Over the past decade, the number of vegetarians in the U.S. has increased from about one in 100 to nearly one in 30, according to polls from the Vegetarian Resource Group and the Vegetarian Times. Veg-loving visitors to Philly have plenty of options from which to choose—upscale white tablecloth restaurants dishing out inventive vegetable creations to casual spots serving up raw foods and gluten-free dishes. Here are some spots worth checking out:

Destination Dining:

• Vegetable lovers head to Bucks County, where Mike Jackson's Blue Sage Vegetarian Grille turns out creative, big-portioned vegetarian food (no meat substitutes) in a cozy, romantic atmosphere. 772 2ndStreet Pike, Southampton, (215) 942-8888
• Miss Rachel's Pantry calls South Philadelphia home. The vegan catering and meal delivery company offers a kitschy-chic dining room for private events and Saturday communal pre-fixed dinners (by reservation) enjoyed around a reclaimed wood farmhouse table. 1732 W. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 798-0053, missrachelspantry.com
• New Hope's premier vegan dining destination, Sprig & Vine is a bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) spot that offers a Sunday brunch menu (think warm maple sugar doughnuts, fruit-covered French toast and an oyster mushroom po' boy), along with an elegant dinner menu featuring delicacies such as blackened tofu over coconut sweet potato mash. 450 Union Square Drive, New Hope, (215) 693-1427,sprigandvine.com
• Culinary couple Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby make veggies haute at Vedge, where each of the menu's small plates pack a powerful, palatable punch. Order anything from the Dirt list for the freshest seasonal specialties. Vegetable enthusiasts and fine-dining aficionados enjoy the elegant dining rooms, lounge and bright bar, known for its inventive cocktail list. 1221 Locust Street, (215) 320-7500,vedgerestaurant.com
• The hearty fare (mac and meatballs; tempeh hash with poached avocado; “Tasty-Fake” desserts) at South Philly's Vegan Commissary proves that dinner can be animal byproduct-free and satisfying. The diminutive luncheonette serves dinner and brunch from a daily changing chalkboard menu—service is included in the bill, but it's cash only. 1703 S. 11th Street, (215) 964-3232, vegancommissary.com
• One of Philly's longest-running farm-to-table spots, Old City's Farmacia applies its credo to an omnivore's range of dishes all day long. However, the vegetarian and vegan section of the menu is extensive enough—with choices such as a vegetable and grain platter, tamales and vegan cupcakes—to merit repeat visits. 15 S. 3rd Street, (215) 627-6274, farmiciarestaurant.com
• Zahav is a great choice to satisfy veg-lovers and carnivores alike. The modern Israeli restaurant in Society Hill celebrates vegetables Middle Eastern-style, with chef/owner Michael Solomonov at the helm. The mezze includes terrific hummus and “salatim” (collection of vegetable salads), along with creative takes on the likes of Brussels sprouts, greens, bulgur, fried cauliflower and a roasted eggplant braciole stuffed with cauliflower filling. 237 St. James Place, (215) 625-8800, zahavrestaurant.com

Quick & Casual Fare:

