Burgers are lauded as an American classic, a perfect meal for a summer BBQ or trip to your local diner. May is National Hamburger Month — and it’s a time for everyone to celebrate, including those who don’t eat meat. Chickpeas, mushrooms and black beans are just a few burger substitutes that can be healthier and equally delicious.
While grilling your own burger — whether meat- or veggie-based — is unbeatable, you can also get one at a restaurant. With that in mind, Policygenius awarded restaurants with the best veggie burger in each state.
We took a look at local restaurants — those with three or fewer locations — and made sure the ingredients are healthy. Plus, best of all, a lot of these restaurants shop local, so you’re getting locally-grown veggies to put on your burger. (Want to make a stop at your local farmer’s market to get your own healthy produce? Here’s a list of the best farmers markets in each state.)
Here are the best places to get a veggie burger in each state.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Alabama: Chef Will the Palate
Address: 2211 Seminole Dr., Huntsville
Details: Chef Will has been crafting up healthy, locally-sourced portabella burgers out of his Huntsville food truck for quite some time now. Be sure to add the spicy chipotle sauce, and get the bright peppers chips with fruit salsa for a healthy side.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Chef Will the Palate’s Facebook.
Alaska: Middle Way Cafe
Address: 1200 W. Northern Lights Suite G, Anchorage
Details: This breakfast hotspot prides itself on having fresh, seasonable vegetarian options — and no dish is more fresh than their Coyote Burger, a homemade black bean and kale patty topped with fresh veggies, cheddar cheese and their signature Coyote Sauce.
Looking for more tasty ways to start the day? Check out our list of the best breakfast spots in each state.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Middle Way Cafe’s Facebook.
Arizona: Green New American Vegetarian
Address: 2022 N. 7th St., Phoenix & 2240 N. Scottsdale Rd. #8, Tempe
Details: Green’s veggie burgers are so good you feel like you’re having a healthy treat. We suggest you get the Big WAC, a double-decker organic veggie burger topped with fresh veggies, cheddar cheese and their special sauce on a sesame seed bun. Who knew healthy could be so delicious?
Image Credit: Courtesy of Green New American Vegetarian.
Arkansas: The Root Cafe
Address: 1500 S. Main St., Little Rock
Details: Many restaurants claim to be “farm-to-table,” but when the Root Cafe says it, they mean it. Their shiitake mushroom burger — a creation soaked in a homemade vinaigrette and topped with fresh veggies — is sourced from Sweden Creek Farms, a mushroom farm not far away in the Ozark Mountains.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Root Cafe.
California: VeganBurg
Address: 1466 Haight St., San Francisco
Details: Founded nearly 10 years ago, VeganBurg has some absolutely delicious and fully plant-based burgers on the menu. And they even tout that when you have the carbs from veggies, healthy fats and these plant-based proteins, you’ll be enjoying a cholesterol-free dish. Try the barbecue burger with a side of shroom fries, and enjoy, guilt-free.
Summer sunshine means people tend to go out more. But don’t let that ruin your budget. Here are some tips on how to save when dining out.
Image Credit: Courtesy of VeganBurg.
Colorado: RootDown
Address: 1600 W. 33rd Ave, Denver
Details: RootDown’s veggie burger sliders are made with jalapeno jam and served with a side of sweet potato fries and curry-lime yogurt. Root Down has two onsite gardens, where they get their seasonal produce from, so you know you’re getting local and fresh ingredients.
Image Credit: Courtesy of RootDown.
Connecticut: ION Restaurant
Address: 606 Main St., Middletown
Details: All meals here are all fully plant-based — you can choose everything from gumbo to pierogis without consuming animal products. Their burger is made of seitan, or wheat gluten, and comes with vegan bacon and cheese. Get a side of waffle fries, kale quinoa salad or soup to complete the meal.
Image Credit: Courtesy of ION Restaurant’s Facebook.
Delaware: Masala Kitchen
Address: 825 N. Market St., Wilmington & 111 N. Dupont Hwy., New Castle
Details: Masala Kitchen is an all-vegetarian Indian cuisine restaurant that offers several burger options. These include the vada pav, a fritter made of spiced potatoes on a buttered bun, and the dabeli, which is also served on a buttered bun, topped with pomegranate and roasted peanuts.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Masala Kitchen.
