Sushi first arrived on the California dining scene in the 1960s, and its popularity has only grown across the US ever since. The Japanese dish, which dates back centuries and likely began as a street food, is traditionally prepared with white rice and raw fish. Over time, however, chefs have become increasingly experimental with the bite-sized favorite. Today, Americanized versions like the California roll, made with avocado and crab, are staples on menus nationwide, and vegan sushi is more popular than ever.
According to Food52, sushi likely made its US debut in the late ’60s in Los Angeles. Kawafuku Restaurant, a dining spot in Little Tokyo, was the first to serve the Japanese delicacy, quickly winning over diners. Its success inspired other restaurants to follow, fueling a nationwide boom in Japanese cuisine.
Fast forward to 2025: research estimates that more than 17,000 sushi restaurants now operate across America, with close to five million consumers enjoying the dish regularly. But as more people shift away from animal products (over half of young Americans now identify as flexitarian), fish-free sushi has steadily moved from niche offering to mainstream menu item.
What is vegan sushi?
During the 1960s and 1970s, sushi chefs in the US began experimenting with new ingredients, and avocado quickly became a favorite addition. Not only did it help shape the now-classic California roll, but it also paved the way for vegan-friendly options like the simple yet refreshing avocado and cucumber roll. From there, vegetable-based creations expanded to include fillings such as gobo (pickled burdock root) and other vibrant produce, adding both flavor and color to sushi menus.
The origins of the first all-vegan sushi restaurant are unclear, but by 2011, Shojin had opened in Little Tokyo with a menu that redefined what plant-based sushi could be. Far beyond the humble vegetable roll, Shojin’s offerings showcased inventive combinations and sophisticated techniques. The chef transformed tofu into crab meat, turned eggplant into eel, and paired these creations with an array of striking sauces, toppings, and garnishes, elevating vegan sushi into an art form.
Beyond Sushi
Today, vegan sushi exists in a plethora of forms. Some chefs use plant-based fish made from konjac—a root vegetable from Eastern Asia—while others rely on tofu, jackfruit, mushrooms, eggplant, and even chickpeas to replicate the taste and texture sushi lovers crave.
“Vegan sushi isn’t an alternative—it’s the way forward,” Chef David Lee of Planta, a pioneering plant-based restaurant group, previously told VegNews. “We’re committed to introducing it to our audience without sacrificing flavor profile or texture. Smoked eggplant, dehydrated watermelon, and fresh nori or soy paper are crucial to the equation, and so is quality rice,” he continued.
Where to find vegan sushi in the US
Want to find the best places to sample delicious vegan sushi for yourself? We’ve got you. Check out just a few of our favorite picks below.
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Beyond Sushi
1 Beyond Sushi
New York City, NY
This popular chef-driven vegan sushi hotspot opened its first location back in 2012 and has since expanded to two thriving Manhattan restaurants. Expect to find every single type of vegan sushi you could desire—and then some. Don’t skip on other delicious Asian-inspired favorites like Korean barbecue brisket and shoyu ramen, too.
FIND IT HERE
Planta
2 Planta
Multiple locations
Vegan diners across the US can indulge in the delicious sushi options at Planta, a popular plant-based chain that has locations in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago. You won’t be disappointed with options like ahi watermelon nigiri, spicy tuna rolls, and so much more.
FIND IT HERE
Shojin Organic and Natural
3 Shojin Organic and Natural
Culver City, CA
Led by Hiroshima-born Executive Chef Jun Matoshiro, everything at this California restaurant is organic, vegan, gluten-free, macrobiotic, natural, and “made with love.” Dine in or take out depending on your mood, and make sure to indulge in some of Shojin’s signature rolls, like Saturday Night Fever, which features slightly torched mushroom crab, or the Crunchy Tiger, which features avocado wrapped soy chicken.
FIND IT HERE
Chef Kenny’s
4 Chef Kenny’s Vegan Dim Sum
Las Vegas, NV
As the name suggests, this is the place to go in Las Vegas if you’re in the mood for some vegan dim sum. But the extensive vegan menu at Chef Kenny’s also includes plenty of delicious sushi, too. Choose from options like eel nigiri, mushroom nigiri, and spicy tuna hand rolls.
FIND IT HERE
Shizen
5 Shizen
San Francisco, CA
Shizen is a must-visit if you’re in San Francisco. The fully vegan sushi bar and izakaya combines “classic shojin and sushi techniques with local, seasonal ingredients” to create its flavor-packed menu. Choose from classic nigiri and rolls, like avocado and California, as well as a wide range of specialty options, like the Open Invitation with pumpkin tempura or the Colonel’s Pipe with smoked beets.
