Black Leaf Vegan Cafe

I left a five star review after first coming to Black Leaf Vegan, however I was there this past Monday, and based on it and my last experience last year, I would have to say I am very disappointed. This was my initial review made on HappyCow 06/10/2023: "It's a small menu, but it's amazing! Today's special was the vegan BBQ cook out and it was so good. That staff were super nice. Do yourself a favor and stop by!" After my last visits I am left feeling disappointed. I am from Chicago and since 2023 whenever I am in Indy I stop at Black Leaf Vegan. The first few times were amazing, the owners were there and I think one of the owners mother who was a sweetheart when they greeted my if felt like home. They have since grown, but I feel like the service and quality has dropped a bit. When I was there 2/23/25 They were out of all but one Breakfast sandwich out of the whole breakfast menu and the one person working both the register and grill, while trying to order different options he apologized and said they had been out of ingredients since last week (bagel, for the breakfast sandwich, bacon, jackfruit, etc). This was his account, his own words. After my order took the last (singular) SEC (sausage, egg & Cheese) sandwich and one basic burger, because at that point i was frustrated I couldn't get the breakfast I was hoping for, the next patron that showed up 5 minutes later was told they had no more breakfast items. The guy working the register was at least left by himself to cook and take orders for 45 (I kept a rough estimate because I was getting food to go so I could me a friend while I was in town) minutes, maybe more I don't know but we exchanged glances a few times and we both looked disappointed. My burger was just patty messy lettuce or spinach, two little pickles, and what tasted like teriyaki sauce and the SEC seemed flattened and sad. The taste was ok, but compared to what I know they can do, it was disappointing. It felt like the made enough money to pull their love out of the business, and the food, and preparedness reflected that. I hope they improve, and I would be willing to give them another shot, maybe. Also for what is supposed to be a planet conscious, business I don't understand using BAD ai, vs hiring an artist within the community. Ai does so much harm, and on the board/area where this is posted it talks about supporting "vegan businesses" vs "vegan option places" because the vegan option places still provide money to animal/factory farming which is also bad for the planet.

Cozy and delicious! The interior is like a trendy, cozy cave, very inviting to just sit and chill a while. Ordering on the screen makes it easy to figure out the menu and what you want. Everything was delicious. The basic burger with cheese, and the bacon ranch with pickles and that sauce was just so dang tasty. Kind of really pricey, maybe that's par for the city, not sure. But we loved it.

Everything we got was amazing. This was our only stop in Indy as we had a few hours in between flights. The bacon ranch burger is on another level! The Mac & cheese is spot on. The nachos were piled hi, and had a bit of sweetness with the sauce. They had a fish sandwich on special and it was spectacular. Cute little spot where you order at the counter and eat at any of the many tables.

This little vegan place is a Gem in Indy! The burgers were so loaded, we had to use a fork to eat! The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing and the staff was the tops!

Me and my fiancé came here for our first vegetarian meal. She ordered the nachos and I got bacon burger and we got a side of macaroni. The food was🔥, the bean burger was very very good, the nachos was hitting on some WOW that’s good and the Mac was really light not heavy like regular Mac is which made it very good.. the young brother and sister that took our order was very polite and formal and very helpful while we was there. Got a chance to meet the owners very polish and cool. Some lady was finishing up a yoga class and black left was doing an interview with her which was another black entrepreneur. I love the atmosphere. I love by us for us. I love the campaign of being a part of the community and teaching the community about health and the benefits of eating clean much love to Blackleaf we will be back.💯💪🏽❤️😁

Horrible tasting food. My burger was the size of a small sausage patty for $16. Mostly all bread and sauce.

The food here is amazing! All vegan and extremely delicious. This is our first time here. We got a brunch burger and the nachos, with a mango lemonade and the verde smoothie. And the chocolate cake. The nachos were super loaded! Didn’t expect that! Everything was incredible, I highly recommend this place. Not to mention the staff is so friendly and awesome. 10/10!! Didn’t get pictures of the food because we smashed it!

