Plant-Based Dining: How Restaurants Can Market Vegan Options

The growing demand for plant-based diets isn’t just a trend—it’s a shift in how people eat, think, and choose where to dine. Whether it’s for health, sustainability, animal ethics, or food sensitivities, plant-based options have become essential to meeting customer expectations.

By actively marketing your plant-based offerings, your restaurant can attract new audiences, increase loyalty among existing patrons, and position your brand as modern, inclusive, and forward-thinking.

1. Highlight Plant-Based Options on Your Website

Today’s diners often research menus online before making a reservation or placing an order. If your plant-based options are hidden, overlooked, or hard to identify, you're missing out on a valuable opportunity.

Here's how to do it effectively:

• Create a dedicated “Plant-Based” section within your online menu so it’s easy to find.
• Use clear labels or icons (“V” for vegan, “VG” for vegetarian, 🌱 for plant-based) next to qualifying dishes.
• Feature professional food photography that showcases color, freshness, and plating—helping change the perception that plant-based food is boring.
• Write enticing, descriptive menu names. For example, instead of “Tofu Bowl,” try “Ginger-Soy Glazed Tofu with Sesame Rice & Pickled Veg.”

RocketPages Resource: The Ultimate Restaurant Website Checklist: From Menus to Mobile UX

External Reference: VegNews: Marketing Vegan Options in Restaurants

2. Leverage Social Media and Influencers

Social media is one of the fastest ways to spread the word about your plant-based offerings, especially among younger demographics and lifestyle-driven eaters.

Tips for social success:

• Share behind-the-scenes kitchen clips, chef interviews, or ingredient spotlights.
• Use hashtags like #PlantBased, #VeganEats, #CrueltyFree, #MeatlessMonday, and location-based tags to show up in searches.
• Partner with local vegan or food influencers. A single Instagram reel or TikTok can bring in dozens of curious customers.
• Run polls and Q&As asking your followers what they’d like to see on the menu—this boosts engagement and shows you care.

RocketPages Insight: The Restaurant Marketing Funnel: How Your Website Brings Diners to Your Door

External Reference: Eater: Social Media Marketing for Vegan Dishes

3. Highlight Health & Sustainability Benefits

Many customers choose plant-based meals for personal wellness and ethical reasons. Reinforcing these benefits can strengthen their connection to your restaurant.

What to include:

• Add nutritional info like calorie counts, protein content, or allergen warnings.
• Share stories about sustainable practices—like sourcing local produce, using eco-friendly packaging, or cutting food waste.
• Educate diners on how plant-based dining helps the environment, e.g., “Choosing our jackfruit tacos instead of beef saves 800 gallons of water.”

RocketPages Resource: Dining Trends in 2025 Every Restaurant Owner Should Know

4. Promote Special Plant-Based Campaigns

Creating buzz around seasonal, themed, or event-driven promotions is a great way to introduce more people to your plant-based offerings.

Campaign ideas:

• Meatless Mondays: Offer a discount or prix-fixe vegan menu every Monday.
• Plant-Based Brunch: Feature vegan pancakes, tofu scramble, and dairy-free pastries for weekend brunchers.
• Holiday Features: Create plant-based specials for holidays like Earth Day, Veganuary, or Thanksgiving.
• Use combo deals or samplers to encourage guests to try multiple items without commitment.

RocketPages Insight: How One Restaurant Increased Bookings 40% With a New Website

External Reference: Restaurant Dive: Plant-Based Marketing Campaigns

5. Encourage Reviews and User-Generated Content

Happy plant-based diners can become some of your loudest advocates. Their feedback and content build trust and create social proof.

Best practices:

• Politely ask for reviews on Google, Yelp, and social platforms—especially if the customer clearly enjoyed a vegan dish.
• Feature positive feedback or photos on your website, email newsletters, and social stories.
• Run UGC contests like: “Post your vegan meal with #GreenEatsCafe and get a chance to win a $25 gift card.”

RocketPages Insight: Why Link-in-Bio Isn’t Enough: The Case for Restaurant Websites

6. Integrate Online Ordering for Plant-Based Dishes

As online ordering continues to grow, make sure your plant-based options are front and center in your delivery and pickup channels.

How to do it right:

• Add a “Plant-Based” category in your online menu for easy browsing.
• Feature your most popular vegan items at the top or mark them as “Staff Picks.”
• Ensure your ordering is done through your own website instead of third-party apps, so you keep your customer data and avoid 20–30% app fees.

RocketPages Resource: How to Add Online Ordering to Your Website Without Paying App Fees

Conclusion

Plant-based marketing is not just about adding tofu to the menu—it’s about showing that your restaurant is adaptable, inclusive, and aligned with your customers’ values.

By:

• Showcasing plant-based dishes clearly on your website,
• Running targeted social media campaigns,
• Promoting themed specials,
• Encouraging customer feedback,
• And offering easy online ordering...

…you position your restaurant as a top destination for a rapidly growing audience of plant-forward diners.

Keep Learning:

Explore more from RocketPages to take your digital presence to the next level:

• The ROI of a Restaurant Website: What Owners Need to Know
• How to Future-Proof Your Restaurant With a Strong Online Presence
• The Future of Restaurant Websites: Why Your Online Presence Will Make or Break You in 2025