The United States varies considerably when it comes to vegan food, community and quality. In fact, two cities just hours apart can have a very different vegan scene altogether.
So, which US city is best for vegans in 2026? We combined five of the latest rankings – WalletHub, HappyCow, Spinach, buycycle and PETA – and one city came out clearly on top: Portland, Oregon. Seattle, San Francisco, New York City and San Diego round out the top five.
Portland is the only city in the top three of all four data-driven rankings. That’s about as close to a sure thing as these lists get.
We’ve written vegan guides to Portland, Seattle, San Diego and Denver – four of our combined top 10 – so where we can, we’ve added where to start eating in each city.
How We Ranked These
Every “best vegan cities” list measures something different. Some count restaurants, some look at grocery prices, and some are just an editor’s opinion. So instead of picking one, we combined five:
| Source | What it measures | Source date | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| WalletHub | 100 largest US cities, 17 metrics – affordability, access and lifestyle | Sep 22, 2026 | 35% |
| HappyCow Vegan City Index | Fully vegan venues, review quality and community engagement (North America top 10) | 2025 index | 25% |
| Spinach | Highly rated, vegan-friendly places in total and per resident (global top 100) | Nov 1, 2026 | 15% |
| buycycle | HappyCow vegan and vegetarian listings, total and per resident | Updated Oct 9, 2026 | 15% |
| PETA | Editors’ picks | Jun 2025 | 10% |
Here’s how the points work, in plain English:
- WalletHub ranks all 100 cities, so #1 gets 100 points, #2 gets 99, and so on down to 1.
- The top-10 lists (HappyCow, buycycle and PETA) give #1 100 points, #10 10 points, and 0 if a city isn’t listed. For HappyCow we removed the Canadian and Mexican cities first, so the ranks are US-only.
- Spinach ranks 24 US cities in its global top 100, so the top US city gets 100 points and the rest step down evenly.
Each city’s points are multiplied by the source’s weight and added up, for a score out of 100. The data-driven sources carry 90% of the weight. PETA’s list is editorial, so it counts for the least.
We scored 30 cities – every US city on the HappyCow, Spinach, buycycle or PETA lists, plus WalletHub’s top 15. Scoring all 100 WalletHub cities doesn’t change our top 20.
We also tested the results with equal weights and with Spinach removed. Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and New York held the top four spots every time.
One thing to keep in mind – these lists mix city limits (WalletHub) with wider metro areas (HappyCow aggregates big metros like New York). And WalletHub covers vegans and vegetarians. No single list is perfect, which is exactly why we combined them.
Best US Cities for Vegans at a Glance
| Rank | City | Score | WalletHub | HappyCow (US) | Spinach (US) | buycycle | PETA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | 86.9 | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | – |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | 76.3 | 6th | 3rd | 5th | 4th | – |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | 72.8 | 4th | 5th | 6th | 3rd | – |
| 4 | New York City, NY | 71.1 | 15th | 1st | 1st | – | 10th |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | 63.2 | 8th | 4th | 4th | – | – |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | 54.0 | 21st | 6th | – | 2nd | – |
| 7 | Washington, DC | 53.0 | 19th | – | 11th | 6th | 3rd |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | 51.7 | 14th | – | 7th | – | 1st |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | 51.7 | 13th | – | 14th | 5th | 6th |
| 10 | Denver, CO | 50.6 | 24th | – | 8th | 7th | 4th |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | 50.4 | 2nd | – | 3rd | – | 9th |
| 12 | Austin, TX | 43.7 | 3rd | – | 10th | – | – |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | 42.7 | 62nd | 7th | 9th | – | 2nd |
| 14 | Oakland, CA | 38.6 | 5th | – | 17th | – | – |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | 36.4 | 10th | – | – | 8th | – |
“–” means the city isn’t on that list. Sources: WalletHub, HappyCow, Spinach, buycycle, PETA.
