Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
International
Organic
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Cafe serving vegetarian cuisine with international flair, such as vegetarian sushi, sandwiches, salads, a raw tapas plate, fruit smoothies and elixirs, and dinner plates. Reported closed June 2025.
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40 Wall St (at downtown), Asheville, North Carolina, USA, 28801
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 09 Jun 2025 by Davesw
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214 Reviews
First Review by aglenn0
JessinJax
Points +450
Awesome Sandwiches! - Edit
Visited Asheville over Thanksgiving and came here for dinner. Sat at the bar and had the Tempeh Rueben and the Tempeh Cuban, both were very good! Would totally go back here next time Im in town.
Read moreGuest
hdeweyh
Points +141
Delicious asheville veg - Edit
Yum yum yum. Great restaurant. Everything clearly labelled as vegan, raw etc. We enjoyed the jalapeno fries to start followed by panang seitan curry for me and raw manicotti for my (non vegan non raw dad). Both meals were spectacular - the raw dish winning by a hair. definitely give this place a try.
Read morePros: vegan clearly marked, delicious food
Guest
Andrewrgibbs
Points +39
Not bad - Edit
Food was very tasty, though the sauce was overdone on the low country pancakey things. And that's my biggest complaint.
Read moreBaby friendly and generally a pleasure to eat at. We'd go again.
Pros: Good variety, Friendly service
Cons: Not particularly eclectic
Guest
lpass809
Points +100
Excellent! Many options! - Edit
Delicious food with many vegan options. I had an amazing vegan chocolate cake with cayenne pepper. My dinner was wonderful and the juice I got was so fresh and original in the combination. Definitely going back!
Read morePros: many options, fresh juices, vegan desserts
Guest
mathman
Points +48
Laughing Seed Cafe - Edit
As this appears in many travel guides, the Laughing Seed Cafe can be crowded, but don't let that deter you. I had a late lunch on a Saturday and was seated at the bar. The staff is energetic and always polite. The Tempecado (vegan) sandwich was fresh and hearty, even better than I expected, and the mini-salad it came with was also fresh. I'd certainly go back at any time.
Read moreGuest
cringer
Points +96
Too Pricy - Edit
I have gone to Laughing Seed numerous times and most of the visits are usually negative. Either I have to deal with unfriendly staff, long wait, burnt food, or something. The only reason why I still kept going was for the seitan "fish" sandwich and now they have gotten rid of it. The food portions are so small that you leave hungry and it is very pricy for the "kids meal" you end of getting. I am glad there are other veg options around and that is why I haven't been back in almost a year. Im not planning on going back either.
Read moreCons: Unfriendly staff/ Not Kid Friendly, Long Wait , Small Portions/Expensive Prices
Guest
halfthejob
Points +192
A Safe Bet for All Vegetarians and Vegans - Edit
Laughing Seed Cafe is a safe bet for all vegans and vegetarians trying to eat out in the Asheville area. The major plus side is that they have an entirely vegetarian menu, most of which can be converted to vegan, and the food is delicious; the downside is that your meal can be rather pricey, and they often have a rather long wait-time. All in all, the positives out-weigh the negatives.
Read morePros: all vegetarian, a diverse menu, delicious food
Cons: price, wait time, an over-abundance of choices
Guest
lovintheveg
Points +81
Heavenly hempnut! - Edit
It was my first time to Asheville and was looking for a veg restaurant. I have yet to find one that I don't like. Laughing Seed is delicious. I had the hempnut burger with some pasta as a side. Definitely recommend that. Had Blue Sky cola to wash it down. This is a must visit restaurant for my fellow veggies!
Read morePros: service, food
Guest
hippublican
Points +286
Nice - Edit
Laughing Seed isn't my favorite veggie spot in Asheville, but it was still nice to stop in and I'd definitely go back.
Read moreThe menu doesn't have the widest selection, but there are definitely some great options. My favorites are the fries, the potato salad, and the minestrone soup. I had one of the sushi rolls, however, and I really really didn't like it. I'm a sushi-lover, so it's pretty rare that I dislike a roll enough to not even finish it. I think the problem was the tempeh being overly marinated and kinda squishy.
