Are you headed to Leavenworth Washington and in search of restaurants with vegan options? This picturesque little Bavarian mountain town tucked in at the foot of the Central Cascades may be small but there’s actually great options for those looking for vegan meals!
I love when someone enthusiastically tells me that a restaurant has vegan options and it turns out to be one item on the menu. Usually it’s a boring and overpriced green salad but sometimes it’s fries. Like, come on guys. Are YOU going to have fries for lunch? No? I didn’t think so and neither am I.
There aren’t a lot of times when a menu has so many options that it’s difficult to decide but every once in awhile I come across a place with multiple plant-based options and it’s exciting.
Here’s a list of my favorite spots in town with plant-based options:
Yodelin Broth Company
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Pros: Fresh, lots of locally sourced food, many vegan options, generous portions, hip vibe, dog-friendly outdoor seating with views, food comes quick after ordering.
Cons: Food may come too quick after ordering, dining experience can feel rushed.
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Yodelin Broth Company is one of my favorite spots in town! Although they’re known for their fresh house-made soup broths, don’t be fooled by the name — there’s lot of options besides soup on the menu and quite a few vegan options at that! Everything is very flavorful, colorful, with tons of healthy choices. Entree portions are very generous so you definitely won’t be leaving hungry!
Atmosphere:
A hip, modern restaurant with a laid back surf/snow vibe. Inside you can enjoy the art lining the walls from local artists or snag an outdoor seat with the best views in town looking across the river and into the edge of the Enchantments. The portions are huge so know this before ordering a whole bunch of food.
My only complaint would be the turn-and-burn feel. Sometimes I want to relax, order a drink and an appetizer and enjoy those for awhile before the entree comes. Be careful how you place your order because the entree, appetizer, and drink may very well come out all at once — or in that order!
My favorite meal:
I have two! Sweet Potato Banh Mi sandwich on local bread and the Kiwanda Rice Bowl with sweet potato, brown jasmine rice, and a heap of veggies (pretty much the Banh Mi in a rice bowl). Both come with a side of coleslaw and chips but I’d recommend upgrading to the salad, it’s a work of art. Both can be made vegan upon request.
Runner up:
I’m going to have to do one for each season! Summertime I love the Pacific Crest Trail house-made veggie burger which comes with a side of coleslaw and again I’d go for the salad instead of chips. In the winter I love the Hollywood Soup, which is a coconut carrot ginger lime broth bowl with rice noodles, veggies and peanuts (vegan as-is!).
Favorite beverage:
Their house-made ginger soda is fabulous!
Pro tip: If you’re ordering appetizers, put those in first and let your server know that you want them before the meal. The servers take orders on a digital pad and if you order entrees and beverages first and sneak the appetizers in the middle or end of the order, they’d have to erase everything and start over. Otherwise your apps will come out with all the food and it’s just…too much food at once.
South
$$
Pros: Fresh, flavorful, quite a few vegan options, comfortable atmosphere, seasonal outdoor seating, dog friendly on the patio, locally sourced vegetables and legumes, food comes quick after ordering.
Cons: Guacamole isn’t vegan (really?!) and the chip bowl is a great shareable appetizer but pricey if your meal doesn’t come with a side of chips.
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Fresh and flavorful Latin-inspired cuisine from south of the border, South is one of my favorite restaurant in town! Several menu items are vegan as-is and cheese and cream sauces on tacos, burritos, and the sweet potato enchiladas can be omitted upon request.
Cocktails are well-crafted and fabulous here. Looking for a non-alcoholic beverage? Their flavored lemonades are amazing! Prickly pear is my favorite, a gorgeous fuchsia-colored lemonade that’s not too sweet — perfect on a hot summer day.
Atmosphere:
South has a modern, hip vibe that’s both cozy and invigorating. The pink glow from the “windows” on the side walls give you a feel of being in a South American country either at sunset or in a vibrant city establishment. The back patio seating is quaint with dappled shade and grape vines growing up the wall, giving the patio a Mediterranean-feel.
Favorite appetizer:
The chip sampler is great if you’re in a group and wanting something to snack on quick. Served with house-made salsas, guacamole, poblano sauce, and a black bean dip. (Guacamole and poblano sauce contain a little cream, just a heads up.)
