This vegan Iowa round-up features plant-based options from across the state: Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and more.
Whether you’re a longtime local, visiting family, or just passing through, you’ll find there are more plant-based options in Iowa than you might expect - tucked into small towns, college communities, and vibrant cities.
Over the years, I've explored vegan-friendly spots all across the state.
Below, you'll find a list of cities and areas I've written about, with links to full guides for each one.
Whether you're looking for a cinnamon roll in Des Moines, hummus and falafel in Iowa City, or Indian thali in Fairfield, I've got you covered.
(I’ve also veganized some iconic Iowa dishes. Keep scrolling for the complete list at the bottom of this post.)
Jump to a city or topic:
Cedar Falls & Waterloo
Cedar Falls & Waterloo are two of the few places in Iowa where you can find fried, yeast-raised vegan donuts!
In addition to donuts, the area offers cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, smoothie bowls, the biggest smash burgers you’ve ever seen, and fun sightseeing.
Get the inside scoop in this vegan food guide to Cedar Falls & Waterloo, Iowa.
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa.
In addition to The Full Bowl, a vegetarian fast food spot, there are a number of vegan offerings in the city.
Options include Mexican fare, Indian stews, and mind-blowing deep dish pizza.
Get the full rundown in this post on Cedar Rapids vegan options.
Decorah
Decorah is a quaint town in the Driftless Region.
Visit for their bluffs, waterfalls, and eagles. Then stay for tasty vegan options like colorful bowls, cozy comfort food, and substantive breakfasts.
Get the complete rundown in my post on Decorah, Iowa vegan options.
Des Moines & surrounding areas
The number of vegan items in Iowa’s capital city seem to grow by the day.
Look for plant-based options like cinnamon rolls, pizza, Thai food, and an award winning farmers market.
Get the full rundown in my post on vegan Des Moines.
Fairfield
Fairfield is an eclectic small town that’s surprisingly vegan-friendly!
You can find tempting options like masala dosa thali and dairy-free creamy Italian sodas.
Get all of the details in my post on vegan restaurant options in Fairfield.
Iowa City
Iowa City has the charm of a small town and the vibrancy of a place that attracts people from all over the globe.
Trumpet Blossom is the city’s one vegan restaurant.
There are also lots of restaurants that can accommodate vegan diners with options like falafel bowls, burgers, cinnamon rolls, and even nooch for your popcorn.
Get all of the details in this post on vegan Iowa City.
Mason City
Mason City is best known as being home to Meredith Willson of Music Man fame.
It also offers a number of options for plant-based eaters like drunken noodles, non-dairy ice cream, and jackfruit salad.
Get all of the details in this post Mason City, Iowa.
Oxford – Iowa Farm Sanctuary
Iowa Farm Sanctuary is a haven for rescued farmed animals.
During warm weather months, they are open to the public on Sunday afternoons.
It opened in 2016, and was co-founded by Shawn & Jered Camp.
They have been rescuing abandoned, abused, and neglected cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens ever since.
You can read all about it in this post on Iowa Farm Sanctuary.
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities runs along the Eastern border of the state.
It includes Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline.
Vegans can find delicious options that include Thai stir-fries, pizza, and Indian stews.
Get all of the details in this post on vegan Quad Cities.
Vegan recipes inspired by Iowa favorites
In addition to eating my way across the state, I've also reimagined some beloved Iowa dishes and restaurant favorites in vegan form.
Here are a few of them, straight from my kitchen:
- Vegan pork tenderloin sandwich: It doesn’t get more Iowa than this
- Puffy tacos: A veganized take on Tasty Tacos in Des Moines
- Fried nachos: Another Tasty Tacos re-make
- Vegan taco pizza: For those who grew up on Happy Joe’s
- Spicy vegan hot sausage sandwich: A veganized take on the Norwoodville Tap
- Hot open faced sandwich: A riff on one of my favorites growing up
- Chipotle tofu dumplings: Inspired by the now-closed Dumpling Darling, a small Iowa chain
- Gochujang Brussels sprouts: Another nod to Dumpling Darling's unforgettable sides
- Vegan walking tacos: A state fair classic turned plant-based
- Vegan rhubarb crisp: Inspired by backyard gardens and summer potlucks
- Rhubarb pudding cake: This old timey recipe is a favorite at summer get-togethers
- Vegan chili dogs: Like you might find at George’s Chili King in Des Moines
- Vegan pickle roll ups: An easy holiday mainstay
- Vegan ranch dressing: Who needs ethanol? Ranch is what Iowa really runs on.
