Tennessee · United States
Find your next vegan meal in Knoxville
Five useful stops for a fully vegan bakery, tamales, falafel, Mediterranean food and brunch-friendly pizza and sandwiches — with mixed kitchens labeled clearly.
Knoxville has fewer fully vegan brick-and-mortar restaurants than some larger cities, but many local businesses maintain strong, documented vegan menus. This guide does not relabel mixed restaurants as vegan.
Start with your meal type: Cinnaholic is the fully vegan sweet stop, Good Golly is strongest for vegan tamales, Yassin’s and KoPita cover Mediterranean food, and The Tomato Head works well for mixed groups and weekend brunch.
Choose your kind of meal
Fully vegan sweets
Cinnaholic is a 100% vegan bakery for cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies and edible cookie dough.
Tamales & falafel
Good Golly Tamale always offers vegan tamales and vegan sides; Yassin’s has falafel and plant-based shawarma.
Brunch & mixed groups
The Tomato Head serves weekend brunch and says most of its menu can be made vegan.
Restaurants in this guide
Editorial selection · not a rankingCinnaholic — Knoxville
West Knoxville · South Northshore Drive
A fully vegan bakery for custom cinnamon rolls and sweets
Cinnaholic states that all products are 100% vegan, dairy-free and egg-free. The Knoxville shop serves customizable cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies and edible cookie dough.
Before you order:Seasonal toppings rotate, so use the current Knoxville location page for today’s flavors and opening window.
Highlights: Fully vegan bakery treats with a wide range of frostings and toppings.
| Vegan status | 100% vegan, dairy-free and egg-free. |
|---|---|
| Address | 9450 S Northshore Dr, Suite 106 Knoxville, TN 37922 |
| Planning | Check the current location page for live store hours. |
Good Golly Tamale
Old City · South Central Street
Hand-rolled tamales with reliable vegan choices
Good Golly’s FAQ says vegetarian and/or vegan tamales are always available and all sides are vegan. The shop also sells frozen tamales for reheating later.
How to order vegan:Choose one of the current vegan tamales and pair it with the vegan sides. The business is not presented here as a fully vegan kitchen.
Highlights: Vegan tamales, beans, rice and curtido in the Old City.
| Status | Mixed tamale shop with consistent vegan options; all sides are vegan. |
|---|---|
| Address | 112 S Central St Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| Published hours | Mon–Sat: 11:00 am–8:00 pm Sun: closed |
Yassin’s Falafel House — Downtown
Downtown · Walnut Street
Fresh falafel, hummus and a dedicated plant-based shawarma
Yassin’s serves falafel, hummus, baba ganoush and a plant-based shawarma sandwich and plate alongside chicken and gyro dishes.
How to order vegan:Choose falafel or the plant-based shawarma and use tahini rather than dairy sauces. The restaurant is a mixed kitchen.
Highlights: Downtown Mediterranean food with clearly documented vegan options.
| Status | Mixed restaurant with vegan options. |
|---|---|
| Address | 706 Walnut St Knoxville, TN |
| Published hours | Mon–Sat: 11:00 am–9:00 pm |
KoPita Authentic Mediterranean
Downtown · South Gay Street
Mediterranean bowls, falafel and vegan shawarma
KoPita’s current menu includes falafel, hummus, babaganoush, salads, a vegan shawarma pita and mushroom shawarma. Meat dishes are also served.
How to order vegan:Stay with the clearly plant-based falafel, hummus, salads and vegan shawarma choices and confirm daily specials.
Highlights: Vegan Mediterranean choices in a central Gay Street location.
| Status | Mixed restaurant with substantial vegan choices. |
|---|---|
| Address | 507 S Gay St Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| Published hours | Mon–Sat: 11:30 am–9:00 pm |
The Tomato Head — Market Square
Market Square · Downtown
A long-running mixed restaurant where most dishes can be made vegan
The Tomato Head says most of its menu can be made vegetarian or vegan and offers non-dairy cheese, vegan pepperoni, tofu sandwiches, salads and vegan-friendly pizza builds.
How to order vegan:Tell the server you want the vegan preparation, including non-dairy cheese and vegan sauces. Meat, dairy and eggs are also served.
Highlights: Central Market Square location and weekend brunch through 3:00 pm.
| Status | Mixed restaurant; most menu items can be made vegetarian or vegan on request. |
|---|---|
| Address | 12 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| Published hours | Tue–Thu 11 am–9 pm; Fri–Sat 11 am–10 pm; Sun 11 am–9 pm; Mon closed |
| Brunch | Sat–Sun until 3:00 pm |
Vegan breakfast and brunch in Knoxville
Vegan bakery morning
Cinnaholic is the only fully vegan business in this shortlist and is useful for sweet breakfast-style bakery food.
Weekend brunch
The Tomato Head Market Square serves weekend brunch until 3:00 pm, with many menu items adaptable to vegan preparation.
For a more substantial lunch, Good Golly, Yassin’s and KoPita all begin around late morning.
Plan your Knoxville vegan food stops
Downtown cluster
Good Golly, Yassin’s, KoPita and The Tomato Head are all in or near downtown Knoxville, making them easy to compare on one city day.
Mixed kitchens need explicit orders
Yassin’s, KoPita and The Tomato Head also serve animal products. Follow the vegan menu paths rather than assuming every vegetarian item is vegan.
Frequently asked questions
Which featured Knoxville place is fully vegan?
Cinnaholic states that all of its baked products are 100% vegan, dairy-free and egg-free.
Where can I get vegan tamales?
Good Golly Tamale says vegan tamales are always available and all of its sides are vegan.
Is KoPita fully vegan?
No. It currently serves meat as well as falafel, hummus, vegan shawarma and other plant-based dishes.
Does The Tomato Head have vegan brunch options?
Yes. The operator says most of the menu can be made vegan on request, and Market Square serves brunch Saturday and Sunday through 3:00 pm.
Research notes and image credit
Official restaurant websites, current Visit Knoxville and Downtown Knoxville resources, and current Knox Vegan guidance were reviewed on September 19, 2026.
Featured image: Knoxville skyline from the Tennessee River by AppalachianCentrist, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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