With a population of over 8.4 million individuals as of 2021, New York City is one of the world’s most dynamic and culturally diverse metropolises, with over 32 million people having only visited this location in 2021. The varied restaurant scene that caters to dietary regimes that you may have yet to hear about is one of the main attractions in The City That Never Sleeps.

Choosing the best one can be an overwhelming process with numerous options. To ease your journey, we’ve crafted a list of hand-picked restaurants that raise the bar in Empire City regarding quality, taste, and healthiness, so let’s discover these leaders and find the most suitable ones for you!

Just Salad

Who said salads must be limited to a few combination options or taste bland? Is everyone still believing salads can’t make a complete meal that provides all the nutrients, proteins, vitamins, healthy fats, and enzymes necessary to call the meal balanced?

With myriad ingredient combinations thoroughly created to meet the needs and preferences of the pickiest of customers, Just Salad, a health-oriented restaurant specializing in salads, ranks among the best places to serve a plant-centric meal. Its rising popularity propelled it to become the largest restaurant reusable program globally, using cutting-edge, sustainable technology and cooking practices. Having been activated for around 17 years already, the chain expanded to cover areas beyond NYC, having established 70 locations worldwide. When it comes to the United States, you can find Just Salad restaurants across Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, Florida, Connecticut, and more.

This place is a favorite among vegans and vegetarians, given the wide range of animal-friendly alternatives provided. However, not only those who adopt this lifestyle cheer this fast-casual salad chain. NYC is not leading the ranks of the best cities for vegans and vegetarians, pushing many plant-eaters to reserve parking lots at https://parkos.com/ and travel to other locations, such as Californian or Oregonian ones, which reign in this regard. Therefore, Just Salad is just one of the health-centric spots that push NYC higher in the list of locations with suitable spots for plant-eaters, with mouthwatering meals that are also gaining the hearts of convinced meat-eaters.

Bareburger

Anyone can attest that burgers are some of the most irresistible meals, especially when it comes to fast food eateries built in the city that’s thought to be the birthplace of these delicacies, NYC. There’s enough reason to trust the legends, whatsoever. Such an establishment is believed to have been operating around 1820 and was named after a port in the North Sea, offering street food to German sailors on Chambers Street. By 1850, the concept already garnered notoriety and only experienced fast growth.

 Now that you know how it all started, you can realize the evolution that took place throughout time so that you can indulge in out-of-this-world delicious burgers that offer more than an unforgettable taste. Bareburger, with a history of more than 14 years and a humble beginning, is now one of the most reputed street food establishments in NYC. Here, you can find goodies using patties from organic grass-fed beef, sharp farm-style cheddar, uncured bacon, antibiotic-free chicken, all-natural bison and grass-fed elk, and organic baby kale. The vegan burgers rise just as high in terms of the quality and safety of the products and their growth and sourcing.

We consider this information enough to create an idea of how reliable this eatery is, so all you’re left with is sorting through the numerous options to find the killer, healthy burger that takes your breath away.  

Playa Bowls

Smoothies, fresh juices, freshly ground coffee, as well as bowls containing oatmeal, poke, acai, and other nutritious ingredients are all synonymous with healthy meals. Ever dreamed of seeing your goodies being prepared in front of your face, with fruits cut and squeezed as you’re watching with lust? This place is exactly where you need to head. You don’t need to book spots at parking Newark airport and travel to exotic places like the Maldives or Bali for this ultimate experience. Just head to one of the five NYC-established Playa Bowls locations.

This franchise is operated by a father-daughter team, Raj and Misha Punwani, who started it all to provide a wide range of assortments for flavor- and health-oriented individuals. Their offerings encompass many holistic health benefits, such as digestive-aiding, phytonutrient-providing, cell-healing, body-detoxifying, and metabolism- and immunity-stimulating ones. As such, you can rest assured you’ll find a spot for all these heavenly goodies closer or further.

Springbone

Springbone, a fast-casual dining establishment, has steadfastly committed to premium food offerings since day one. Over time, it has educated a growing community of New Yorkers and individuals far and wide about the health benefits of freshly prepared broths. As a result, it has established new benchmarks for health-centric cuisine within the city.

You can visit this paleo-inspired eatery in Williamsburg, FiDi, and West Village, and rest assured your order is cooked that exact day with fresh ingredients. This place takes pride in meals that, despite not being completely paleo, use high-quality meat and veggies, are low in sugar and grains, and are abundant in nutrients.

Those suffering from gluten intolerance can indulge in a savory Mexican bowl. Besides these famous gluten-free options, chicken broth is also another option that has fueled the restaurant’s rise in popularity. More alternatives are available on the menu here, such as desserts, sandwiches, and soups, and they can be savored at home or their location.

Ladybird

From time to time, you may just find yourself daydreaming about a heart-healthy repast that goes beyond mere nutritional considerations or ingredient origins. You want something upscale – a feast that delights your taste buds and your visual senses.

Ladybird, a restaurant with a seasonally rotating menu specializing in vegan tapas and cocktails and offering some fine wine choices, is the exact spot to meet this desire. It creates visual masterpieces to admire in elegant and refined settings but is also engaging in delivery if you want to pamper yourself in the comfort of your home. From Buffalo Maitake Bun to Tofu Bun, you have several carefully crafted offerings to choose from.

So, what place got you drooling, and which meals are you the most eager to try in the rich NYC?