FIND IT HERE
Kusaki
6 Kusaki
Los Angeles, CA
The vegan fish dishes at this popular West Los Angeles spot are stunning—from the delicately plated nigiri to the sashimi, but thanks to local ingredients, the vegetables are the real star here. This is one of those places where you order a bit of everything and return often for more.
FIND IT HERE
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
7 Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Multiple locations
This sushi chain isn’t vegan, but it offers an impressive range of animal-free options. Snack on starters like edamame or cucumber sunomono while you wait for the main event, which includes vegan sushi options like Kaluna with plant-based tuna and Unami with eggplant eel, and avocado nigiri.
FIND IT HERE
Tane
8 Tane
Multiple locations
Crafted from vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, and even edible flowers, Tane’s vegan sushi is as visually stunning as it is flavorful. With four locations—in Honolulu, HI and Los Angeles, Palo Alto, and Berkeley, CA—the restaurant offers a creative menu that includes rolls like the Sunset, made with spicy tofu and seaweed pearls, and the Kailua, featuring ginger shoyu tomato and pickled mango.
FIND IT HERE
Wellness Sushi
9 Wellness Sushi
Denver, CO
Right now, Wellness Sushi—which made Yelp’s list of 100 Top Places to Eat in the US—has just one spot in Denver, CO, but it’s looking to open a second location very soon. Its diverse, flavorful menu includes options like Krunchy Krab maki rolls and teriyaki beef onigiri.
FIND IT HERE
Ma-Kin
10 Ma-Kin
Agoura Hills, CA
Ma-Kin is on a mission to become “the best vegan restaurant in Agoura Hills,” and we’d say it’s making good on that goal. Put it to the taste test for yourself and try mouthwatering dishes like inari, baked vegan lobster, and Dragon sushi. The latter is made with seared sweet tofu, shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, and eel sauce.
FIND IT HERE
Daikon
11 Daikon Vegan Sushi
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas isn’t short of tasty plant-based treats, but for vegan sushi lovers, Daikon should be on the list of restaurants to check out. Start your meal with a fragrant bowl of miso soup and crunchy edamame, before moving on to a banquet of simple, classic sushi options, like cucumber rolls and pickled carrot rolls, and more inventive creations, like the Hot Girl Roll (with jalapeños and spicy vegan tuna).
FIND IT HERE
Cha-Ya
12 Cha-Ya
San Francisco, CA
Located in the heart of San Francisco, Cha-Ya is an all-vegan restaurant that specializes in the finest Japanese cuisine. Check out the extensive (and delicious) sushi selection, of course, but also make sure not to skip over other tasty options, like the senroppon ahredded salad and agedashi tofu.
FIND IT HERE
Franchia
13 Franchia
New York City, NY
This popular vegan café offers every type of food you could possibly crave. There are dumplings, ramen, and Malaysian curry, for example. And of course, plenty of sushi. Choose from options like the mango and avocado roll, the crispy tofu skin roll, and the classic California roll.
FIND IT HERE
The Yasai
14 The Yasai
San Diego, CA
Boasting four locations in San Diego, this intimate plant-based sushi concept relies exclusively on tofu and vegetables to craft its dizzying array of inventive specialty rolls and incredible nigiri. For lunch, stick to an appetizer like the gyoza and a classic roll or two. When dining in for dinner, splitting a few small plates and specialty rolls is the best way to taste the talent of The Yasai’s creative chefs.
FIND IT HERE
Tama Sushi
15 Tama Sushi
Huntington Beach, CA
Tucked into a strip mall in Huntington Beach, CA, this small, vegan-friendly sushi joint is crafting plant-based rolls that even omnivores go for. Local favorites include the LB Vegan—a torched roll topped with mayo-drizzled meaty mushrooms and water chestnuts—and the Red Dragon Roll, a roll that shows off the kitchen’s tomato-based sashimi tuna.
FIND IT HERE
Tomo Sushi
16Tomo Sushi
Philadelphia, PA
The city of Philadelphia excels at more than cheesesteaks, and this vegan-friendly sushi spot is proof. The vegan menu features appetizers, small plates, ramen, and an exhaustive menu of plant-based rolls. You’d have to be a local to try them all, but you can hit the sweet spot with a mix of complex and single-ingredient rolls. Our order for two: umeshiso kappa, shiitake mushroom, harvest, and vegan Green Dragon.
FIND IT HERE
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
