Vegan options at the Denver Airport (Updated 2024)

Hungry and stuck at the Denver Airport with a long layover? Make the most of it with this guide to vegan options at the Denver Airport.

Luckily, as far as airports go, it’s not a bad one for the vegan traveler.

In addition to several stores where a person can amuse herself during an unexpected layover, there are also many vegan options in case you forgot to pack food to take on a plane.

(Root Down is easily the best dinner option if you have the time. And for dessert, don’t miss Voodoo Doughnuts in the B concourse!)

Here’s a list of your vegan options and where you can find them at the Denver Airport.

(As always, check with your server about the ingredients when you order since menus change.)

In this post:

Location: C Gates, Near gate C26

As long as you ask for the pretzels to be made without butter, these pretzels can be prepared vegan:

• Original
• Cinnamon Sugar
• Sweet Almond
• Garlic
• Jalapeño
• Raisin

Location: B gates

This kiosk offers a variety of dried fruits and nuts.

Location: A gates, Center core

Ben & Jerry’s has rotating non-dairy ice cream flavors available.

Possible options include:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Change the Whirled
• Strawberry cheezecake
• Strawberry marshmallow
• Berry berry extraordinary sorbet
• Lemonade sorbet

Location: Jeppesen Terminal, East Side Level 6, B Gates Mezzanine

Cantina Grill has three different kinds of salsa, a vegetarian taco, burrito, and taco salad, which are vegan without the addition of cheese or sour cream. Their burritos can also be ordered as a bowl.

The black and pinto beans are made without lard. The rice is made with water, not animal-based broth. They also offer tofu sofritos, which are similar to the tofu sofritas at Chipotle.

They offer both a sit-down restaurant option, as well as order at the counter.

Locations: A Gates Center Core, B Gates Mezzanine, C Gates (Near C32), Jeppesen Terminal (Level 6 East)

Most Caribou Coffee locations offer several non-dairy milk options including almond, coconut, and/or oat.

If you’re traveling through the Denver Airport at breakfast time, grab the pesto flatbread with JUST Egg and roasted tomato, which is vegan as-is.

Be aware that the oatmeal at Caribou is NOT vegan. It contains nonfat dry milk powder, which cannot be removed.

Caribou offer bagels that are vegan. (Just stay away from cheese topped bagels.) However, they don’t have any vegan spreads, unfortunately.

Location: A Gates, Near Gate A48

They offer an Impossible burger. Ask about the bun to see if it’s vegan.

The Green Giant sushi roll appears to be vegan, as well as miso soup & edamame.

Location: A Gates, Center core, Cell phone lot

The hashbrowns, some bagels (cinnamon raisin, everything, multigrain, plain, and sesame), brown sugar oatmeal (made with water or non-dairy milk) are vegan.

They also have almond & oat milk for their coffee.

Location: C Gates Center Core, Jeppesen Terminal Eastside

Many of the bagels at this chain are vegan. (Obviously the Honey Whole Wheat is out and any that have cheese.  The pumpernickel & chocolate chip are also not vegan.)

You can see their nutritional information here. (If it has cholesterol, of course, it’s not vegan since there’s no cholesterol in plant foods.)

Add peanut butter, avocado, hummus, and/or veggies, and it’s a filling sandwich for on the go.

Location: A gates, Center Core

Freshëns offers a number of vegan smoothie options including Bangin’ Berry, Caribbean Craze, and Goin’ Green.

Location: B gates, Center core

They have stuffed pita, salads, plates, and wraps. Vegan filling options include portobello mushrooms and falafel.

Fill them out with spreads like hummus, tomato cucumber salad, kalamata olives, and tahini sauce.

Location: B Gates, Near B87

Three kinds of smoothies at this location appear to be vegan.

• Triple berry: Strawberries, blueberries, banana, apple juice
• Summer splash: Strawberries, peaches, banana, apple juice
• Blueberry monster: Blueberries, banana, apple juice
• Fruit basket: Strawberries, blueberries, banana, peaches, apple juice

Location: B Gates Mezzanine

Jamba Juice has a wide array of plant-based smoothies – including summer blackberry, apples and greens, vanilla blue sky, mega mango, and many more.

They also offer several non-dairy milk options including oat, coconut, almond, and soy. For dessert, grab So Delicious oat milk frozen dessert.

Location: B Gates Mezzanine

Possible vegan options at Lounge 5280 Wine bar include:

• Marinated mixed Greek olives
• Roasted almonds
• Rosemary bread with olive oil & balsamic glaze
• Edamame-mint hummus
• House salad

Location: A gates Mezzanine

Possible vegan options include:

• Chips & guacamole
• Salsa
• Portobello mushroom street tacos (with no cheese)
• Veggie burrito (with no cheese)
• Fresh fruit

Location: B gates, Center core & C gates, Near C28

Modern Market is a Colorado chain focused on natural foods. Almost all of their salads can be made vegan with a few tweaks (i.e. by substituting tofu and/or using avocado instead of cheese.)

Most of their salad dressings, except for the creamy dressings, are vegan, because they use agave syrup instead of honey.

They always have at least one vegan soup. A lot of their sandwiches can be made vegan by substituting tofu.

Current vegan options at Modern Market include:

• Superfood salad with spinach/kale blend, quinoa pilaf, grape, carrot, almond, champagne vinaigrette. This usually comes with feta, so ask that it be omitted.
• Wintergreen salad with spinach, apple, roasted potato, date, walnut, agave herb vinaigrette. This usually comes with goat cheese, so ask that it be omitted.
• Curry split pea soup
• Southwestern tofu scramble with avocado and potatoes. This usually comes with pepper jack cheese, so request that it be omitted.
• They have steel cut oats on the menu that appear to be vegan; however, they aren’t marked vegan. So ask the staff to clarify.

Location: A gates, Center core

Panda Express is a fast food Chinese restaurant with a few vegan options.

Location: B gates, Center core

Pour La France offers soy and almond milk for their coffee beverages.

Location: B Gates, Center Core, Mezzanine

Qdoba has tacos, burritos, and bowls, which can be ordered with beans.

Location: B Gates, Near B52

Que Bueno offers burritos, chips, salsa, and guacamole.

They offer grilled vegetables as well as vegetarian black beans for burritos, tacos, and taco salads.

I had a vegetable burrito with black beans (request no cheese) and a side of chips & guacamole during my last visit. The vegetables had a good amount of spice on them, making the burrito less bland than some other airport options. It’s also very big, making it large enough for two people to share.

For more heat, ask for a container of sliced jalapeños to go.

Location: C Gates

Root Down is a local Denver favorite focused on seasonal fare. Look for their airport location at the top of the escalators from the tram.

If you’re looking for a nice, sit-down vegan meal at the Denver airport, this is it.

On the menu, there is a “V” next to the items that can be prepared vegan by request. Be sure to tell your server that you’re vegan.

On my most recent visit, I ordered the country fried tofu bento box (no longer available). It came with coconut wild rice, edamame, mushrooms, and a salad.

This country fried tofu bento was $22. I was a little disappointed they didn’t fill all of the areas of the bento box for that price point. The bento box was tasty, though, and filling.

Glasses of wine start at $18. So be prepared that dinner for one with wine plus tax and tip can easily veer towards $50.

If you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, they also have a to-go area that includes a free standing water station.

Location: B gates, Center core mezzanine level

Looking for a vegan breakfast at DIA?

Grab a bowl of Goldilocks’ porridge.

It’s made with a mix of steel cut oats, quinoa, and millet in almond milk. It’s finished with a topping of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, toasted almonds, and hemp seeds.

They also have hashbrowns available.

(Other Snooze locations have a lot more options, but visitors to DIA have said that’s unfortunately not the case at this location.)

Location: A, B & C gates (several locations)

In addition to specialty coffees with soy, coconut, and almond milk, one can typically find oatmeal, bagels with avocado spread, a variety of nuts, dried fruit, and potato chips for sale.

Read more about Starbucks vegan options in this post about vegan fast food.

Location: B gates, Near B24

Lots of their veggie dogs can be prepared vegan at Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs. For side dish, grab a bag of potato chips.

I haven’t eaten their personally, but word on the street is that it’s an affordable option, where you basically build your own dog. Plus, they really load up the veggie dogs with vegetables. They also have a Beyond Burger on the menu. Order it without cheese.

Location: C Gates, Center core

They offer a hummus plate & house salad that appear to be vegan. Ask your server before ordering.

Location: A Gates, Near A49

They have a few options that appear to be vegan-friendly including:

• Cured olives
• Marcona almonds
• Kale & blueberry salad

Double check with your server before ordering.

Location: B Gates, Mezzanine Level, northeast side

Is it worth it to travel to the Denver Airport just to get vegan donuts?

I’ve got to say yes!

While they also sell non-vegan donuts, Voodoo has many exciting vegan options. (No sad baked donuts here!)

Location: B gates, Near B23

As long as you order them without butter, the Wetzel bits & original pretzel are vegan.

Location: B Mezzanine

Wolfgang Puck Express offers a variety of salads with mixed greens and spinach that can be made vegan by omitting the animal products. They also have a hummus wrap (order without feta).

Unfortunately, a cheeseless pizza at Wolfgang Puck Express is not vegan, because the crust is made with honey.

Lots of the stores with magazines, books, and snacks also have vegan options like dried fruit, nuts, and chips. Keep them in mind for a last minute, grab and go option.

Content updated May 30, 2024. Denver Airport Vegan Guide originally posted July 19, 2013.