46 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Iowa City

“. Fantastic place! I recently moved from Chicago and have been here twice already. The food is amazing, and the customer service is beyond exceptional. All of the staff are kind and professional, but Lily truly deserves special recognition, she has the best serving attitude, outstanding customer service, and makes guests feel genuinely welcomed and cared for. Her positive energy and professionalism make a real difference. Wishing everyone here continued success, I’ll definitely be back again!“

“Everything was wonderful, start to finish. We had gluten free La Verte and gluten free L'Ocean. Delicious, delicate, and definitely something we'll come back for! We finished off our meal sharing a gluten free Paris dessert crepe. Beautiful and tasted better than it looks!“

“The tunes are fresh and wild.“

“I had my second visit today for lunch and I was pleasantly impressed even over my high expectations from my first visit. this will be a main stop any time I am in town. I forgot the bartenders name but he was working at 230 pm on Feb 24th. absolutely fantastic service“

“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.“

“Those searching for real Italian food, COME HERE! The food tasted pretty much like Italy, amazing pizza crust and their pasta had that unique flavor you can only find in Europe. Along with the unique food was unique service. Christopher has mastered his job, it just makes me want to go back and talk to him more. Thank you chefs and servers for an amazing experience ❤️“

“Great Service, Food, atmosphere. Will visit again when in town.“

“Pagliai’s Pizza is the kind of place that reminds you why the best dining experiences are often the simplest. Tucked away in Iowa City, this unassuming neighborhood institution feels like a hidden treasure — and after our first visit, the only disappointment was realizing it took us four years, and the eve of graduation, to finally discover it. What makes Pagliai’s even more remarkable is its history. Serving Iowa City since 1957, the restaurant has spent decades perfecting the art of traditional pizza-making, and that experience is evident in every detail. In an era where restaurants constantly chase trends, Pagliai’s has endured by staying true to what it does best. From the moment you walk in, Pagliai’s embraces an old-school charm that feels increasingly rare. The dining room is cozy and inviting, filled with classic booths and intimate tables that create the perfect atmosphere for an authentic pizza night. There’s no unnecessary flash here — just a restaurant that knows exactly what it is and executes it beautifully. The menu follows the same philosophy of simplicity done right. Beer, wine, and soda accompany what is unquestionably the star of the show: the pizza. Offered in both original crust and double dough, the pies arrive perfectly crafted and unapologetically delicious. We ordered two large original crust pizzas, and every slice passed the ultimate “flop test” with flying colors — crisp enough to hold its shape, yet still perfectly tender with each bite. What makes Pagliai’s so memorable is its confidence in tradition. The ingredients are fresh, the flavors are balanced, and the experience feels refreshingly genuine. Add in prices that are remarkably reasonable, and it becomes clear why this Iowa City staple has thrived for nearly seven decades. Whether you’re a longtime Iowa City resident or simply passing through, Pagliai’s Pizza is a must-visit destination — a timeless pizza parlor that quietly delivers one of the best meals in town.“

“SO happy to see that Saigon’s Corner is now on Chomp! (Maybe this isn’t new, but I don’t remember seeing them there before). We got a ton of food for a very reasonable price, it was very well packaged (pho broth separate from noodles, veg, protein, etc), arrived in a very reasonable time (even on a Saturday night) and it was all fresh and really delicious. We easily have enough for lunch for both of us tomorrow as well. We will definitely be ordering again, and can’t wait!!“

“Ate here on November 7 in the early afternoon. I ordered the baked white fish dinner, which included a large roll, French fries and a side salad. The fish was a large portion and baked to perfection. Our waitress was friendly and took good care of us. All employees were friendly. The place appeared clean and there is ample parking. Prices are reasonable. Would definitely come back again when in Iowa City.“

“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 🍻“

“The Carmel apple cider is fanominal!!! Thanks for creating another great one to drink !“

“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.“

“This is our favorite place for family dinners. The food is delicious; the service outstanding and the atmosphere is bright and friendly.“

“Food was made fresh when ordered and was really good. Definitely going back next time I'm in Iowa City.“

“The food is delicious and the prices are reasonable.“

“Great food, but staff could use some more personality like the expertise of the Wendy's Drive Thru Guy exemplifies. That Man could make this delicious food even better!“

