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

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! read more

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Tasty Vegan food that doesn't make you feel like you are eating like a rabbit...I NEVER thought it was possible....but baaaby Black Leaf Vegan Cafe proved me wrong. Not only was the food so good, but the service was OUTSTANDING! So a little background, Black Leaf Vegan is a black owned Vegan spot owned by a husband and wife team. They started off as a food truck and I would see them around town at different events and at the Indiana State Fair near the back of the fairgrounds where the Free stage and pioneer village would be. I've been hesitant about trying Vegan food just from my own personal bias, but my friend convinced me to try it...so that's how I found myself face first in some vegan loaded nachos! Black Leaf has grown from a food truck to an actual brick and mortar cafe inside the 9 on Canal luxury apartment building. It occupies the spot that Quill Coffee use to be at. What's nice is that it is accessible from Senate and 9th street or from the downtown canal if you are taking a stroll during lunch or early dinner and get hungry! The inside has an array of large and small tables with pub level seating as well as a couch for friends to converse. During this trip I tried the loaded nachos, vegan bbq sliders and the chocolate cake. I've always wanted to try jackfruit, so the BBQ sliders was a great opportunity to see what the hype of jackfruit was really about. My opinion is that jackfruit has the visual of pulled pork but the flavor of maybe celery. It really didn't have a flavor...but had a slight crunch. You knew you weren't eating meat. The loaded nachos was amazing. It had vegan meat, tasty chips, vegan cheese, sour cream and some type of green sauce and it was plentiful. If you've never had vegan food and want to try, I definitely suggest Black Leaf Vegan. Its a great place for those looking to transition to a less meat heavy lifestyle. read more

Black Leaf Vegan - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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. read more

Black Leaf Vegan - Crab cake sandwich - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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.

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. read more

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 !!! read more

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. read more

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! read more

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 read more

Black Leaf Vegan - The INCREDIBLE S.E.C Bagel (All-Vegan Breakfast Sausage Egg and Cheese on an Everything Bagel) - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We have been wanting to try this place for a while. We were able to find them at the state fair. We got the loaded brat and it was delicious. Great flavors and textures (which can be hard with vegan food). They are exceptionally nice too! Tip for the fair - they are near the tractors and pioneer village. You can ride you bikes. Park near the midway with the free bike parking and walk right in! read more

Black Leaf Vegan - Trailer - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Tasty vegan food that should please vegans and meat-eaters alike. I visited their new cafe downtown today and was welcomed with a friendly greeting. Staff did inform me that they're just getting back from the holiday and only had a few of the lunch menu items available. I tried the loaded nachos that were hugely popular when served out of their food truck at the state fair. These nachos were *loaded* in the best way and exceeded my expectations. I'm looking forward to returning when they have more menu items available. During warmer months, Black Leaf Vegan takeout will be perfect for picnics along the canal. read more

Black Leaf Vegan - Loaded Nachos with Jackfruit 10/10 - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This place is a vegan's dream. The food is plentiful and very filling. The staff was very nice in explaining what each item was and had in it. Very family friendly, both Derrick and Taria the owners gives you that family welcome and feel. All in all we will be back! read more

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I came here a few months ago for a to go order. The service was good. I was looking forward to trying their mac and cheese but they were out that day, so I tried avocado toast instead. It was good and had some tomato sauce and seasoning. I tried a guac burger. I'm not sure if they make their own. It tasted like a beyond burger to me, which I enjoyed. Next time I want to try the mac and cheese along with the crab less crab cake. read more

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

This spot was at one of my favorite whiskey bars in my neighborhood. They had their food truck parked in front on a Friday evening. While I'm not a vegan I decided to try it because it smelled amazing! I was not disappointed! I ordered the nachos which included beyond meat (plant based protein). It had a barbecue flavor. It was really good. The ladies that served us were also very knowledgeable about what we should order based on the type of food we like. That said, rather you are a vegan or not, or maybe you are curious about vegan food, this is a place you should start. I give it 4 stars only because i think they are a tad pricey but the food is great! read more

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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 read more

