Temporary Closure of Slutty Vegan and Other Departures Leave Harlem with Just 3 Plant-Based Eateries (Updated)
- The Curious Uptowner
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 17
It was only a few years ago that Harlem boasted a growing number of vegan eateries.
But after a flurry of closures, the neighborhood is down to just three plant-based spots.
Slutty Vegan, a popular vegan chain that opened to big fanfare in March 2023, placed a "temporarily closed" sign on its 135th Street location last winter. Its website tells customers to visit its other locations, including one in Brooklyn.
(Update: In April Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole shed some light on the mystery by announcing she had recently lost—and bought back—her business.)
Last year VeganHood, a local ghost-kitchen-turned-restaurant, also closed its location on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, posting on social media it "does not mean good bye forever, naah, just for now."
That's on top of longtime Harlem favorite Seasoned Vegan decamping from St. Nicholas Avenue to the East Village in 2023. "Our landlords have decided they no longer want us as tenants and so we will be forced to relocate," the owners wrote on Instagram.
Here's a short list of what's left, from south to north:
East Harlem 1 E 118th St between Madison and Fifth Aves
A new bakery specializing in vegan donuts featuring creative ingredients such as matcha buttercream, peanut butter and jelly, and an Indian-inspired mix of saffron, rosewater and cardamom.
• East Harlem 52 E 125th St between Park and Madison Aves
• Central Harlem 349 Lenox Ave between W 127th and W 128th Sts
This East Harlem vegan pioneer whose fans include Mayor Adams offers tasty Caribbean-style vegan stews served from the steam table, plus veggie burgers, fresh juices, shakes, and desserts.
Sugar Hill 763 St. Nicholas Ave between W 148th and W 149th Sts
This Ethiopian restaurant with a down-to-earth vibe features a fully vegan menu including the Ethiopian Veggie Combo, a plate of injera bread topped with classic stews made of ground chickpeas, red lentils, and more.
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