I've been a big fan of Black Leaf and every time we visit, we always stop by. Our last few visits have not been very great and it's really upsetting and heartbreaking to see them not as great as they used to be. The staff have always been wonderful and the food amazing. Our last visit, the food was just meh at best (not at ALL like our previous experience) and the poor solo staff was having to explain to customers, ring up orders and process payment and prepare the food. They were out on so many main items it was unreal, they should have just closed shop for the day. In fact, I had to have the poor solo staff explain to me what they DID have because they were out on so much product since the prior week!!! And while we were waiting, seeing the awful Ai artwork was really unpleasant and gross. I'm hoping management will take notes and they'll make a comeback, because we really loved this place and want to see it be successful.

I've been wanting to try Black Leaf Vegan for quite some time--so I was thrilled that they have their food truck at the Indiana State Fair this year! I had the Mac n cheese and the loaded nachos which I shared with my husband. He is a meat lover but really enjoyed the nachos with vegan meat. The flavors are awesome. I hope BLV will return to the fair again and I plan to visit the restaurant in the near future. Indy needs more veggie options. Thanks for being one of them!!

My husband and I were on the hunt for a cool spot that served balanced, healthy vegan food, and we stumbled upon this gem thanks to Yelp! From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. The space is super clean with a cozy, modern vibe. The staff greeted us warmly and took our order right away--great service always sets the tone. We ordered the BEC Bagel (vegan bacon, egg, and cheese) and the SEC Bagel (vegan sausage, egg, and cheese), and wow... both were absolutely delicious! The flavors were rich, satisfying, and so well-balanced, it's the kind of vegan comfort food that keeps you coming back. This place didn't just satisfy our cravings; it surprised us in the best way possible. It's officially made its way into our top 3 favorite vegan restaurants--and that includes all of Illinois and Indiana! If you're vegan (or even just vegan-curious), we highly recommend checking this place out. Do yourself a favor and try the bagels--you won't regret it!

We came here on a whim for lunch as we were both craving something light but more on the heavy side. I ordered a bacon ranch burger with sweet potato fries. It was scrumptious!!! There is some sort of honey sauce they drizzle on top which makes it taste even more amazing and brings all the flavors together. I used some sort of chilli sauce for my sweet potato fries which paired nicely as well. For a drink I had one of their lemonades and the only downside is I couldn't get a refill, lol. The place was quiet and we had our meal within 15 minutes of ordering. If you're in a hurry you should definitely place your order ahead of time, but if not take the time to sit and enjoy your food. We were in during the later part of the lunch hour so it was not insanely busy which was nice. Unfortunately I do think you have to be specifically looking for this place to find it as the street is kind of off to the side, but once you know it's there, I guarantee you'll be going back several times. And what's even better is it's next to the canal so you can go for a walk too!

YOURE TELLING ME THEY HAVE A PHYSICAL LOCATION NOW??? I've been to the food truck many times and I'm always so happy to spot them at the State Fair or the Woodruff place flea market. Often their portions are so big I feel bad that I can't walk around with them so I'm so happy they have their own location now

Great food! I had the guac burger, which I believe was a beyond patty on a pretzel style bun. My friend got the loaded nachos. Both were absolutely fantastic. Service was great with the nice lady behind the counter explaining the options clearly. I also had a Lovely Lemonade and my friend had a cider. This would be a nice place to just get a coffee and work, too, if you were so inclined.

This restaurant didn't have the ingredients to make anything on the menu. And the coffee machine is out of order. We cannot rate the food, because they didn't have any.

I was so pleased to see the food truck parked on Delaware during the Proof Lit Fest! After confirming that the nachos were gluten free, I ordered them. They were $15, which I think is a bit high. It did come in a fairly hefty container, loaded with sauce. There was some kind of vegan meat substitute on it, and it was pretty good! I think the nachos would've been better overall with the cheeze melted a bit--the shreds were just kind of there--and more lettuce added on top. The ratios seemed a little off for my taste. But I was glad to try these out at the event and I'll try more options at Black Leaf Vegan in the future--whether in shop or via the food truck again. The staff were friendly and quick to get my order out, and I'm sure they'd be just as kind in their other location.