Top 10 Vegan-Friendly US Cities
1. Portland, OR
- WalletHub: 1st (Lifestyle 6th, Access 3rd, Affordability 57th)
- HappyCow: 2nd in the US (3rd in North America)
- Spinach: 2nd in the US (8th worldwide)
- buycycle: 1st, with 639 vegan and vegetarian listings
Portland takes the top spot – and it’s hard to argue with. It’s #1 on WalletHub and buycycle, and the second-highest US city on both HappyCow and Spinach.
According to WalletHub, Portlanders order vegan or vegetarian food 148% more often than the US average. buycycle found more than one vegan or vegetarian listing per 1,000 residents – the highest ratio in the country. WalletHub also found it has the third-largest number of affordable, highly rated restaurants with vegan or vegetarian options.
It isn’t the cheapest city on this list (57th for affordability), but compared to its West Coast neighbors, your dollar goes a lot further here.
If you’re heading there, start with all-vegan spots like Mis Tacones for Chicano street food, Dirty Lettuce for Southern comfort food and Kate’s Ice Cream for plant-based (and gluten-free) scoops. Our Portland vegan guide has the full list.
2. Seattle, WA
- WalletHub: 6th (Lifestyle 3rd, Access 10th, Affordability 96th)
- HappyCow: 3rd in the US (5th in North America)
- Spinach: 5th in the US
- buycycle: 4th, with 571 listings
Seattle is the most consistent city on our list after Portland – top six on every data-driven ranking. It also has the third-best vegan lifestyle score in the country, according to WalletHub.
But much like many West Coast cities, it pairs an abundance of vegan restaurants with an extremely high cost of living – 96th of 100 for affordability.
If you’re visiting, book ahead for Harvest Beat, a fully vegan five-course tasting menu in Wallingford. For something more casual, Cafe Flora in Madison Valley is a long-running vegetarian spot with plenty of vegan dishes.
Our Seattle vegan guide has more picks.
3. San Francisco, CA
- WalletHub: 4th (Lifestyle 1st, Access 1st, Affordability 100th)
- HappyCow: 5th in the US (8th in North America)
- Spinach: 6th in the US
- buycycle: 3rd, with 593 listings
San Francisco has long been one of the best places for vegans in the United States. WalletHub ranks it first in the country for both vegan lifestyle and access to vegan and vegetarian food.
So why isn’t it number one? Price. San Francisco ranks dead last (100th) for affordability.
So while its vegan options are aplenty, it does come at a cost… especially if you’re looking at relocating.
If you’re splurging on one meal, Shizen – a fully vegan sushi bar and izakaya in the Mission – is a local favorite.
4. New York City, NY
- WalletHub: 15th (Lifestyle 27th, Access 5th, Affordability 71st)
- HappyCow: 1st in the US (1st in North America)
- Spinach: 1st in the US (4th worldwide)
- PETA: 10th
New York is the city where the rankings disagree the most. HappyCow and Spinach both rank it the best vegan city in the US – HappyCow counted 89 vegan venues and more than 1,300 community reviews, and puts it sixth in the world.
WalletHub is less impressed, mostly because of cost (71st for affordability) and a middling lifestyle score. But if you’re visiting rather than moving, sheer choice wins – which is why it lands fourth overall.
For a casual first stop, Jajaja Mexicana does fully plant-based Mexican food, with locations in the West Village and Williamsburg.
5. San Diego, CA
- WalletHub: 8th (Lifestyle 26th, Access 7th, Affordability 41st)
- HappyCow: 4th in the US (6th in North America)
- Spinach: 4th in the US
Sometimes called America’s Finest City, San Diego is most definitely one of America’s finest vegan cities. It makes the top eight on all three rankings it appears in.
At 41st for affordability, it’s also one of the better-value California cities on the list.
If you only have one night, KINDRED in South Park – the goth-themed vegan bar and restaurant – is a must. Donna Jean in North Park, a fully vegan Italian spot, is a close second.