The service has been hit or miss. Some servers are friendlier than others. The restaurant itself is gorgeous.
Give Laughing Seed a visit if you're in town, but I'd go to Rosetta's first.
Pros: beautiful restaurant, good portions
Cons: hit or miss service, small menu
Guest
AJ
Points +56
Decent but could be better - Edit
Service was competent but not especially friendly. Food was definitely vegetarian and vegan meant simply removing dairy to accomodate. However, substitute vegan havarti spread on sandwiches for cheese which was good. Vegan fries were over done. :(
Read moreGuest
hoffmans2
Points +169
Huge Menu, Couldn't Decide - Edit
I had the hardest time figuring out what to choose. As a vegan, I'm simply not used to having so many options. It was truly overwhelming, but so exciting!
Read moreThe quality of the food was excellent. Everything from the appetizer to the dessert was filling. We will go back if we go to Asheville again.
Pros: Filling Food, High Quality, Excellent Service
Cons: Hard to find by car
Guest
scgilles
Points +35
Rude Server, only vegan "familiar" not friendly - Edit
Very disappointed after going here on vacation, there are so many other awesome veg restaurants in Asheville, sorry we wasted our time & money here. Almost everything on the menu has cheese or dairy in it and my husband couldn't eat anything b/c they refused to make anything w/out oil in it (he's on restrictive diet). He insisted I get the meal I wanted (Reuben, vegan) and it was pretty good, not amazing. Fries are super oily and very crunchy, if you like that. Our server was NOT friendly, rude even. Will absolutely not be back on our next visit there.
Read moreCons: Rude service, Expensive
Guest
AJ Veggie Girl
Points +32
Great vegan dining... - Edit
My husband and I visit Asheville often and always stop by Laughing Seed for dinner. They have a big menu with a lot of variety. I love their vegan sloppy joe, and my husband likes the harmony bowl. We've tried several items off the menu, and most of it is great. I wasn't a fan of one of their tempeh sandwiches, but I'm not a huge tempeh fan anyway. The hardest thing about eating here is finding a parking spot, and if you go on a weekend night, try to get there early or plan for a little wait. The most we've ever had to wait was 30-40 minutes though. Basically, it's a great atmosphere with great vegan food.
Read morePros: vegan options, delicious
Cons: parking, sometimes a little wait
Guest
sandition
Points +28
Amazing Restaurant - Edit
Visiting from Seattle. Far surpassed expectations! Had the shitake corn cakes, asian dumplings, jalapeno fries, blueberry smoothie and took home chocalate raspeberry cake and coconut tart with berry sauce. So delicous, wonderful atmosphere, near lots of nice shops, great prices too.
Read morePros: Location, Atmosphere, Food
Guest
lentil
Points +55
THE VERY BEST! - Edit
This is the very best vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten at!!! I have been lucky enough to try at least half the menu & I've never been disappointed. Everything is AMAZING! They even have the most delicious cocktails...organic vodka & organic juices! They are upstairs from a micro brewery & serve green man ales awesome beer. My favorite meals are low country roll ups, Curried tempeh napoleon, & they have a great indian plate that changes everyday. Most entrees come with a mixed green salad. The dressings are all unique & yummy. The soups are wonderful. The menu is filled with exciting great dishes. Just go!
Read morePros: Super fresh, great selection, creative & tastes amazing
Guest
ardizonisara
Points +40
raw food - Edit
this place friggen rules!! i would fly to asheville all the time just to eat here if i had money.if you go there try the raw food dishes and the hemp nut burger and the sietan and and the bowl thing with black beans and rice and the smoothies and the tea and everything else k? good service. the out door seating area is lovely. wish i lived there.
Read morePros: food, drinks, food
Guest
kider
Points +31
Amazing - Edit
Laughing Seed is an absolute must for any visit to asheville. Especially for you raw foodies. Everything on the menu is quite edible. They have a raw lunch special that comes with a raw desert. The hempnut burger is awesome, so are the reasonably priced teas. The smoothies and tonics are a little pricey, but worth it. Beautiful place to eat outside.
Read morePros: FOOD, Beer, Wine
Cons: more than I want to spend, but worth it.
ardizonisara
i love you!!!!
