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Mezze spread at Butcher & Bee
Mezze spread at Butcher & Bee
Andrew Cebulka

16 Essential Vegetarian Restaurants in Charleston

Where to eat without meat

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Mezze spread at Butcher & Bee
| Andrew Cebulka

While most Charleston restaurants can offer vegetarian and vegan items with advanced noticed, there are several that keep a selection of veg-friendly items on the menu at all times. Of course, being in the South, the vegetable plate spans across numerous establishments (watch out for ham hocks), but this selection of restaurants goes beyond just sides for those eating meat-free.

This group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines, and collectively satisfies a large swath of tastes.

Don't see your favorite vegetarian restaurant on the list? Show some love for it in the comments or send us a note on the tipline. We'll update the map as newcomers settle in or there's a collective outcry for a missing point.

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Jack Of Cups

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Chill spot Jack of Cups offers Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian-influenced cuisine with craft beers at the beach. Stop by for bowls of chickpea nachos or a coconut lime noodle bowl.

Crust Wood Fired Pizza

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Always check the specials at Crust Wood Fired Pizza — there's usually an interesting seasonal salad full of local vegetables or a pie utilizing that same produce.

Crust

Three Little Birds Cafe

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Find Three Little Birds Cafe tucked behind the Earth Fare in West Ashley. This adorable eatery offers plenty of breakfast and lunch options for those not eating meat. For example, there's the classic tofu and veggie scramble or sweet potato Benedict in the morning and a barbecue tempeh melt in the afternoon (plus other offerings).

Gathering Cafe Restaurant

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Billed as a "a cafe restaurant with affordable gourmet food," Gathering Cafe offers an eclectic lunch and dinner menu full of different international influences. Sample the North African sweet potato and chick pea stew, the panang curry, or the falafel burger.

EVO Pizzeria

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Sure, EVO might be know for its Pork Trifecta pie, but the kitchen also offers plenty of pizzas without meat. The pistachio pesto pie with Split Creek Farm fromage blanc, ground pistachio,creme fraiche, mozzarella, and parmigiano-reggiano is a popular choice and the crisp seasonal salads always make for a good starter.

EVO

Butcher & Bee

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North Central hero Butcher & Bee offers ample opportunities for vegetarians to try the veggie burger with green tahini, grilled onions, feta, roasted tomato, and zucchini or the wealth of seasonal, produce-forward mezze plates, like spiced carrots, summer beans, or whipped feta.

Butcher & Bee
Andrew Cebulka

Huriyali Gardens

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Huriyali is a hidden oasis on Huger Street. Fans stop by for juices, acai bowls, avocado toast, vegan paninis, and kale salads with ginger miso dressing. After eating here, you somehow feel lighter and refreshed.

Gnome Cafe

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Sunny spot Gnome Cafe Gnome Cafe eliminates dairy and meat with its menu of tofu scrambles, hemp sausage biscuits, and tempeh Ruebens. The President Street eatery shines with plant-based goodness and options that would even satisfy the heartiest of meat eaters.

Dell'z Uptown

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A majority of the items at Dell'z Deli are meat-free. This small shop stays lively with good vibes and a few reggae tunes on the speakers. Try the Snobby Joe, a tempeh alternative to a classic Sloppy Joe, or the much-praised Jazzy Pizza with cheese, brown rice, black beans, bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, mango salsa, avocado, sweet and spicy sauce, and mixed greens.

Persimmon Cafe

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Sandwich and custard shop Persimmon Cafe allows vegetarians to indulge in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, like the zucchini, fontina, red onions and pistachio pistou selection, with a side of warming tomato soup.

Basil has been a cornerstone of Upper King since before Upper King was cool. All of the entrees come with a tofu option. That means you can have pad thai, red curry, or prik king without worry.

Hip Italian cafe Monza offers hearty salads, filling pastas, and crisp, wood-fired pizzas — all without meat. Start with the beet salad with ricotta salata and then go into the vodka sauce pasta or the Campari pie with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplant, roasted red pepper, olives, capers, and goat cheese.

Monza
Leslie Ryann McKellar

Look for the "V" next to the listed offerings at Asian-influenced CO for vegetarian dishes (vegan menu offered on request). Many of the noodle and rice bowls can be made with tofu. The drunken Thai noodles or spicy udon are sure to satisfy without meat.

CO

Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

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Convenient to the King Street crowds, Leyla offers authentic Lebanese fare in an upscale, yet relaxed, setting. Stop in with a group for the mezze sampler of hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, tabbouleh, grape leaves, shinklish, falafel, ful mudammas (stewed fava beans), and cheese roll.

Five Loaves Cafe

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With locations in Mount Pleasant, downtown, and Summerville, Five Loaves Cafe makes for an easy lunch stop around the Lowcountry. Opt for the soup/salad/sandwich combo for a mix of different flavors full of fresh vegetables. The Mediterranean veggie burger with tzatziki is a popular choice.

