Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Laughing Seed Cafe

    4.2 (909 reviews)

    Laughing Seed Cafe Photos

    LAUGHING SEED CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    More like Laughing Seed Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Laughing Seed Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Best curry dish of my life!
    Alison M.

    Omg. This is the best vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to. Parking was a bit rough and there is some roadwork blocking roads so it was an adventure to get here - but everyone was so nice to us when we finally arrived - a full 25 minutes later than expected and within about 30 minutes until closing. They said no problem and easily seated us and said no rush. They have a nice indoor area but also a cute patio outside with some firefly lights and bistro tables with umbrellas to provide shade and excellent vantage point for people watching while you eat. Our waitress was phenomenal. Very knowledgeable about the menu and able to answer all our questions and make suggestions on substitutions and easily navigated my friend's soy allergy. Their menu has tons of fantastic things on it which made it hard to choose. Lots of inventive takes on classics like a sweet potato Rueben and buffalo fried cauliflower wrap. In the end - I split a Laughing Seed Salad with my friend - a small size which was huge - and got the coconut curry entree. The salad was delicious and I loaded with veggies, sprouts, etc. I chose the Champagne Derby house-made dressing and did not regret it. Light and delicious with a slight mustard flavor. Very fresh. Now, the coconut curry dish. SO good. I just kept eating and eating and eating. Coconut rice, fresh veggies, the amazing curry sauce. It was a large portion and it was phenomenal. My favorite curry dish I've ever had, vegan or not. I am going to be talking about this forever, and if I'm ever back in town, I'm gonna come get this 2-3x! I like coffee with dinner and warned our waitress as they were close to closing that I like coffee after dinner. She brewed me a fresh pot and offered for me to take some to go and refilled as much as I needed. Although we were probably here until 9:30 - they never rushed us out (another table showed up after us and was still sitting). The food here was some of the best I've had in a while - vegetarian or not. If I lived here I would eat here all the time! Located in a nice part of downtown Asheville on "Wall St" where there is a ton of other shops and restaurants and bars. This is a place to sit out on the patio and people-watch and you can walk around and shop afterwards if you like. Yum! Run. Don't walk.

    Misti M.

    What a great find on such a cute street in Asheville! Laughing Seed has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a bar in the center. We arrived mid-day on a Saturday and had our choice of where to sit. What drew us there were the mocktails listed on the website ($7 each) and we were excited to try them out! Between the two of us we had a Strawberry Basil and a Blueberry-pineapple Mule. Both were done very well and it was so nice to see a mocktail menu of more than just one option (I think there were at least 5 on the list). The fully vegetarian menu gave plenty of options, we settled on sharing the loaded fries (beans, vege-chorizo, queso, jalapenos). The $1 extra for the chipotle ranch was worth it - the flavors were great together! Laughing Seed is a winner - surely for vegetarian / vegan options, but as an alcohol-free carnivore, I was very pleased with what they had to offer!

    Interior of The Laughing Seed Cafe from the back seating area.
    Tony S.

    I'd rate this one a 4.5 -- not quite a 5, but really good vegetarian/vegan food. The decor reminds me of restaurants in Europe and the skylights provide nice natural lighting. Service is good. I love sweet potatoes so I had to order the Reuben, where the "pastrami" is made from sweet potatoes. They were sliced like deli meat and while the taste wasn't like pastrami or regular sweet potatoes, they were good just for what they tasted like on their own. The consistency was a bit off, but that's often the case with vegetarian substitutes for meat. After a couple bites, I got used to it. The slaw was good as was the Swiss cheese (you can order it with vegan cheese). The marbled rye bread was excellent. The dressing could have maybe used a little more pop. We also had the "chorizo" taco: good taco seasoning, but again the toppings could have used a little more flare. The real gem of the meal was the French fries. They are medium thick natural-style fries with just the right amount of skin left on, and were well seasoned (not too salty) and cooked crispy brown. They were served hot [nothing worse than lukewarm or soggy cold fries]. But what made them special were the crispy onion pieces mixed in, along with a few jalapenos. If you eat vegetarian/vegan, it's easy to find good menu items in many places in Asheville, but as a completely vegetarian/vegan place, the Laughing Seed Cafe gives you a lot of options. We'd go back. One nit: they add a BoH service charge. Frankly I'd prefer they either pay the BoH employees more and charge a bit more (although prices are a bit high for Asheville already) or tip share between BoH and FoH employees. I typically tip for food quality as well as service, assuming at least some of the tips are shared with BoH or they are paid more than FoH to balance that. I don't like adds-on like this. It's irritating, and I adjust the amount I ultimately tip to reflect this added service charge.