My favorite meal:
Mission Burrito Bowl with Sweet Potato & Roasted Poblano, Peruvian beans, cilantro-lime rice, avocado sauce, onions and cilantro. Easily made vegan upon request! Served with a side of house-made chips.
Runner up:
Burrito Cubano, which has fried banana, grilled onions, seasoned white rice, black beans, avocado sauce & salsa fresca. Served with a side of house-made chips and cabbage salad.
Wok About Grill
$$$
Pros: Fresh, endless vegan combinations, clean and comfortable, patio seating.
Cons: Watch your bowl weight, it can add up quick!
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Wok About Grill technically has the most plant-based options since it’s a build-your-own bowl establishment. The varieties are endless! The salad bar has lots of fresh veggies, tofu and black beans for rich protein sources, and lots of vegan sauce choices. Every stir-fry bowl comes with an option of brown or white rice or a tortilla. The rice portions are generous so your meal will be significantly larger than the bowl of veggies you’ll hand to the cook to prepare.
I say this because it’s easy to get carried away with loading up your salad bar bowl and getting a whopper of a price tag to go along with it. The bowls are priced by weight and it’s not difficult to suddenly find yourself with a $36 bowl of stir fry.
Atmosphere:
Wok About Grill has a large clean and comfortable indoor dining area with plenty of seating for busy weekend nights or better yet snag a seat outside at the restaurant patio if the weather cooperates. The large outdoor second-story balcony provides a picturesque view of the Bavarian Front Street with the mountains towering in the background. A spot at the railing edge provides perfect vantage point for people watching and mountain gazing.
München Haus
$$
Pros: Fun German vibe, dog-friendly outdoor seating, excellent mustard and condiment options, great tap list.
Cons: Pricey for what it is, can be chaotic atmosphere if busy.
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Does your group all wants to try a bratwurst since you’re visiting a Bavarian town? Don’t worry, there’s vegan options at München Haus!
This small, open-aired restaurant has two vegan options for a bratwurst: a Field Roast Apple Sage (request vegan) and a Beyond Sausage. There’s an option to add vegan chili to add to your bratwurst or have vegan chili as a side dish. The self-serve condiment options are great with 14 different mustards and other various specialty sauces. It’s difficult to choose! Great tap list with Icicle Brewing beers (same owners) but they also have traditional German beers on tap as well (try those, German beer is the best!)
Honest opinion: It’s okay. The atmosphere is fun and unique condiments are my favorite part of the experience but it sure is a pricey Field Roast and Beyond Sausage Bratwurst. I wouldn’t seek out München Haus as a must-visit, but if your group or family is wanting to go here then rest assured that you get to eat something, too.
Crêpe Café Sisters
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Pros: Vegan batter option, extensive beverage menu, lots of vegan sweet crêpe options.
Cons: The vegan savory crêpe was drowning in oil, their counter service doesn’t allow open tabs so you must close out each time you want another drink or a dessert crêpe after lunch, service could have been friendlier.
Atmosphere: Bright. Very, very bright. Interior felt new and clean, modern atmosphere, but lights could use some dimmers.
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Located inside the Obertal Mall off 9th and Commercial Street, Crêpe Café Sisters offers a vegan batter option! On the menu there is one vegan savory crêpe (The Bean) and one vegetarian (The Pickett), and lots of vegan sweet crêpes to choose from (you may have to omit whipped cream or butter). This is a breakfast and lunch spot, with some of the best coffee I’ve ever had (local from Leavenworth Cafe Roasters) as well as beer, wine, cocktails, and quite a few other non-alcoholic choices.
They don’t skimp on the portions here; these are meal-sized savory crêpes. If you’re here for lunch, save room for dessert as the sweet crêpes aren’t to be missed! This is also a great spot to come just for dessert if you’ve already eaten elsewhere.
