Boulder offers several options for vegetarian and vegan restaurants for those eating a more plant-based diet. In addition to many restaurants in the city offering specified meat-free options, there are also four spots focusing on entirely vegan or vegetarian cuisine.
Besides a scenic, outdoor lover’s paradise, Boulder is also known as a fantastic culinary destination, with many award-winning restaurants. Fortunately, the options below offer vegans and vegetarians an option with entirely meat-free menus. Even though these plant-based menus are popular with those who avoid meat, anyone can truly enjoy these delicious, innovative meals.
Please note: Any allergens or dietary needs should always be clearly communicated to the restaurant. Menu items and ingredients can change, so it’s always best to confirm with restaurant staff. For the most up-to-date information on ingredients, menu, and hours of operation, contact the restaurant directly.
Meta Burger
Meta Burger serves plant-based American classics, such as burgers, fries, sandwiches and shakes. The goal of Meta Burger is to bring accessible, delicious plant-based food to everyone.
The vegan restaurant has been also been voted the number one plant-based burger restaurant in the world by Happy Cow and won people’s choice for best plant-based burger in America at the Seed Food and Wine Festival. In addition to the Boulder location, Meta Burger has restaurants in Denver and Edgewater as well.
Guests can build their own burger with a plethora of toppings – white onions, lettuce, tomato, bacon, mushrooms, hash browns and pineapples, to name a few. There are many sauces to top it with, including traditional ones (BBQ sauce, ranch, ketchup, mustard and mayo) and creative options (Mahalo sauce, bacon-onion jam, sweet Dijon, habanero jam, and a Tuscan sauce).
For those not feeling particularly creative themselves, pre-designed burgers are plentiful. The Island burger is topped with grilled pineapple, Mahalo sauce, bacon, pickled red onion and lettuce. The Western has crispy onions, sliced cheese, barbecue sauce and pickles.
Other sandwich options include a few different crispy chicken sandwiches, a patty melt and a Philly cheesesteak with beef, Italian peppers and onions, grilled mushroom, a cheese sauce and mayo.
On the side, there are chili cheese fries topped with homemade chili, sweet potato fries, macaroni and cheese, Caesar salad and wings tossed in your choice of sauce (buffalo, barbecue or blueberry habanero). Wash it all down with a creamy shake – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and crème or peanut butter.
1905 29th Street, #1174, Boulder | 303-449-0151 | metaburger.com
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
Located in downtown Boulder, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant serves both vegetarian and vegan food in a beautiful, modern setting. Most of the options are already vegan or have an option to be made vegan (such as leaving off an egg or the cheese). The menu also notes items that are gluten-free or have a gluten-free option.
For lunch and dinner, small plates may include calamari-style oyster mushrooms, buffalo cauliflower tacos with vegan blue cheese and the stuffed endive with peanut stir-fried tofu, carrot, green onion, wasabi peanuts and sprouts. To top one of the salads, customers can add tempeh, blackened tofu or a vegan crab cake.
During lunch, sandwiches are available with a choice of soup, salad or fries. A mushroom-walnut-quinoa burger, crab cake sandwich and Reuben topped with vegan remoulade are a couple of the options.
For a main entrée, jackfruit enchiladas are served with Spanish rice and spicy green chili. The spaghetti squash puttanesca is topped with olives, capers, tomatoes, Boulder oyster mushrooms, sunflower sausage and cashew cream. There are also Udon noodles, Jamaican jerk tempeh and Tandoor tofu, among others.
On weekends, brunch is available with breakfast staples – pancakes, French toast, pastries, omelets and biscuits and gravy. The Huevos Rancheros can be made with eggs or organic tofu, corn tortillas, pepper jack cheese, Spanish rice, black beans, green chili and pico de gallo.
Leaf Vegetarian also offers a happy hour with discounted appetizers and drink specials. There is an extensive list of beverages, including non-alcoholic options like tea and coffee, as well as wine, beer, after-dinner drinks and cocktails.
Reservations can be made online. There is also an option for catering for parties and events.
1710 Pearl Street, Boulder | 303-422-1485 | leafvegetarianrestaurant.com
Thrive
Thrive is a health-focused vegan and organic eatery located in Boulder. The restaurant is open for pick-up, takeout and outdoor and patio dining. The menu is described as light and healthy but also super nourishing.
The offerings are a variety of nutrient-packed smoothies, salads, soups, drinks and even a few desserts. With the pre-designed smoothies, customers can various superfood add-ons (matcha, cacao, hemp seeds), extra fruit (mango, raspberries, blackberries, pineapple) or other items, such as goji berries, spinach or kale.
