The Lone Star State is primarily carnivore country. With a vast assortment of hamburger restaurants and steakhouses on every corner it is not hard to imagine why. However, there are those, whether Vegan or vegetarian, who prefer a more health conscience and/or environmentally friendly meal. Deep in the heart of Texas one can not only find a great vegetarian restaurant but also a tranquil atmosphere to present a more soothing and gratifying experience.
TOY'S CAFÉ - Vegetarian and Vegan 4422 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, TX 75219 (214) 528-7233 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11 :30 am- 2 :30 pm; (Mon-Fri) 5 :30 pm- 10pm; (Sat) 11 :30 pm- 10 pm Toy's Café is a very small dive that specializes in vegetarian and seafood cuisine. This Thai café is quiet, intimate, and quaint with its small tables and stools. Lunch is extremely affordable and the salad with peanut dressing is fabulous. Some meals are very spicy but Toy's Café does serve alcohol for those wanting to extinguish their fire quickly.
Estimated cost per person = $ 5 - $ 10 Cash Only
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
MADRAS PAVILION - Vegetarian 101 S. Coit Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 (972) 671-3672 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11 :30am- 3 pm; (Mon-Fri) 6 pm- 10 pm; (Sat-Sun) 11 :30am- 10 pm Madras Pavilion is a uniquely different fare of vegetarian cuisine. Most of the dishes here are Indian without the mouth scorching after-bite. With titles such as sambar soup and samosa you can tell by the names on the menu the authenticity of these dishes. And the taste is just as appealing especially when topping everything off with desert. The incense and scenery are soothing and the restaurant is kept very clean. Madras Pavilion makes a wonderful place to stop for lunch.
Estimated cost per person = $ 5 - $ 10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
HOT DAMN, TAMALES! - Vegetarian and Vegan 713 W. Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104 (817) 926-9909 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 10 :30 am- 6 pm; (Sat) 10 :30am- 2am Do not let the word Tamales fool you. Hot Damn, Tamales! sells their tamales with fresh ingredients and without meat stock or lard. They are sold in many different varieties including wild mushroom and Texas goat cheese to spring tamales with red bell peppers, serrano peppers and carrots. This little restaurant also offers soup, salad, and various desserts including Key lime pie. A new but favorite addition to Fort Worth Hot Damn, Tamales! offers wonderful food at a very affordable price. The food is so enjoyable you can buy fresh and frozen tamales at both locations or three stores in the Dallas metroplex.
Estimated cost per person = $ 5 - $ 10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
SUNFLOWER CAFÉ - Vegetarian 5817 Curzon St., Fort Worth, TX 76107 (817) 738-5454 Hours: (Mon-Sat) 9 am- 8 :30 pm; (Sun) 12 pm- 8:30 pm Nestled into a corner, this small café offers up many of your favorites with a healthier flare. Fresh house salads served with no-fat dressing and outstanding turkey burgers make this hidden treasure a wonderful place to eat, especially during lunch. The tiny café also specializes in drinks and juices and seems to be a popular spot for vegetarians and carnivores alike.
Estimated cost per person = $ 5 - $ 10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
Hours: (Mon-Fri) 10 am- 3 pm Max's Café has the best salads I have sampled in some time. Max's also serves sandwiches, but for the vegetarian, the salads are center stage. The restaurant is decorated to give more of a country feel. Bright lights, tall wooden chairs, and bows tied around the napkins and silverware adds for a unique and comforting experience. The owner and assisting employees are very pleasant when loading up your tray through this cafeteria-style setting. Come early and come hungry due to the crowd and the generous portion of food that is served.
Estimated cost per person = $ 8 - $ 12
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
LA DOLCE VITA - Vegetarian 1924 Abrams Pkwy, Dallas, TX (214) 821-2608 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11 am- 2 :30pm; (Mon-Thur) 5 :30pm- 10 pm; (Fri) 5 :30pm- 11 pm; (Sat) 11 am- 11 pm; (Sun) 12 pm- 10 pm This one time coffee house has now expanded into a bar with a restaurant. La Dolce Vita now offers up healthy Italian cuisine that even a mother could love. The most pleasing dish is the wood-fired veggie pizza. Other popular dishes were the Caesar salad and the vegetable sandwich. This is truly one of Dallas' newest and finest vegetarian hot spots with a great looking young and vibrant atmosphere. This venue also offers a small wine list to accent your meal.
