Mercy Tavern
148 Derby Street
Mercy Tavern is a fine place to drink, but for vegan food you are going to be getting an Impossible Burger without the cheese. That’s about it.
New England Soup Company
140 Washington Street
The soup factory always has a signboard outside saying it has vegan options, so although the menu changes, it seems like that stays the same. What are those options? Soup of course!
Paprika Grill
2 Liberty Street
Since the pandemic, this place has literally become a walk up window where you order, with a few outdoor seats. That said, it’s good falafel and other vegan Middle Eastern you can get in a hurry when you’re downtown or visiting PEM.
Ray Adea’s Mediterranean Kitchen
90 Lafayette Street
Everything here is either vegan or able to be made vegan easily. And everything is very delicious. A selection of Israeli casual food and the best fries in town, without a doubt. An excellent choice to take out for lunch or early dinner.
Sage’s Fusion Kitchen
177 Fort Avenue
Sage’s offers vegan pho, a bbq tofu sandwich and some vegan sides including a nice slaw. This is not the Salem Willows of old!
Soall Vietnamese
With locations in the neighboring towns of Beverly and Marblehead Soall offers fresh, simple but delicious Vietnamese food. The vegan version of their bahn mi, fresh rolls, and bun are all well worth a chomp.
Spitfire Tacos
105 Lafayette Street
Can you say vegan quesadilla? It’s really something. Also vegan tacos and very good rice and beans as well as the usual chips and salsa or guac. A great choice for lunch or dinner. It’s tiny so plan to take your food to go.
Sweet Java
539 Loring Avenue
Definitely not in downtown Salem, but if you happen to heading to Vinnin Square for shopping or are on your way to Lynn, Swampscott, or Marblehead, Sweet Java is a sweet coffee spot. They brew Jim’s coffee (an awesome local roast) and serve these yummy vegan “energy balls” in a variety of flavors. They also have bagels and sometimes other vegan treats.
The Gyro Spot
128 Washington Street
Several vegan-by-default wraps in both gyro and (Mediterranean) burrito form as well as a lot of vegetarian options that could probably have the tzatziki easily omitted. A casual spot downtown for a quick bite.
The Juicery
83 Washington Street
A smoothie and açai bowl joint, this is a good place for a light breakfast or lunch. They also have a handful of vegan takeaway foods in their cold case including some raw vegan “energy balls” that are good snack to have on hand.
The Lobster Shanty
25 Front Street, in Artist’s Row
Not a wide variety for the vegan — just a Beyond Burger and sides — but this is where the locals go for a pleasant place to sit outside, have drinks and watch Salem go by.
The Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel
18 Washington Square West
t might not look it from its gorgeous Victorian Gentleman’s club interiors, but The Tavern does actually offer changing vegan options, along with cocktails galore.
Witch City Hibachi
94 Lafayette Street
Witch City Hibachi offers a bunch of vegan stuff from various Asian destinations. Their veggie tempura is egg free and their selection of Thai curries is vegan if you order them with tofu. They also have a vegan udon dish and tofu terriyaki. They don’t grill their hibachi veggies on the same grill as the meat, either, in case that comes into play in your nom nom choices.
Witch’s Brew Café
156 Derby Street
Vegan food is definitely not a star attraction here, but if you happen in, there is a hummus plate, a house salad and a bean burger.
Wolf Next Door Coffee
142 Derby Street
If you like excellent, strong, locally-roasted coffee, Wolf Next Door is for you. This tiny shop brews Jim’s coffee and offers the usual complement of fake mylks and even a vegan coffee special. They serve simple breakfast sandwiches to go, and these include some unfussy vegan options like hummus, avocado and/or Beyond sausage on a bagel. This spot is take out only — although if you go when the lunch and dinner place next door isn’t open yet, you can use their outside seating. Also a quick walk to a big grassy field and some spots to sit by the ocean. (Salem Maritime National Historic Site).