Florida: Beth’s Burger Bar
Address: 5145 S. Orange Ave., Edgewood & 9938 Universal Blvd., Orlando
Details: Beth’s Burger Bar has two vegetarian options: a traditional veggie burger and the Impossible Burger, the famous plant-based patty. You can customize your veggie burger however you want — or choose a signature burger, like the Black and Bleu, with blue cheese, grilled mushroom, lettuce and tomato.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Florida .
Georgia: Slutty Vegan
Address: 1542 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW, Atlanta
Details: Slutty Vegan is an Atlanta sensation that offers up self-described “junk food” that’s guilt-free because it’s healthy — and vegan. Try a Dancehall Queen, an Impossible Burger with sweet jerk plantains, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and “slutty sauce” on a vegan Hawaiian bun.
You can enjoy any of Slutty Vegan’s burgers at home — they deliver. Here’s how to save on takeout.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Slutty Vegan.
Hawaii: Beet Box Cafe
Address: 66-437 Kamehameha Hwy. #104, Haleiwa
Details: This vegetarian restaurant serves mouthwatering food that’s healthy too. Their signature Hello Burger features a homemade veggie patty on a toasted bun with garlic aioli, dijon mustard, arugula, pickled onions and cucumbers.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Beet Box Cafe.
Idaho: BBQ4LIFE
Address: 930 S. Vista Ave., Boise
Details: This family-run restaurant offers food everyone can enjoy, including healthy vegan and gluten-free options. Their Greens and Beans burger features a house-made veggie patty grilled in coconut oil and topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and vegan mayo.
Image Credit: Courtesy of BBQ4LIFE’s Facebook .
Illinois: Handlebar
Address: 2311 W. North Ave., Chicago
Details: This vegetarian restuarant’s veggie burger, the Handlesmash, is so special it’s only available on Tuesdays. The burger features two homemade black bean patties with cheddar or vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles and special sauce on a brioche bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Handlebar’s Facebook.
Indiana: Three Carrots
Address: 920 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis & 222 E. Market St., Indianapolis
Details: Come to either one of Three Carrot’s locations to get delicious vegan comfort food, like seitan nuggets and buffalo cauliflower bites. But their handmade beet burger, served with tomato jam, miso caramelized onions and roasted garlic, is an unforgettable dish.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Three Carrot’s Facebook.
Iowa: Trumpet Blossom
Address: 310 East Prentiss St., Iowa City
Details: This vegan staple has a vast menu of plant-based food, but be sure to try the red bean veggie burger. Trumpet Blossom tops this housemade patty with BBQ aioli, greens, pickles and caramelized onions. Make it a meal by adding a side of hand-cut sweet potato fries with maple cayenne aioli.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Trumpet Blossom’s Facebook.
Kansas: Burger Stand
Address: 803 Massachusetts St., Lawrence & 1601 SW Lane St., Topeka
Details: This innovative burger joint, with two locations, gives you lots of choices when it comes to veggie burgers. They have everything from a mushroom patty with avocado to a garbanzo bean patty with a citrus garlic aioli.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Burger Stand’s Facebook.
Kentucky: Morels Cafe
Address: 619 Baxter Ave., Louisville
Details: Kentucky may be known for bourbon and fried chicken, but you can also get great vegetarian food in the Bluegrass State. If you’re in Louisville, check out Morels Cafe, which serves “vegan food that doesn’t suck.” Be sure to try their backyard burger, a Beyond Meat patty topped with BBQ sauce, crispy onion straws and melted cheese, served on a brioche bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Morels Cafe.
Louisiana: Liberty’s Kitchen
Address: 300 North Broad St., New Orleans
Details: New Orleans is a foodie city, and that includes veggie options too. Liberty’s Kitchen helps train young people to join the city’s food scene, and they also feature a delicious veggie burger. Their homemade black bean burger is served with melted cheddar, avocado mash and cilantro lime mayo.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Liberty’s Kitchen.
Maine: Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery
Address: 100 Main St., Saco
Details: Run of the Mill’s veggie burgers are homemade from scratch, with potatoes, lentils, black beans, red peppers and onions. How good are they? In an interview, executive check Chris Loftus said some customers ordered the veggie burger with bacon on top – meaning even meat-eaters were choosing a veggie burger over a regular hamburger.
