31 Best Vegan Restaurants in Iowa City

“I am a celiac and was pleasantly surprised that they have a whole gluten-free menu with lots of options! One of the servers said that she is a celiac, too. That was cool.
The only thing that made me nervous was the wooden cutting boards they served my gluten free food on. Not sure how they clean them, or if they keep them separate from gluten serving boards, but I know we should mistrust all wooden utensils due to their absorbency. These had obvious cut marks on them and everything.
Happily though, I didn't feel and signs of being glutened. With major gluten ingestions I definitely feel symptoms, and I had none to report here. Hopefully that bodes well.

Dietary restrictions: Celiacs may want to be wary but I think that, pending confirmation about their serving boards, this should be safe. I did not experience symptoms of having gotten glutened, at least. The food was delicious.“

“Basta Pizzeria Ristorante never disappoints! Every visit feels like a little getaway to Italy—from the cozy, inviting atmosphere to the consistently excellent food. The wood-fired pizza is a must (crispy crust, perfect balance of flavors), and the pastas are just as memorable—fresh, rich, and clearly made with care. Service is warm and attentive without being overbearing, and I always leave feeling full and happy. Whether it’s a casual dinner or a night out with friends, Basta hits the spot every time.“

“The tunes are fresh and wild.“

“Roc was an absolute joy to work with. He made us feel special during our tastings and went above and beyond to help us source extras that they don’t usually provide. Our wedding guests loved the pizza. I’m sure we will always think of Maggie’s fondly and remember our happy day when we get to eat their delicious pizza.“

“Best Cuban Sandwich I’ve ever had! Horchata is amazing and the atmosphere is warm and inviting! I love this place!!“

“I've got to say, I had the best time here. we sat at the bar and watching them cook was amazing! the French onion soup was one of the best I've had. the mushroom risotto was out of this world. my husband got the fried chicken, and it was so moist and delicious! definitely recommend pullman!!“

“Oh my gosh we are here for my 25th birthday and the food was *chef kiss* delicious!! From our entrees to my birthday dessert was phenomenal and I can’t wait to eat here again!! Everything was very well seasoned and so fresh!“

“Me: The Nutella smores My roommate: anything peanut butter 10/10“

“I went and picked up a pizza from these folks for the first time last night. OMG! One of the best commercially produced pizzas I have ever had the pleasure to eat ! Full disclosure I usually make my own and they rock too. I had the The Wedgetable Garden with Jerk Chicken added. Honestly I felt I should have left it without the JC, because the pizza was already LOADED. Every darned thing about that pie was perfect. One of the few IC pizzas that is not too greasy (look'n at you Pags). I highly - HIGHLY recommend their pizza !“

“Food is delicious and the staff is the best. Only the second time there and they remembered us. Their was also a power outage that knocked out the entire street. They did great under pressure!!!! If you haven’t tried it you must. Even the 10 year old tries something new and loved it“

“If you are looking for a delicious sandwich, look no further than Nodo. Both the downtown and the North Side location are 20/10 🤌🏻

I've been enjoying this establishment since I moved here (2015) and it's excellent. Every. Single. Time.

Ham and Mango is a fan favorite. I literally crave this sandwich. It's buttery, chewy, perfectly crisp on the edges sourdough bread with juicy, sweet and salty ham, mango, and gooey cheese. Do I have photo evidence? Probably not because I can't wait that long to dive in.

My husband enjoys the burger, and the bacon. My parents love the C&P. During the 2020/2021 closures, this was regular lunch takeout and I tried almost everything on the menu. It's all very good but the ham and mango will always be my default.

We always order one regular and one sweet potato fry. The aioli is perfection. The cookies are huge and sweet. Big enough to split but no obligation to do so ;)

I don't have anything negative to say about this place. The building is a bit eclectic, but that's part of the charm. The downtown location does have the trouble of parking. It's worth it.“

“I'm not sure why this page is full of tech and finance reviews. Hopefully mine will actually help people who are curious about this Iowa City gem. Molly's catered a small cake and a large number of cupcakes for my mid-sized wedding. Sour stuff first: Complaints (none large enough to warrant less than a five-star review): 1) They didn’t keep a record of our deposit. This seemed unprofessional and disorganized. Luckily, I was able to provide proof of the transaction, and then they “found” it (and didn’t make us pay again). 2) The cake appeared hastily decorated and put together. It did not have the details of the design we had discussed, and the food coloring in the frosting was streaky and not completely mixed. It was still delicious, but disappointing because the main purpose of the cake was for the cutting photos! 3) We had a miscommunication about when we needed the cake delivered. Molly’s was able to get it to us in time, but it sure gave us a scare. Ultimately, delicious cake and cupcakes. Our wedding guests were happy, and, to our knowledge, no one with allergies or sensitivities had any negative impacts. Their ability to accommodate dietary restrictions was one of the reasons we chose Molly’s. Their gluten-free cupcakes are genuinely some of the best. Due to a planning/ordering error on our part, we overlooked our need for a singular egg-free cupcake. Molly’s kindly hand-delivered said solitary cupcake when we frantically called to ask for a remedy. This sort of kindness is some of the best customer service around and more than makes up for the hiccups we had with the process.“

