Cleveland Vegan Guide 🥦 (The Truth!)

What is "Cleveland Vegan"?

This is a common, and now sad, question. "Cleveland Vegan" can mean two things. 1. The general "vegan food scene"... ...in Cleveland, Ohio. (This scene is booming!). ( 2. A specific, 100% vegan business... ...named "Cleveland Vegan." (This was a famous café and caterer). ( This guide will answer both. We must start with the sad news. But we will end with the good news.

The "Cleveland Vegan" Café & Catering (The Sad News) 😢

This was the "OG" spot. It was a "pioneer" in the city. It was a beloved, 100% vegan... ...café, bakery, and catering company. It was located in Lakewood, Ohio. It was the community hub. It was famous for its brunch. It had amazing vegan pastries. (Donuts, cakes, cookies). (And it catered hundreds of vegan weddings. This place was an "institution." But, sadly, it is gone. As of early 2024, "Cleveland Vegan" is permanently closed. The café is empty. The business is shut down. This was a huge, sad loss for the community. It left a big "hole" in the vegan scene.

Why Did it Close?

The "why" is always hard. Restaurant life is tough. The post-COVID world is brutal. Especially for small businesses. It was a huge loss for the community. We must support our local spots!

The GOOD News: The Cleveland Vegan Scene is BOOMING! 🔥

The "café" is gone. But the "scene" is alive and well! Do not despair! Cleveland has a thriving, growing vegan scene. The community is bigger than one café. It is full of amazing, new options. This is the "new" list. This is the "now" list. This is where you can get... ...amazing, 100% vegan (or veg-friendly) food... ...in Cleveland, right now.

The Top 5 Vegan-Friendly Spots in Cleveland (The "Now" List) ✅

This is your new "go-to" list. These places are all amazing.

1. Cloak & Dagger (The "Gourmet" 10/10) 🍸

This is the new "star" of the scene. It is 100% VEGAN. And it is fancy. It is a "gourmet" cocktail bar. It is in the "Tremont" neighborhood. The food is "dark, moody, and seasonal." The menu is 100% plant-based. And 100% "mind-blowing." This is the #1 "date night" spot. This is the "impress your friends" spot.

2. The Beet Jar (The "Healthy" 10/10) 🥦

This is the "healthy" vegan king. It is 100% VEGAN. And 100% raw. (Or mostly raw). ( This is your spot for cold-pressed juice. This is your spot for smoothies. But the food is the secret. They have amazing salads. And "raw-cos" (raw tacos). And amazing "raw" desserts. This is your "feel-good" lunch spot.

3. Landmark (The "Diner" Hack) 🥞

This is a Cleveland "institution." It is a classic 24/7 diner. It is NOT 100% vegan. Do not be confused. But it is famously vegetarian-friendly. It has a HUGE vegan menu! Yes, a separate vegan menu. You can get vegan pancakes. Vegan milkshakes. Vegan "diner food" (like burgers). This is the 3 AM, "post-bar" vegan hero.

4. Melt Bar & Grilled (The "Junk Food" Fix) 🧀

This is a "grilled cheese" empire. But it is a vegan's secret weapon. It is NOT 100% vegan. But it is insanely vegan-friendly. They have a full vegan menu. (Vegan cheese, vegan meats, etc). ( You can get any of their crazy sandwiches... ...as a 100% vegan version. They have vegan "chicken." They have vegan "pulled pork." This is your "comfort food" fix.

5. Empress Taytu (The "Global" Staple) 🇪🇹

This is the best Ethiopian food in the city. And Ethiopian food is a vegan paradise. Why? The "fasting" food (Yetsom Beyaynetu)... ...is 100% vegan (by religious tradition). It is a 100% "accidentally vegan" meal. It is a huge platter... ...of delicious, vegan stews. (Spicy red lentils, yellow split peas, collard greens, etc). ( You scoop it all up with "Injera" (a teff-flour bread). It is amazing. And 100% safe.

The "Hidden Traps" in Cleveland (The "Not-Vegan" Foods) 🚫

When you are not at a vegan spot... ...you must be careful. Cleveland has "hidden meat" traps.

Trap 1: Pierogies! 🥟

This is a Cleveland staple. Pierogies are everywhere. They seem "vegetarian." ("Potato & Onion"). ( But they are NOT vegan. The dough is always made with... ...eggs or sour cream. And they are always boiled... ...and then pan-fried in BUTTER. (And served with more sour cream). ( A pierogi is a "dairy bomb." Avoid them. (Unless it is a "vegan pierogi" spot). (

Trap 2: The "Veggie Burger" 🍔

You are at a "non-vegan" bar. They have a "veggie burger." (Like a "MorningStar" patty). ( The Problem: Cross-contamination. That "veggie" patty is cooked... ...on the exact same flat-top grill... ...as all the beef burgers. It is being cooked in beef fat. For a vegan, this is a 100% "no-go." You must ask for it to be microwaved. (Or cooked in a clean pan). (

Trap 3: "Veggie" Soups & Rice 🐔

This is a classic restaurant trap. A "Vegetable Soup" seems safe. A "Rice Pilaf" side dish seems safe. They are usually NOT vegan. The "broth" is almost always... ...CHICKEN BROTH. (Or beef broth). ( It is a cheap "flavor base." You must always ask: "Is the rice (or soup)... ...made with chicken broth or water?" T

Conclusion: A Sad Loss, A Thriving Scene

It is a sad time for the Cleveland scene. We lost the "Cleveland Vegan" café. It was a pioneer. And a community leader. It is a huge, sad loss. But do not despair. The "loss" of that one café... ...does not mean the "death" of the scene. The scene is thriving! The "mantle" has been passed... ...to amazing 100% vegan spots. (Like Cloak & Dagger and The Beet Jar). ( And the "vegan-friendly" options... ...(like Landmark and Melt)... ...are better than ever. Cleveland is a great city to be vegan. The future is bright. And very, very delicious. 🌟