Our San Diego vegan guide has more of our favorites.
6. Las Vegas, NV
- WalletHub: 21st (Lifestyle 41st, Access 19th, Affordability 28th)
- HappyCow: 6th in the US (9th in North America)
- buycycle: 2nd, with 507 listings
Las Vegas is the surprise of the year. It didn’t make our previous list at all, but buycycle ranks it second in the country, and it’s on HappyCow’s North America top 10 too.
It’s also good value – 28th for affordability, the cheapest city in our top 10.
Tacotarian is the easy first stop – fully plant-based Mexican food, with a location on the Strip inside Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops.
7. Washington, DC
- WalletHub: 19th (Lifestyle 5th, Access 8th, Affordability 98th)
- Spinach: 11th in the US
- buycycle: 6th, with 420 listings
- PETA: 3rd
The nation’s capital shows up on four of our five lists. WalletHub ranks it fifth for vegan lifestyle and eighth for access – but 98th for affordability, which drags its overall WalletHub rank down to 19th.
For a sit-down meal, PLANTA has a fully plant-based location in DC.
8. Chicago, IL
- WalletHub: 14th (Lifestyle 14th, Access 14th, Affordability 53rd)
- Spinach: 7th in the US
- PETA: 1st
PETA named Chicago the most vegan-friendly city in the US in 2025, and Spinach backs it up with the seventh-best score of any US city. It’s the top Midwest city on our combined list.
WalletHub puts it 14th – a solid all-rounder, with no single weak spot.
The Chicago Diner’s original Lakeview location is a long-running vegetarian diner with a big vegan menu, and Kale My Name in Albany Park is fully plant-based.
9. Atlanta, GA
- WalletHub: 13th (Lifestyle 20th, Access 11th, Affordability 72nd)
- Spinach: 14th in the US
- buycycle: 5th, with 366 listings
- PETA: 6th
Atlanta is virtually tied with Chicago on points and shows up on four of our five lists. It’s the best-ranked city in the Southeast on our combined list.
Start at Slutty Vegan in Edgewood for the burger that made it famous, or head to Bar Vegan in Ponce City Market for late-night bites.
10. Denver, CO
- WalletHub: 24th (Lifestyle 58th, Access 12th, Affordability 81st)
- Spinach: 8th in the US
- buycycle: 7th, with 438 listings
- PETA: 4th
Denver rounds out the top 10. It’s on four of our five lists, with an especially strong showing from PETA (fourth) and Spinach (eighth in the US).
Watercourse Foods, a fully vegan spot in Uptown, is a great first stop. Our Denver vegan guide has plenty more.
Just Outside the Top 10
11. Los Angeles, CA
LA is WalletHub’s second-best city and Spinach’s third-best in the US. WalletHub found Angelenos order vegan and vegetarian food 187% more often than the US average.
So why only 11th? We score HappyCow from its live Vegan City Index page, and LA isn’t in the North America top 10 there – that’s where it loses its points. HappyCow hasn’t been consistent, though – a HappyCow Facebook post in March listed LA tenth in North America. Count that, and LA moves up to sixth.
For a special night out, Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose is an upscale vegan benchmark.
12. Austin, TX
Austin is third on WalletHub, with the best affordability (19th) of any city in our top 15. Spinach puts it 10th in the US. It also hosts Texas VegFest – the 2026 edition was on September 12.
Bouldin Creek Cafe on South 1st Street is a long-running vegetarian spot with lots of vegan options – most dishes can be made vegan with tofu in place of eggs and vegan cheese.
13. Philadelphia, PA
Philly is the opposite of Austin. WalletHub ranks it just 62nd, but PETA puts it second, and both HappyCow and Spinach have it in the US top 10. For a special dinner, Vedge is one of the best-known vegan restaurants in the country. For something more casual, try Monster Vegan in Center City.
