Vegan in Vegas

Vegan donuts: delicious even after getting smushed on a transcontinental flight.

Ah, Las Vegas. City of sleaze, exploitation, and hedonism; somehow ethical eating doesn't seem to factor into the equation. So I was surprised that I ate well this weekend in Vegas.

The city is full of ostentatious ads for steak and seafood, but if you look hard enough, you'll find good vegan options. And--surreal and wonderful--Vegas is also home to Ronald's Donuts, with two shelves full of delightful and fully vegan donuts.

If there's one thing not to miss in Vegas, it's Ronald's. The average little donut shop exterior gives no hint to the vegan paradise within. I entered and declared "I've come for vegan donuts," and the super friendly proprieters filled a huge box with an assortment for me to take back to New York. Apparently another group of vegans had come before me and nearly cleaned them out, but I still got a huge array of cinnamon buns, fruit tarts, and the classic glazed donuts that I haven't eaten since I went vegan twelve years ago. Incredibly, it cost only $13 for a huge box of donuts and a bottle of water. (Located at 4600 W Spring Mountain Road; call ahead to make sure it's open: 702-873-1032.)

Ethnic food is your best bet when it comes to vegan meals. At an Indian restaurant called Ghandi, you'll find a nice variety of vegan-friendly North and South Indian options, and they'll even tell you what's vegan in the lunch buffet. It's located at 4080 Paradise Road at East Flamingo Road, not far from the Strip. Call 702-734-0094.

I also had great Ethiopian food at Meskerem, just off the Strip at 252 Convention Center Drive. They've only got one vegetarian dish, but it's hearty, filling, and delicious. Avoid the iced tea, though; it's not even freshly brewed, but made from an ultra-sweet mix. Call 702-732-4250.

I had two decent-if-overpriced meals at Mandalay Bay, a swanky hotel on the South Strip. The Border Grill, which overlooks the pool, has a tasty grilled portabello mushroom, although make sure to talk to your server; half the accompaniments aren't vegan, and they'll still charge you $16 for the meal. On the plus side, they make a nice mojito.

I normally wouldn't even glance at a place called Burger Bar, but I was bored and happened to notice they they offer a dish called the "Vegas Vegan." It's just a bunch of grilled vegetables in the shape of a hamburger (portabello mushrooms for the bun, eggplant for the burger, lots of toppings) but it was satisfying. And they have an exceptional beer selection. It's located at Mandalay Place, which is a little shopping mall connecting Mandalay Bay and Luxor.

I also noticed that Japonais in the Mirage has a nice selection of (extremely expensive) vegetable sushi. I didn't have time to try it, but it's another option to check out if you're in the area.

I've only concentrated on the options closest to the Strip. Am I missing anything? Let us know your Vegas Vegan experiences in the comments.

Permalink

• 1.

  Comment by Jason Das [www] on September 24, 2007 10:14am:

  heh. $13 will get you about three Vegan Treats donuts ...
• 2.

  Comment by dirk on September 24, 2007 10:40am:

  
  Capriotti's sandwich shops in several VEGAS locations serve Veggie Turkey & Veggie Salami subs that are very satisfying.
  
  At NY NY casino - Chin Chins will make any dish on the menu with tofu in addition to their on menu veg choices. Portions are generous and satisfying.
  
  Happy vegan eating in sin city!
• 3.

  Comment by Laura Leslie [www] on September 24, 2007 1:02pm:

  Thanks, Dirk! I didn't know about Capriotti's; that's awesome.
• 4.

  Comment by Tiffany on September 24, 2007 1:25pm:

  Ronald's is worth the trip alone. So delicious! I'm not sure if it's still there, but there used to be raw vegan restaurant in vegas.
• 5.

  Comment by ariela on September 24, 2007 6:33pm:

  if i had known i would have asked you to bring me back donuts haha im dying to go there!!
• 6.

  Comment by veganpops on September 25, 2007 12:34pm:

  Go Raw Cafe is 100% raw vegan. They are a bit pricey, but great.
• 7.

