Updated on 28th November 2024

Where to Get the Best Vegetarian Food in York

Plant-based and absolutely delicious!

Written on Food & Drink Updated on 28th November 2024

There’s so much vegetarian food to choose from in York, whether you fancy authentic Asian cuisine or a weekend brunch to remember.

York has long been a culinary destination, and that includes for vegetarians. At these York vegetarian restaurants, you don’t have to choose between cut-price versions of meat dishes. Instead, tuck into veggie roasts dripping in gravy, flavourful curries and authentic Japanese favourites.

Spark

People sat at tables with glasses of beer and food containers in a vibrant interior

Credit: Jack Barton

At this buzzing street food container park, you can take your pick from over ten food and drink traders, with plenty of delicious vegetarian food available. Fancy an authentic Neapolitan pizza? Head for Rad Pizza Shop for the no-meat nduja.

Looking for vegan food in York and fancy guilt-free American favourites? Herbivorous serve mac and cheese, Philly cheesesteak loaded fries and buffalo wings, all vegan.

Spark is such a popular spot that chefs frequently use it as a springboard to opening their own vegetarian restaurant or cafe in York, so don’t be too disappointed if you find out your favourite place is leaving because you might well find elsewhere in a few months.

Where is it? Spark, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9PB.

Yak & Yeti

Lots of little curry dishes in traditional metal pots with a big pile of rice.

Yak & Yeti is the top choice for Nepalese food in York, and there are plenty of authentically vegetarian dishes on the menu, including the Aloo Chana Tarkari, a fragrant, spiced chickpea and potato curry.

For starters, try the vegetable ‘momo’ dumplings, then go all-out with Nepal’s national dish, Dhaal Bhat Tarkari – a set meal that includes Aloo Chana Tarkari, rice, lentil soup, spinach and a choice of black lentil or yellow lentil Daal.

The dining space at Yak & Yeti is made to feel authentic and homely. When you combine the cosy atmosphere with food this good, you get one of the best place to eat vegetarian food in York.

Where is it? Yak & Yeti, 63A Goodramgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LS.

Goji

A wrap filled with falafel and veggies next to a bowl of green soup

Credit: Abigail Lister

Mention you’re vegetarian to any York local, and they’ll tell you to go to Goji. This 100% vegetarian cafe has been serving delicious treats for over ten years, attracting a loyal community and even vegetarian celebs.

Specials change week-by-week, ranging from aubergine parmigiana to Sunday roasts – and most are vegan. On the permanent menu, choose from fully loaded mushroom burgers, Middle Eastern-inspired platters, and all-day breakfasts with crispy spiced potatoes.

Make sure to save room for a vegan cream tea, though – the coconut cream is just as good as the real thing.

Where is it? Goji, 36 Goodramgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LF.

Partisan

A plate piled high with vegetarian potato, spinach, caramelised onion and harissa rolls.

© Copyright Yorkshire-List 2024

Vegetarian or not, many of York’s restaurants struggle to complete with the rise of Partisan. It’s regularly ranked as one of the best brunch places in York, and after visiting ourselves, we’re happy to say that both the food and atmosphere live up to the hype.

Vintage wooden tables and mismatched chairs add to the homely, Victorian-era vibe, but the food is all contemporary. There’s rich shakshuka with feta and chilli oil, piles of fresh figs and goats cheese on sourdough, as well as a full vegetarian (or vegan) breakfast served in a still-hot skillet.

The coffee (Monmouth espresso) is equally delicious, but treat yourself to a brunch cocktail for an even more indulgent breakfast. It’s the kind of place where booking is recommended, though queuing for a table at the weekend is a quintessential Partisan experience.

Where is it? Partisan, 112 Micklegate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6JX.

Rise

A wood panelled restaurant with living plants, neon lights and shared benches.

Credit: Rachel Ovenden

Following in Partisan’s footsteps, Rise is the latest brunch eatery to arrive in York. The menu is full of classic, no-nonsense brunch choices, served in a dining space that’s definitely photo-worthy.

You’ll find little twists on brunch tradition here and there, like the avocado on toast with savoury granola or the Pina Colada-inspired French toast with pineapple, coconut and brown butter ganache.

But you can’t go wrong with a breakfast sarnie, and you’ll be reminiscing about the stacked veggie roll with avocado, soft scrambled eggs, halloumi and pickled onion all day. This one definitely earns its spot among the best vegetarian food in York.

Where is it? Rise, 44 Fossgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9TF.

