Roll Call! PETA’s Guide to Vegan Sushi Across the U.S.

Vegan sushi, anyone? We aren’t just talking avocado and cucumber rolls: With so many delicious new vegan products constantly entering the market, chefs are getting creative with ingredients like plant-based tuna, vegan salmon, mushroom scallops, and more to satisfy those sushi cravings without harming animals. Once you learn a few things about fish, you’ll opt for vegan sushi, too.

Many fish used for food are forced to live on aquafarms, where they’re confined to cramped enclosures with little room to move and kept in filthy conditions. Commercial fishing (including wild-caught fishing) is one of the main contributors to the destruction of the ocean and the animals who live there. So next time you’re craving sushi, make the right decision for animals and the planet and check out one of the restaurants below for some stellar vegan sushi.

1.     Shojin Organic and Natural 

Los Angeles, California

Shojin keeps the foodies of Los Angeles coming back for more. This romantic date-night destination has locations in Little Tokyo and Culver City. Ask anyone who’s been there, and they’ll say, “You must try the Dynamite Roll!”

Top Picks

• Shojin Dynamite Roll: Spicy vegan tuna and avocado roll with slightly torched spicy oat cream, served with dynamite sauce
• Pirates of Crunchy: Crunchy garbanzo beans and tempura flakes mixed with spicy oat cream on an avocado, cucumber, and shiso herbs leaves roll, served with dynamite sauce
• Purple Treasure 5.0: Tender, buttery eggplant on an asparagus-carrot roll, topped with sweet miso and ichimi pepper

2.     Shizen

San Francisco, California

Note: All vegan, reservations highly recommended

This Michelin-listed upscale Japanese restaurant offers a fully plant-based menu in a beautiful setting. The presentation is top-notch and makes for great Instagram photos.

Top Picks

• Candlestick: Spicy tofu, avocado, cucumber, seaweed pearls, shichimi togarashi, and fire (yes, fire)
• Open Invitation: Pumpkin tempura, spiced burdock, shredded tofu, tapioca, avocado crema, and lotus root chips
• Secret Weapon: Marinated king oyster mushroom, avocado, spicy shredded tofu, pickled jalapeño, pickled pineapple, sweet shoyu, and habanero sauce

3.     Beyond Sushi

Multiple locations around New York, New York

New Yorkers love the uniqueness of Beyond Sushi. With aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and delicious rolls, Beyond Sushi is an outstanding choice.

Top Picks

·  Mighty Mushroom: Tofu, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and micro arugula on black rice, served with shiitake teriyaki sauce

·  Spicy Mang: Mango, avocado, cucumber, black rice, and spicy veggies, served with toasted cayenne sauce

·  Smoky Dragon: Smoked oyster mushrooms, avocado, cilantro, charred eggplant unagi, seaweed roe, and ponzu glaze

4.     Wellness Sushi

Denver, Colorado

Denver’s first 100% plant-based Japanese restaurant has something for everyone. It offers ramen, onigiri, donburi, and, of course, vegan sushi.

Top Picks

• Krunchy Krab: Krab salad, avocado, cucumber, crispy onion, spicy sauce, and sushi sauce
• Fiery Philly Roll: Jalapeño tempura, sun-dried tomato cheese, avocado, cucumber, Malina’s sweet mango, and shichimi
• Love in the Edo: Teriyaki beef, cucumber, shoyu-mango, soy paper, green onions, and nori furikake

5.     The Plant Lab

Changing locations around Los Angeles, California

Mobile vegan sushi? Sign us up! The Plant Lab serves delicious fish-free sushi all around the Los Angeles area from its food truck. To add to the fun, a lot of the rolls have science-themed names like “Marie Curie” and “Edison.”

Top Picks

• Pi Roll: Shrimp tempura and spicy snow crab, topped with salmon, avocado, crispy onions, and mayo
• Galileo Roll: Snow crab, cucumber, avocado, and cream cheese, topped with tempura flecks, red caviar, and eel sauce
• Jalapeño Roll: Jalapeño, snow crab, avocado, and cream cheese in rice and sesame, wrapped with seaweed, then deep fried and topped with crispy onions, eel sauce, and spicy mayo

6.     Planta

Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Toronto

With multiple locations, this restaurant offers plant-based sushi that uses unique ingredients such as watermelon and hearts of palm for healthier, compassionate versions of some classics.

Top Picks

• Rainbow Roll: Ahi watermelon, slaw, avocado, gochujang, and peanuts
• California Roll: Hearts of palm, avocado, cucumber, and macadamia nuts
• Baked Crab Roll: Tempura broccoli, spinach, avocado, and spicy unagi sauce

7.     Ma-Kin Vegan Sushi & Izakaya

Agoura Hills, California

Tucked away in a strip mall on the outskirts of the San Fernando Valley, this unassuming spot has some truly decadent vegan sushi rolls and an extensive menu. Its vegan cheesecake is a must-try.

Top Picks

• Caterpillar Roll: Sweet tofu and cucumber, topped with sliced avocado, eel sauce, and sesame seeds
• Six Seven Roll: Shrimp tempura and crab, topped with avocado, spicy crab, eel sauce, spicy mayo, and green onion
• Sexy Lady: Spicy crab and shrimp tempura, topped with salmon, avocado, chili oil, eel sauce, crispy onion, and mayo

8.   Franchia Vegan Café 

New York, New York

This beautiful Park Avenue restaurant offers a wide variety of rolls and also has delicious vegan desserts, such as dairy-free tiramisu and an iced green tea float.

Top Picks

• Franchia Roll: Crab meat, cucumber, avocado, carrot, squash, and mountain greens
• Vegan California Roll: An inside-out sushi roll stuffed with crab, cucumber, and avocado (a compassionate twist on a classic)
• Dragon Roll: Fish fillet, avocado, cucumber, and crispy tempura batter

9.   Daikon Vegan Sushi

Las Vegas, Nevada

Located in a strip mall in the Las Vegas suburbs, this modest space serves up some great vegan sushi alongside other Japanese classics such as ramen and teriyaki chicken rice.

Top Picks

• Spider Roll: Tempura-fried king mushrooms, avocado, cucumbers, and jackfruit salad, topped with sweet soy sauce
• Golden State Roll: Tempura-fried California roll, topped with green onions, sweet soy, and spicy mayo
• Nigiri: Eel made of cooked eggplant and tuna made of roasted seasoned tomato

10.  Kotobuki Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar

Norfolk, Virginia

Note: Not all vegan, but it has a dedicated vegan menu

Located less than 2 miles from the Sam Simon Center, PETA’s headquarters in Norfolk, Kotobuki offers a number of rolls with vegan lobster, shrimp, and salmon. It even has a “PETA Roll”!

Top Picks

• PETA Roll: Seaweed salad, Inari tofu, fried tofu, and steamed carrots
• Buddha Roll: Shiitake mushrooms, kampyo, asparagus, shiso, and horseradish sprouts, topped with avocado and spicy mayo
• Mango Salsa Roll: Shrimp, sautéed red onions, and scallions, topped with avocado, spicy-sweet mango salsa, vegan spicy mayo, and Sriracha

Honorable Mentions

• Cha-Ya

Berkeley and San Francisco, California

• Naughty Vegan

Pasadena, California

Feel like eating at home instead? Not a problem! Konscious Foods offers crave-worthy vegan sushi (plus onigiri and poke bowls) that’s making waves in freezer aisles nationwide.

Multiple supermarkets and chain stores

Note:all vegan

Top Picks

• California Roll: a classic sushi roll with avocado and pickled cucumbers
• Rainbow Roll: a vegan tuna roll with mango and Jasberry rice
• Spicy California Roll: a classic roll with avocado, pickled cucumbers, and red chili
• Tuna Avocado Roll: a vegan tuna and avocado roll with pickled cucumbers

If none of these places are close to you, don’t worry! Check your local Japanese restaurant for some classic veggie roll options, or you can get creative at home and make your own vegan sushi. There’s no legitimate excuse to eat sensitive fish who feel pain and have complex social networks just as humans do. Remember, fish, crabs, and other aquatic animals aren’t seafood— they’re sea life.