13 Colorado Plant-Based Spots That Convert Even Hard-Core Carnivores

Colorado has a special talent for making people talk tough about their food preferences right up until the first forkful proves that confidence is, in fact, edible and very easy to misplace.

I still remember bringing a proudly meat-loving friend to a plant-based spot in Denver, watching them arrive with folded arms and a “we will see” face, and then witnessing the exact moment their eyebrows announced surrender before their mouth did.

What I love about these restaurants is how they skip the lecture, skip the guilt trip, and go straight for flavor, texture, and comfort, which is basically the culinary version of showing receipts without saying a word.

From sushi that feels surprisingly complete to pizza that delivers full-on cozy energy, Colorado’s plant-based scene keeps pulling off the same magic trick: it makes skeptics focus on how good it tastes rather than what they expected to be missing.

So if you have ever assumed plant-based food means smaller portions, fewer cravings, or a meal that ends with you shopping for snacks, keep reading, because these 15 Colorado restaurants are about to turn that assumption into a very funny memory.

1. Wellness Sushi, Denver

My favorite way to test a plant-based place is to bring someone who thinks sushi without seafood is a prank, then watch them quietly reach for a second bite.

You will find Wellness Sushi at 2504 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206.

Instead of trying to be “almost the same,” this spot leans into bold, Japanese-inspired flavors and a menu built to prove vegetables can absolutely show off.

I keep picturing the moment a skeptical friend realizes the “missing” ingredient is not seafood at all, it is imagination, and suddenly they are ordering like they pay rent here.

For anyone who enjoys a lively strip with plenty of people-watching, Colfax delivers, and this place makes it weirdly easy to forget you came in with doubts in the first place.

2. Mora Pizza, Denver

Some pizzas are background noise, but this one is the kind that makes my inner food critic stop narrating and start chewing.

Mora Pizza is located at 614 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80203.

The whole point here is unapologetically plant-based pizza, the sort that goes big on comfort and refuses to act like it is “just for vegans.”

When I am trying to win over a friend who believes pizza requires the usual toppings to feel complete, I love the look they get when the crust and sauce do all the convincing.

For prime “late lunch or early dinner” energy, this neighborhood makes it easy to grab a pie and feel like you planned your day on purpose.

3. Vegan Van, Denver

I have a soft spot for places that serve comfort food with a straight face and then casually reveal it is all plant-based.

Vegan Van’s permanent spot is at 5155 E 39th Ave, Denver, CO 80207.

This is the kind of menu that speaks fluent “cravings,” with that cozy, satisfying vibe that usually convinces people before they even ask what the ingredients are.

I like to imagine the conversion moment happening mid-bite, when the only question left is why anyone ever said plant-based food cannot be hearty.

However, show up with your appetite wide open, because this is not the place for polite nibbling and pretending you are “just looking.”

4. Wong Way Veg, Denver

Nothing says “I mean business” like a plant-based spot that makes you forget to ask where the protein is because you are too busy enjoying yourself.

Wong Way Veg is listed at 1460 Leyden St, Denver, CO 80220.

The vibe is playful, the food is built for maximum satisfaction, and it is exactly the kind of stop that turns skeptics into the people who suggest it first.

I always laugh at how quickly the conversation shifts from “Is this really vegan?” to “Okay, what else should we order,” because confidence is contagious and so are good cravings.

This is a smart wildcard pick for anyone building a Denver food crawl, since it hits that sweet spot between fun, filling, and surprisingly hard to share.

5. The Cake Bar, Denver

Dessert is my sneaky strategy for plant-based persuasion, because nobody argues with cake when it is already in their hand.

The Cake Bar is at 214 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80203.

This is a vegan bakery that leans into nostalgic flavors and big, celebratory energy, minus the ingredients people assume are “required” for a proper sweet treat.

I have learned that the fastest way to convert a doubter is to offer them a forkful without a speech, then simply wait for the eyebrows to do the admitting.

For a perfectly timed “one more stop” after dinner, this is the kind of place that turns “one bite” into a very polite lie.

6. V Revolution, Englewood

When a menu looks like it was designed to satisfy cravings first and explain itself later, I know I am in the right place.

V Revolution sits at 3570 S Logan St, Englewood, CO 80113.

This is a fully vegan restaurant that goes after bold, familiar comfort favorites, which makes it perfect for that friend who thinks vegetables are only for side quests.

I keep a mental scoreboard for “converted bites,” and this is the type of spot that racks up points fast because nobody leaves still making skeptical faces.

