queen of Sheba

Queen of Sheba boasts that it’s the first and only Ethiopian restaurant in Louisville, so if you want amazingly unique and authentic cuisine, pay them a visit on Taylorsville Road. They’ve been serving our Louisville community since 2004 with the commitment to transporting you to the continent of Africa with just one meal.

Most Ethiopian food is stew-based and eaten with your hands by tearing off a piece of Injera flatbread, which you use as a scoop for your food. Some vegetarian options at Queen of Sheba include Gomen Wot with collard greens, onions, and potatoes in a mild garlic sauce and Atakilt, a tomato-based stew with cabbage, onions, and carrots.

Shreeji Indian Vegetarian Street Food

For classic vegetarian Indian cuisine, visit the popular Shreeji Indian Vegetarian Street Food located in Town Fair Center. Shreeji focuses on bringing quality to all parts of their process, from the ingredients they use to their service. All regions of India are represented here too, with food options ranging from Spicy Mirch Bhuji (green chilies coated in chickpea flour and deep-fried), Bhel (rice with vegetables, dates, and green chutney), and Vada Pav (a potato vada sandwiched in bread and served with two spicy sauces).

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Ramsi’s Cafe on the World

Another great place located on Bardstown Road, Ramsi’s Cafe on the World celebrates global cuisine, inviting guests to get a little taste of what people eat around the world. Family-owned and -operated by the Kamar family, Ramsi’s is the place to go if you want to experience a casual yet eclectic atmosphere. About half of their menu is vegetarian, and a large portion is vegan. Plus, they have a little something for everyone, including various entrees, sandwiches, soups, salads, and even dessert.

Enjoy food like their Faithful Falafel, a dish made with baked falafel and Pakistani salad with sweet potatoes, cucumber, tomatoes, and vegan yogurt or The Sari Wrap, an Indian-inspired dish made with spiced potatoes, peas, spinach, and chickpeas in a tortilla.

Roots and Heart & Soy

At one single location on Bardstown Road, you get the benefit of two vegetarian restaurants, Roots and Heart & Soy. Roots aims to bring upscale vegetarian dining to Louisville while focusing on the environment and the health of all their guests. At Roots, you can get dishes like green curry with tofu, crispy shiitake mushrooms in a brown sauce, and a glass noodle salad with herbs, tofu, and vegetables. Choose some of their tapas-style portion sizes to share with your dining companions.

Heart & Soy actually manufactures tofu and sells their tofu and vegan desserts on-site, but they also have their own menu. Menu options include steamed buns with a spicy sauce, yellow curry soup, and sweet rice balls. Most of their meals can be made vegan and a large portion of them can be made gluten-free.

V-Grits

V-Grits is on a mission to show that you don’t have to eat meat or any animal products to enjoy true comfort food with your family and friends. Even popular with meat-eaters, V-Grits recently joined up with False Idol Independent Brewers for Louisville’s first-ever vegan brewpub.

With a focus on overall health and wellness, sustainability, and animal welfare, V-Grits offers dishes like the CrunchWrap with vegan taco beef, cheese, chili lime crema, lettuce, and tomato in a grilled tortilla and the Muffuletta, a sandwich of rosemary focaccia bread, vegan deli meat slices, melted cheese, pickled vegetables, and an olive tapenade.

So there you have it, Oxmoor Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram’s best vegetarian restaurants in our great city of Louisville! Do you have any more to add to the list? Contact us so we can update ours.