I would like to stay the staff was very friendly. The young lady worked in the register was very sweet. We had been doing some work, so we stopped in to get a bite to eat. The mac & cheese certainly looked fire, and I thought it was mediocre. Presentation was a five star. It was just the taste was not there for me. I felt the dill was overpowering. My daughter took one bite of it, and would not eat it. It totally may just be us because we are not typical, vegan cuisine eaters. Strawberry cake was also mediocre. But let's talk about that lemonade-Now that was five star! They've got that mastered! It's a cute little set up. I like the plants sitting around.

A black-owned business that is also vegan and their food is amazing The owners are very engaging and helpful if you don't know what to order. I ordered the guacamole burger. This is a 100% plant based patty topped with guacamole and a teriyaki sauce. The flavors will have you rethinking your need to have red meat. It's a little pricy but well with it.

I'm traveling from Texas and this place is located inside the building . The place is clean , the staff is very friendly and the food is AMAZING. I had the bagel with sausage and cheese is delicious. The raspberries cake is moist with fresh raspberries. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone coming near the area.

Black Leaf Vegan They were out of a few things when I went. I ended up trying the Crabless Crab Cake sandwich. It comes with ranch (which I don't like) so I subbed for mayo. It was good. I disliked their seasoned fries. They didn't taste fresh. They tasted like they were reheated from a frozen state. The potato salad was different but good. The Apple Pineapple Smoothie was delicious. I didn't like the Biscoff cake. It had the consistency of a typical gluten-free dough. I don't know if it was gluten-free, but that was what it reminded me of - thick and grainy. I was in Indy for a month but wasn't compelled to return to try more things. Customer service was very good though.

10/10. Lovee Black Leaf Vegan. The people are super sweet and the atmosphere is always amazing. Perfect place to meet up with friends for a bite!

Beautiful space, beautiful owners/family, and delicious food. I had the nachos which were amazing. I have nothing but great things to say about this restaurant and would visit again without hesitation!

Really bummed about this, especially with the dying/dwindling vegan scene in Indianapolis. We visit once a year and there are fewer and fewer vegan options, so we tried this out. They were out of most of the menu (despite us coming right when they opened) and what we got was awful (plus overpriced). $18 for a greasy burger without any sides is wild. But the nachos were the most inedible thing we've gotten in years. Stale, cold chips covered in the burger and globs of mayonnaise. Yeah, you read that correctly, globs of mayonnaise. Foul.

I had a great experience at Black Leaf Vegan... many options to choose from. Many flavors and smiles all around made it a great experience in downtown Indianapolis on the canal. Great service a wonderful surroundings!

I really wanted to love this place. I was excited to find a vegan restaurant in Indy! We came for an early lunch on a Saturday at 11:30am. Ordered crab cakes + fries and a chicken quesadilla. Pros: - Food was good. Visually, very appealing. Flavor wasn't super memorable, though. - Couch to sit on while we waited. - Ample seating. - Friendly staff. - Vegan! - Offered us sweet chili sauce instead of ketchup (though this was too spicy for my 5-year-old). - Parking in the garage next door was free but this may have only been temporary, because it looked like the system was broken. - Small, local business. Cons: - They wouldn't honor the Yelp check-in free beverage. Bummer, since that was something I was excited about! - A little expensive for the volume of food you get. Somehow it felt like our order cost more than what the menu prices listed..? - The food took a very long time to come out. - Others received their orders before us even though they ordered after us. - No Ketchup for fries. - No napkins?

We are in from out of town and wanted to try something that was on the way to a nearby playground and popped in and was greeted by a very moody space with plenty of seating and a welcoming staff. Unfortunately she had never heard of the check in offer though so did not honor it but it accomplished the goal for lunch.

The cheeze in the mac and cheeze wasn't even melted. They put teriyaki / "Black Leaf sauce" on the bacon ranch cheezeburger? Why put teriyaki sauce on a savory sandwich? Service was weird and unresponsive. The space itself is really lovely so at least they have that going for them. The "Black Leaf sauce" needs removed from the menu, it tastes like pure high fructose corn syrup.