    The Laughing Seed Cafe
    Catherine N.

    This was such a quaint place to frequent just in the nick of time. I sat at the bar and the service was great. I had a glass of wine with a side of avocado and a side of homemade fries. They were amazing!!! The fries were SO light and non greasy! I would definitely recommend these items if you were to visit. Until next time, cheers!

    Awesome food at Laughing seed cafe Hummus and pita. Spinach Pesto Manicotti (Raw) Delicious ever time I go, best eat clean restaurant ever!
    Ellen P.

    Food was good. Staff was nice, service was okay, our waitress forgot we needed water for a long time. But other than that it was all good. The restaurant was clean . They took some favorites off the menu and added other stuff and made our favorite dish smaller. But still delicious and still a great place to eat . I can't wait to try the cashew cheese cake. I recommend to everyone one. It know this is a vegetarian restaurant.

    Lacy H.

    This is a great place for a birthday meal. The vibe is really cool and comfortable and the servers were very kind. It's a bit on the pricey side in my opinion, but they serve really great food. It's not fully vegan so make sure you're aware of that if you're a lil dummy vegan!! The drinks are really delicious for no reason too.

    Fries
    Mansi R.

    Great vegetarian options. We liked the jalapeño onion fries also with the east & west tacos. The tacos were pretty big and had a unique flavor with their sauces they used. I preferred the east taco, but recommend trying both. They have some daily specials as well. Great menu and service.

    Bahn mi, vegan
    dan g.

    Lots of great vegan choices clearly indicated. Good service, lovely spot for lunch. Really enjoyed the vegan bahn mi. It was made with seitan which was pretty well. I got the jalapeno onion fries and they were extremely delicious.

    Violet E.

    Laughing Seed Cafe had awesome food and spectacular service! We ordered the Mediterranean salad and Reuben with fries. The food was flavorful and hot. Would come back next time I'm in Asheville!

    Lotus Grain Bowl and Rueben
    Hannah D.

    We went to the Laughing Seed on a busy Saturday for lunch in Asheville. We had the choice between sitting inside and outside. We picked Outside and were seated immediately. The Laughing Seed is in a fantastic location central to downtown. I recommend sitting outside because there is often live music/street performers that are not too far away. It's a really friendly and fun vibe. As for the food, it is a vegetarian's (and non-vegetarian's) dream. As a vegetarian, it's rare I can go to a restaurant and pick from anything on the menu. However, as a completely vegetarian restaurant, that is exactly the case here. Both the grain bowl and the reuben sandwich were absolutely incredible. We tried the two kombucha options ("fire" and "water") and loved both. As an Asheville local, I wholeheartedly recommend eating here!

    Cold pressed juice
    Jessica C.

    We had lunch at Laughing Seed Cafe during a weekend visit to Asheville. We have a plant-based diet so we were excited about all the options Asheville has to offer. Our lunch at Laughing Seed was average and a little pricey. We ordered two of the cold-pressed juices thinking they would be made fresh, but it was actually already processed and bottled, which was disappointing. We ordered the Greek fennel and white bean soup as an appetizer. The soup was okay, basically a tomato-based vegetable soup, but we didn't see a single white bean. We asked the server if it was the right soup since it didn't have any white beans. She said it was, but wasn't sure why there weren't any beans. For our entrees, we got the cauliflower tacos and the harmony bowl with tofu. The cauliflower tacos and sweet potato chips were actually really delicious, but they were definitely heavily fried. The harmony bowl was bland with no seasoning. Our total check was $80. I think next time we'd try a different place with all the plant-based options in Asheville.

    Buffalo cauliflower tacos with fries
    Natalye R.

    After checking out The Big Crafty, our group of four adults and two kids was feeling hungry, so we headed over to Laughing Seed, which was next to where we parked, and which has a menu that seemed to have something for everyone. I can't speak to everyone else's food, but I can say that my buffalo cauliflower tacos were delicious. Buffalo anything is my favorite, and since it's not a "thing" back in Germany, I always order it when I see it on the menu on my visits stateside. This definitely didn't disappoint. I decided on fries as my side and it worked well together. There are also a lot of sandwiches and bowls that looked delicious, and if I lived here I'd be back to try out more. It was a bit of a crisp day but I still prefer sitting outdoors, and we were easily accommodated on the patio (which does have heaters). Our service was attentive and friendly.

    Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos with Jalapeño fries
    Priyanka R.