“Found this place looking for a healthy menu while we were driving past Iowa City to Chicago. So glad we made the stop. Great location to see the University and enjoy some great food. I had the Açaí bowl and it was amazing, my husband had the turkey wrap which was a healthy choice for him 😊. The staff was super pleasant. Would definitely make this a stop if in Iowa City or just driving through. Love small businesses ❤️“

“Ate here for the first time before attending an Iowa basketball game nearby. There were good choices on the menu. I had the spicey Italian meatball grinder with fries. It was good and very filling. Prices seemed reasonable. The place was noisy so it was hard to socialize with my friends. Otherwise, a good place to eat and would go there again if in town.“

“Delicious & authentic Chinese food. Friendly staff & manager kindly helped with my high maintenance order. Food was ready right on time. Clean restaurant with a very impressive (large) menu. Will definitely be back.“

“We were passing through town and found this wonderful spot just 20 minutes before it closed. We each got a burger and fries and they were absolutely delicious. Even better than the food was the extraordinary staff. Each one was exceptionally kind and accommodating. If we lived closer we'd be regulars. Thank you for the great food and fun lunch.“

“Very unique, creative and very delicious food!When we were there, we tried the west coast wrap and it was full of greens and grilled chicken, goat cheese and pistachios.Fresh food, made to order.One goes up to the register to order and then you wait while they fix your food and then you take it and go sit down. They are multi-level, it's narrow and not excessively deep, but there is quite of bit of seating for two people or four people and even if you're just by yourself. There are larger tables up stairs, (they have two floors) The restrooms are on the second floor, as well. Stairs are used to access the second level.They also have very tasty drinks.We had the blueberry lemonade.

Vegetarian options: I do believe that you could get any wrap adjusted to your dietary needs. One could turn a wrap vegetarian. One could add cheese or leave off cheese. I think that they would accommodate that.

Kid-friendliness: I would say it was kid friendly. There is a big front window and it seems like a very fun place that children would like to be.

Parking: Street parking at metered spots, or one could park in the car park(ramps) and walk.“

“The Slammin’ Salmon omelette was awesome!“

“I'm gluten intolerant so I ordered the tomato bisque rather than the chips with my sandwich. The waiter heard me tell my friend why I was ordering the soup and checked to make sure I would be able to eat both the sandwich and the soup. He went above and beyond to cater to my needs. Our lunch was good and his entire demeanor and attitude were very pleasant. Worth stopping here since we were only in town for a doctor's visit at the hospital.“

“After a long day in the sun, went for a drink and had the best waitress around. The sun makes me grumpy but Ms. Hannah's bubbly spirit and kindness was just what I needed to not finish the day in disaster ❤️ Big Grove, you are lucky to have this little peanut and will be a big reason I return 🍻“

“I had the privilege to talk to owner and chef Mme. Regina Doré about the cuisine of I Love Fufu and to sample her cooking. Quel trésor! What a treasure!“

“Had a great burger and a great time! Efficient and attentive staff, top-notch burgers.

Edit: Came back another time over a year later, WOW! Still the same perfect burger and PHENOMENAL service. The staff is awesome! Seriously one of my favorite burger joints anywhere in America, and I've tried a lot!“

“their chicken bacon ranch pizza is fantastic!“

“First time ordering from here and I will continue to do so. The chicken schwarma was amazing and the falafel was too.“

“Great staff. Friendly and very helpful.“

“Iowa is the last place I’d expect to find good Indian food tbh. Place was recommended by The Iowa Gallivant, and did not disappoint. Got the lamb vindaloo and garlic naan and was very satisfied. Some of the best vindaloo and naan I’ve ever had, hands down. 10/10 recommend!“

“This place was surprisingly good. The chicken melt was amazing and the bread was crispy. The adjacent coffee shop has a variety of lattes and the vibes are great to hang out as well as do work at. Would totally come back to this place. The current photos of the food do not do it justice.“

“Haven't been here in a few years. Don't recommend the calamari. It was overcooked and there was too much crunchy breading. The tuna and salmon sashimi were fresh and delicious. Godzilla roll was great. Our waitress was nice and attentive. Good experience overall.“

“Tammie must be lying,,cause if anyone knows the owner he's not taking a meal off anyone's tickets without a lengthy debate..let alone pay someone for.good google reviews..I suppose that if I went to a restaurant where I was poisoned with rotten food, with visible mold and msg pouring out of it. I WOULD SPEND LESS TIME MAKING NOTES ABOUT THIS HORRIBLE THING THAT IS HAPPENING TO YOU..and probably ask to speak to someone Manager ..owner...doctor or nurse after all this diarrhea..your fingers work great though...Very credibel hands mamm.“

“The flavors here are so authentic, it feels like a culinary journey through India. Every dish is bursting with spices and richness! I love when waiters/staff talk to each other in their native language, adds more flavor to the experience.“

“Panera has become very popular in the communities they serve because of the wide selection of delicious and nutritious foods. Also, it's a good meeting spot for small groups. There is usually plenty of seating and parking is convenient. Some of the Panera foods are also available in grocery stores.“