This is a great brewery that features a stellar veggie burger. But you don’t want to miss this list of the best local breweries in each state.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery.
Maryland: Hamilton Tavern
Address: 5517 Harford Rd., Baltimore
Details: This eclectic restaurant has a variety of options, but the house-made veggie burger is a standout meal. It’s topped with smoked tomato aioli, mixed greens and red onions. You also have your choice of healthy sides, including broccoli salad or a house salad.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Hamilton Tavern.
Massachusetts: The Gallows
Address: 1395 Washington St., Boston
Details: Looking for a veggie burger that’s healthy but isn’t the same old black bean patty? Try a falafel burger from The Gallows, topped with feta and tzatziki.
Image Credit: The Gallows.
Michigan: Inn Season Cafe
Address: 500 E. 4th St., Royal Oak
Details: Between multi-grain, cultured soy and portabella mushroom patties, you’re sure to find a veggie burger that you like. Try the Big Baprawski, a double-decker burger with vegan cheese, sauteed onions, lettuce and tomato.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Inn Season Cafe.
Minnesota: J. Selby’s
Address: 169 N. Victoria St., Saint Paul
Details: This airy cafe bills itself as “a plant-based eatery.” Their Dirty Secret is made with Beyond Burger patties, the Solo comes with Field Roast or Beyond Burger patties and the J. Lucy is a Beyond Burger filled with melted cheese. If you want to add more to your order, there are other healthy options like cauliflower wings.
You can also make wings at home. Check out this $3 wing recipe.
Image Credit: Courtesy of J. Selby’s.
Mississippi: Cool Al’s
Address: 4654 McWillie Dr., Jackson
Details: Cool Al’s offers all of its burgers in vegetarian and vegan options, which makes it easy to make your favorite burger healthier. There are dozens of burgers to choose from, which means there are healthy options no matter what you’re craving. Try the Caribbean curry veggie burger, topped with fried plantains and curry mayo.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Cool Al’s.
Missouri: The Rockhill Grille
Address: 2000 Grand Blvd., Kansas City
Details: This restaurant’s healthy vegetarian patty includes artichoke hearts, black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, peppers and more, all mixed together and served on a brioche bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Rockhill Grille.
Montana: Backcountry Burger Bar
Address: 125 W. Main St., Bozeman
Details: With a patty made from black beans, rice and vegetables, Backcountry Burger Bar’s veggie burger makes for a healthy, well-rounded meal. Still hungry? Add a side of kale chips.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Backcountry Burger Bar’s Facebook.
Nebraska: Louie M’s Burger Lust
Address: 1718 Vinton St., Omaha
Details: This diner offers a delicious veggie patty that you can substitute in on its other specialty burgers. The Michelle Garden Burger is topped with grilled peppers, onions and swiss, but you can also other vegetables. Want to go even healthier? Get a naked burger, which is served on crisp lettuce instead of a bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Louie M’s Burger Lust.
Nevada: Veggy Street
Address: 5135 S. Fort Apache Rd., Las Vegas & 1110 E. Silverado Ranch Blvd., Las Vegas
Details: This restaurant’s motto, according to its website, is to have the least possible environmental impact on the planet, which is why they have a vegan menu. If you’re looking for a flavor-rich (and healthy) burger, try the Mea Culpa, loaded with red onions, smashed avocado, vegan bacon, tahini and garbanzo crumbs. Don’t forget to add a side of yucca fries.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Veggy Street.
New Hampshire: Hop + Grind
Address: 17 Madbury Rd., Durham
Details: Though you can find plenty of meat options at this burger joint, it’s the veggie burgers that stand out. Try the Fun Guy, with portobello mushrooms, smoked gouda and black garlic truffle aioli.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Hop + Grind.
New Jersey: White Manna
Address: 358 River St., Hackensack
Details: Did you know this renowned local burger joint offers a healthy vegetarian version of their classic slider? An Impossible Meat patty — a combination of soy and potato proteins that has a similar texture to beef — gets the diner-style burger treatment, complete with onions and cheese atop a squishy Martin’s potato roll.
Image Credit: Courtesy of White Manna.