    Awesome to have a vegan cafe with varieties of options. We came in with a big group (no reservation) and ended up splitting up into multiple smaller groups because everyone was super hungry. Luckily the food came out quick! Staff was also nice, but did take a little while to get our bill, so had to find the lovely person serving us since the rest of our group had finished and they were able to product the bill on the spot to us. I ordered the buffalo cauliflower tacos with fries on the side. The fries were quite dry / over fried so wouldn't recommend getting, but the tacos were great and came with this chipotle sauce that really allowed you to enjoy the different textures. Overall - recommend for a quick bite and for those looking for a variety of flavor profiles in one restaurant (that is also vegan!!).

    Southwestern fries

    See all

    Photo of Joe K.
    272
    735
    2575

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maria W.
    347
    1336
    5476

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 23

    Laughing Seed Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Laughing Seed Cafe

    What oil do they use to fry or saute their fries and other foods? (I'm trying to stay away from the inflammatory oils like canola, corn, safflower, and sunflower.)

    They use canola oil

    Is this place dog friendly?

    I have seen people seated in the outside seating area with dogs.

    View All 3 Questions

    Plant

    Plant

    4.6
    (750 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Plant isn't just a restaurant--it's a revelation. From the very first bite, it felt like Asheville…read moreitself had poured its soul into a plate and set it gently in front of me. Every dish was a masterpiece, bold and elegant, comforting and exciting all at once. This is vegan food that doesn't whisper or apologize--it commands the room. The flavors were layered, intentional, and downright magical. Each plate arrived like a work of art, and somehow tasted even better than it looked. I kept thinking, there is no way the next dish can top this--and yet, it always did. Plant proves, without question, that vegan cuisine can be indulgent, luxurious, and unforgettable. And then... the dessert. I am not exaggerating when I say it deserves its own standing ovation. Rich, decadent, perfectly balanced--one bite and time stopped. If happiness had a flavor, this would be it. I would return to Plant for dessert alone, without a second thought. Plant is hands-down the best vegan restaurant in Asheville. It's passion, creativity, and excellence on a plate. If you haven't eaten here yet, you're missing out on something truly special. This is the kind of place that ruins other restaurants for you--in the best possible way.

    The menu was difficult for me since it is small and I couldn't find many recent pictures online…read more Thus, I tried to take pictures of everything we ordered. I didn't get a picture of the GEM & carrot salad, but we all agreed it was fabulous. The left side of the menu is called "small plates" so they are intended as appetizers. There are only a handful of entrees on the right side. The blondie dessert was great. $60-$100+ each at our table. I was skeptical but the food was delicious, service great, and we all enjoyed our evening at Plant.

    Photos
    Bar top/kitchen
    Bar top/kitchen
    Plant
    Curry

    See all

    Curry
    The Smokin' Onion

    The Smokin' Onion

    4.7
    (50 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    The Smokin' Onion was a great find in Asheville! It's hidden behind a second hand store. The…read morerestaurant is relatively small so avoid the lunch crowd. The Mexican-inspired fusion dishes were incredibly tasty, with generous portions that left us full and happy. The fried "chicken" burrito was so tasty and got a spicy punch topped with generous slices of avocado. The black beans were well season. The gyro was my favorite--it was packed with flavor and surprisingly satisfying. Ashville being Asheville offered draft beers even at a cafe!! :) I also appreciated that the entire restaurant is vegetarian, making it easy to order anything on the menu. Just keep in mind that it's a self-service setup, so you bus your own table and grab your own utensils and to-go boxes. You order at the counter and look a table to enjoy your meal. They also sell HUGE chocolate chip cookies but I was too full for dessert.

    Absolutely loved my visit! The staff was incredibly friendly, and with so many tempting options, it…read morewas honestly hard to decide. The pastries looked unreal, so fresh. I also loved that they carry cool locally made items. I went with the chicken biscuit with gravy and the French toast. The biscuit was square-shaped and generously sized, and it was delicious, though the gravy was not quite my thing. The French toast was a winner, not too sweet and topped with fresh fruit, which was a lovely touch. The latte deserves a special shoutout because it was fabulous. Service was relatively fast, and I also appreciated the large community table. It is perfect for chatting with friends or even striking up a conversation with strangers. Customers bus their own tables. The bathrooms were clean, and parking was easy. I am already planning my next visit to try more menu items, especially the chilaquiles. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Buddha Bowl with fried "chicken" so good!!
    Buddha Bowl with fried "chicken" so good!!
    Storefront

    See all

    Storefront
    Chai Pani

    Chai Pani

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Had an amazing time with great service. Something to note is the food comes out as it made and may…read morebe scattered and not every dish delivered at the same time. They are smaller portions similar to a tapas style and shared. Many of the dishes the spice level cannot be adjusted. We started with the Matchstick Okra. They are sliced so thinly and deep fried making them crispy with Chaat Marsala and salt for seasoning. Delicious and couldn't stop eating them. Ordered the Butter Chicken which was tender and lovely while family had the Saag Paneer which had some spice to it. Our waitress was working in helping guide with dietary restrictions and spice level tolerances. The restaurant is beautiful and very colorful.

