If you’re looking for a restaurant in Philadelphia that’s vegan, gluten-free, and offers a unique take on classic Latin American cuisine, Bar Bombon is a must. They serve up healthy yet delicious dishes, and you can even order a vegan version of the famous Philly cheesesteak empanadas!
Founder Nicole Marquis is also increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour for her three Philadelphia restaurants. Her fast-casual chain HipCityVeg in Rittenhouse Square, cocktail bar Charlie was a sinner, and Bar Bombon all offer the pay increase.
Vegan
Located off of Rittenhouse Square, Bar Bombon is one of the most popular vegan restaurants in Philadelphia. Featuring classic Latin dishes with a plant-based twist, it’s easy to see why!
It’s not just the food that makes this spot a must-visit in Philly. Besides their tasty margarita pitchers, they also serve a wide range of delicious cocktails!
Nicole Marquis, founder of HipCityVeg and charlie was a sinner, is a vegetarian who wanted to share her love of healthy bodies and a healthy planet by offering delicious vegan foods in a fast-food format. She opened her first restaurant in 2012 and has since expanded to two locations in the Philadelphia area.
They offer a variety of burgers, nuggets, salads, and shakes! They even have a vegan Philly cheesesteak to die for! If you’re in the mood for something a little lighter, they have an array of salads and udon noodles to choose from. They can also make many of their dishes gluten-free!
Gluten-Free
If you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity, it can be tough to find restaurant options that are friendly for your needs. But in Philadelphia, restaurants are answering the call with options ranging from allergen-free breads to pizza crusts to even dairy-free desserts.
At South Street’s Mission Taqueria, everything on the menu, including the taqueria tacos and papusas, is safe for diners with gluten allergies or sensitivities. The Mexican spot pumps out corn tortillas by the dozens for dishes like mole-spiced chicken tacos and braised lamb tacos.
Another great option is the upscale Italian restaurant Scarpetta, which serves gluten-free pastas for $4. They also offer Cup4Cup gluten-free all-purpose flour for their pies, which come topped with vegan parm and pumpkin-seed pesto.
The Italian Market shop, which is owned by Omer Taffet and his wife Natasha, makes breads and pastries that are gluten-free, like bagels, sourdough boules, muffins, and pizza crust. Their bakery has a full allergen chart, too.
Falafels
This Latin-inspired spot is a great place to try vegan food and drink in Philadelphia. They offer a wide variety of Mexican, Caribbean, and Latin foods – and all with a vegan twist!
This fast-casual vegan restaurant has three locations in the city, and each one offers a variety of vegan burgers. They also have salads, frozen treats, and more.
The falafel at this place are incredibly flavorful and crispy! They’re served in a pita or on a salad with tahini.
This new vegan spot in Philly has quickly become a cult favorite. They’ve got falafel sandwiches, tehina shakes, and fries. They’re all 100% vegan and they’re delicious!
Latin American
Located right off Rittenhouse Square in the former Crumbs Bake Shop space, bar bombon is a fusion of Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Argentine cuisine. It’s Nicole Marquis’ latest restaurant, and it fuses her plant-based quick-serve expertise with her heritage.
She explains that her inspiration was Old San Juan and bringing her family’s recipes to a larger community, while staying true to the flavors of her Puerto Rican roots. The result is a light, fresh, and a little quirky spot that is putting the fun back in Latin American food.
But like her other restaurants, Marquis relies heavily on a mix-and-match of faux meat replacements (seitan, tempeh, tofu). That’s not to say the vegetable-centric items aren’t tasty — roasted corn on the cob with herbed butter and buffalo cauliflower tacos come highly recommended — but it does make this vegan taqueria feel less ambitious than her quick-serve counterparts.
