Plaza Shamrock · ethiopian

Abugida is a family-run Ethiopian room on Central Avenue that describes itself simply as a 'Family owned authentic Ethiopian restaurant'. The food is eaten the traditional way, scooped with injera rather than cutlery, and the kitchen keeps a wide range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free dishes on the board because Ethiopian fasting cooking is built that way. The cafe also serves a full coffee ceremony, poured at the table with frankincense burning alongside it.

Plaza Midwood · vegan, comfort food, southern

One of Charlotte's oldest vegan restaurants, in an unassuming building off Independence Boulevard, with a long menu of fully vegan comfort cooking: barbecue, cheesesteaks, bratwurst, reubens, meatloaf and crab cakes.

Ballantyne · south indian, indian, vegetarian

A fast-casual South Indian street food counter on Camfield Street in Ballantyne, open since 2019 and solely vegetarian: dosas, chaats and vadas ordered at the counter.

Plaza Midwood · vietnamese, pho

Cilantro Noodle is a Vietnamese room on Commonwealth Avenue built around build-your-own fresh rolls and pho, with what its own site calls home style recipes. It is family-run and says so directly: that's Grandma you see in the kitchen. Vegan pho is on the menu.