Ondeck's research found that the top 10 highest-rated independent vegan restaurants in America are not in the typical plant-based hub cities like New York or Los Angeles. Instead, they are found in places like Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Some of the beloved independent spots include Aina's Vegan Banh Mi in San Jose, California, which serves a variety of delicious vegan banh mi options as well as other dishes like konjac shrimp rolls and BBQ bao.

Other notable vegan restaurants on the list include Eighty7sweets Vegan Ice Cream Company in Atlanta, Georgia, which offers indulgent treats like plant-based ice cream in creative flavors and ice cream pies. Additionally, Thuong An Lac in Honolulu, Hawaii, serves up a vibrant menu of plant-based Vietnamese dishes, such as Fish Maw Soup with soy fish and Vermicelli Crab Tomato Soup with tofu crab. These top-rated independent vegan restaurants offer a diverse array of delicious and innovative plant-based dishes for diners to enjoy.