Read morep.s I LOVE THIS MAN
Guest
Adnan
Points +53
Delirious food - Edit
We ate like Romans here; the bill totaled $100+. Aaah, it was worth it. This is a popular place, we saw many families with kids, and a group of college dudes who were so captivated by the food they didn't even notice that TVs are missing. At one point, a farmer was going around a restaurant selling fresh strawberries. We took a carton home, but didn't eat it until two days later when the food wore off. Make sure you visit this place before the bears from the surrounding mountains descend upon it.
Read morePros: Food quality, Service, Presentation
Guest
Willers
Points +25
In concept, a great vegetarian restaurant - Edit
If you are a vegetarian visitor to Asheville, this is a must!
Read moreIn concept, this is a great vegetarian restaurant. The menu choices and the specials are inventive and creative. The decor is calming and friendly. Freshness practically jumps off the plate. Over several years of visits, I have tried many different items, and have never been disappointed. The hempnut burger is one of my favorites. A thali special was delicious.
However, I did use the phrase "in concept..." On the down side, the prices at one time seemed very reasonable; now they seem somewhat high, and some portions have gotten noticeably smaller to the point of being an unsatisfying amount. The servers, while interesting and pleasant, are wildly variable in quality and attentiveness.
Pros: 100% vegetarian, Inventive menu
Cons: Somewhat pricy, Service varies wildly
Guest
tsap
Points +73
Love the Laughing Seed - Edit
We first enjoyed the Laughing Seed about 10 years ago when staying in Asheville. This was our first time back to the area and we were looking forward to eating there again. It did not disappoint!!! Between the three of us across two nights, we had six different dishes that spanned raw, vegan, and vegetarian, and each one was excellent. The outdoor dining is relaxed and comfortable. No complaints regarding the service.
Read moreGuest
Healthy Mama
Points +79
Outrageously Delish - Edit
Wonderful ambiance plus delicious gourmet foods have made this one of my favorite restaurants. My only complaint is that I ate too much.
Read morePros: very gourmet, clear veg/vegan labels on menu, great ambiance
Guest
navski
Points +122
great vegetarian restaurant - Edit
Laughing Seed has great food and lots of vegan options, including a daily RAW special. Menu is really big and everything I've ever tried here is really good. I agree with some of the others that servers can space out, but they usually get the job done pretty well. They don't take reservations though, so it's hard to plan on going with a large group for a special occasion since it is usually pretty busy. Friendly, nice space. It's also closed on Tuesday, I believe, which is kind of random. But basically if you are a vegetarian in Asheville you have to try it out...
Read morePros: great food, tons of options, clean and pretty
Cons: don't take reservations, spacey service
Guest
goethe3
Points +40
Great Selection & Atmosphere - Edit
What I like most about Laughing Seed is their selection. They cater to vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodists. They are the only rsetaurant I know of that has a raw food special everyday. The atmosphere is great, but a little pricey, but it does serve upscale food. All veg heads must give the Laughing Seed Cafe a try!
Read moreTheir vegan blue plate brunch is to die for!
Pros: Great selection, Great Atmosphere, Great food
Cons: A little pricey, Crowded at times
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2357
Great Ashville spot - Edit
I think the food is better during lunch. At dinner it gets a little crowded and your server will often forget about you and leave your food to get cold (noticed that in another review so I figured it's worth mentioning again) Its a great place to sit outside on a warm day. They've got a full bar, which makes it a nice evening spot as well. Upscale.
Read moreGuest
aglenn0
Points +40
Best Vegetarian Sushi - Edit
I had a good experience with the Laughing Seed. I enjoyed the variety of food on the menu and everything I ordered was fresh and full of flavor. However, what stands out in my mind is the vegetarian sushi appetizer. The sushi was a special and I can only hope that they have since added this extraordinary appetizer to their regular menu. The sushi consisted of gingered carrots, fresh vegetables, and cashew butter! It was out-of-this-world and definately the best sushi I have ever experienced. Next time I am in Asheville, I will be stopping by The Laughing Seed!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Healthy cuisine, Good Variety
Guest
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