  Comment by Olivia Lane on September 26, 2007 10:16am:

  Laura sharing her vegan Vegas donuts with me is up there on my Top 10 Life Changing Moments list.
• 8.

  Comment by Tiffany on September 26, 2007 12:06pm:

  Go Raw, that's the place! They had really good pizza there.
• 9.

  Comment by Devotchka on January 16, 2008 9:20pm:

  And Rainbow's End is a vegetarian store with a little cafe and tons of vegan dishes. I tried the vegan carrot cake... it was to die for. I also tried the eggless salad sandwich, which was ok but just ok.
• 10.

  Comment by vegChefMayra [www] on May 4, 2008 4:00pm:

  Hello Everyone, I am a Vegan and Vegetarian Private Chef In Las Vegas, Nevada.
  Please visit my web site www.mychefmayra.com
• 11.

  Comment by yogichef [www] on June 26, 2008 4:20am:

  Just want to let you know about another vegan friendly Indian cuisine restaurant in Vegas. Check out www.samosafactory.com. Great food in a clean and fun atmosphere.
• 12.

  Comment by Sarahh [www] on August 1, 2008 9:33pm:

  Cool! Thanks for letting the readers for www.goeggless.com know about this place. I can't wait to try my first vegan doughnut when I am out there.
• 13.

  Comment by Vegan In Vegas on October 23, 2008 2:03pm:

  RE: Capriotti's
  The veggie cheesesteak meat is vegan. All other veggie meats have egg white as an ingredient.
• 14.

  Comment by Jen on January 15, 2009 8:07pm:

  I have been able to find some very good veggie alternatives offered usually on special sections of the menu. It is definitely surprising to see how many good vegan choices that are available in las vegas.
  
  JenCAN
  Show Las Vegas
• 15.

  Comment by VeganInVegas on January 16, 2009 6:16pm:

  1. Capriottis: All the stores will NOT clean the grill first in order to cook the sandwich. So beware. They claim they can't give you raw soy "meat" due to health code.
  
  2. NEW RESTAURANT: Red Velvet Cafe. Sahara/Buffalo (about 5 miles West of the strip). AWESOME vegan food, great vegan owners. < redvelvetcafelv.com >
• 16.

  Comment by chelreis [www] on March 13, 2009 1:35pm:

  Red Velvet Cafe should not be listed as an option... not only do they sell crap, pus, blood, feces and menstruation (aka MILK, EGGS), they sell dead animals. Why support any business that makes DIRECT money from animal exploitation?
• 17.

  Comment by dominic on March 21, 2009 7:57pm:

  I am so glad Red Velvet is on here. This place does everything well. The vegan food there is fresh, healthy and more delicious than any other place I've eaten at in Vegas. They have vegetarian and some meat options, as well (no beef or pork at least) - but just about everything can be made vegan. I appreciate this place so much because it's the kind of establishment that can really help the movement - everyone can eat here, everyone. And whoever you are, and whatever you eat, you will not be able to resist coming back for the vegan red velvet cake (they're namesake dessert)once you've had it - it's probably one of the healthiest, most delicious things to eat on the planet.
• 18.

  Comment by domic on March 21, 2009 8:07pm:

  Oh yeah. Ronald's Donuts rock! Especially the soy cream filled...so good. And Mary Lovingly's food over at Rainbows end is really (really) good as well. Being vegan in Vegas isn't so bad after all!
• 19.

  Comment by Casey on May 3, 2009 8:18pm:

  By saying places that offer vegan option but sell meat or egg products should not be listed is lame, every place on the list inculding ronalds sells non vegan items so let's encourage places to have vegan items by buying them, let's not be Assholes people
• 20.

  Comment by Juan on June 4, 2009 4:24am:

  Hi, I'm a vegan who can't eat soy. Any suggestions for me in Las Vegas or should I just bring my own.
• 21.

  Comment by Laura Leslie [www] on June 4, 2009 9:20am:

  Juan, most of the options mentioned in this post don't contain soy. (Grilled veggies, portobellos, veggie sushi, Indian, Ethiopian ... no tofu in sight.)