Estimated cost per person = $ 8 - $ 12
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
Cosmic Café – Vegetarian 2912 Oak Lawn Avenue Dallas, Texas 75219 (214) 521-6157 (9195) Hours: (Mon – Thu) 11 am – 11 pm; (Fri – Sat) 11 am – 11:30 pm; (Sun) 12 pm to 10 pm Tucked away between a wine warehouse and a boring strip mall, this little restaurant is located in a quaint old house and has all the charm and allure that anyone could ask for in a peaceful setting. Matching the personality of the Oak Lawn neighborhood, diners will fine menu offerings with a genuine eastern feel that can be eaten either outside on the patio amid a water fountain or in the main house under a sky mural. Food choices have fun names like dharma bell and cosmic stir and the feel of India is everywhere starting with the incense. Service is good and the wait staff never seems hurried or impatient. The desserts are worth a try to from the smoothies to the other offerings such as raisin consciousness or sweet awareness. Estimated cost per person for dinner = $8 to $12 Holiday Schedule: New Years Day – Open, Valentines – Open, Easter – Open, Thanksgiving- Closed, Christmas Eve – Closed, Christmas Day – Closed, New Years Eve – Closed.
Kalachandji’s – Vegetarian 5430 Gurley Avenue Dallas, Texas 75223 (214) 821-0148 Hours: (Tues – Fri) 11:30 am – 2 pm and 5:30 pm – 9 pm, (Sat) 12 pm – 3 pm and 5:30 pm – 9 pm, (Sun) 5:30 – 9 pm This place is genuinely unique in every way. First of all, it sits in a courtyard next to a temple. For atmosphere it doesn’t get much better. Not only can you eat amazing Indian food in a wonderful setting, but there is also a gift shop and cooking classes to round out the experience. Food is not as spicy as some Indian restaurants and homemade dishes make the menu appealing and fresh. There is an unbelievably inexpensive buffet and the outdoor booths in the courtyard are all heated or cooled depending on the season and provide roofs as well. All diners get to enjoy the fountain and of course the requisite incense flowers the atmosphere. Recommended choices include the tamarind ice tea and make a note that the international buffet changes everyday. A few tried and true choices are the chutney and the pappadam and don’t miss the kheer (rice pudding) either. Estimated cost per person for dinner = Less than $10 Holiday Schedule: New Years Day – Closed, Valentines – Open, Easter – Open, Thanksgiving- Open, Christmas Eve – Closed, Christmas Day – Closed, New Years Eve – Closed.
Spiral Diner and Bakery – Vegetarian and Vegan 1314 W, Magnolia Avenue Fort Worth, Texas 76104 (817) 3EAT-Veg Hours: (Tues – Sat) 11 am – 10 pm, (Sun) 11 am – 5 pm In addition to being located in Fort Worth, there are also plans to open a restaurant in Dallas. For now that is just a dream, but diners do come all the way from Dallas to enjoy this place. There is patio and sidewalk dining and a smoking section and takeout is an option too. On Sundays the all you can eat pancakes are an all day affair and otherwise the smoothies and juice bar have regular customers coming back. Other items on the menu include salads, burgers (grilled tofu) and the red coconut curry noodles. Popular as well is the Blue Sky Soda and Chopped B-B-Q San'ich and the Sunshine Sandwich. All food is prepared using organic ingredients (at least whenever possible) and everything on the menu is 100% vegetarian, which means no meat, milk, eggs, honey or casein. Estimated cost per person for dinner = Under $10 Holiday Schedule: New Years Day – Closed, Valentines – Open, Easter – Open, Thanksgiving- Closed, Christmas Eve – Open, Christmas Day – Closed, New Years Eve – Open.
Udipi Cafe – Vegetarian 301 35 Richardson Heights Village Richardson, Texas 75080 (972) 437-2858 Hours: (Wed – Mon) 11:30 am – 10 pm Lots of personality the dress code is casual and the cuisine is pure plant-based with the exception of using milk and yogurt. There is a lunch buffet and the menu serves such varieties as gobi manchurian, soups, dosas, sambar, coconut chutney, and uthappam. There is no bar, but diners are told to BYOB. There is definitely a good selection of Indian vegetarian dishes from the south. The food is rather spicy or could be defined as fiery and for those looking for a nondescript place this is it since it sits in the middle of a rather boring strip mall albeit there is an Indian grocery store and sari shop nearby thus making this restaurant authentic not only in dining, but in personality and atmosphere as well. Estimated cost per person for dinner = $8 to $15 Holiday Schedule: New Years Day – Closed, Valentines – Open, Easter – Open, Thanksgiving- Open, Christmas Eve – Open, Christmas Day – Open, New Years Eve – Open.
The Top List of Veggie Restaurants - Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX