Breakfast can be a tricky meal for vegans when dining out. Usually breakfast and brunch menus are dominated with bacon, breakfast sausage, eggs, and even sweet options, like French toast and pancakes, made with milk and eggs. While a bowl of fruit is nice, sometimes you want a hearty, savory option that are meat-eating friends enjoy. Fortunately, there are plenty of spots right in Boulder that offer tasty vegan breakfast options. (Note: Anytime you’re ordering, it’s always helpful to mention to make it vegan.)
Thrive
There’s no menu guesswork at Thrive – everything on the menu is totally vegan so you can order freely. For breakfast, in addition to tons of customizable healthy superfood smoothies to quench your thirst, you’ll find hearty puddings and porridges ($5.55 each). The Egyptian Sunrise has sprouted almond mylk, chia seeds, avocado, coconut crystals, almonds, shilajit, cardamom, maca, mesquite, cacao, and dates.
Thrive, 1509 Arapahoe Ave, 720-616-7785
Walnut Café
There are plenty of delicious vegan options for both lunch and breakfast at the Walnut Café. In the Boulder Scramble, they swap the standard eggs for tofu along with veggies. For a hearty option, the Tofu Rancheros tops a flour tortilla with tofu, black beans, homemade salsa, and soy cheese. Dana’s Tempeh Skillet combines protein-packed tempeh with veggies and potatoes. Feeling creative? Make your own vegan omelet or scramble with vegan sausage, soy jack cheese, and veggies.
Walnut Café, 3073 Walnut Street, 303-447-2315
Southside Walnut, 673 South Broadway Street, 720-304-8118
Super Mini Walnut, 2770 Arapahoe Road, # 116, Lafayette, 720-328-9208
LEAF Vegetarian Restaurant
LEAF serves brunch, with plenty of vegan options, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Huevos” Rancheros are made with organic tofu instead of eggs and topped with Mexican rice, black beans, green chili, pico de gallo, guacamole, and corn tortillas. Biscuits and Gravy are made with house-made sausage, and there is a fresh daily vegan pastry. The brunch menu is rounded out with French Toast, salads, and sandwiches, including a tasty tempeh-tofu-wakame vegan crab cake sandwich.
LEAF Vegetarian, 2010 16th Street, 303-442-1485
Zeal
All vegan options are clearly marked on Zeal’s breakfast menu. Sweet options include a a variety of granolas or a seasonal chia pudding topped with a nut crumble. Build your own breakfast bowl with quinoa, cauliflower rice, or brown rice, topped with sweet potato and sautéed kale, topped with a tofu scramble. Their roasted sweet potato hash is totally vegan, too.
Zeal, 1710 Pearl St., 720-708-6309
The Buff Restaurant
The Buff is one of the most popular breakfast spots in Boulder so it’s helpful to know what’s there when your friends went to go. All pancakes can me made with a dairy- and gluten-free batter, including their Granola Pancakes, filled with crunchy granola. Just skip the butter to make them vegan.
The Buff Restaurant, 2600 Canyon Blvd., 303-442-9150
Snooze A.M Eatery
Swap eggs for tofu in the scramble that’s made with hash browns and toast or tortillas. There are plenty of veggies to mix in, including wild mushrooms, spinach, tomato, arugula, caramelized onions, and poblano peppers.
Snooze A.M. Eatery, 1617 Pearl St., 303-225-7344
Have a favorite we missed? Don’t be shy about sharing with your fellow vegan friends.
