10 Great American Cities For Vegans Slideshow

People choose to switch to a vegan diet for a handful of reasons, which include protecting the environment and enjoying a healthier lifestyle. Whether you've been a vegan for 10 years or are considering a vegan-leaning diet as a future possibility, here are 10 of America's most vegan-friendly cities worth visiting.

Asheville's claims to fame include its lively music scene and views of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but its vegan-friendly options make it unique. The Asheville Vegan Society, hosted by Meetup, holds potlucks and dinners out, as well as encouraging sharing vegan recipes and meeting like-minded people. Plant is an all-vegan restaurant that features black pepper and herb tofu on the menu. Laughing Seed Café serves locally sourced vegan and vegetarian food.

The selection of vegan food trucks in Austin is impressive according to PETA. From vegan food at the Vegan Yacht to awe-inspiring guacamole variations at Guac N Roll, Austin has plenty of options. Find your sweet fix at Sweet Ritual, a vegan ice cream shop with varying daily flavors, shakes, and even a Glitterbeast sundae, made with salted caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, and edible glitter.

Boulder is home to a variety of vegan eateries, including Native Foods Café, which uses tempeh, seitan, and native chicken (made from free-range soy, wheat, and pea protein) for plant-based protein options. These are used to replace meat products in menu items like the Oklahoma bacon cheeseburger, nachos, and bacon and avocado club sandwich. Another local hotspot is Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, which has options like vegan French toast and a vegan crab cake sandwich.

Sin City is home to Go Raw Café & Juice Bar, a raw cuisine restaurant that includes enchiladas, "rawburgers," desserts, and fresh juices on its menu. Simply Pure, opened by raw food chef Stacey Dougan, offers raw and cooked vegan meals, such as zucchini pasta, Thai basil spring rolls, and vegan lasagna.

Los Angeles is home to a host of vegan restaurants, one of which is Café Gratitude, where servers ask you what you're thankful for each time you dine there . Try ordering the "I Am Grateful" for lunch – it's a bowl of quinoa, kale, black beans, and garlic-tahini sauce. For an upscale dinner out, check out Crossroads Kitchen – owner chef Tal Ronnen has cooked for Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. Still not satisfied? The city's Vegan Oktoberfest claims the title of world's only traditional Oktoberfest celebration with both vegan food and beer.

The Big Apple has restaurant options for almost every type of diet, and many of them, at that. Try out Angelica Kitchen, an East Village vegan mecca where Dragon Bowls (made with steamed veggies, rice, beans, and tofu) are popular. For mock meats, head to Blossom in Chelsea, the Upper West Side, and Greenwich Village, where popular choices include pan-seared cutlets of seitan.

Portland is the largest city in Maine, and it probably has the most vegan options. Silly's Restaurant offers a full vegan menu including menu items like the Tempeh of Doom Dinner, as well as vegan chocolate cake and vegan milkshakes. Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro, a hotspot for vegetarians and vegans alike, specializes in pan-Asian vegetarian fare and even serves noodles with vegan duck.  

Portland is legendary when it comes to vegan venues. Stay the night in the Cherokee Rose Inn, an all-vegan bed and breakfast where your morning meal might incorporate tofu scramble and vegan cheese grits or pancakes with local blueberries. According to PETA, the city is also home to America's only all-vegan strip mall, which includes a vegan clothing company, bakery, and grocery store. Voodoo Doughnut offers vegan doughnuts, like fruit cakes topped with maple frosting or toasted coconut.

Vegan-friendly restaurants in San Francisco include Greens Restaurant, which has a bay view and an all-vegetarian menu including fresh spring rolls and warm cauliflower salad. Also make sure you head over to Golden Era, a vegan restaurant featuring entrée options like sautéed basil eggplant and mushroom.

The number of vegan restaurants in Seattle is growing, and options include the Wayward Vegan Café, where the breakfast Mexi Biscuit is made with Mexican-spiced tofu and a fried chorizo patty. Chaco Canyon Organic Café also has a variety of vegan options, like a quinoa, kale, and yam bowl.