I wrote this article a few years ago (before moving to Seattle), but it looks like this is still a pretty accurate list of what is available around Wilmington.
Side Note: Tidal Creek Food Co-Op and Mellow Mushroom were my fave spots for vegan goodness while I lived there.
Okay, here you go:
To my knowledge (and believe me, I’ve looked!), there are no vegan or vegetarian restaurants anywhere near Wilmington, North Carolina. However, this doesn’t mean that all of us living in this beautiful part of the Cape Fear region are destined to dine at home and forego the fun and convenience of dining out with our friends and family.
Before I moved to Wilmington, I did a number of Internet searches for vegan restaurants and natural foods stores, and - while I did find a few helpful resources online – I immediately recognized that being vegan in Wilmington could be a challenge.
Of course, eating at home isn’t a problem – generally speaking, vegans and vegetarians can find most of the groceries they need for a healthy, varied diet even when living in a small, not-so-vegan-friendly town. Grocery shopping for foods that are natural, vegan, organic, gluten-free and the like is also much easier now that knowledge of, and partaking in, healthier living has become much more popular.
However, finding a quick, prepared meal on the go or a dine-in restaurant for an evening out can be considerably more difficult.
After living in Wilmington for a year, I have been fortunate to find that there actually are many more options than one would assume from the lack of local comprehensive vegan and/or vegetarian resources online. I hope this article will assist vegans and vegetarians living in the Wilmington area to find and enjoy some of the many yummy options available to us.
Here is a partial listing of restaurants and delis that offer vegan and vegetarian options, or that have menu items that can be made vegan and/or vegetarian.
Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn (www.flamingamysburritobarn.com)
402 Oleander Drive - 910.799.2919
Menu available online
Dine in, take out and catering available
Vegetarian and vegan options
Tidal Creek Food Co-op (www.tidalcreek.coop)
5329 Oleander Drive - 910.799.2667
Salad bar, sandwiches and wraps at in-store café or for take out
Vegetarian and vegan options
Lovey’s Natural Foods & Café (Loveysmarket.com)
1319 Military Cutoff Road, Suite H (Landfall Shopping Center) - 910.509.0331
Food bar with hot and cold options, juice bar, café seating or take out
Vegetarian and vegan options
India Mahal (http://indiamahalrestaurant.com/)
4610 Maple Avenue - 910.799.2089
Menu available online
Vegetarian and vegan options
Nikki’s Fresh Gourmet (www.menupix.com/wilmington/restaurants.php?id=650214#)
16 S. Front Street – 910.772.9151
Menu available online
Vegetarian and vegan options
Organic Art Cuisine
4606 Maple Avenue - 910.799.1700 (no website yet)
Organic take out and catering is their specialty, but they also have a small dining area for lunch and dinner.
Yosake Downtown Sushi Lounge (Yosake.com)
33 S. Front Street - 910.763.3172
Menu available online
Vegetarian and vegan options
Underground Food & Spirits (www.undergroundwilmington.com)
103 Market Street – 910.763.9686
Menu available online
Live music
Build your own burritos and a vegetarian sandwich that can be made vegan.
Double Happiness (www.dinewilmingtononline.com/menus/double_happiness.php)
4403 Wrightsville Avenue – 910.763.9686
Menu available online
Vegetarian and vegan options
Dine in and take out
(They make their own tofu!)
Hell’s Kitchen (www.hellskitchenbar.com)
118 Princess Street - 910.763.4133
Menu available online
Banyan Asian Café
5001-A Market Street (at the Ramada Inn) - (910) 790-8597
Indochine (http://www.indochinewilmington.com/)
7 Wayne Drive - 910.251.9229
Menu available online
Vegetarian and vegan options
Big Thai
1001 N. 4th Street - 910.763.3035
Vegetarian and vegan options
Mellow Mushroom (www.mellowmushroom.com)
4311 Oleander Drive – 910. 452.3773
Menu available online
Vegetarian options on menu that can be made vegan
(They have tempeh!)
Hiro Japanese Steak and Seafood House (Hirojapanesesteakhouse.com)
222 Old Eastwood Road (University Landing Shopping Center) - 910.794.1570
Menu available online
Menu has vegetarian section
Tango du Chat (Tangoduchat.com)
123 Princess Street – 910.762.8723
Menu available online
Vegetarian and vegan options
Pita Delite (pitadelite.com)
317 S. College Road – 910.392.0028
Menu available online
Vegetarian options on menu that can be made vegan
Sumo Express Japanese Cuisine (Sumoexpress.com)
125 S. Kerr Avenue, Suite 4 – 910.392.9444
Menu available online
Vegetarian options on menu
The George on the Riverwalk (thegeorgeontheriverwalk.com)
128 S. Water Street - 910.763.2052
Menu available online
Vegetarian options that can be made vegan
(They offer dock and dine!)
Ruby Tuesday
Menu online at www.rubytuesday.com
Various locations – visit site for addresses and phone numbers
Salad bar and vegetarian burger
Dine in and take out