Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Symbol Key:

•• Vegan or vegetarian restaurant
§ Reviewer's choice

Louisiana

New Orleans

Angeli on Decatur

1141 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70116 

(504) 566-0077

International. Angeli's menu includes veggie burgers; hummus; spicy tomato spreads; green and pasta salads; portobello, roasted eggplant, and artichoke and spinach sandwiches; veggie pita rolls; and specialty pizzas. Open Monday through Thursday for lunch through late night. Full service, vegan options, take-out, espresso/cappuccino, beer, special drinks, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Apple Seed Shoppe

201 Saint Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70170

(504) 529-3442

Natural foods. The Apple Seed Shoppe is located in downtown New Orleans between Canal and Poydras Streets. This inexpensive restaurant offers salads, soups, and sandwiches along with juices such as Very Veggie, Orange Mango, and Papaya. Open Monday through Friday for lunch. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Limited service, vegan options, take-out, fresh juices, smoothies, $$.

August Moon Chinese Restaurant

3635 Prytania St., New Orleans, LA 70115

(504) 899-5129

Vietnamese/Chinese. Located uptown, this restaurant is a short drive from Lee Circle, Touro Hospital, St. Charles General Hospital, and Tulane and Loyola Universities.The menu includes a Fried Tofu appetizer, Tofu Spring Rolls, Vegetarian Soup for 2, Szechuan Eggplant, Vegetables with Curry Sauce, and General Tao's Tofu. Brown rice is available upon request. Open Monday through Thursday for lunch and dinner. Open Friday and Saturday for lunch through late night service. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, beer/wine, special drinks, take-out, delivery, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$.

Back To The Garden

833 Howard Ave., New Orleans, LA 70113

(504) 522-8792

Natural foods. Dine on a veggie stir-fry over brown rice, bean chili, hearty salads, vegetarian tacos, and fruit smoothies at Back to the Garden, which is located near Lee Circle. Open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. Closed Sunday. Counter service, vegan options, fresh juices, smoothies, take-out, $.

Bennachin Restaurant

1212 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70116

(504) 522-1230

African. Bennachin Restaurant offers 'A Taste of Africa.' While this is clearly not a vegetarian restaurant, they have several vegetable dishes and other meals that can be served without meat (these are noted on the menu). They offer daily lunch specials that are a terrific value. Cash only. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, BYOB, $$.

•• Café Bamboo

435 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116

(504) 940-5546

Vegetarian/soul food. In the vegetarian-unfriendly city of New Orleans, this restaurant is an oasis in the desert. Café Bamboo is an eclectic all-vegetarian restaurant right off the French Quarter and Mississippi River. Try the Voodoo Sticks (grilled wheat seitan & pepper kabobs served with brown rice & steamed vegetables), Caribbean Tofu Wrap (sweet & spicy coconut tofu rolled with spinach, red & yellow bell peppers, & jasmine rice), or Red Beans & Rice (New Orleans-style creamy red beans with veggie sausage). Their full menu is available for lunch and dinner while a smaller menu is offered through late night at their walk-up window. Café Bamboo is located at the Dragonés Den across the street from the old U.S. Mint. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner through late night. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, delivery, catering, wine/beer/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

Gumbo Shop

630 Saint Peter St., New Orleans, LA 70116

(504) 525-1486

Creole/Cajun. Located in the French Quarter, the Gumbo Shop offers vegan gumbo and vegan red beans & rice. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, fresh juices, espresso/cappuccino, beer/wine, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$.

Juan's Flying Burrito

2018 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 569-0000

4724 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119

(504) 486-9950

Mexican. A Creole-Mex Taqueria, Juan's offers an "Eat Your Veggies" menu, including veggie quesadillas, tacos, and fajitas. You might also consider the Veggie Punk (pinto bean burrito with potatoes, jalapenos, cheese, salsa, rice, and lettuce), the Supergreen (a burrito with spinach, onions, peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, and sliced avocado in a spinach tortilla), Spinach Garlic Mushroom Enchiladas, and much more. Open daily for lunch through late dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, beer/wine/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.

Lebanon's Café

1506 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 862-6200

Middle Eastern. The menu at Lebanon's Café includes hummus, baba ghanouj, vegetarian grape leaves, and several other Middle Eastern favorites, along with vegetarian entrées like the Falafel Plate, Vegetarian Plate, Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls, and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, $-$$.

Nirvana Indian Cuisine

4308 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70116

(504) 894-9797

Indian. Nirvana offers a daily lunch buffet with plenty of vegetarian options. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, smoothies, espresso/cappuccino, beer/wine/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.

Shreveport

Earthereal Restaurant & Bakery

3309 Line Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104

(318) 865-8947

Natural foods/macrobiotic. Salads, many unique sandwiches, tacos with soymeat or avocado, and daily specials are offered on the Earthereal menu. Open Monday through Friday for lunch. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Limited service, macrobiotic/vegan options, fresh juices, take-out, VISA/MC, $.

Healthy Planet

678 Egan St., Shreveport, LA 71101

(318) 425-0706

Natural foods/juice bar. This earthy natural foods store and juice bar is located at Louisiana Avenue in the old historic district of Shreveport. In addition to vegetable drinks, smoothies, and non-dairy shakes, they feature organic salads and a soup of the day. Try one of their sandwiches or burgers, such as the guacamole burger or the Mediterranean (whole wheat flatbread with marinated artichokes, black olives & other veggies). Or have a Mexican dish, such as the Too Hip Burrito (with hummus, refried beans, salsa & veggies) or the Navajo Nachos (organic blue chips, beans, peppers, purple onions & non-dairy cheese). Outdoor dining available is available. Also, check out their organic gardening supplies and non-toxic household cleaning products. Cash only. Open Monday through Thursday for breakfast through early dinner. Open Friday for breakfast and lunch. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Limited service, vegan options, take-out, fresh juices, smoothies, soymilk, $.