Service was amazing. Such friendly staff! The food was good, but messy! Would have been nice to have knives. Would also like to see plates and silverware vs. carry out containers and plasticware for those dining in. The price was a little steep, but I'm willing to pay that for a great local business. You will need to pay to park, so be prepared for that.

Had a delicious and relaxing lunch with my vegan cousin / friend. Mac & cheese and a wonderful pulled jackfruit sandwich with cole slaw. I highly recommend!!!! Very friendly staff and fellow diners too. Love supporting the Vegan restaurants in Indianapolis. We took a leisurely walk along the downtown canal afterwards....so nice to experience the city from there.

The food here was scrumptious. I got the loaded nachos & a verde smoothie. I LOVE seeing all-vegan places like this one when I travel. The seating (combo of couches and tables) & entertainment (board games, books, tv viewing) added to the cozy feel of the place. And last, but certainly not least-- the service was amazing. I felt as though I came on a day when they were running low on employees, so I felt that the person who took my order & prepared my the food was doing the work of 3+ people... I see you! Thank you!!

Holy hell, the nachos. I'm not even sure what Black Leaf Vegan puts on their nachos, but it's great and I ate it all. Also, their nachos are vegan! All of the food they sell on this food truck is vegan. If you eat a vegan diet, you're in good hands with these guys. And if you don't eat solely vegan (like me), you're in good hands with these guys because they make great food. I was fortunate to find Black Leaf Vegan at a KIB event, but I've seen the food truck at the Indiana State Fair and other outdoor gatherings. Basically, if you see this food truck, you should definitely partake of their food. My nachos were a bit on the higher end ($15), but there was so much stuff and so many chips that I couldn't even finish them all. And everything was tasty and high quality. I'm so glad that we have a vegan food truck roaming around Indy. If you see Black Leaf Vegan parked at an event that you're attending, you should definitely give them a try.

My favorite vegan quesadilla ever!! I also ordered a side of mac and cheese and a latte. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Plenty of places to sit, outdoor area was not open despite nice weather. Disappointed to see single use dishes and silverware.

The mother-daughter duo who were working the food truck were TOO ADORABLE. I would go back for that reason alone. You can tell that there is so much love put into the work they do. The loaded nachos were solid--so great to have a vegan food truck option. Love that this is a minority-owned business.

This is vegan food done right! They had some plant based chicken options on special for their burgers. I normally don't like guacamole on my sandwiches but this was fantastic and the seasoned fries were yummy. They didn't need a dip, but I got some of the house made teriyaki BBQ sauce...soooo good. The owner convinced me to try the Super Cider and he was absolutely right, I loved it. Such a cozy spot. I will be back.

Cool location in some ( Student ) apartment living near the Canal. Nice open seat concept that leads into a common area in the apartment building lobby. Plenty of seats , tables, cocktail bar style seats, and couches. A small but solid menu and most importantly.... the burger was good ( plant pea-based protein ... I couldn't even tell ... very tasty burger and I'm quite the carnivore.

This was the best vegan burger I've ever had! I ordered the guac burger and fries along with a lemon ginger iced tea. My friend's and my meal came out quick and everything was delicious. Looking forward to coming back soon!

this food was amazing. Ordered a bagel breakfast sandwich and loaded nachos- I couldn't eat enough of it - so good. Even our 3 year old devoured his Mac and cheese

I found this spot via Google "black owned vegan restaurants" and I must say that I was content with the high quality looking ad easy to use website.‍ They state all of the ingredients they use which is so critical for me because I have a soy allergy amongst some others. Many other "vegan" restaurants and other restaurants in general often time fail to be THIS transparent when it comes to their ingredients and it can become problematic or worst for other people who have other dietary restrictions, so I don't support those businesses. But, I digress, lol. 1) Black Leaf Vegan's food was super affordable, tasty and hearty! 2) The ambiance was chill, clean, spacious and very comfortable- everyone is welcomed there + kids. 3) They had board games and a lot of seating arrangement of all types lol, this too quickly caught my eye. 4) Their service was prompt and they prepared my friend and my meals in front of us which again is something I don't see often. Y'all should open another location hopefully in SoFl because I really want to eat some more of your dishes.

the food was amazing and i liked the chill vibe in there. best vegan burger i've had in a while.