New Mexico: Grassburger
Address: 11225 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
Details: In addition to namesake burgers from grass-fed beef, this New Mexico spot offers a vegan burger made of quinoa and gluten-free oats. You can also mix it up and get a burger bowl on a bed of savory rice, topped with shredded cabbage. Grassburger’s offerings are gluten and corn syrup free, and they also participate in a Biofuel program that collects and converts used fry oil into green energy for local farm trucks, so you’ll be saving the environment while you chow down.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Grassburger.
New York: Superiority Burger
Address: 430 E. 9th St., New York
Details: Superiority Burger’s patties consist of quinoa, chickpeas, roasted carrots, and are made by hand, as is everything else at this tiny East Village burger bar. Chef Brooks Headly was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef. You can also find daily gelato and sorbet specials and warm and cold salads. You won’t even miss the fries, absent from this vegetable-lovers paradise.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Superiority Burger.
North Carolina: CowBar Burger and Fries
Address: 411 W. Morgan St., Raleigh
Details: Located inside a food hall, CowBar Burgers offers a vegan patty made of grilled zucchini and kidney beans, infused with curry for a little heat. They’ve also got a wide range of toppings, like truffles, sriracha ketchup and kimchi.
Image Credit: Courtesy of CowBar Burger and Fries.
North Dakota: The Starving Rooster
Address: 512 E. Main Ave., Bismarck & 30 1st St. NE, Minot
Details: The Starving Rooster isn’t exclusively vegetarian food, but it’s a good place to go with a mixed group. Their veggie burger is served with sauteed mushrooms and onions, mozzarella and garlic mayo, and paired with your choice of coleslaw or fresh fruit for a healthy meal.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Starving Rooster’s Facebook.
Ohio: The Greenhouse Tavern
Address: 2038 E. 4th St., Cleveland
Details: It might be hard to get a table at this award-winning Cleveland gastropub, but it’s worth the wait. Keep it light and healthy with their famous veggie burger — a brown rice, beet and bean patty served with aged cheddar.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Greenhouse Tavern.
Oklahoma: Picasso on Paseo
Address: 3009 Paseo Dr., Oklahoma City
Details: This artsy cafe has a wide variety of healthy veggie options on the menu, including fried portobello quinoa tacos and a vegan meatloaf. Their veggie burger is a vegan quinoa black bean burger, served with spicy mayo on a toasted torta bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Picasso on Paseo.
Oregon: White Owl Social Club
Address: 1305 SE 8th Ave., Portland
Details: Portland is a veggie paradise, and the vegan burger at White Owl Social club is beloved by vegan, vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The patty is crafted from beet, wakame seaweed and hazelnut, and it’s served with pea shoots, carrot ribbons and vegan misonaise.
Image Credit: Courtesy of White Owl Social Club.
Pennsylvania: Tattooed Mom
Address: 530 South St., Philadelphia
Details: A Philly dive bar might not seem like the best place to get a fresh, healthy veggie burger, but Tattooed Mom’s burger is a can’t-miss. Skip the cheesesteak and go for the house special vegan burger, which is a local favorite. It comes with lettuce, tomato, onions and a special sauce.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Tattooed Mom.
Rhode Island: Garden Grille
Address: 727 E Ave., Pawtucket
Details: When you go to a vegetarian restaurant, you know they’ll do veggies right, and Garden Grille is no exception. Try their Portobello Bean Burger with a kidney bean and mushroom patty, smokey ‘bacon’ onion jam, crispy sweet potatoes, greens and a tarragon aioli for a healthy blast of flavor.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Garden Grille.
South Carolina: Sesame Burgers & Beer
Address: 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Charleston & 4726 Spruill Ave., Charleston & 675 E. Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mt. Pleasant
Details: This health-conscious, environmentally-friendly burger joint serves up one of the best black bean burgers in town. Choose from one of their signature burger combinations or build your own with local produce and homemade condiments.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sesame Burgers & Beer.
South Dakota: Black Hills Burger & Bun
Address: 441 Mt. Rushmore Rd., Custer
Details: In this meat-loving state, tasty vegetarian options aren’t all that easy to come by, but you don’t need others, thanks to the delicious options at Black Hills Burger & Bun. Topping the list is Vegetarian the Loaded Hunter. It’s a black bean burger topped with roasted red peppers, pepper jack cheese, spinach, red onions and a garlic aioli.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Black Hills Burger & Bun.