• Blackbird Pizzeria, an entirely vegan and certified kosher pizza shop experience right off of South Street, serves up can't-resist favorites such as nacho pizza with caramelized onions, jalapeños, avocado and dairy-free cheese, along with sandwiches such as the smoked tofu cubano with seitan pepperoni and pickles. 507 S. 6th Street, (215) 625-6660, blackbirdpizzeria.com
• Fast and fresh rules the day at South Street's Vegan Tree. The bounty includes wraps, “steak” sandwiches, pasta and noodle dishes, juices, smoothies and bubble teas. 702 South Street, (215) 454-2898
• Nothing soothes the veggie appetite like falafel, and Mama's Vegetarian serves up some of the best in the city. The Israeli fast-fooder bakes its own pita, which is the perfect foil for crisp chickpea patties, latkes and sabich (eggplant and hardboiled egg) fillings. 18 S. 20th Street, (215) 751-0477,mamasvegetarian.com
• The line of lunch-eaters outside of Kung Fu Hoagies never lies. The mobile operation caters to the cruelty-free crowd with tofu meatball banh mi, Vietnamese-style noodles with vegan ham and other delicious eats. Location varies, (267) 344-6259, twitter.com/kungfuhoagies.com
• Vegans and the otherwise dairy-free seeking a boost are welcomed at Grindcore House in South Philly. The only local café with a nearly comprehensive range of milks (soy, almond, coconut, hemp), Grindcore also whips up tasty sandwiches and baked goods with nary a hint of animal byproduct. 1515 S. 4th Street, (215) 839-3333, grindcorehouse.com
• Govinda's To Go, a casual eatery that serves sandwiches and wraps (such as the “chicken” cheesesteak and “tuna” salad wrap), also attracts omnivores (and nostalgic vegetarians) with specialties like vegan “tuna” and a case full of baked treats. 1400 South Street, (215) 545-5452
• HipCityVeg, a popular 100% plant-based fast-food cafe in the Rittenhouse neighborhood, has a legion of fans for specialties like its crispy jerk “chick'n” Caesar salad and its Philly “steak.” Focusing primarily on take-out, the restaurant also offers a delivery option. 127 S. 18th Street, (215) 278-7605,hipcityveg.com
• Honeygrow, a casual build-your-own stir-fry and salads spot, earns high marks for its stylish interior design. More bragging rights include a menu designed by chef Shola Olunloyo. Veg and non-veg options abound, along with smoothies and a buzzing fruit and honeybar. 1601 Sansom Street, (215) 279-7724; 168 E. City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, (610) 667-2573, honeygrow.com
• A vegetarian haven since 1984, Magic Carpet caters to students and locals in the University City neighborhood with oodles of meat-free options at two street-side vending locations. Fresh offerings include budget-priced platters of tofu meatballs, rice, veggies and cheese and the exquisitely light spinach pies with fresh Greek salad on the side. 36th & Spruce Streets; 34th & Walnut Streets,magiccarpetfoods.com
• Open for breakfast and lunch, Pure Fare has two locations serving mostly veg dishes, all made with seasonal, organic ingredients in a sunny, casual atmosphere. Try the kale salad with chickpeas and sunflower seeds and any of the delicious smoothies. There's nothing over 500 calories on the menu, a nice bonus for those watching their waistlines. 119 S. 21st Street, (267) 318-7441; 1609 South Street, (267) 687-2292, purefare.com
• Haute dogs deliver a powerful flavor wallop at Underdogs, a wiener joint that diversifies its offerings with vegan dogs and gluten-free rolls. Toppings include avocado, tomato, pepper hash, green papaya slaw, barbecue sauce and spicy Thai peanut sauce. 137 S. 17th Street, (215) 665-8080,underdogsphilly.com

Meatless Bar Scene:

• From celebrated HipCityVeg owner Nicole Marquis comes Charlie Was A Sinner, Midtown Village's stylish vegan tippling spot. On the menu are small bites such as tofu crab cakes and house-smoked “sausage,” paired with unusual and veggie-centric cocktails. 131 S. 13th Street,charliewasasinner.com
• Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen in Fishtown offers a myriad of retro-American vegetarian and vegan options. Regulars come for the craft beer and specialties like the kale burger, fried green tomato po' boy and veggie wings. 2370 E. Norris Street (215) 423-5400, cedarpointbarandkitchen.com
• Always packed with a super-hip crowd, Passyunk Avenue's Cantina Los Caballitos dishes out vegan and vegetarian dishes with as much innovation as the traditional menu items (think seitan and smoked chicken tacos). With free chips, a well-stocked bar and equally equipped jukebox, everyone leaves full and happy. On the other side of town, Cantina Dos Segundos offers a similar experience for the Northern Liberties neighborhood. Los Caballitos, 1651 E. Passyunk Avenue, (215) 755-3550,cantinaloscaballitos.com; Dos Segundos, 931 N. 2nd Street, (215) 629-0500,cantinadossegundos.com
• A gastropub with vegan leanings, Memphis Taproom takes bar food to the new heights. Of special note: the smoked coconut club sandwich, the fried-avocado tacos and the “veal” parmesan with mushroom cutlet. 2331 E. Cumberland Street, (215) 425-4460, memphistaproom.com
• No one need take a pass at the Khyber Pass in Old City. The modern Southern cuisine delights all eaters with choices such as vegan fried chicken po' boys, grilled seitan sausage sandwiches and vegan buttered popcorn. 56 S. 2nd Street, (215) 238-5888, khyberpasspub.com

Asian Vegan & Vegetarian:

