Austin Restaurants Celebrate World Vegan Month With Plant-Based Options

Austin is already pretty vegan-friendly, but for the month of November, it’ll be even easier to find plant-based meals around town.

Nonprofit Planted Society, in partnership with the city’s Office of Sustainability, is holding a month-long Plant-Based for the Planet challenge to encourage Austinites to reduce their carbon footprint by eating more plants. Twenty-eight local restaurants have signed on and are offering a variety of discounts, specials, and featured menu items throughout the month.

On the coffee front: North Central coffee truck 604 Coffee (604 Williams St.) is waiving their surcharge for plant milk for November. At Barley Bean Coffee (3600 S. Lamar Blvd.) you get a free coffee if you purchase a plant-based meal.

If a brewery is more up your alley, you’ve got options too. At Black Star Co-Op (7020 Easy Wind Dr.) you can grab their take on chile colorado or some buffalo cauliflower. The Brewtorium (6015 Dillard Cir.) will have a vegan special every day of the month, like their three-bean chili frito pie, which features an almond-based cheese sauce.

On the list of participating restaurants you can find plant-based versions of plenty of different cuisines. Wu Chow (500 W. Fifth) offers eight styles of Chinese cuisine and has a host of plant-based shareables like Sichuan braised eggplant and dry-fried local green beans. Zaika Indian Cuisine (9025 Research Blvd.) already has tons of plant-based menu items but Planted Society recommends the Gobi 65, a spicy cauliflower dish, and their vegetable coconut curry. Smokin Beauty (11806 N. Lamar Blvd.) serves Vietnamese-inspired Texas BBQ including a vegan bahn mi and sliders. Komé Sushi Kitchen (5301 Airport Blvd.) has a vegan donburi and sushi sampler for the month. Eldorado Cafe’s (3300 W. Anderson Ln.) menu includes a Veganchilada and the El Gauco Taco. The veggie options at Tex-Asian pub Anthem (91 Rainey St. #120) include their herb-seasoned Thai Hippie Tofu and the Root Burger made with red quinoa and beets.

Several classic spots with already heavily plant-based menus are promoting specials this month as well. Bouldin Creek Cafe (1900 S. First) has plenty of plant-based menu items but is promoting a vegan affogato this month. Mr. Natural (1901 E. Cesar Chavez St. & 2414-A S. Lamar Blvd.) has offerings including a vegan ice cream cake and chocoflan.

The complete list of participating restaurants is available on Planted Society’s website. At the end of the month, diners will be able to vote on the best dishes offered and enter to win eco-friendly prizes. The organization is also looking for more businesses to join the challenge before the end of the month.

Whether you’re a hardcore vegan or far from it, all of these dishes are a great excuse to visit local restaurants. As a bonus, you can pat yourself on the back for doing something for the planet.