Raleigh–Durham, NCVegan

The Fiction Kitchen turns vegetables, grains, and plant proteins into playful comfort food in its Gateway Plaza home. INDY Week's review describes dishes that appeal beyond a strictly vegan audience, including the restaurant's fried chicken style preparation, waffles, curry bowls, and dairy free desserts. The relocated dining room continues the long running Raleigh concept with current service and reservations.

Element Gastropub applies a fully plant based approach to pub food, brunch, and globally influenced street dishes in downtown Raleigh. Raleigh Magazine introduced the concept through items such as a buffalo chicken style waffle sandwich, street tacos, kimchi macaroni, and salads. Current ordering and service continue from the Fayetteville Street suite, with drinks supporting the gastropub format.

Pure Vegan Cafe serves an entirely plant based fast casual menu of breakfast sandwiches, toast, burgers, chicken style sandwiches, salad bowls, and cold pressed juices. Raleigh Magazine highlights the range at the Creedmoor Road cafe. The dedicated current locations page lists only Raleigh, so this entry deliberately excludes the former Durham shop and uses the operating North Raleigh address.

Vegan Community Kitchen translates Turkish comfort food into an animal free menu prepared in a fully vegan kitchen. INDY Week details house made seitan used for kebabs, burgers, and gyros, plus falafel, hummus, bright salads, and a vegan Iskender preparation. The Apex restaurant also draws on whole ingredients for familiar American dishes while keeping its Turkish foundation visible.

Pure Soul combines vegan cooking with the flavors and generous portions of soul food. INDY Week readers recognized the Durham restaurant in both vegan and vegetarian categories in 2026. Its current menu and site emphasize plant based comfort dishes such as barbecue sandwiches, greens, rolls, and rotating specials, served from the South Square dining room throughout the week.