Eating vegetarian or vegan in Provo used to mean surviving on side dishes and salad bars. The options were thin, the creativity was nonexistent, and asking about plant-based options at most restaurants earned you a blank stare and a plate of steamed broccoli.
That's changed substantially. A growing health-conscious population, more dietary diversity among the student body, and a few dedicated plant-forward restaurants have made Provo and Orem genuinely viable for vegetarians and vegans — not just survivable. This guide covers the best dedicated plant-based restaurants, the omnivore spots with excellent vegetarian options, and the practical tips for navigating a food scene that still skews heavily toward meat.
Dedicated Vegetarian & Vegan Spots
Ginger's Garden Café
Vegetarian · $$ · Springville
The best dedicated vegetarian restaurant in the area, and it's worth the short drive to Springville. Ginger's serves fresh, health-forward food with a menu built around bowls, wraps, smoothies, and seasonal dishes that taste genuinely good — not just "good for health food." The chicken harvest bowl is a favorite (using plant-based chicken), and the smoothie menu is extensive and well-executed. The atmosphere is calm, airy, and welcoming. If you're vegetarian and want a place where you don't have to compromise or explain yourself, this is it. Yoga classes are available next door, making it easy to pair a class with lunch.
Best for: Plant-based dining without compromise, health-conscious eaters, lunch with friends
Vegan Bowl
Vegan · $ · Orem
A fast-casual vegan spot that builds customizable bowls with plant-based proteins, grains, vegetables, and sauces. The format is simple — choose your base, your protein, your toppings — and the execution is solid. Portions are generous and prices are student-friendly. It's not trying to be a fine dining experience; it's trying to make vegan food accessible, affordable, and satisfying. It succeeds.
Best for: Quick vegan meals, budget-friendly plant-based lunch
Govinda's Buffet
Vegetarian Indian · $ · Provo
An all-vegetarian Indian buffet that offers a spread of curries, rice dishes, naan, and sides — all completely meat-free. The food draws from traditional Indian vegetarian cooking, which has thousands of years of culinary tradition behind it. The result is food that's naturally satisfying and flavorful without relying on meat substitutes. The buffet format means you can try a wide variety of dishes, and the price point is very reasonable.
Best for: Vegetarian Indian food, buffet variety, budget dining
Enliten Bakery & Café
Vegan-Friendly Bakery · $ · Provo
A bakery with strong vegan and gluten-free options. The baked goods — muffins, cookies, bread — are made with health-conscious ingredients, and many items are fully vegan. It's more of a bakery-café than a full restaurant, so think pastries and coffee rather than entrées. But if you're vegan and want a reliable spot for a morning treat, this fills a genuine gap in Provo.
Best for: Vegan baked goods, coffee and pastry stops
Omnivore Restaurants with Outstanding Vegetarian Options
You don't need a dedicated vegan restaurant to eat well plant-based in Provo. Several of the city's best restaurants offer vegetarian dishes that are genuinely excellent — not afterthoughts.
Communal
Farm-to-Table · $$$ · Center Street
Provo's best restaurant is also one of its best for vegetarians. Communal's seasonal menu always includes beautifully prepared vegetable dishes that stand on their own rather than feeling like "the thing you order when there's nothing else." The seasonal vegetable preparations change regularly and often feature produce from local farms. Tell your server you're vegetarian and they'll guide you through the menu.
Guru's Café
Eclectic · $ · Center Street
A Provo institution with a bohemian vibe and a menu that's been vegetarian-friendly since before it was trendy. The açai bowls, veggie burgers, and plant-forward entrées are solid, and the portions are generous. The staff is used to vegetarian and vegan requests, and the kitchen is accommodating with modifications.
Black Sheep Café
Contemporary Southwestern · $$ · Downtown
Black Sheep's menu includes several vegetarian-friendly dishes, and the kitchen is willing to adapt others. The blue corn pancakes (vegetarian) are a standout, and the seasonal vegetable dishes draw from Southwestern ingredients and flavors that naturally lend themselves to plant-based preparation. Always worth asking about the current vegetarian specials.
Bombay House
Indian · $$ · University Ave
Indian cuisine is inherently one of the most vegetarian-friendly culinary traditions, and Bombay House executes it well. The vegetable curries, dal, paneer dishes, chana masala, and vegetable biryani are all excellent. The lunch buffet is particularly good for vegetarians — roughly half the dishes are meat-free, and they're the ones with the most complex flavors. This is where vegetarians in Provo eat when they want a genuinely satisfying meal without ordering a "veggie burger."
See our Best Indian Food guide for the full review.
Aubergine Kitchen
Healthy American · $$ · Provo
Built around a health-conscious menu that makes vegetarian and plant-forward eating easy without sacrificing flavor. The bowls, salads, and grain-based dishes are substantial enough to feel like real meals rather than side dishes, and the ingredient quality is high. Good for lunch meetings or a casual dinner with friends.
Backdoor BRGR
Gourmet Burgers · $$ · Downtown
Yes, a burger joint. Backdoor BRGR offers a veggie burger and a vegan burger option that are both better than the afterthought veggie patties you'll find at most burger places. The creativity they apply to their meat burgers carries over to the plant-based options. If you're dining with a group of omnivores and need a burger spot where you can actually eat well, this works.
Grocery & Cooking Resources
If you cook at home — which most vegetarians and vegans in Provo end up doing regularly — knowing where to shop matters:
Good Earth Natural Foods — The best dedicated natural foods store in the area. Wide selection of organic produce, plant-based proteins, specialty vegan products, and bulk items. Prices are higher than conventional grocery stores, but the selection is unmatched locally.
Trader Joe's (Orem) — The vegan and vegetarian prepared foods selection at Trader Joe's is excellent and affordable. Their frozen Indian meals, plant-based proteins, and snack options make weeknight cooking easy.
Asian Market (Orem) — Tofu, tempeh, miso, fresh noodles, specialty sauces, and produce that mainstream grocery stores don't carry. Essential for anyone cooking Asian-influenced vegetarian food.
Harmons — The best mainstream grocery store for vegetarian ingredients. Their produce section, bulk foods, and specialty items are a step above Smith's or Walmart.
Tips for Vegetarian & Vegan Dining in Provo
Ask questions. Many Provo restaurants can accommodate vegetarian and vegan requests but don't explicitly list plant-based options on the menu. Don't assume a dish can't be modified — most kitchens are willing to swap proteins, hold the cheese, or adjust a preparation.
Indian and Thai are your best friends. Both cuisines have deep vegetarian traditions and naturally produce flavorful plant-based dishes. Bombay House, India Palace, and Thai Simple Dish all offer excellent vegetarian options. See our Best Thai Food guide.
BYU's Cannon Center has options. If you're a student, the dining hall's salad bar and rotating vegetable dishes can sustain a vegetarian diet, though the variety won't match what you'll find off-campus.
The scene is improving. Five years ago, this guide would have been much shorter. The trajectory is positive — new restaurants are increasingly including vegetarian options as standard, and dedicated plant-based spots are opening with more regularity. Salt Lake City remains the better choice for serious vegan dining, but Provo is closing the gap.
Related Guides
- 25 Best Restaurants in Provo
- Best Indian Food in Provo & Orem
- Best Thai Food in Provo & Orem
- Eating on a Student Budget
- Best Coffee & Café Spots
- Best Healthy & Clean Eating Restaurants
Last updated: April 2026. Restaurant details reflect current operations and may change.