• Weekend brunch draws vegans from all over the city to Mi Lah Vegetarian, home to a completely vegan menu with favorites like beer-battered seitan and waffles, tofu Benedict and oversized pumpkin pancakes with blueberry soy butter. The eclectic dinner menu features tofu, seitan and inventive vegetable dishes, and the three-course lunch specials are a tasty bargain. 218 S. 16th Street, (215) 732-8888, milahvegetarian.com
• A $12 Sunday dinner buffet and daily all-you-can-eat dim sum specials make New Harmony Vegetarian a filling destination for vegetarians, vegans and their omnivorous dining companions alike. Those in the know save room for the vegan dessert offerings, including dairy-free “cheesecake.” 135 N. 9th Street, (215) 627-4520
• Ratchada Thai & Laos Cuisine devotes an entire page of their menu to vegan and vegetarian dishes. Located in South Philadelphia, the intimate BYOB serves up an inexpensive, three-course lunch. 1117 S. 11th Street, (215) 467-1546, ratchadatlc.com
• Regulars recommend the faux orange beef at Singapore Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant, located in the heart of Chinatown. Specialties include more than two dozen veggie dim-sum options, more than a dozen bean curd dishes and chef's specials such as eggplant fritters, stuffed mushrooms and mock chicken and shrimp in a garlic mango sauce—all certified kosher. 1006 Race Street, (215) 922-3288,singaporevegetarian.com
• Inexpensive lunch specials are popular at Center City's Su Xing House. Menu options include kale and spicy tofu, soybean nuggets with sweet and sour sauce and sesame seitan. Diners can order veggie versions of their favorite soups, noodle and rice dishes, and gluten-free options are available. 1508 Sansom Street, (215) 564-1419, suxinghouse.com

Gluten-Free:

• Celiac sufferers won't miss out on traditional favorites at Boston Style Pizza, home to an entire gluten-free menu that includes a fresh mozzarella appetizer and a healthy hummus platter. What's more, classic pizza with homemade sauce and Wisconsin pizza cheese is available on gluten-free crust. 447 N. Sumneytown Pike, North Wales, (215) 699-3977, pizzabostonstyle.com
• With locations in Doylestown, Jenkintown and Ardmore, Jules Thin Crust corners the market on limited-diet delights. All the pizzas, including 15 different vegetarian options, can be made on gluten-free crust. 149 W. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, (610) 896-6100; 78 S. Main Street, Doylestown, (215) 345-8565; 114 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, (484) 580-8003; 817 Old York Road, Jenkintown, (215) 886-5555, julesthincrust.com
• The gluten-free Main Line crew can roll on down to Raw Can Roll Cafe, where the only thing better than the vibrant colors of the totally non-cooked menu items are the fresh tastes and textures. Desserts such as the raw banana brownie sundae are all celiac-friendly. 767 W. Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, (484) 580-8454, rawcanrollcafe.com
• The home-style Venezuelan cuisine at Sazon satisfies vegetarians avoiding wheat with dishes like grilled tofu and mushrooms with brown rice and black beans. An entire gluten-free brunch menu of various arepas (corn patties) delights vegans and vegetarians with toppings such as scrambled egg, cheddar cheese, tofu or veggies. 941 Spring Garden Street, (215) 763-2500, sazonphilly.com
• Philly's first “allergen-free” bakery, Sweet Freedom is stocked daily with naturally sweetened, gluten-free, kosher and vegan sweets—from cupcakes to blueberry bars to whole cakes. 1424 South Street, (215) 545-1899, sweetfreedombakery.com

Shop & Eat:

• Arnold's Way, a health food store and vegetarian raw cafe in Montgomery County, takes healthy eating to new heights with wraps made from nori and with salads so finely minced they require no dressing. The store shelves are packed with food, vitamins, books and videos. 319 W. Main Street, Lansdale, (215) 361-0116, arnoldsway.com
• At Essene Market & Café, a hot-and-cold meatless buffet and dining area share the generous space with local and organic produce and healthy grocery items. Plus, they squeeze fresh juices to order, boast baked goods created with multiple dietary restrictions in mind and host an array of events, lectures and classes. 719 S. 4th Street, (215) 922-1146, essenemarket.com
• The always-bustling Reading Terminal Market is also supremely vegetarian-friendly. Loyal locals stop there for falafel at Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties, local and organic produce and raw milk cheeses from s Fair Food Farmstand and Nanee's Kitchen's vegetarian Indian and Pakistani dishes. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 922-2317, readingterminalmarket.org

VISIT PHILADELPHIA™, formerly known as Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.

Greater Philadelphia's official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com make up the most-visited website network out of the 10 biggest U.S. cities. Visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.
 

Contact(s):

• Donna Schorr, (215) 599-0782