Top Vegan-Friendly Restaurants In South Florida

South Florida is a culinary paradise. All kinds of palates are welcomed and there are plenty of professional chefs that will prepare sumptuous meals with home-grown meats and/or vegetables. The vegan genre of cuisine can be ethical as well as food-based and environmental, but make no mistake that the food is delicious, even to meat-eaters. It proves that green initiatives in business can be profitable and generate a lot of demand from a sizable section of the population.

Green Bar & Kitchen
1075 S.E. 17th St.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 533-7507
www.greenbarkitchen.com

A customer walks into the Green Bar & Kitchen and will see an innovative concept--a bar setting but with delicious gluten-free/vegan, plant-based foods and drinks. Start off with the raw tacos that have walnut and sunflower meat (grounded seeds, mixed with tomatoes, celery and taco spices) and raw cheddar cheese, then move on to a smokehouse burger with BBQ mayo, caramelized onions and fresh-pressed garlic. Not leaving the bar behind, customers can wash down their tasty meal with a selection of craft beers.

Sublime Restaurant
1431 N. Federal Highway
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 615-1431
www.sublimerestaurant.com

Known nationwide through its celebrity customer list and its accolades (USA Today's Top 10 restaurants serving food with a clear conscience), Sublime offers customers vegetarian dining in a luxurious setting (cascading waterfalls, open hearth, trees). Try the fried misto (crispy cauliflower, sesame seed and sweet chili sauce), mushroom ravioli or reef tacos (tempura sea vegetable tofu) along with its organic wines and delicious cocktails.

iConnect Cafe & Yoga Spa
3088 Griffin Road
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312
(954) 987-7878
www.iconnectcafe.com

It is a business intended to attract those passionate about having a healthy spiritual and cultural lifestyle. IConnect Cafe & Yoga Spa offers reiki healing sessions and yoga classes along with a vegan cafe that has delicious meals like the soy-free vegan scramble (garbanzos and cashews, mixed with steamed broccoli, carrots and potatoes), grilled cheese veggie sandwich and vegan shortbread cookies for dessert.

Related: Top Vegetarian Burgers In South Florida

My Little Organic Bistro
8380 S.W. 40th St.
Miami, FL 33155
(305) 559-8912
www.facebook.com/MyLittleOrganicBistro

The suburban area of Miami has emerging businesses that aren't chain restaurants (Chili's, Panera, Subway). My Little Organic Bistro is in the Westchester area of Miami on Bird Road. It is a vitamin shop mixed with a kitchen that has vegan dishes, organic juices and raw food selections available. Try the grilled cheese with coconut cheese (fresh pasteurized cow's milk with organic coconut cream), the cauliflower soup or stuffed pepper with mashed potatoes.

Choices Cafe
646 N.E. 79th St.
Miami, FL 33138
(786) 803-8352
www.mychoicescafe.com

Choices Cafe promotes environmental vegetarianism because it "serves delicious healthy food that nourishes and restores people, promotes sound, plant-based diets that encourage compassion for animals and to engender sustainable practices that conserve planetary resources." This spot has been very successful, being voted Best Vegan restaurant of 2014 by the Miami New Times. It has two locations in Miami (one in Brickell) and the menu items are delicious. Enjoy quesadillas with vegan cheese, shiitake-marinated mushrooms and chipotle mayo and a Mexican wrap with soy chorizo (sausage), black beans, quinoa and pico de gallo. There are also organic smoothies and juices for those who only want an in-between snack.

Related: Top Vegetarian Restaurants In South Florida 

Eric L Labrador is a freelance writer covering all things Miami. His work can be found on Examiner.com.