Ippuku Tea House

Someone holding up a chunk of tofu with chopsticks.

If you’ve been to Japan, you’ll know it’s not always easy to find vegetarian food. At Ippuku, though, vegetarians can enjoy all the same authentic Japanese dishes as meat-eaters from brunch till dinner, making this one of the best vegetarian restaurants in York.

Wake up and grab fluffy Japanese pancakes with butter, maple syrup and strawberry cheesecake, or try the anko-butter toast made with sweet red bean paste. For lunch, freshly made onigiri with veggie fillings like umeboshi (pickled plum) and gohan desu yo (soy-stewed seaweed) are the perfect picnic food.

Later in the day, Ippukku transforms into a relaxed, atmospheric restaurant where you can indulge in a classic Japanese set dinner of pan-fried teriyaki tofu, rice, miso soup and pickles. Wash everything down with authentic, fresh matcha for a real Japanese experience.

Where is it? Ippuku Tea House, 15 Blake St, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 8QJ.

Ambiente Tapas

Tapas plates of patatas bravas, asparagus and fishcakes on wooden table

Ambiente Tapas offers a generous selection of vegetarian and vegan tapas, including the main event, a 100% vegan paella freshly made to order and packed with Mediterranean vegetables.

While the paella will comfortably serve two, it would be rude not to try the vegetarian tapas while you’re here, wouldn’t it? For starters, share the traditional, spicy patatas bravas or the baked chilli and honey feta, which is guaranteed to go down well with something from the extensive Spanish wine list.

With such a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan food, and two locations in York, Ambiente Tapas is the ideal place to take a big group of friends or family – everyone’s sure to be satisfied. It’s even dog friendly!

Where is it? Ambiente Tapas, 31 Fossgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9TA & 14 Goodramgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LQ.

Remedy

Fried broccoli dish on a wooden table

Remedy isn’t just committed to plant-based cuisine, it also aspires to be one of the most sustainable cafes in York. This ambition, and its commitment to inspiring vegan food, makes it unique among vegetarian restaurants in York.

The daily menu changes depending on what’s in-season and locally available, but you can expect next-level vegan lunch dishes like French toast with plum and blackberry compote and ginger crumble or a ‘Full English’ with homemade baked beans, chickpea scramble, potato hash and miso mushrooms.

If you’re heading there for breakfast, don’t forget to try a takeaway coffee. As part of Remedy’s sustainable goals, takeaways are served in a completely edible wafer cup. Yummy and eco-friendly!

Where is it? Remedy, 24 Fossgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9TA.

Drift-In

The shining window of Drift as people eat inside

Credit: Abigail Lister

This surf-inspired brunch spot is known for being the place to go in York for syrupy-sweet vegetarian food, including Oreo and strawberry French toast and Jammy Dodger pancakes.

Don’t have much of a sweet tooth? The mozzarella toastie is a classic, served on locally-made sourdough with large helpings of crisps and coleslaw, and the piping-hot halloumi sticks are so good you might not want to share.

If there’s a queue at the OG Drift-In on Nessgate, don’t fret – walk down Clifford Street to the sister cafe Drift and grab a seat on the vintage, folding theatre chairs.

Where is it? Drift-In, 1-3 Nessgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9NP & Drift, 10 Clifford St, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9RD.

Forest

A black bar with industrial style stools and a living wall of plants.

Although there are plenty of vegetarian restaurants in York, pub dining is one area that can be tricky. Not so at Forest. This cosy, relaxed restaurant offers delectable veggie mains, like creamy pan-fried gnocchi and spicy cauliflower buffalo wings.

Proper Yorkshire folk will order a side of Yorkshire pudding with gravy to complete their meal, because who wants to wait for Sunday Lunch to eat Yorkshires? Incidentally, if you’re around on a Sunday, celeriac steak with cauliflower cheese and all the proper accompaniments is on the menu.

Forest is also known for shaking up some of York’s best cocktails, so why not stay a bit longer and soak up the historic atmosphere of this Georgian townhouse with a classic Cosmopolitan or Negroni?

Where is it? Forest, 54 Low Petergate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7HZ.

Cover image credit: Abigail Lister
Abigail Lister Senior Writer

An experienced travel writer with over 6 years of experience behind her, Abigail has turned her attention closer to home to write about Yorkshire. She knows all the nooks and crannies of her home city of York and loves nothing more than revealing its secrets, so even visitors can get a sense of the real York.

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