A fully vegan Korean restaurant situated right in the heart of Manhattan?! My west coast heart is pounding in jealousy and longing to return once again.
It's often very hard to find restaurants that serve fully vegan Korean food so the fact that this exists is truly special. A lot of items will be vegetarian at best so to be able to have an extensive menu to order from is a treat.
My friends and I came here for lunch and were seated fairly quickly in their hip restaurant. I ordered a couple of things:
- Combination Pancakes consisting of sweet corn cilantro, scallion & spicy kimchi offerings. This was their take on traditional Korean jeon and I didn't realize they'd bring out so many small pieces for the table. My favorite was definitely the sweet corn cilantro.
- Crispy Korean Chili Tofu Lunch Special, which included a soup and salad of the day as well as two additional banchan (including a pancake!) The tofu was fried to sweet perfection and the chili sauce was top notch. There ended up being more than enough food just from this alone.
I hope this spot sticks around because I'll certainly be coming back to fill my Korean cravings without needing to play around with the menu at other restaurants.
Updated from previous review on 2025-09-20
olivia.king
In an NYC world that still isn't particularly vegan friendly, it was so nice to come to the Franchia Vegan Cafe for dinner and be able to eat anything on the extensive menu! They were knowledgeable and great with my nut allergy too, I had the 'duck' bao buns and drunken basil noodles - both were so delicious!
Updated from previous review on 2025-09-14
Calimaryn
We got to the restaurant at 645 on a Friday. We’re seated quickly, ordered citron tea iced and the toasted grain beverage. Both were amazing. Got appetizers: joen pancake sampler, summer rolls, and duck bao. Best was the sweet corn pancakes, but the kimchi was delicious too. Summer roll was good but I loved the duck bao. For the meal ordered pad thai, Philly roll, and mango avocado roll. Philly roll was exquisite. Would recommend and return!
ynwa
Incredible diversity of flavor and originality from across Southeast Asia. Superb and 100% vegan. Visited twice in three days, would go again.
hwing
I love HanGawi and once I learned the owners also run another vegan Korean food restaurant, Franchia, I knew I had to try. And it did not disappoint! I’ve been countless times since then. Really nice ambience—I recommend the higher floors for more privacy (but is less accessible given the stairs).
Tried the following:
- Thai iced tea: awesome to find a semi-affordable vegan version of Thai iced tea!
- Jeon (Korean savory pancakes) Combo: absolutely delicious and great to share, fun to share a mix of the flavors (sweet corn cilantro, scallion, and kimchi)
- Crispy Korean Chili Tofu: really delicious and the perfect amount of heat in the sauce and crisp texture of the tofu
- Sizzling Mushroom: disappointing, had a congealed texture, not super flavorful (doesn’t compare to the version at HanGawi)
- Tofu Crumble Bibimbap: tasty
- Spicy Kimchi Bibimbap: very good if you like kimchi!
- Vegetarian “Duck”: good with a fake meat texture
(Side note: I much prefer the bibimbap at HanGawi but the ones at Franchia are solid)
Updated from previous review on 2025-08-16
Skye
Beautiful restaurant and the food was stellar! Service was perfect, just attentive enough to not be annoying.
veggie_htx
I go to Franchia every time I'm in NYC. I love the selection, and the intimate setting. The food is incredible.
Updated from previous review on 2025-08-09
sconroy
Solid Asian vegan food—I compare everything to Urban Vegan in Chicago and it wasn’t quite at that level, but close. Worth a trip
suzieyoga18
It was my BF's birthday trip to NY, all over NY from Garden City to the Rockaways and Lido beach.
As soon as we walked off the street and into Franchia I knew we had come to the right place.
the food was scrumptious and the service was impeccable. Not a long wine list, but good enough for the middle of the day.
Updated from previous review on 2025-07-18
Shako Liu
I love the innovated approach to traditional Korean food and they make it something new and different, blending the ingredients and techniques from different Asian cultures. The service is very courteous and the food is very delicious 🤤
Everything was amazing - can't wait to go back! Incredible vegan experience. We did the prix fixe meal and loved it.
Jennie Rivera
I'm counting the days until I can come back. The interior is attractive and the staff seems invested in the place. Rapid responses with genuine warmth. The taste experience is memorable. The complete experience was impressive.
NYCswimmer
Franchia is one of those rare places where the food, ambiance, and service all align to create a serene and memorable experience. The menu is inventive and deeply satisfying — from the kimchi pancakes and dumplings to the sizzling stone bowl and creamy curry noodles, every dish is beautifully presented and full of flavor. The space itself is peaceful and elegant, a welcome escape from the city’s bustle, with soft lighting and calming music that make you want to linger. Staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. Whether you’re vegan or just curious, Franchia is a place that will leave you nourished in every way. Highly recommended!
Elsa Bennett
Their dishes deliver satisfaction that borders on the spiritual. The quality and sizable portions of the food for the low prices is unprecedented. The kitchen creates tastes that defy your experience. The workers delivered with remarkable speed and each employee seemed genuinely pleased. Outstanding in every way.
averyylorio
I want to try the whole menu, but what I got was so good!
