Vegan
American
Organic
Take-out
Fusion
Vegan cafe est. 2014 located on the Winooski River. Offers plant-based dishes with lots of to-go items. Drinks include fresh juices, smoothies, tea and coffee. Open Mon-Sun 9:30am-7:30pm.
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1 Mill St Ste 138, Burlington, Vermont, USA, 05401
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- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 01 Jun 2025 by anniem
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158 Reviews
First Review by 73Iron
monmardom
Points +42
Yummy and creative dishes - Edit
I came here for breakfast and was not disappointed. I was hungry, so I ordered two dishes, which ended up being too much food for one person! I had the (not) avocado toast and the French toast puffs, both of which were excellent. It’s hard to find French toast as a vegan, too, and that dish was served with warm ginger butter, which gave them a ginger snap flavor. Highly recommend. Only disappointment was that they don’t serve decaf coffee.
Read morePros: All vegan
Guest
MESnyc
Points +617
Delicious - Edit
I love the breakfast sandwich! The tofu is seasoned to perfection and the kale was just right. The staff is super friendly too. And you can’t beat the setting—right on the lake.
Read moreGuest
WLWOLFE
Points +125
Best tofu ever - Edit
My friend just moved to Vermont and found this great place with Happy Cow . Thanks
Read moreGuest
PollyPoupore
Points +33
Delicious and cozy! - Edit
Vegans and non-vegans in our group loved the food and the atmosphere. We actually returned to the restaurant 3 times in one weekend!!
Read morePros: The vegan options were plentiful. , Seating available outdoors with river views. , Portions were large and fresh!
Cons: Not a lot of indoor seating. , No real cons!!
Guest
imatikigirl
Points +543
Cool little spot - Edit
On a beautiful day, sit outside by the water and eat some yummy food.
Read morePros: Lots of great options, Delicious, Nice scenery
Guest
LindaFern
Points +52
Not sure what the fuss is about - Edit
Don't know how it garnered all these reviews, it's very expensive for sandwiches. I had a reuben that was so 2 skinny slices of bread and a little bit of filling, maybe a half inch tall all together, it was tasty but hardly worth $12. I ordered a grilled cheese for my son from the kids menu, he hated it, I hated, I complained and ordered him some french toast puffs, also lame and kids order is $7 for 3 puffs. We spent almost $60 for lunch for four people and we only had sandwiches with a small handful of potato chips, no drinks.
Read morePros: Nice view of river, Very nice staff
Cons: Expensive, small portions
tofubroad
I agree! Pricey!
Read moreGuest
Root
Points +35
Amazing! - Edit
The rancheros was sooo good! I could not quite finish it all but it was very delicious, savory, and rich. The morning breakfast bun was a bit disappointing. I guess I was expecting a few more flavors (cinnamon?) besides just dense bread and icing.
Read morePros: Great vegan menu , Breakfast all day!, Nice location, outdoor seating next to the river
Guest
GiselleBenitez
Points +205
Delicious and flavorful food - Edit
Everytime I go to Pingala I get something different and each time it gets better and better. Yesterday I had their crunch wrap with the delicious sauce that comes with it and it was delicious! I haven't had a crunch wrap in years (because they aren't vegan of course) so thank you Pingala for making a delicious healthier alternative!!!
Read morePros: Ambiance, flavors, healthy vegan options, comfort
Cons: none
Guest
LinVegan
Points +100
Tasty, but SOLD OUT by noon - Edit
Pingala was a quick bike ride from the Burlington boardwalk. Unfortunately, by the time we got there around 11:45am, all the specials on the menu (save one) were sold out. No biggie since the regular menu has great options. However, be aware that after we inquired we learned a lot of the ingredients on the menu were substituted out. Be sure to ask before ordering. We ate at the outside bar looking over the Winooski rapids. It was gorgeous.
Read morePros: All vegan menu, Scenic setting, Lots of flavors
Cons: Sold out of most specials, Inaccurate ingredients on menu
Guest
Laurasanctuary
Points +78
Always delicious - Edit
We visit Burlington often and never miss an opportunity to head to Pingala. Great food and a lovely location on the falls. Outdoor seating in the warmer months is sweet. Great energy...and there’s always some good gluten free options to choose from. Winooski has a few cute shops too.
Read moreGuest
buddhabecks
Points +126
expensive but worth it - Edit
this place is AMAZING if you can afford it. has really unique and delicious specials, as well as a wide range of options in the menu. a lunch will run you ~$20-30, depending on drinks/other stuff which seems like a lot but the food is worth it. indoor seating is cute, but small - def a summer place as outside overlooks the river.
Read morePros: wide range of menu items, inviting environment
Cons: expensive, limited indoor seating
Guest
gexmallow
Points +24
Awesome Place, Food and People - Edit
Amazing food with plenty of diverse vegan options. The view of the river and the comfy vibe of the restaurant definitely make this a perfect spot.
Read moreGuest
fionafee
Points +198
WOW!!!! AMAZING FOOD - Edit
If you are in a 100 mile radius, you MUST roadtrip here. Soooo worth it!! Smoothies, juice, breakfast, lunch, snacks, apps. Cute riverfront and bangin tunes.
Read moreThis isn't fast food gross vegan, this is made with love, farm fresh vegan.
Worth the drive from anyway. Thank YOU Pingala!
Pros: ALL VEGAN , Parking lot
Cons: Nada
Guest
LeahThompson
Points +88
Good Vegan Spot - Edit
Pingala is a good vegan spot for visitors as well as Burlington and Winooski residents. During the summer it’s especially nice to sit out on the porch and eat with the Winooski/Onion river in sight. Since the cafe is evolved from a food truck, the feeling of the place is very casual and fun.
