Vegetarian Restaurants in Salt Lake City: Cafe, Diner or Dinner Out?
by Alex Urban on Oct 02 2026
Salt & Seek · Salt Lake City meat-free dining
Coffee and breakfast. Diner comfort food. Pasta downtown. A meat-free meal can go in more than one direction.
The useful question is what kind of meal you want. Old Cuss, Vertical Diner and Zest all make meat-free dining central to their menus, but the setting and ordering choices differ. This guide separates vegetarian and plant-based offerings so you can pick a place that fits your appetite and dietary preferences.
Vegetarian cafe
Old Cuss Cafe
Old Cuss is a vegetarian breakfast-and-lunch destination as well as a coffee stop on Pierpont Avenue. Founder Brent’Lee Williams and chef Chandler Bailey bring the drinks and food sides together; Bailey joined the partnership in summer 2023. The cafe also sells vintage clothing, giving you a reason to browse after your meal. Its kitchen uses eggs, dairy and honey, but says meals can be made vegan without an upcharge.
Where to start
- Biscuits & Gravy, $16: A breakfast starting point when you want a seated meal rather than toast alongside coffee.
- OC Hash, $16, or Big Ass Burrito, $17: Two more breakfast choices on the current menu. Specify the vegetarian or vegan version when ordering.
- Famous Beet Reuben, $16: A named lunch option that makes Old Cuss worth considering beyond the morning coffee run. The menu also lists a $16 Patty Melt.
Plan your visitMake the meal your starting point, then explore the cafe’s house-made syrups and coffee drinks. Tell the team you need the vegan preparation; a vegetarian menu does not mean every default order excludes eggs or dairy.
Read the cafe’s founder and chef story for the background behind its food, drinks and vintage-shop setting.
Find it
325 W Pierpont Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah
Plant-based diner
Vertical Diner
Vertical Diner is the choice when you want a diner meal with a plant-based menu. Its official website advertises breakfast all day, so your order does not have to switch to lunch just because the morning is over. For this guide, use the Central 9th restaurant on 900 South.
Where to start
- The Mountain, $16: Potatoes and tofu scramble with peppers, onions, cheese sauce, a protein choice and guacamole.
- The Dude Cakes, $17: Two pancakes stuffed with plant-based sausage, mushrooms, grilled peppers and onions, served with gravy and fries.
- Marry Me Chikun Pasta, $18: Penne with coconut cream, basil, sun-dried tomato and a plant-based chikun cutlet, plus garlic bread.
Plan your visitThe Mountain is an all-day breakfast direction; the pasta gives you a dinner-style main. “Chikun” refers to a plant-based substitute here. Plant-based does not mean gluten-free: ask about ingredients and preparation for any allergy. Use the 234 W 900 S restaurant for this guide.
Find it
234 W 900 S, Salt Lake City, Utah
Plant-based downtown dining
Zest Kitchen & Bar
Zest is the downtown choice when you want plant-based food in a restaurant-and-bar setting. Its official site describes the menu as plant-based and gluten-free, with brunch, dinner and cocktails. Pasta gives you a clear starting point if a salad is not what you had in mind.
Where to start
- Alfredo pasta with mushrooms: The menu lists gluten-free pasta, a non-dairy house cheese sauce, mushrooms and almond Parmesan.
- Pesto pasta or shakshuka: The pesto uses sunflower seeds and comes with almond Parmesan. The shakshuka is built around chickpeas in a spicy tomato stew, with vegan egg and toast.
Before you goZest explicitly notes that many dishes contain nuts. Ask about ingredients and kitchen handling for allergies; a vegan or gluten-free menu label does not answer every allergy question.
Find it
275 S 200 W, Salt Lake City, Utah
Good to know
A few useful answers
Is Old Cuss Cafe completely vegan?
No. Its official site describes it as vegetarian and says meals can be served vegetarian or vegan. Eggs, dairy and honey are used, so request the vegan version explicitly.
Is Vertical Diner the same place as Vertical Deli?
No. This guide covers Vertical Diner at 234 W 900 S in Salt Lake City. Vertical Deli is a separate location at 3245 S State Street in South Salt Lake.
Does Zest offer gluten-free food?
Zest describes its menu as plant-based and gluten-free. It also warns that many dishes contain nuts. Discuss allergies and kitchen handling directly with the restaurant.
Keep seeking
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How we chose: Three venues with different ways to plan a meal or night out, researched using current official menus and visitor information. This is a selected guide, not an exhaustive directory or a scored tasting review. Restaurant photos sourced from the linked Instagram accounts and supplied for this guide; pictured dishes and menus may change. The featured cover is an editorial illustration. Check the official links before visiting.
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