Black Leaf Vegan - It's 9am, not open? - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Food was good. Service was amazing and personal feeling! I felt like I was at home and my family was cooking for me. They made us feel so welcomed. Ambiance and nice, quiet, and bright. The day we went they replaced all the vegan meat with vegan chicken. So I tried the vegan chicken nachos and they were amazing! All those flavors together! Chef's kiss! read more

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This vegan spot is nearby so I decided to give a try. I am trying to get out of my comfort zone and check out different places. A coworker of mine highly recommended the loaded nachos from BLV. I went in and the ladies were warm and welcoming. The cafe had a wide variety of teas, muffins, and sandwiches. So of course I came to BLV for the loaded nachos so that is what I ordered. These nachos had "chicken" and were filled to the brim. Now I really haven't had vegan food before but if it is anything like these loaded nachos I need to venture out more. They were on the sweeter side but I didn't mind at all. They weren't messy and kept their form because it took me a while to finish the nachos. I kept on getting interrupted so I can attest that it never got soggy. The flavor profile was on point and I can definitely see the nachos as being a monthly treat to myself. I will definitely go back to BLV to try their other treats and others should as well. read more

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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. read more

As soon as you walk into the door the aroma hits you and if you're not hungry, instantly, you are! It smells delicious!!! The owners and family are behind the counter welcoming and greeting you for this wonderful vegan experience. Mind you, this is all before I've even tasted the food. We were given a complimentary smoothly as a first timer and it was full of flavor and wonderful to my palate. It is Soul Food Saturday so Mac & Cheese, Greens, Sweet Potatoes and I chose Crab Cakes. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!! read more

Black Leaf Vegan - The entry. - Vegan Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Mac and cheese is absolutely fire- best vegan Mac I have ever had. 10/10. would come again legit just for the mac.

We tried Black Leaf today and are so happy we did! We had the jackfruit sliders and crab cakes with homemade Mac and cheese and greens. Wow! All of it was perfectly seasoned and extremely tasty. We also grabbed a peach cobbler for home. I couldn't resist tasting-it was also excellent! Highly recommend trying this fantastic new vegan restaurant! You will be hooked too. Should also mention that the restaurant itself is super cute, cozy and comfy. The woman who owns it is a joyful treat! read more

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Amazing service, amazing people, amazing energy. Hands down my favorite vegan place around highly recommend even if you're not vegan. You'll be surprised how good the food is read more

This was my first encounter of eating Vegan; The owners were so down to earth and explained their journey and why VEGAN. I had the jackfruit sandwich a special tea and chocolate dessert; my friend had the nachos; a special smoothie and beet juice. Everything was AMAZING. The service; the ambiance; food; and overall introduction to VEGAN. I recommend this restruant to everyone. Please visit them and get on their email list; utilize their catering and other services that each of the owners specialize in. You will NOT be disappointed. Thank you so much for your dedication to the VEGAN population as well as just overall good food for all.​​ read more

Food is good and great customer service. Great location and I really enjoyed the mushroom bacon.

The service was amazing and the attention to our groups allergy concerns was handled masterfully. The guac burger and jar-lasagna was delicious. The vita-verde with the gut punch shot was outstanding read more

As an omnivore, I don't usually gravitate to vegan. And a, food truck on campus on very wet day. I highly recommend the burger with bacon. Wow! Hunt this truck down carnivores. You won't be disappointed. read more

Location is a bit weird and off the beaten path. Service was excellent the ladies were as sweet as sweet potato pie. The food however was ultra processed vegan food. McDonald's for vegans. Dare I say nothing made fresh and not a vegetable insight except for the shredded cabbage that finds its way into everything except for the Mac n cheese. The Mac n cheese should be called Mac n please.. the Mac wasn't macking and the cheese wasn't cheesing and it was salty . Lawd I hate to say such truths but for 12.95 a burger one could stay at home and purchase the many plant based varieties from one's local grocery. No tomatoes In sight no lettuce . First time coming last time coming .. I wanted desperately to love black leaf vegan but I was left hating it instead . read more

