Whether you live in a big-city high-rise or a small-town hollow, nothing beats a fantastic veggie burger at your favorite local hangout. Today, it’s easier than ever to find mouth-watering vegetarian meals at restaurants from sea to shining sea. With the help of veggie-burger lovers across North America, we’ve created a list of some of the best hometown burgers in the land.

Norfolk, Virginia

Not-a-Burger
We love the Tap House’s “Better-n-Beef” burgers, but what also really gets us going are the nightly vegan specials, vegan mashed potatoes, and vegan dessert specials, including a German chocolate cake that can’t be beat! Oh, and they have great fries and about 50 beers on tap. Did we mention that it’s just a mile from PETA’s headquarters? Some of us live at Tap House.

Tap House Grill
931 W. 21st St.
Norfolk, Virginia
757-627-9172

Royal Oak, Michigan

The Big Baprawski
With a name like The Big Baprawski, it’s no surprise that this meatless burger packs a big punch! It’s a made-from-scratch, double-decker tempeh taste explosion served on an organic whole-grain bun with lettuce, tomato, coleslaw, and vegan thousand island dressing. Want to make your tempeh extra tempting? Add sautéed onions and vegan soy cheese.

Inn Season Café
500 E. Fourth St.
Royal Oak, Michigan
248-547-7916

New York, New York

Big Mack Daddy Veggie Burger
Although this vegetarian-friendly sandwich shop is small in size, it’s home to a veggie burger with a big taste. As one reviewer raved, “Almost every sandwich has a vegetarian counterpart, and often it’s as good or better than the meaty original. In fact, the Big Mack Daddy—a veggie burger topped with tofu bacon and all the fixings on a brioche bun—is probably the best veggie burger in the city.”

Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop
129 Rivington St.
New York, New York
212-982-1690

San Antonio, Texas

Skinny Connie’s Veggie Burger
This behemoth veggie burger is proof that everything is bigger in Texas! Everything on the menu of this family-owned and operated ’50s-style diner is super-sized—it’s no wonder that Shaquille O’Neal is a regular customer. Dress up your Skinny Connie with avocados, and you’ll see why the veggie burgers at Lulu’s Jailhouse Café rock!

Lulu’s Jailhouse Café
918 N. Main Ave.
San Antonio, Texas
210-224-5001

Southern California

Jerk Burger
Combine vegan cuisine and a circular Mongolian tent called a yurt, and what do you get? Native Foods—an all-vegan restaurant that offers a homemade jerk burger made of quinoa, soy, and beets that OC Weekly newspaper raves is “burning with piquant rub and other such beef-bluffing niceties.” You can’t go wrong with any of Native Foods’ mouthwatering menu items: While you’re there, be sure to dive into one of its yummy California dips.

Native Foods has four locations in Southern California:

1110 1/2 Gayley Ave. (Westwood Village)
Westwood, California
310-209-1055

73-890 El Paseo
Palm Desert, California
760-836-9396

1775 E. Palm Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs, California
760-416-0070

2937 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, California
714-751-2151

Columbus, Ohio

Northstar Burger
For a heavenly homemade veggie burger, follow the North Star to this cute, order-at-the-counter café. A ColumbusAlive.com restaurant reviewer describes the burger as “a magic amalgam of black beans, brown rice, and roasted beets (these crop up here a lot, successfully) that all gets the grill job and somehow comes out more beefy than any veggie burger I’ve ever thrown down.” Served on a toasted sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, and Dijon mustard, you’ll thank your lucky stars that you found this out-of-this-world veggie burger.

Northstar Café
951 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio
614-298-9999

Houston, Texas

Raw Truth’s Veggie Burger
Truth or dare? We dare you to find a better Boca burger than the one at the Raw Truth Café. According to the proprietors of this vegetarian cafeteria-style restaurant, it’s one of their best-sellers and “even the people who normally eat at McDonald’s compliment us on our veggie burger.” Be sure to check out their veggie chili dogs and veggie riblet sandwiches too!

Raw Truth Cafe
3815 Live Oak St.
Houston, Texas
713-523-9755

Jackson, Mississippi

Gardenburger
Winning “Best Veggie Burger” in both the 2004 and 2005 “Best of Jackson” Awards, we give this super Boca burger two thumbs up. The vegetarian owners are proud to serve this delicious, meat-free burger that the Jackson Free Press describes as “the way a burger is supposed to be and—under the onions and ketchup and mustard and tomato—this is also a damn good way to have a veggie burger.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Stamps Superburger has two locations in Jackson, Mississippi:

4654 McWillie Dr.
601-713-3020

1801 Dalton Dr.
601-352-4555

Fair Oaks, California

Nut Burger
The delicious, homemade nut burger—with ingredients such as sunflowers, almonds, walnuts, cashews, carrots, and natural seasoning—truly has a taste all its own. We can see why it’s the most popular menu item at this vegetarian drive-through restaurant.

Sunflower Drive-In
10344 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Fair Oaks, California
916-967-4331

Knoxville, Tennessee

Solar Flare Veggie Burger
If you like your veggie burgers to bring some heat, then look no further than the Solar Flare. Voted “Best Vegetarian Menu” in the eighth annual “Best of Knoxville” Metro Pulse readers’ poll, the Sunspot knows how to serve a moist and flavorful veggie burger that hits the spot. We recommend crunching on some curly fries with your burger, and don’t forget to ask to be seated at the “Elvis table.”

Sunspot
1909 Cumberland Ave.
Knoxville, Tennessee
865-637-4663

Toronto, Ontario

’Shroom Burger
You’ll definitely want to come hungry for this super portobello-based burger. Served on a whole-wheat kaiser roll with homemade tahini dressing, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, and fresh greens, it will satisfy even the most ferocious appetite. You’ll find pure portobello perfection and other healthy and hearty vegetarian fare at Pulp Kitchen!

Pulp Kitchen
898 Queen St. E.
Toronto, Ontario
416-461-4612

Back to Top