- Vegan crab rangoon: While this dish didn’t originate in Iowa, I personally got hooked on them at Tsing Tsao in Des Moines
This post was updated on September 10, 2025. It was originally published November 21, 2016.
Danielle O.
Is there anything West of the Des Moines area?
Cadry
That’s a good question, Danielle. I spend most of my time in eastern or central Iowa, and so I don’t have cause to visit that part of the state as much. Usually if I’m going through there, I’m on my way to Omaha. I do have a vegan Omaha round-up, though, if you get that far! When I’ve looked on Happy Cow, not a lot of western Iowa restaurants have been added to their site, except for a couple in Sioux City. That may mean that options are slight in western Iowa, or it may mean that Iowans who live there don’t add a lot of restaurants to the site.
Danielle O.
Thank you for your reply! My MIL and SIL live in Omaha and used to live in Western Iowa, not far from I-80. My husband and I have always been disappointed in food options for us between Des Moines and Omaha. I had been wondering if you knew of anything that we hadn’t discovered for ourselves. Maybe with more digging we can find a decent Mexican or Asian restaurant in a town not far from the interstate with veg options. We have been to at least a couple of restaurants you wrote about in your Omaha post, but I bookmarked it for future reference.
Cadry
Let me know if you find anything promising! I’d love to fill out some ideas for that portion of the state.
Don
Great post. So nice to know of these options when I return to Iowa and drive through Des Moines. I’ve been to Trumpet Blossom many times and almost always order the Reuben and fries. Both are amazing.
Can’t wait to try some of the other locations you featured.
Cadry
Thanks, Don! I’m glad I could help in your drive across the state. If you’re a reuben fan, you should also check out the tempeh reuben at New Pioneer Co-op in Coralville or Iowa City. They make their own marbled rye in house, and I have a hard time ordering anything else when I’m there. It’s included in this reuben round-up: https://cadryskitchen.com/vegan-reuben-round-up/
Little Vegan Bear
So many amazing options! I love the swing chairs – there’s a cafe in Melbourne that has those though I am yet to go. Also the name Tacopocalypse – a mouthful, but very cool.
Cadry
Yes, the swing chairs are so much fun. If given the option, I’ll always choose to sit on those when I visit. And yes, Tacopocalypse is one of those names that you have to spell out in your head whenever you say it. 😀
Mandy
I have officially drooled all over my computer! 🙂 What a great post, as always! I’m loving the name Tacopocalypse and the atmosphere in Molly’s is adorable! Love those swings…and that cupcake looked pretty dreamy. I’d say you have a pretty decent vegan food selection there and if I ever find my way to Iowa, I know where to go! Oh, those onion rings look INSANE! xo
Cadry
Isn’t the name Tacopocalypse fun? I love both saying it and typing it. It’s definitely one that confuses people and requires some repeating when others are hearing about it for the first time. But I love it that they didn’t let it stop them from naming their restaurant that. It’s kind of like when Isa chose “Veganomicon” as her cookbook name. That’s what makes it so memorable.
The atmosphere at Molly’s is super adorable. In fact, when I went there with my best friend and her young daughters, one of the girls decided that she needed to go to the University of Iowa solely because there was a cupcake place with swings near campus. I’ve heard worse reasons for choosing a college! 😉
Susan
Great post! I have a friend who was bemoaning that her partner applied for a job in Iowa, so if he gets it I will direct her here!
Cadry
Thanks, Susan! There are certainly states with more vegan options, but if your friend lands here, she’ll do just fine. 😀
Shell
I share in your joy that Krunkwich is open again! I’m a big Krunk rice fan, like David. One of my favorite vegan options in Iowa is the hummus trio at RoCA.
Cadry
Those were three very long months! I’m so glad they’re back. We’ll have to go to RoCA together sometime. I’ve never been there!