Delightful find when traveling to Indy for work! The Vita Verde green smoothie was SO good - sweet and hearty - you'd never know there's spinach in it. Since I had some greens :) I added a cinnamon roll that was calling my name. It was fantastic. Not too big for a guilt trip and not too small to not be worth it. As the owner prepared my smoothie she explained some of the lesser known ingredients. I've been to other places where they don't tell you what some of those mystery scoops are, or they get on a soapbox about it. This was neither. Very casual and welcoming. Definitely check them out!

I was so excited to finally check out Black Leaf Vegan and see their new space firsthand. I'm glad that they are bringing life to this space along the canal (formerly home to Quill's Coffee Shop in the lower level of 9 on Canal Apartments). I have to admit it's a tough location so I really hope they succeed and that there is some form of signage along the Canal to connect the dots for foot traffic in the warmer months. I had to order the loaded nachos based on everyone's raving reviews and they did not disappoint. Fair warning, if you're looking for a healthy lunch this may not be the best dish to choose ;) Customer service was super friendly and they make a great drip coffee. I look forward to future visits and trying more menu items. They feature a variety of coffee drinks, smoothies, soup and other vegan dishes.

I came for the jazz event. The food smelled amazing. The vibe was nice and chill. Definitely a grown folk vibe. Plus I had a surprise waiting for me when I checked in. I will definitely be back to grab food and drinks in the future.

OMG! I love this place! The owner treats everyone as if no one is a stranger. She is always engaged with the customers and the restaurant has a cozy and clean environment. I got my, usual, Loaded Nachos and as usual, the presentation was neat and the food was flavorful (with a slight kick to it). The colors made it very appealing as well. I didn't know that it was BOGO 50% off, so the cashier suggested the Apple Pineapple Smoothie. It's not my usual choice of flavors, but after 1 sip, I understood why it is the most requested smoothie on the menu. I'm going back just for another one! When I post a review, I'm looking for cleanliness, great service, good food and good food presentation. I've eaten there food many times, but this is the 1st time I've visited the restaurant. I must say they have exceeded my expectations every single time. Hats off to the ownership and employees who made this a great experience!

One of my favorite places to eat in Indianapolis and I'm not even vegan. This is a must try for anyone in the city.

I had to stop in after seeing all the great stuff they make. I tried the vegan crab cake sandwich and it had all the right textures and flavors. I can't wait to test out other things so n their menu. Definitely check this spot out.

Black Leaf Vegan did not disappoint!!!!!!!!! My family has been vegan-ish for a few months and I've heard more and more about this food truck. I haven't been able to organically run into the food truck...until today! My husband had an outdoor art show that Black Lead Vegan food truck attended. I was first in line and practically jumped into the food truck! I ended up ordering two burgers because I you only live once and who knows when I'll run into the food truck again. The first one I sampled was the guacamole burger. The teriyaki sauce that comes on all 3 burgers is amazing!!! Spicy and sweet! Perfect pairing with spinach, pickles, onions, and guac all piled high on the burger. Next was the bacon ranch burger. Oh. My. Goodness!!!!! It is sent from heaven!!!! The saltiness of the bacon plus the teriyaki sauce is a match made for your taste buds! I would choose this over a real burger any day! Both burgers came with a side of guac and chips. The price point is a little higher than a beef burger ($15-$19), but it's good for your body and soul!

