About 5% of Americans are vegetarian or vegan. That may sound small, but it still means more than 16 million people who want good plant-based food while traveling. To help them, WalletHub made a list of the best U.S. cities for vegetarians and vegans in 2025.
WalletHub studied the 100 largest cities and compared them based on:
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Affordability
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Variety of food options
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Accessibility
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Quality
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Vegetarian lifestyle (festivals, events, etc.)
They looked at things like grocery costs, number of veg/vegan restaurants, and how many plant-based festivals the city offers.
Portland, Oregon — No. 1 City
Portland was ranked the best city for vegans and vegetarians.
Why?
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It has one of the highest numbers of affordable veg/vegan restaurants with great reviews (4.5 stars or more).
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Many organic farms, farmers’ markets, community gardens, and plant nurseries.
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People in Portland eat vegan/vegetarian dishes 148% more often than the national average.
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It has one of the highest percentages of people who eat vegetables daily.
Chef Aaron Adams from Portland’s vegan restaurant Astera says the city cares deeply about ethics, the environment, and animal welfare. He adds that Portland has many successful vegan restaurants and food carts.
His favorite spots include:
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Mis Tacones
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Orange & Blossom patisserie
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Obon Shokudo
Vegan experts also say the Portland community makes the city special. For example, creator Waz Wu runs Veganizer PDX, hosts vegan festivals, and organizes World Vegan Month events.
Other Top Cities
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Los Angeles (2nd place)
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L.A. residents eat plant-based meals 187% more often than the U.S. average.
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Has many affordable vegan/vegetarian restaurants with high ratings.
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Austin, Texas (3rd place)
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Known for lots of juice/smoothie bars
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Many vegetarian cooking classes
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A high number of community gardens
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To see more vegan-friendly cities, you can check WalletHub’s full list.
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