Read moreTo name some of my favorite dishes, thei Taco Bell inspired Crunchwrap is so delicious and the housemade eggplant bacon is creative and unique (featured in an ELT).
As much as Pingala is well-loved in the community, and rightfully so, I find their prices to be high for their portion sizes & relaxed/casual atmosphere.
Pros: Great all vegan food, Creative and unique, Kind staff
Cons: Expensive , Small portions
Guest
770veg
Points +3899
Delicious spot - Edit
Really nice spot sitting on the winooski river waterfall in a converted mill. Many delicious options from sammies to breakfast and delicious baked goodies. Cozy interior with nice literature and art. Nice folks as well.
Read morePros: Delicious, Nice optiona
Guest
CheleeFrazier
Points +22
Always visit here when in Burlington! - Edit
Found this fantastic place about 3 years ago after my return to the North Country - so please with all their food and choices. Staff are always so pleasant, cheerful and helpful. Thank you for always giving an awesome experience 🙏
Read moreGuest
JulieNeild
Points +163
Better than ordinary but not extraordinary - Edit
We visited Pingala Cafe on a Saturday for lunch. My husband ordered the burrito and I ordered the ELT (eggplant, lettuce and tomato). My husband’s burrito was piping hot and he enjoyed it though he wished the fillings were more mixed and not layered so you got the same ingredients in every bite. My ELT was good but not extraordinary. The bread was toasted well, but the eggplant “bacon” was a little tough. It’s been decades since I’ve had real bacon, but I think it’s supposed to be crisp not tough. Both lunches were served with chips (like Ruffles)...I don’t think they were homemade.
Read moreWe didn’t order dessert, but we noticed that some of the baked goods were from Sweet Alchemy cafe that we had visited the day before and loved.
Food aside, the atmosphere was disappointing. Dining is more than eating and should engage all the senses. There was limited seating so we ended up sitting at a tiny (wobbly) table in a dark corridor next to a fire extinguisher. We had to keep getting up for water because the glasses they provided were tiny plastic juice glasses. The water dispenser was empty so we had to get water from the water foundation.
Our lunch cost $22.75 for both sandwiches (no drinks, no dessert). I would like to give a vegan restaurant 5 stars, but the slightly-better-than ordinary food combined with lack of atmosphere make this just 3 stars.
Pros: All vegan
Cons: Limited seating and no atmosphere , Too noisy for conversation, Small water glasses
Guest
hansue
Points +34
Lucky to find it! - Edit
We felt really lucky to find a vegan place in Burlington, Vermont. We just moved to Vermont and so far we didn’t find many vegan spots here, so we were extremely happy to find this place. The people who work there are helpful and friendly, the atmosphere is nice, the interior design is beautiful, they also have book shelves (our daughter found a book about recycling!). The food was delicious: we order Tex Mex Bowl, grilled cheese sandwich, dumplings (just a little spicy 🌶 - very nice), and it was all amazing. Dumplings were our favorite. Also, we tried their kombucha and loved it. We will definitely return. Thank you.
Read morePros: Completely vegan, Great variety of delicious food, Friendly atmosphere
Guest
Nadveggie
Points +202
Amazing Spot - Edit
It is a nice cafe and was easy to find. It had a diverse menu that could feed everyone and all of the food we ordered was delicious. The environment was nice, but it could have had more seating in case it got busy.
Read morePros: diverse menu, quick, friendly staff
Guest
studentcareer
Points +68
Good stuff! - Edit
Had the Buddha-ful bowl and dumplings, which were both great! Great service. Definitely going when I come back to town.
Read morePros: Flavorful , Options , Left full
Guest
GreenG
Points +20
serious vegan cuisine - Edit
Rooted in fantastic customer service, Pingala Cafe aims to meet your expectations for an all vegan eatery and far surpasses. I could not recommend this place more for any vegan living or visiting Northern VT.
Read moreGuest
estherbunny
Points +104
Favorite vegan place in Vermont - Edit
Always the best food & people in this joint. Right beside laughing river yoga as well, two great birds with one stone.
Read moreGuest
ErinVeg
Points +105
Eclectic place by the river - Edit
This is a cool place in an old factory building right on the river. Beautiful location to stop and eat. I had the nachos and the club. The nachos were very good. I’m not sure about the eggplant bacon, it was a little hard to bite through. I’ll have to give it another try since everyone raves about it.
Read moreGuest
JasonUs
Points +14
What other people expect vegan food to taste like and cost. - Edit
What other people expect vegan food to taste like and cost.
Read moreGuest
PaigeMager
Points +56
Simple, but amazing - Edit
Every single time my mom and I are in Burlington, we come here. The food is, as stated, simple, but amazing. The eggplant bacon is to die for, as are the nachos, fyi. I always want to try some place else, but this place is just so good. Always kind service. The baked goods could use some work, but they definitely are at least worth trying.
Read morePros: Friendly service, Great food
Guest
JustinMellor
Points +30
solid go to if your vegan and visiting burlington - Edit
There's tons of veg options around here but this place feels like home, great sandwiches and small fare. Order something with the tempeh bacon, its righteous. Good luck!
Read moreGuest
Bgeezy
Points +744
Just okay - Edit
Parking is okay, seatings okay, foods okay, and service is okay. I had to wrap around the lot a few times before a parking spot became available. The seating is very limited but luckily when I went it was empty. The food is okay... I didn’t really like the elt it was crunchy and hard to chew and left a weird taste in my mouth. It tasted like what I imagine dog food tastes like. I also had the rancheros which was just okay and not really what I expected based off the description they gave. The staff were also kind of rude. I stood at the register almost 5 minutes before the staff asked me what I’d like to order while two people were gabbing and on their phone and CLEARLY saw me.
Read moreGuest
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