So happy to have such a hidden jam in Indy! I've know Black Leaf thanks for their truck... I always looked for them in particular for their loaded nachos and Mac n cheese... so happy I could finally visit them in their recently opened cafe next to 9 on the Canal Apartments and LOVED IT. My 3 fav things: 1) The food is delicious. I'm vegetarian (almost vegan), but even for meat-eaters I promise you'll love it. This time I tried the chik'n sandwich and it was OUTSTANDING... super balanced, seasoned well enough (not too much) and the bun so soft and perfect. 10/10. 2) One of the trademarks of Black Leaf are the people. I remember when I first met them with the truck, I was really impressed by how nice and caring they are and their Cafe is no exception. Love supporting places owned by great people. 3) The atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. The new atmosphere, chill music and calm environment is perfect for a chill hang out with friends and family or for working - Wi-Fi and plugs available. Will definitely come back more and cannot wait to try more do their options!!! Highly recommended!

Can't recommend this place enough! Service is incredible. Derrick is awesome. He's very welcoming and a great salesman. I got the bacon ranch burger and it was great. Derrick recommended the smoothies and I'm very glad he did. The dragon fruit berry and vita verde are really good. The cafe is very spacious and has a great atmosphere to it.

If your just starting out as a new vegan, by all means, try this place. I have had almost everything at this restaurant. I would describe them as unhealthy vegan food. Aside from the cabbage from a bag, I have yet to find any actual fresh veggies. All seems like highly processed stuff with tons of salt, and nothing fresh. Recently got the guacamole and chips, and it was one of the plastic cups from the store (premade) w/ jarred salsa on top, and the chips weren't multigrain or anything special. The nachos don't have any veggies on them - just "meat", sauces/cheese and cabbage. Quesadilla was the same - some form of "meat" and greasy cheese, no veggies. I'd go back if I was in the area and starving, but otherwise, I'll pass.

lovely little vegan spot. friendly service and quick! I had the vegan bacon ranch burger with fries. Fries where perfectly seasoned and crispy. Bacon ranch burger I think would be better with a chick'n Pattie but still extremely good!

This black owned restaurant was truly my favorite visiting Indy. Everything was fresh, so much so the owner personally made a custom smoothie just for me. The owner was personably and super friendly. The loaded nachos was a little runny and I didn't get much of seafood taste from the crab cake, otherwise the food was great. The restaurant seems to be located in an office space area, so that was different, but I highly recommend!

Terrible Costco good with 500% profit. I was really looking forward to them. Very disappointed. Costco brand lemonade being old as their daily special drink for high price. Beyond burger , not their own product. All cheap Costco food you can cook on your own without paying this business. NOTHING ORIGINAL. DO NOT RECOMMEND Poor customer service.

I really wanted to like this place. I've tried their Mac and cheese on two separate occasions at the state fair and the noodles are too mushy. The sauce isn't a cheese-equivalent at all, I think it's some kind of sweet/sour sauce with soy sauce. We could not finish it, I would not recommend :( Long wait, too.

Absolutely amazing food, great service and an awesome atmosphere. Definitely making this a staple in our vegan options.

I can't wait to get back to black leaf so happy they are in this location. I loved the nachos and dragon fruit smoothie Service always great !!!

It's Tuesday, 9am... doors locked, not a person in sight, no note, no explanation. Pretty annoying considering I drove 30 min round trip to come here and paid for parking

My son and I went to this amazing establishment today for the first time and it was 10/10 amazing. From the warm greeting when we walked in, to the incredible S.E.C. Bagel which my 2.5 year old was thrilled to have as his breakfast, everything about this amazing café was beyond what I could have imagined. The layout was spacious and so inspiring. I cannot wait to go back and I want all of Indianapolis and the surrounding area to do themselves a favor and stop here for coffee and food and just an overall wonderful experience. My son has severe allergies to egg and milk, so this vegan breakfast was more special than words can say. It was delicious!! Next time I won't get one to share; I'll just get more. Thank you Black Leaf Vegan for the best way to start our day. Cheers to you! Keep up the fabulous job. We need more places like this in Indy. You are a treasure

Thank you so much for a wonderful experience. The owner even gave me a cup of complementary milk when I ran out of creamer for a coffee that was not purchased at this cafe. Sometimes the smallest kindness feels like the biggest to someone who needs it. As I sip my coffee just the way I like it, I can't help but reflect on the kindness of a stranger. I'm grateful for the milk, your kindness and your warm smile. I can't wait to try everything on the menu.