14. Oakland, CA
Oakland is WalletHub’s fifth-best city, with a strong vegan lifestyle score (7th) – and you’re a short BART ride from San Francisco. Souley Vegan, the plant-based New Orleans Creole spot, reopened in Jack London Square in July 2026 – its hours have been limited and changing, so check before you go. Malibu’s Burgers closed its last location in June 2026.
15. Tampa, FL
Tampa is WalletHub’s 10th-best city and buycycle’s 8th, and it makes WalletHub’s top 10 for both vegan lifestyle and access. For breakfast or coffee, WeVegan Cafe in South Tampa is fully vegan.
Where the Rankings Disagree
Combining lists smooths out the quirks, but some cities do very well on one list and not at all on others:
- Orlando and Madison – seventh and ninth on WalletHub, but Madison isn’t on any other list, and Orlando is Spinach’s 24th-best US city. They landed 18th and 19th on our combined list. If affordability and access matter more to you than restaurant counts, they’re still worth a look.
- Miami – WalletHub’s second-best city for access and buycycle’s ninth, but 91st for affordability. It’s 17th overall.
- New Orleans and Charlotte – both on PETA’s list (fifth and seventh) but further down elsewhere.
- Nashville – seventh on our previous list, now 89th on WalletHub and 27th of the 30 cities we scored.
Best Value Vegan Cities
If cost is your biggest concern, here’s how our top 15 compare on WalletHub’s affordability ranking (1 is the cheapest of 100 cities):
- Austin, TX – 19th
- Las Vegas, NV – 28th
- Los Angeles, CA – 34th
- San Diego, CA – 41st
- Chicago, IL – 53rd
Outside our top 15, Madison (20th) offers a strong combination of affordability and a top-10 vegan lifestyle score – it’s still the only Midwest city in WalletHub’s top 10.
The priciest? San Francisco (100th), Washington, DC (98th) and Seattle (96th).
More US Cities We’ve Covered
- Madison, WI – 19th combined, 9th on WalletHub. See our Madison vegan guide. The Green Owl Cafe on Atwood Avenue (an all-vegan menu, though a few dishes offer dairy cheese as an option) and JustVeggiez on State Street are good places to start. JustVeggiez shares its space with Alice & Bernice Kitchen, which serves meat, so order from the JustVeggiez menu.
- Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN – Minneapolis is 24th of the 30 cities we scored (buycycle’s 10th), and St. Paul is 23rd on WalletHub. See our Twin Cities vegan guide.
- Fargo, ND – not on any of these lists, but it has more vegan options than you might expect. Here’s our Fargo vegan guide.
FAQs
What is the best US city for vegans?
Portland, Oregon. It’s #1 on WalletHub and buycycle and the second-highest US city on HappyCow and Spinach, which makes it #1 on our combined ranking of five sources.
Which US city has the most vegan restaurants?
New York City. HappyCow counted 89 vegan venues there – the most of any US city on its North America list – and Spinach also ranks it first in the US. For listings per resident, buycycle puts Portland on top.
Which US city has the best vegan lifestyle?
San Francisco, according to WalletHub – first for both vegan lifestyle and access to vegan food, but last for affordability.
What is the most affordable vegan-friendly city in the US?
Among our top 15, Austin (19th for affordability on WalletHub) and Las Vegas (28th) are the best value.
What is the best Midwest city for vegans?
Chicago on our combined ranking (8th). On WalletHub alone, it’s Madison (9th).
Why does each list rank cities so differently?
They measure different things. WalletHub weighs grocery costs and lifestyle, HappyCow and Spinach count highly rated vegan places, and PETA’s list is an editorial pick. That’s why we combined them.
Final Thoughts
The best US city for vegans depends on what matters most to you. If you want the biggest choice and money is no object, New York, San Francisco and Seattle are hard to beat. If you want a strong scene without the highest prices, look at Las Vegas, Austin or San Diego.
And if you want both? Portland is the answer in 2026.
Did we miss your favorite vegan city? Let us know in the comments!