Tennessee: The City Silo
Address: 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 104, Memphis
Details: City Silo has a beet walnut burger that is one of the more outlandish menu options. It has a patty made of red beets, crushed walnuts, red onion, carrot, gluten-free oats, dried tomatoes, garlic, tamari, pink salt, herbs and spices, topped with sriracha aioli.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The City Silo’s Facebook .
Texas: Bartlett’s
Address: 2408 W. Anderson Ln., Austin
Details: This detail-oriented restaurant is sure to leave you satisfied. Bartlett’s veggie burger patty is made with brown rice, cremini mushrooms and sweet soy sauce, topped with jack cheese and an avocado-basil spread.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Bartlett’s.
Utah: Oasis Cafe
Address: 151 S. 500 E., Salt Lake City
Details: The vegetable grain burger at Oasis Cafe is a can’t miss item on the lunch menu, even for non-vegetarians. It’s got avocado, romaine, alfalfa sprouts, tomato and swiss cheese — and you can get basil aioli on it or even on the side. It comes on a whole grain bun and is paired with a spinach and avocado salad.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Oasis Cafe.
Vermont: The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
Address: 160 Bank St., Burlington
Details: This place is all about farm-to-table meals and the freshest ingredients really make the food great. Choose from the American Flexitarian — with 100% plant based patty — or the farmhouse veggie, which has smoked queso, roasted mushrooms, arugula and kimchi. You can even sub out the bun for a bed of sauteed kale.
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Farmhouse Tap & Grill’s Facebook.
Virginia: Carytown Burgers & Fries
Address: 3449 W. Cary St., Richmond & 200 Towne Center W. Blvd., Richmond & 5404 Lakeside Ave., Henrico
Details: There’s a full vegetarian burger section on the menu, including traditional things like a black bean burger, but the Impossible Burger is where it’s at. It’s 100% plant-based and, as the menu says, it’s “so close to the real thing, you can hardly even tell the difference.” It comes topped with mayo, mustard, pickles, onions, lettuce and tomato but you can add other toppings for a small up-charge.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Carytown Burgers & Fries.
Washington: Heyday Seattle
Address: 1372 31st Ave. S, Seattle
Details: You could go for the beety bean burger (made with a blend of beets, beans, mushrooms, nuts and brown rice) but the real star here is the grilled halloumi. It’s grilled eggplant, red onions, roma tomatoes, arugula, romesco and olive tapenade. The sides options are a bit less healthy, but how can you resist tater tots served with a chipotle aioli dipping sauce?
Image Credit: Courtesy of Heyday Seattle.
Washington, DC: Zaytinya
Address: 701 9th St., NW, Washington, D.C. & 6555 Winning Dr., Frisco
Details: Expect nothing but quality from Zaytinya, created by celebrity chef Jose Andres. Though the Mediterranian restaurant was founded in D.C., it’s since opened a second (and just as popular) location in Texas. Their veggie burger contains a falafel patty, seasoned with cumin and garlic, that’s placed in between an olive oil brioche bun and smothered in tzatziki sauce.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaytinya’s Facebook.
West Virginia: Bluegrass Kitchen
Address: 1600 Washington St. E, Charleston
Details: This restaurant serves farm-to-table comfort food, specializing in vegetarian dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. The veggie burger is homemade with organic quinoa, veggies and organic tofu on a locally baked bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Bluegrass Kitchen.
Wisconsin: Blue’s Egg
Address: 317 N. 76th, Milwaukee & 4195 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood
Details: Blue’s Egg mainly caters to the brunch crowd, but after 11 a.m., the restaurant applies sustainable sensibilities to lunch fare, including its veggie sausage burger with roasted peppers, provolone, dill cream cheese and an egg bun.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Blue’s Egg’s Facebook.
Wyoming: Jeffrey’s Bistro
Address: 123 E. Ivinson Ave., Laramie
Details: In addition to award-winning wines and beer, Jeffrey’s serves a crispy black bean cheddar burger served on a jalapeno cheddar roll with chipotle mayonnaise, tomato, avocado, lettuce and toasted pumpkin seeds.
Cooking up your own veggie burgers this summer? Here are some ideas on some healthy items to grill.
This article originally appeared on Policygenius and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Jeffrey’s Bistro’s Facebook .