A fully vegan Korean restaurant situated right in the heart of Manhattan?! My west coast heart is pounding in jealousy and longing to return once again. It's often very hard to find restaurants that serve fully vegan Korean food so the fact that this exists is truly special. A lot of items will be vegetarian at best so to be able to have an extensive menu to order from is a treat. My friends and I came here for lunch and were seated fairly quickly in their hip restaurant. I ordered a couple of things: - Combination Pancakes consisting of sweet corn cilantro, scallion & spicy kimchi offerings. This was their take on traditional Korean jeon and I didn't realize they'd bring out so many small pieces for the table. My favorite was definitely the sweet corn cilantro. - Crispy Korean Chili Tofu Lunch Special, which included a soup and salad of the day as well as two additional banchan (including a pancake!) The tofu was fried to sweet perfection and the chili sauce was top notch. There ended up being more than enough food just from this alone. I hope this spot sticks around because I'll certainly be coming back to fill my Korean cravings without needing to play around with the menu at other restaurants. Updated from previous review on 2025-09-20
In an NYC world that still isn't particularly vegan friendly, it was so nice to come to the Franchia Vegan Cafe for dinner and be able to eat anything on the extensive menu! They were knowledgeable and great with my nut allergy too, I had the 'duck' bao buns and drunken basil noodles - both were so delicious! Updated from previous review on 2025-09-14
We got to the restaurant at 645 on a Friday. We’re seated quickly, ordered citron tea iced and the toasted grain beverage. Both were amazing. Got appetizers: joen pancake sampler, summer rolls, and duck bao. Best was the sweet corn pancakes, but the kimchi was delicious too. Summer roll was good but I loved the duck bao. For the meal ordered pad thai, Philly roll, and mango avocado roll. Philly roll was exquisite. Would recommend and return!
Incredible diversity of flavor and originality from across Southeast Asia. Superb and 100% vegan. Visited twice in three days, would go again.
I love HanGawi and once I learned the owners also run another vegan Korean food restaurant, Franchia, I knew I had to try. And it did not disappoint! I’ve been countless times since then. Really nice ambience—I recommend the higher floors for more privacy (but is less accessible given the stairs). Tried the following: - Thai iced tea: awesome to find a semi-affordable vegan version of Thai iced tea! - Jeon (Korean savory pancakes) Combo: absolutely delicious and great to share, fun to share a mix of the flavors (sweet corn cilantro, scallion, and kimchi) - Crispy Korean Chili Tofu: really delicious and the perfect amount of heat in the sauce and crisp texture of the tofu - Sizzling Mushroom: disappointing, had a congealed texture, not super flavorful (doesn’t compare to the version at HanGawi) - Tofu Crumble Bibimbap: tasty - Spicy Kimchi Bibimbap: very good if you like kimchi! - Vegetarian “Duck”: good with a fake meat texture (Side note: I much prefer the bibimbap at HanGawi but the ones at Franchia are solid) Updated from previous review on 2025-08-16
Beautiful restaurant and the food was stellar! Service was perfect, just attentive enough to not be annoying.
I go to Franchia every time I'm in NYC. I love the selection, and the intimate setting. The food is incredible. Updated from previous review on 2025-08-09
Solid Asian vegan food—I compare everything to Urban Vegan in Chicago and it wasn’t quite at that level, but close. Worth a trip
It was my BF's birthday trip to NY, all over NY from Garden City to the Rockaways and Lido beach. As soon as we walked off the street and into Franchia I knew we had come to the right place. the food was scrumptious and the service was impeccable. Not a long wine list, but good enough for the middle of the day. Updated from previous review on 2025-07-18
I love the innovated approach to traditional Korean food and they make it something new and different, blending the ingredients and techniques from different Asian cultures. The service is very courteous and the food is very delicious 🤤
Restaurantji Recommends
Everything was amazing - can't wait to go back! Incredible vegan experience. We did the prix fixe meal and loved it.
I'm counting the days until I can come back. The interior is attractive and the staff seems invested in the place. Rapid responses with genuine warmth. The taste experience is memorable. The complete experience was impressive.
Franchia is one of those rare places where the food, ambiance, and service all align to create a serene and memorable experience. The menu is inventive and deeply satisfying — from the kimchi pancakes and dumplings to the sizzling stone bowl and creamy curry noodles, every dish is beautifully presented and full of flavor. The space itself is peaceful and elegant, a welcome escape from the city’s bustle, with soft lighting and calming music that make you want to linger. Staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. Whether you’re vegan or just curious, Franchia is a place that will leave you nourished in every way. Highly recommended!
Their dishes deliver satisfaction that borders on the spiritual. The quality and sizable portions of the food for the low prices is unprecedented. The kitchen creates tastes that defy your experience. The workers delivered with remarkable speed and each employee seemed genuinely pleased. Outstanding in every way.
I want to try the whole menu, but what I got was so good!
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