Vegan dining isn’t just a coastal trend anymore — and a new study proves it.
Researchers from price comparison site Pricelisto.com analyzed 125 major U.S. cities to reveal where vegans have the most options, and Orlando, Florida, came out on top.
The study ranked cities based on four key factors: the number of vegan-friendly restaurants per capita, average restaurant ratings, the volume of vegan-related Google searches, and the number of reviews per restaurant.
The 10 most vegan-friendly cities in America
- Orlando, Florida — 78.39
- New Orleans, Louisiana — 75.45
- Portland, Oregon — 74.94
- Atlanta, Georgia — 74.04
- Salt Lake City, Utah — 73.99
- Miami, Florida — 73.58
- Scottsdale, Arizona — 72.93
- Las Vegas, Nevada — 72.91
- St. Louis, Missouri — 72.47
- Seattle, Washington — 72.27
Why Orlando leads the way
With more than 200 vegan-friendly restaurants for every 100,000 residents, Orlando scored 78.39 out of 100 — the highest in the nation.
The city outperformed larger, more established vegan hubs by sheer concentration of options, making it easier than ever for locals and visitors to eat plant-based.
New Orleans followed closely behind with a score of 75.45, standing out for high restaurant engagement, with an average of 702 reviews per vegan-friendly spot.
Portland, long considered a vegan mecca, placed third, while Atlanta came in fourth thanks to the highest Google search volume for vegan-related terms.
Salt Lake City rounded out the top five, showing just how much vegan culture has expanded into less-expected regions.
The least vegan-friendly cities
At the other end of the rankings, Hialeah, Florida, finished last with a score of just 27.7. Yonkers, New York; North Las Vegas, Nevada; Moreno Valley, California; and Santa Ana, California made up the rest of the bottom five.
These cities generally had fewer vegan restaurants per capita, lower ratings, and less online interest in vegan topics.
A growing mainstream movement
A Pricelisto.com spokesperson noted the shift in the U.S. vegan landscape:
“Ten years ago, most people would have expected a city like Portland or Los Angeles to come out on top.
“Seeing Orlando take the lead shows just how much things have changed. Cities like New Orleans, Atlanta, and Miami are proving that plant-based dining is no longer a coastal trend.
“Restaurants are meeting the demand from people who want more options, whether they’re vegan full-time or just exploring it part of the week.”
With Orlando now setting the bar — and southern cities rising fast — the study suggests vegan dining is firmly moving into the mainstream.
Leave a Reply