Photo via Gigi’s Vegan + Wellness Cafe
Gone are the days when plant-based dining meant settling for a side salad and a baked potato. Across the Kansas City metro, chefs and restaurateurs are building menus that put vegetables, grains, legumes, and plant-based proteins at center stage.
Fully Vegan and Plant-Based
The Fix KC
The Fix is one of Kansas City’s most popular vegan destinations. The Midtown restaurant specializes in plant-based comfort food that appeals to vegans and abstaining carnivores alike. It has become famous for its house-made “Chicken” Sammies, and its creative takes on diner and drive-through favorites.
Gigi’s Vegan + Wellness Cafe
This Black- and women-owned cafe pairs plant-based cooking with a wellness-focused philosophy. Guests of Gigi’s Vegan + Wellness Cafe will find raw vegan dishes, organic ingredients, fresh juices, and colorful plates ranging from Soulful Tacos to Wild Burgers.
Madrina Vegana Taqueria
For a limited time, the Madrina Vegana Taqueria pop-up brings the chef Erica Muñoz’s acclaimed plant-based Mexican cooking to the Crossroads. After building a following in New York City with her all-vegan food truck, Muñoz has returned home to Kansas City with a menu inspired by modern Mexican street food and a commitment to completely vegan preparation.
Tree Hugger: Plant-Based Kitchen
Located in Riverside, Tree Hugger takes a comfort-food-first approach to vegan dining. Husband-and-wife owners Phillip Newman and Mandy Morris-Newman have built a loyal following with plant-based versions of familiar favorites, including Reubens, chili cheese fries, Monte Cristo sandwiches, Buffalo mac wraps, and loaded tater tots. The menu also includes gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free options.
Whole Harvest Kitchen
If clean eating is your goal, Whole Harvest Kitchen in Leawood’s Town Center Plaza has you covered. Every item on the menu is vegan and has little to no processing. The restaurant bakes its own breads and pizza crusts and sources ingredients from local and regional producers whenever possible.
Vegetarian- and Vegan-Inclusive
Aladdin Cafe
Kansas City’s beloved Mediterranean staple, Aladdin Cafe, has been serving vegetarian-friendly fare for decades. Dedicated menu sections make ordering easy, whether you’re craving falafel, hummus, veggie biryani, or a classic veggie combo platter.
Baba’s Pantry
This family-owned Palestinian café has become one of Kansas City’s most celebrated lunch destinations. While not exclusively vegetarian, Baba’s Pantry offers an impressive collection of clearly labeled vegan dishes, including traditional Mediterranean favorites and creative plant-based preparations featuring ingredients like jackfruit.
Billie’s Grocery
Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or none of the above, Billie’s Grocery has likely thought of you. With locations in Midtown and Leawood, the café serves nutrient-dense breakfasts, lunches, baked goods, and specialty drinks in a bright, welcoming setting.
Blue Bird Bistro
Blue Bird Bistro has long championed locally sourced ingredients, making it a natural fit for plant-based diners. Seasonal menus feature a variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner.
Blue Nile Cafe
Ethiopian cuisine has long been one of the best-kept secrets for vegan diners, and Blue Nile Cafe showcases why. Its extensive selection of vegetable-based dishes is traditionally served family-style atop injera bread, creating a fun, communal dining experience perfect for sharing.
Enjoy Pure Food + Drink
Located in Leawood, Enjoy has built its reputation around healthy eating without sacrificing flavor. Nearly every section of the menu includes vegan and vegetarian choices, from grain bowls and sandwiches to wraps and desserts.
Flower Child
Flower Child opened to great fanfare earlier this month in Prairie Village. It’s the only one in the Kansas City region, and its varied menu is full of thought-through vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Carnivores won’t feel left out, either, with meat dishes and salad toppings also on the menu.
Hemma Hemma
Meaning “at home” in Swedish, Hemma Hemma brings a cozy, community-minded approach to scratch-made dining. The Waldo restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, and cocktails, with a menu that makes room for plant-forward eaters without feeling like a compromise. Hemma Hemma Dinette, a daytime restaurant downtown, similarly accommodates vegetarians and vegans.
Succotash
A Kansas City breakfast institution, Succotash has quietly become one of the city’s best spots for vegan and vegetarian brunch. The menu clearly identifies plant-based options, including vegan pancakes, French toast, breakfast bowls, and the popular Vegan Sink. Vegetarians will find just as many choices, making it an easy pick for groups with different dietary preferences.
The Westside Local
A longtime favorite in the Westside neighborhood, The Westside Local‘s farm-to-table philosophy translates naturally into an extensive selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Many menu items can be customized, and options such as house-made quinoa patties make it easy to build a meat-free meal.
The Wooden Spoon
With two Overland Park locations, The Wooden Spoon makes plant-based dining approachable. Vegan diners can choose from options like tofu scrambles, falafel burgers, Thai peanut wraps, and vegan desserts, while vegetarians will find plenty of additional choices.
Tags:
Aladdin Cafe, Baba’s Pantry, Billie’s Grocery, Blue Bird Bistro, Blue Nile Cafe, Crossroads, Enjoy Pure Food + Drink, Flower Child, Gigi’s Vegan + Wellness Café, Hemma Hemma, Leawood, Madrina Vegana Taqueria, plant based, Prairie Village, Riverside, Succotash, The Fix KC, The Westside Local, The Wooden Spoon, Tree Hugger, vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Harvest Kitchen
Dining and Cooking