Being a vegetarian, you may roll your eyes at the thought of another salad, but Verde has so many build-it-yourself options that it should take you a while to tire of their leafy offerings — and they change it up every month with a new special. With several outposts across the Lowcountry, there should be one convenient to you.

Jack Of Cups

Chill spot Jack of Cups offers Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian-influenced cuisine with craft beers at the beach. Stop by for bowls of chickpea nachos or a coconut lime noodle bowl.

Crust Wood Fired Pizza

Always check the specials at Crust Wood Fired Pizza — there's usually an interesting seasonal salad full of local vegetables or a pie utilizing that same produce.

Crust

Three Little Birds Cafe

Find Three Little Birds Cafe tucked behind the Earth Fare in West Ashley. This adorable eatery offers plenty of breakfast and lunch options for those not eating meat. For example, there's the classic tofu and veggie scramble or sweet potato Benedict in the morning and a barbecue tempeh melt in the afternoon (plus other offerings).

Gathering Cafe Restaurant

Billed as a "a cafe restaurant with affordable gourmet food," Gathering Cafe offers an eclectic lunch and dinner menu full of different international influences. Sample the North African sweet potato and chick pea stew, the panang curry, or the falafel burger.

EVO Pizzeria

Sure, EVO might be know for its Pork Trifecta pie, but the kitchen also offers plenty of pizzas without meat. The pistachio pesto pie with Split Creek Farm fromage blanc, ground pistachio,creme fraiche, mozzarella, and parmigiano-reggiano is a popular choice and the crisp seasonal salads always make for a good starter.

EVO

Butcher & Bee

North Central hero Butcher & Bee offers ample opportunities for vegetarians to try the veggie burger with green tahini, grilled onions, feta, roasted tomato, and zucchini or the wealth of seasonal, produce-forward mezze plates, like spiced carrots, summer beans, or whipped feta.

Butcher & Bee
Andrew Cebulka

Huriyali Gardens

Huriyali is a hidden oasis on Huger Street. Fans stop by for juices, acai bowls, avocado toast, vegan paninis, and kale salads with ginger miso dressing. After eating here, you somehow feel lighter and refreshed.

Gnome Cafe

Sunny spot Gnome Cafe Gnome Cafe eliminates dairy and meat with its menu of tofu scrambles, hemp sausage biscuits, and tempeh Ruebens. The President Street eatery shines with plant-based goodness and options that would even satisfy the heartiest of meat eaters.

Dell'z Uptown

A majority of the items at Dell'z Deli are meat-free. This small shop stays lively with good vibes and a few reggae tunes on the speakers. Try the Snobby Joe, a tempeh alternative to a classic Sloppy Joe, or the much-praised Jazzy Pizza with cheese, brown rice, black beans, bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, mango salsa, avocado, sweet and spicy sauce, and mixed greens.

Persimmon Cafe

Sandwich and custard shop Persimmon Cafe allows vegetarians to indulge in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, like the zucchini, fontina, red onions and pistachio pistou selection, with a side of warming tomato soup.

Basil

Basil has been a cornerstone of Upper King since before Upper King was cool. All of the entrees come with a tofu option. That means you can have pad thai, red curry, or prik king without worry.

Monza

Hip Italian cafe Monza offers hearty salads, filling pastas, and crisp, wood-fired pizzas — all without meat. Start with the beet salad with ricotta salata and then go into the vodka sauce pasta or the Campari pie with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplant, roasted red pepper, olives, capers, and goat cheese.

Monza
Leslie Ryann McKellar

CO

Look for the "V" next to the listed offerings at Asian-influenced CO for vegetarian dishes (vegan menu offered on request). Many of the noodle and rice bowls can be made with tofu. The drunken Thai noodles or spicy udon are sure to satisfy without meat.

CO

Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

Convenient to the King Street crowds, Leyla offers authentic Lebanese fare in an upscale, yet relaxed, setting. Stop in with a group for the mezze sampler of hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, tabbouleh, grape leaves, shinklish, falafel, ful mudammas (stewed fava beans), and cheese roll.

Five Loaves Cafe

With locations in Mount Pleasant, downtown, and Summerville, Five Loaves Cafe makes for an easy lunch stop around the Lowcountry. Opt for the soup/salad/sandwich combo for a mix of different flavors full of fresh vegetables. The Mediterranean veggie burger with tzatziki is a popular choice.

Related Maps

Verde

Being a vegetarian, you may roll your eyes at the thought of another salad, but Verde has so many build-it-yourself options that it should take you a while to tire of their leafy offerings — and they change it up every month with a new special. With several outposts across the Lowcountry, there should be one convenient to you.

Related Maps