The one vegan crêpe, The Bean, is pretty good. Not fabulous, but okay. The slow-roasted tomatoes were surprisingly my favorite part of the crêpe as they were incredibly flavorful. The major downside was that the crêpe came out sitting in a pool of oil. It was very off-putting, as the entire crêpe was glistening with oil and it couldn’t even be mopped out at that point, it just saturated everything. I would highly suggest saying not to add any additional oil to The Bean if that’s the one you order. Another downside with The Bean: although it’s labeled as “vegan” on the menu, there’s still an up-charge for vegan batter. Only $1, but still. If it says vegan, shouldn’t the batter be vegan by default? Another savory crêpe, The Pickett, isn’t vegan but if you ask for no feta and can tolerate a little cheese in the pesto, I’d recommend that one.
As far as the sweet crêpes, tons of vegan options here and they are absolutely delicious! A little rich for my liking as far as breakfast goes, so I’ll stick with the savory crêpes with a decadent dessert to finish it off!
Crêpe Café Sisters is located inside the Obertal Mall off 9th and Commercial Street, so you won’t see the restaurant from the street.
Los Camperos
$$$-$$$$
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A local loved family-run establishment, Los Camperos has vegan (upon request) options for burritos, enchiladas, or fajitas. Like your typical Mexican restaurant, the first basket of chips and salsa are complimentary.
Atmosphere:
Lively and welcoming, Los Camperos has a friendly and pretty classic Mexican restaurant vibe. There’s a large indoor dining area as well as a few outdoor tables at the railing edge if the weather is warm and pleasant.
Honest opinion:
I wanted to include Los Camperos because they do have vegan options upon request but in all honesty, I’m not the biggest fan. Everything is way too pricey and if you ordered drinks then I hope they were strong to dull the blow for when the bill arrives. The vegetarian burrito has a $2.99 up-charge for veggies (seriously?!) and maybe that’s why it makes me cranky. Not to be that guy, but I make better burritos at home bursting at the seams with colorful veggies and I get to top them with my vegan sour cream.
Best restaurants in Leavenworth that have one vegan item on the menu:
Larch
$$$-$$$$
Pros: Their vegan option(s) (were) beautifully crafted, extensive wine and cocktail menu, and lovely atmosphere.
Cons: Vegan menu and options comes and goes. Call and ask about it!
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Larch went from not being on my list at all, to being added to the the top of my list, and then demoted to this lower “one option” section a week later. Here’s what happened: I went with a friend for a special occasion and when asking the waiter about the one vegetarian option I saw on the menu that appeared to be drowning in cream and cheese, he said there was a vegan menu. Say what?! He brought it over and there were THREE beautifully crafted vegan entrees. WOW! It was the menu I always dreamed of, dishes with ingredients that I’ve never heard of and can’t pronounce. I wanted a surprise when the dish appeared before me and when I ordered the roasted red pepper pesto I was not disappointed. In fact, my friend who ordered the $85 steak WAS disappointed in his meal and raved about how much better my vegan dish was. He couldn’t wait to try one of the other vegan options so he invited me to go later in the week! I’m devastated to announce that three days after that wonderful dining experience, Larch pulled the vegan menu.
Here’s the problem: the menu was secret. No one can order off a menu they don’t know exists. As a local vegan always on the hunt for great options, I didn’t know about the vegan menu existed! It wasn’t on the regular menu and you have to ask for it. Anyone looking for vegan options online simply won’t go to Larch and a vegetarian dining in will just order the entree full of butter and cream, not knowing that there are other, incredible options to choose from. Pulling a secret menu because no one orders off of it is ridiculous.
Call and ask about vegan options. I emailed Larch but never received a reply. Maybe the more inquires about vegan options they get, the more they will realize that there’s a lot of people seeking out wonderfully crafted plant-based options; even those who aren’t vegan.
Atmosphere: Larch is an Italian-style, contemporary fine dining restaurant. Small, intimate, with a cozy vibe. The best place in Leavenworth for a romantic date night, special birthday celebration, or a fun place to treat yourself on your weekend ladies-trip. Kids are welcome but you might want to consider a babysitter if they’re rambunctious. (I honestly wouldn’t bring kids here.)
Conclusion: A must-call to inquire about vegan options. If there’s options, then a must-visit.
