Area Restaurants That Cater to Vegetarians, Vegans, and Gluten-Free Diets

by Skye Felsing

Living in the Lansing area and being a vegan can be frustrating at times, especially when first starting out. Figuring out new recipes to accommodate your diet is difficult. Finding restaurants that have menu options to accommodate your diet can seem even more difficult, mainly when you live in an area where vegan restaurants haven’t exactly taken root.

However, when you take the time to do some research you can find plenty of options to fit your diet at restaurants that you probably used to frequent. The same goes for a vegetarian and those with gluten-free diets. There are restaurants out there that offer really great options for all three types of diets and plenty of menu items that can easily be modified to fit your specific needs. All it takes is a bit of creativity! I have come up with a list of places that I have found to have great options to fit my vegan diet as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options. The list is limited to the greater Lansing area and I am sure there are some that I have missed. Do you know of a restaurant that offers gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian food items that I haven’t listed? Tell me about them in the comments section.

Key: V – Vegetarian; VG – Vegan;  GF – Gluten Free

Buffalo Wild Wings – Build Your Own Black Bean Burger (V, VG)

Noodles and Company – Offers several vegetarian and vegan options as well as  gluten free noodles for several of their menu options.

Houlihan’s – Veggie Mini Burger (V, can be made VG), Wild Mushroom and Arugula Flatbread (V), Margherita Flatbread (V).

HopCat – Vegan Pattie Melt (V, VG)

The Soup Spoon Cafe – Offers a vegan soup every day and has many menu items that are easily altered to be vegan or vegetarian.

Cancun Mexican Grill – Offers several vegetarian options on their menu.

Carraba’s – Several vegan and vegetarian options as well as several gluten free menu options. You can also request several of their menu items be made without ingredients containing gluten and you can request that they be prepared in a dish that has not been contaminated by other gluten containing foods.

New Aladdin – Offers several vegan and vegetarian menu items.

Cottage Inn Pizza – All locations offer a gluten free pizza and sandwich menu.

Mitchell’s Fish Market – Offers a gluten free menu as well as several menu items that can easily be altered to be gluten free.

PF Chang’s China Bistro – Offers a gluten free menu as well as a few vegetarian and vegan options.

Olive Garden – Offers gluten free noodles for a few of their menu items as well as notations on gluten free menu items.

Disclaimer: While these places offer gluten free and dairy free options, as with all allergies, you should always ask about cross-contamination. Many restaurants have gluten free options, but they might prepare their food on surfaces where other, gluten containing items might also be prepared.

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Skye Felsing is an intake team member who has been at Elder Law since June of 2013. Skye graduated from Michigan State University in 2011 with a degree in social studies education. Prior to working at Elder Law of Michigan, Skye spent 5 months teaching English in Thailand. Upon her return to the United States, she worked as a substitute teacher in the Lansing area. Recently, she has joined the MiCAFE team helping people apply for food and medical assistance.