This one belongs on the itinerary when you need something crowd-pleasing that does not require a debate at the table.

7. Tasty Harmony, Fort Collins

I love a restaurant that feels welcoming enough for a casual lunch, but serious enough to make you rethink what plant-based cooking can do.

Tasty Harmony is located at 160 W Oak St, Fort Collins, CO 80524.

It is a botanical, plant-forward eatery that has been feeding Fort Collins for years, with a menu that makes “vegetarian restaurant” sound like a compliment, not a warning label.

I have noticed skeptics relax the second they see how many comfort-leaning options exist, because nobody wants a lecture, they want something delicious and filling.

This spot makes it easy to do the responsible thing and the satisfying thing at the same time, without feeling like you compromised.

8. Lotus Moon Vegan Pho, Boulder

Pho is my go-to peace treaty food, because once that fragrant bowl shows up, even the loudest doubter gets strangely quiet.

Lotus Moon Vegan Pho is at 2770 Pearl St, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80302.

This is a fully vegan Vietnamese spot that does pho, dumplings, and more, with the kind of depth that makes you forget you ever associated plant-based with “light.”

I always picture someone arriving convinced they will be hungry again in an hour, then leaning back afterward with that satisfied look people get when they were pleasantly wrong.

For anyone exploring Boulder’s Pearl area, this is an easy anchor stop that feels comforting, flavorful, and extremely repeatable when the craving hits again.

9. The Burrowing Owl, Colorado Springs

Some places feel like they were built for long conversations and second orders, which is convenient because plant-based food is more fun when it becomes a hangout.

The Burrowing Owl is at 1791 S 8th St, Unit H, Colorado Springs, CO 80905.

It is a 100% vegan spot in Colorado Springs, and it has the kind of menu that speaks directly to comfort cravings rather than trying to impress you with restraint.

I like the idea of bringing the “I need a hearty meal” friend here, because it is the quickest way to turn skepticism into a surprisingly enthusiastic ordering strategy.

For a Springs day that needs one truly satisfying meal, this is a smart stop when you want something social, filling, and unapologetically plant-based.

10. Santana’s Vegan Grill, Colorado Springs

If I could bottle the joy of a fast, craveable plant-based meal, it would taste like the moment someone realizes they do not miss a thing.

Santana’s Vegan Grill is listed on its official site at 5609 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

This is an all-vegan menu built around familiar favorites, which is exactly why it works so well for the “I just want something classic” crowd.

I have a running joke that the best plant-based conversion tool is speed plus flavor, because if the food arrives fast and hits hard, nobody has time to argue.

This is the kind of place where everyone finds something they actually want, not something they settle for.

11. Spring Cafe, Aspen

Aspen can feel fancy, but nothing is more luxurious than food that makes you feel energized instead of weighed down and grumpy.

Spring Cafe is at 119 S Spring St, Aspen, CO 81611.

This spot focuses on organic, plant-based cooking, plus a lineup that makes it easy to grab something fresh and genuinely satisfying while you are in town.

I always think this is where you take the friend who insists “healthy food is boring,” because boredom is not really an option when the flavors are dialed in.

For an easy Aspen add-on between errands and wandering, the location makes it simple to swing by and leave feeling like you made a smart choice.

12. Piante Pizzeria, Breckenridge

Pizza tastes even better when you are at an elevation, mostly because everything feels like an accomplishment, including finishing a whole pie.

Piante Pizzeria is located at 520 S Main St, #3M, Breckenridge, CO 80424.

This is a plant-based-focused pizzeria right on Main Street, and it is exactly the kind of place that makes plant-based eating feel like a reward rather than a rule.

I like to imagine the “mountain day appetite” arriving first, then the pizza showing up and immediately turning the table into a happy silence with occasional nods of approval.

For a Breckenridge stroll that ends with real comfort food, Main Street makes this one an easy stop when the craving hits hard.

13. The Cutting Board, Pueblo

A great plant-based sandwich can make people forget their usual order so fast it should probably come with a warning label for indecision.

The Cutting Board is currently operating inside Kava Colorado at 113 E Abriendo Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004, so I would double-check the latest hours before you go.

It is known as a vegan-friendly stop in Pueblo, which is exactly why it works for mixed groups who want comfort food energy without the usual ingredient assumptions.

I like the idea of bringing the “sandwich purist” friend here, because a good bite has a way of turning debates into a quiet, respectful focus on the meal.

For anyone passing through Pueblo, this is the kind of practical, satisfying stop that makes you feel like you planned ahead, even if you absolutely did not.