La Javelina
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Pros: Fresh, hip vibe, dog-friendly outdoor seating with views, reasonably priced, huge variety of beverage options.
Cons: Portion size is a little small, only one vegan option (but it’s a good one!).
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Seeing that their logo is a boar outlined with butcher sections, I was skeptical that La Javelina would have anything for me to eat. Much to my surprise, they have one item on the menu that’s vegan, The Caulifornian, and it’s fabulous! You have the option to have this as tacos, a wrap, or a bowl (my favorite). The Caulifornian has (as you may have guessed) cauliflower, lentils, sweet potato, peanut salsa matcha, pickled onion, and pepita granola.
My bowl came out colorful with beautiful presentation, the flavors complimented each other, and the creamy sweet potato and salsa was the perfect sweet and spicy “dressing” for the salad bowl (I added hot sauce too). My only complaint is it was a tad on the small size as I was ravishingly hungry after my mountain bike ride.
There may only being one vegan item to eat but there’s plenty of beverages to choose from no matter what time of day you’re there! Specialty coffee, tea, a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, beer, wine, and cocktails.
La Javelina has chef-talent designing the menu and it’s a shame they only have one plant-based option.
Atmosphere:
La Javelina is small and quaint with a comfortable modern vibe. There’s limited indoor seating but if the weather is pleasant then there’s plenty of outdoor seating with views.
Limited hours:
Open from 8am-6pm Sun-Mon-Thurs and 8am-8pm Fri-Sat (always double check, as it may change since writing this), La Javelina is a great spot for lunch or dinner after an active day or to swing by in the morning to pick up a burrito to-go.
Blewett Brewing
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People assume that pizza is out of the question if you eat a plant-based diet. I don’t know about you but I love pizza! I just don’t love cheese. Cheese has become too front-and-center when it comes to pizza and it should be put back in it’s place as what it actually is: just another topping. Pizza should be all about the house-made dough, sauces, and variety of toppings that meld together symbiotically!
I had to come back and change my review because they changed their vegan pizza… and it’s WAY better! Blewett offers one vegan pizza, Captain Planet. Captain Planet has a pesto base (formally a marinara base, but the pesto is a game-changer) and it’s topped with spicy peppers, cremini mushrooms, kalamata olives, garlic, toasted almonds, and arugula. Captain Planet used to be okay, hit or miss, but it’s so good now that Blewett is one of my favorite places in town!
Blewett is first and foremost a brewery — and a dang good one at that. I personally think they have the best beers in town. With a rotating draft list, everything they brew is pretty fantastic and they have fun with creative small-batch beers.
Atmosphere:
Cozy with wooden rustic pizzeria feel, the aromas of sauces and fresh baked dough greet you as you walk through the door. Blewett has a small but comfortable indoor seating area, a bar and lounge section, and seasonal dog-friendly patio seating if the weather is pleasant.
Pro tip:
Order a side of marinara to dip the crust in!
Argonaut Coffee and Biscuits
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In the mood for a stellar soy milk latte and a little breakfast? Argonaut has an avocado toast on sourdough bread with house-made chili oil, sea salt, and lemon that’s simple and delicious! Portion sizes are small so this isn’t the spot to go if you’re starving, think of it as a snack.
A small but quaint coffee shop, you might be able to snag a spot inside and enjoy checking out the local art hanging on the walls or if the weather is nice grab a spot outside and enjoy the views while planning your day.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my article, leave me a comment! 🙂
Great information thanks!
You’re very welcome! Happy to help by sampling all the places around town! 😉
Life saver. We planned a three-day Amtrak trip to Leavenworth and started poking around and thinking there’d be nothing to eat! Made a note of several of these for our trip. Thank you!
You’re very welcome, so glad I could help! I hope you have a great time in Leavenworth! The Christmas light are beautiful, and they’ll be up through February. 🙂
Finally , some tasty options for vegans to dine out in a quaint town Most restaurants , here and mostly everywhere , cater to the SAD principle of stacking their menu with animal-based offerings , giving their patrons what they crave , and not what they should be eating to optimize their health . Oh well . Use this guide to minimize the endless ” menu surfing ” !!! Bon appetit !! Foshizzle !