The Pad Thai replaces noodles with spiralized zucchini noodles and combines it with carrot, red bell pepper, purple cabbage, green onion, cilantro black sesame, marinated mushrooms and kraut, all tossed in a sprouted almond butter pad thai dressing. With the salads, you can add pine nut parmesan, extra vegetables, herbed Brazil nut cheeze, burger patty or coconut “bakun”.
Miso, Cream of Mushroom, Broccoli Cheddar and Yellow Curry are the soup selections. The chili is made from walnut, sunflower seed, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes and is topped with cashew sour cream and an optional side of flax crackers or herbed Brazil nut cheeze.
1509 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder | 720-616-7785 | thrive-boulder.com
Boulder is home to dozens of fantastic restaurants and fortunately, with these vegetarian and vegan spots, meat-free eaters don’t have to miss out on all of the culinary delight.
Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants
Sometimes if you’re choosing to eat vegan or vegetarian, you very well may still find yourself preparing to dine out with family, friends and co-workers that aren’t. Below is a list of restaurants that do still serve meat and dairy, but that also offer substantial options for vegetarians and vegans.
If a shared cooking surface is a problem, you can contact the restaurant to inquire whether or not there are separate fryers and cooking spaces for the vegan and vegetarian dishes.
A Cup of Peace
A Cup of Peace serves organic Korean food and herbal healing teas. Organic tofu is one of the protein options for each dish. The rice noodle bowl, Korean barbecue burrito and Korean barbecue bowl are just a few of the options that can be made vegan.
Address: 3216 Arapahoe Avenue, Unit B, Boulder | 720-5655994 | acupofpeace.com
Flower Child
The Flower Child menu highlights the menu items that are vegetarian and vegan. Some vegan menu items include a cauliflower risotto, spicy sweet potato noodle bowl, a ginger miso crunch salad and avocado hummus.
2580 Arapahoe Ave #110, Boulder | 303-386-8090 | iamaflowerchild.com
Sherpa Kitchen
There is an entire category for vegetarian options at Sherpa Kitchen, which serves Indian and Nepalese cuisine. Sherpa is open for delivery, dine-in or take-out.
5290 Arapahoe, Avenue B, Boulder | 303-444-1626 | sherpakitchenboulder.com
Ghurka’s Dumping & Curry House
Ghurka’s Dumping and Curry House offers numerous vegetarian options throughout the menu, and the team notes that most of the food can be made vegan upon request. Some vegetarian bowls include Eggplant Masala, Chana Saag and Daal Tadka.
Address: 2525 Arapahoe Avenue, Unit 5B, Boulder | 720-479-8396 | gurkhasboulder.com
Tsing Tao Asian Kitchen
There are dozens of vegan options here, including items made with tofu, vegetables, with soy-based chicken or beef and even vegan shrimp and duck options. Kung Pao, Orange or General Tao’s “Chicken” is served with rice. There is also a vegan dinner buffet on Mondays.
607 A South Broadway, Boulder | 303-494-6228 | tsingtaoasiankitchen.com
Aloy Thai Cuisine
Many of the menu items at Aloy Thai Cuisine can be made vegetarian upon request. Pineapple Fried Rice, Pad Thai, Sriracha Noodles and Yellow Curry can all be made vegetarian. Organic tofu can be added to many dishes as a vegetarian protein option.
2720 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder | 303-440-2903 | aloythai.com
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
Rio Grande offers a separate vegan menu in addition to their main menu, which features a black bean and grilled vegetable burrito with veggie green chile or ranchero sauce, portabella and squash fajitas and nachos topped with guacamole, pico de gallo and grilled mushrooms.
Address: 1101 Walnut Street, Boulder | 303-444-3690 | riograndemexican.com
Jill’s Restaurant & Bistro
Jill’s Restaurant and Bistro is located in the five-star hotel, St. Julien Hotel & Spa. Jill’s offers both vegetarian and vegan menu items in addition to an extensive wine and cocktail list. For vegan bites, items include a sesame tofu rice bowl, Moroccan eggplant hash and Yakisoba noodles with crispy wonton.
900 Walnut Street, Boulder | 720-406-7399 | stjulien.com
Whether opting for a restaurant with an entirely plant-based menu or one that offers a selection of meat-free options, these Boulder spots can satisfy the whole group.
For those heading down to the Mile High City, take a look at Denver’s vegetarian restaurants for some place to dine.
8 Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Denver