“Beautiful presentation and flavors!“

“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!“

“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“

“We had the best burgers!! Definitely try the Dundee!!! SO yum!!“

“Always great pizza, every time. Long time customer (decades by now) !“

“their chicken bacon ranch pizza is fantastic!“

“We come here regularly when we're in town to see a show at Hancher. Never been disappointed. We were there on May 2 for an early dinner. Best server ever! Brady -- he was new but handled everything wonderfully. Always smiling, attentive without hovering and always found an answer to any questions we had quickly. Please give this guy a raise!“

“Brothers is THE place in IOWA CITY ! Was back in town since graduating last year and gosh I miss that place so much . Had a great bartender named Zach and he was just so dope the whole night 🥵 the music was aight but nevertheless bartending and vibe there is nothing short of brilliant !🤑 if you haven’t been what are you doing ! Go live a little !“

“Good food, bright and clean atmosphere and friendly people“

“In visiting my college student. Great environment. Fellow diners were all calm and enjoying their foods. The little kid that was part of the kitchen family that sat in the dining area is really well behaved, respectful when told to do anything. Our food was delivered at a short time (within 10 min) & was so yum! I had the chicken and broccoli and my son had the Kung pao chicken platter. Definitely recommend this place. Thank you!“

“Wow great sandwiches in such a hidden spot! Brian gave particularly wonderful service and I felt very taken care of by the warm friendly staff and amazing sandwiches. As a St Louis resident with a great sandwich scene I can say the recommendation was well worth going out of my way for!“

“The Slammin’ Salmon omelette was awesome!“

“this is my favorite restaurant in iowa city. the hamburgers here are just so amazing. the atmosphere is fantastic. and i would die for a pie shake. it cannot be overstated how good this place is.“

“Them Tacos Boiy🔥soo good!“

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

“I dined with Gumby's for years until I left Iowa City and you can't beat them- we miss them a lot!“

“They did a great job and made a great effort to make my nails beautiful!!“

“10000% recommend picking up the food. Always have problems when delivered. Unfortunately they are now blacklisted by me. But i enjoy the food but cant go pick it up. I’ve been a customer for about 10+ years and highly recommend the Ben’s Other pizza. Very good! Very balanced for price, quality, and value. Just Do not get delivery. In my opinion, obviously.“

“Mediocre and expensive food. Terrible service - took forever to get our order, but the waitresses were friendly. $55 for two sandwiches, side salads and two beers with tip.“

“Always a good time. Snorting coke in the back alley behind here and some of the regulars kept me entertained sometimes too. Decent kind of typical bar food though and decent, very decent when it comes to drinks. Usually kind of a younger crowd but not too bad though.“

“There pepperoni pizza is delicious“

“Nice little place. Only seats about 25, but most of their business seems to be carry out anyway. Typical Chinese food, about average, nothing special. Don't know if I'll be back or not. Parking is a task; barely enough spaces for the businesses. However, the prices are very reasonable for their lunch specials. Then again, you get what you pay for nowadays.“

“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.“

“My husband and I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere...and I thought the fresh-squeezed lemonade was the best! My husband had breakfast for dinner...all good. I chose the meatloaf which was such a generous portion that I could only finish half of it. It was the best meatloaf I've had in a restaurant. We've been here a few times before and purposely chose to dine here during our short trip to Iowa City. It did not disappoint!“

“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!“

“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.“

“Went for the Tuesday night which they host a variety of specials. They offer a variety of cocktails for $3 and $4!!! With a huge variety of basic sushi rolls at $4 and specialty rolls at $9. We ate at the bar and service was amazing. They only had one bar tender and it was a pretty busy night. She did amazing job and kept our drinks full, and guided me through some of the local favorites. Will definitely go back ❤️“

“Coffee shop in the heart of downtown Iowa City and easily one of my favorite study spots! I love how big the space is. It can accommodate a lot of students without ever feeling cramped, and there are tons of outlets which is always a huge win when you’re studying. It’s the perfect place to get work done alone or catch up with friends over lunch.

I haven’t tried a ton from the food menu yet, but the Caesar wrap is so good. They also have one of the best iced matcha lattes in Iowa City. The staff is amazing too. Everyone is so nice, cheerful, and genuinely helpful, which makes the whole place feel really welcoming.

The music is always great, the space is decorated so nicely, and I love the pencil wall. The bathrooms are clean and well kept, and they really have everything you could possibly need. They even offer a student discount, which makes it an even better spot for college students. Definitely one of my favorite places to go in Iowa City!“

“we ate here for the first time on Tuesday and the service was phenomenal! your server, Kate, needs a raise or promotion because she was outstanding! very friendly and engaged. we will definitely be back!“