Columbia SC’s vegan, vegetarian and plant-based offerings sooth soul food cravings, satisfy your sweet tooth and include a variety of options – from the impossible burger to raw vegan cuisine. Vegan and plant-based restaurants and dishes are on the rise here. Whether you are vegan, or not, here are some options you won’t be able to resist.
Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants
Vegan soul food is definitely a thing here in Columbia SC. From collard greens and purple cabbage to vegan mac-n-cheese and barbecue “ribs,” the menu at A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen conjures up feelings of being in any Southern grandmama’s kitchen. While the brick and mortar location in the NOMA district is undergoing renovations, you can catch the food truck around town. Follow them on social media @peaceofsoulsc for updates on where to dine with them.
Recently opened and also located in the NOMA district near Columbia College, Rare Variety Café vegan dishes include vegan twists on some of our favorites like Southern fried cauliflower, lasagna rolls, curry jack stew, vegan spaghetti and gumbo. Want ice cream? Try some vegan versions here in flavors like Banana Pudding, Cognac Caramel and Pecan Rican.
The Reizod Vegan Experience describes itself as an easy alternative to great eating without giving up the taste you love. Located in the Northeast area of Columbia, it offers a robust vegan menu ranging from soul food favorites to Mexican and Caribbean dishes and food perfect for tailgate season. Finish off your meal with a milkshake or one of their house made smoothies.
For organic, raw and vegan cuisine, visit Good Life Café on Main Street. The menu features American, Italian Indian and Mexican dishes, and Good Life is the only kosher-certified restaurant in Columbia. Drop in for breakfast, smoothies (we recommend the Funky Monkey), power bowls, wraps and sandwiches, living foods and some cooked items. You also can’t go wrong with the sweet potato bean burger or the pimento-less cheese wrap or sandwich (don’t forget to get your Pimento Cheese Passport stamped!)
Rawtopian Bliss on Two Notch Road offers a grab-and-go only menu on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and its full menu Thursday through Saturday. Favorite menu items include the Live Personal Pan Pizza, the tempeh bliss burger, spaghetti (zucchini pasta) with plant based Italian sausage and hummus rolls. Add a basil lemonade, mango lemonade or hibiscus flowers tea to complete your meal!
Born from a successful food Instagram page featuring healthy and holistic recipes, Tasty as Fit opened on Millwood Avenue in Sept. 2018 offering grab-n-go plant-based meals and smoothies. The rotating menu features dishes like no chick chickpea salad, Thai fried rice bowl, and chocolate tahini “rawnola.” Smoothie flavors include mint-choc chip, strawberry cheesecake and the hydration station smoothie made with organic frozen kale, organic zucchini, pineapple, avocado, ginger, hemp seeds and raw honey.
Vegan and Vegetarian Dishes
Several restaurants in Columbia offer vegan and vegetarian options on their menus. For dinner options head to Motor Supply Company Bistro or Terra who have a custom vegetarian dish each day. Check out smallSugar and try their Salad for Breakfast or an avocado tartine.