They came to the government center today and ran out of food no problem it happens. My issue is the $15 dollar nachos that is worth $6 at the most. I wish they would have said they ran out of items and gave me my money back. But no they served me this and where is the meat, cheese, lettuce and sauce? I am highly pissed because I got served a medocore plate of nachos because you ran out of food. read more

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My wife and I were in Indianapolis from San Francisco visiting family and we happened upon the Black Leaf Vegan food truck at the Indiana State Fair. I am by no means vegan or vegetarian, but we're a bit spoiled in SF having a number of very good vegan restaurants. This food truck blew me away. The vegan loaded nachos were FANTASTIC. I'd put those toe-to-toe with any other nachos anywhere... vegan or not. Best thing I've eaten in a long time. And the owners were hilarious and personable. Next time I'm in Indianapolis, I am searching them out! read more

Unbelievably bad experience. We waited for over one hour and didn't receive as much as a glass of water. We ended up having to leave and never did get our order. It was a complete waste of time. I will never go back and recommend everyone else avoid this place like it is cancer. read more

I had the vegan burger and fries, as well i shared a bite of the vegan quesadilla, the burger was one of the best ones i've had, fries lacked salt, the quesadilla was good not my favorite though. The restaurant ambience was quite empty and I felt it could use more light. The people were nice but i felt very pushed to write a reviw. overall one of the better vegan restaurants. read more

I asked for something quick, and the ladies were super eager to help me out. I got the bacon burger and it was delicious. I've been vegan for 5 years and this took the prize for the best burger I've ever had. I would easily classify this as a gourmet burger, the ingredients and spices are fantastic. read more

I got a strong impression that I wasn't welcome there. I was ignored when I entered. The owner and her I'm guessing daughter kept their backs to me while I spoke. I tried to be optimistic, excited to support a black owned business. When the owner finally spoke to me (mind you there was no line it was just me standing in front of the counter) she spoke to me as if I was bothering her by being there. I proceeded to wait 40 min for food that didn't come. She finally walked by with a broom and said your food never came? I said no. I thought that meant she was going to check on my food. I was wrong. After my intuition told me she didn't, I walked back to the front and asked about my nachos ( mind you this is a cold dish, no hot cheese, no cooking necessary, and I ordered a drink I also had not received) There was a man working the register at this time and the same daughter working with her back to me. He asked if he could take my order. I said I placed one already. He asked me for my name and I told him. He said he didn't have an order with that name on it. The owner walked back up to the front acted like she was going to let them know my order, after I had told him I ordered with the female owner. She proceeded to walk away while the adult daughter cont. to keep her back to me and act like she didn't know what anyone was talking about. Finally he waved the owner over and she said oh you didn't get her order, I put it in. They then retook my order and said it would just be a few minutes. I went and sat back down for another 10min. I then hear them call out a man's name that ordered after me, that he could come get his nachos as if to make sure I knew they over looked me again. So I walked back to the front and asked if my nachos ready. The daughter kept her back to me the whole time talking around me refusing to look at me... she said just a second. I finally got my nachos but no silverware( the chips were covered so it was more like a cold salad) I was walking back and forth looking for a station for silverware and straws and overhear the next patrons side eyeing me and asking what I was doing there to the owners. No one knows my in that town, I don't even live in the same state. I sincerely HATE to say this but after all that I have to say I believe they didn't want to serve me bc of the way I look. I did not feel welcome in the least... If I wasn't so hungry and four hours from home and a vegan, I would have left. I sincerely hope I am wrong but, but the impression I was given was that I was treated less than the other patrons bc I am light skinned biracial woman. Every other patron received courtesy warmth and fast service, in the 55 minutes that I was there. I just wish I could take back the tip I preemptively gave. I will never return to this business. They should be ashamed of themselves for treating someone less than for absolutely no reason, bc despite their behavior, I remained courteous. read more

We really enjoyed this place. What a treat to find a great vegan restaurant in our travels. The woman who helped us was so friendly and enthusiastic. She greeted people who came in by name. The loaded nachos and the "crab" cakes were both excellent. The restaurant is nice and roomy and super clean. read more