    Where to begin!? First, we arrive at 5:15 pm on a Friday…read moreand get in a twenty-minute line. The line is just to get on a waitlist, which we cleared in 45 minutes. So, while waiting we went upstairs for unusual cocktails: tamarind margarita and Kashmiri sunset. Both delicious and tasted of Indian spices. And because it's Friday, the remarkable vegetable Pani puris were available. Wow: we ate five and could have just eaten those for dinner. Go on Friday or Saturday! But we headed downstairs and ordered three items: Matchstick okra: One of the most unusual foods I've had in a restaurant. Simply delicious. Holy smokes! Uttapam: a vegetable pancake that was very tasty. Sort of like a fritter. Butter chicken: accompanied by a tray of add-ons, this was just a wonderful hearty dish. The atmosphere is loud and bright, with lots of colors. But it is not so loud that you can't have a conversation. Highly recommend: I've been to maybe 20 Asheville restaurants and this is in the top two or three.

    Photos
    Chai Pani Asheville's new home at 32 Banks Ave.
    Chai Pani Asheville's new home at 32 Banks Ave.
    Butter Chicken
    Butter Chicken
    Cumin/chili/ginger/lemon tequila and pani puri

    See all

    Cumin/chili/ginger/lemon tequila and pani puri
    Posana

    Posana

    4.3
    (831 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I can't say enough good things about Posana! The ambiance, service and food are all exactly what…read moreyou'd hope for during a celebratory dining experience. My fiancé took me here for my birthday, and I felt celebrated every step of the way. Our server Laura brought us a complimentary small bite before the meal and after dessert. She also made dessert super special and was kind and attentive the whole meal! The food was all phenomenal, I couldn't believe it was all gluten free. It felt very fresh due to the farm to table nature of the restaraunt. We started with the cheddar biscuits, which were a hit. My short rib with polenta and roast veggies was delectable and a very generous portion! Finally, we ordered 1 dessert but they brought us a trio. I was wowed by the cheesecake and olive oil cake! Would definitely return for date night or any other special occasion!

    From the very beginning, this restaurant set the standard for what true hospitality and…read moreprofessionalism should look like. I was in communication with Lindsay for over four months while exploring options for hosting my wedding dinner in their private dining space. Out of more than 10 venues and vendors we considered, she was the only one who consistently showed up with prompt, thoughtful, and genuinely kind communication. Every question I had--no matter how detailed or repetitive--was answered with patience and care. She made herself available through all my moments of uncertainty, which, as any out-of-state bride can attest, is invaluable. When we finally visited in person, Lindsay went above and beyond by accommodating us outside of regular scheduling. Her attentiveness and warmth never wavered. Planning a wedding from afar can feel overwhelming, but having someone like her in your corner brings a level of reassurance that cannot be overstated. Dinner itself was nothing short of exceptional. We were served by Tennille, who elevated the entire experience. She was engaging, knowledgeable, and incredibly personable. Every dish was presented with intention, and she took the time to walk us through ingredients , local farm sourced education and preparation in a way that made the meal feel curated and special. You can tell she genuinely cares about the guest experience--it shows in every interaction. After dinner, we visited their second location to explore their private dining options. There, we met Pierre, who matched the same level of service and hospitality. He went out of his way to not only show us the space, but also recommend local after-dinner spots that could enhance the overall experience for our bridal party. That level of thoughtfulness and big-picture thinking is rare. Bottom line: this team understands that they're not just serving food--they're creating experiences. If you're looking for a venue that delivers on service, communication, and unforgettable dining, this is it.

    Photos
    Posana Restaurant's exterior and patio located on Historic Pack Sq. in downtown Asheville.
    Posana Restaurant's exterior and patio located on Historic Pack Sq. in downtown Asheville.
    Posana
    Posana Gluten Free Celiac Friendly Kitchen

    See all

    Posana Gluten Free Celiac Friendly Kitchen
    Chestnut

    Chestnut

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Chestnut is centrally located and was convenient to our hotel. The Aloft Downtown recommended…read moredining here. We tried to come for dinner but they were on a wait. Instead, we opted to come back the next day for lunch. Our waitress, Danielle, was friendly and made a great old fashioned for my dad. The dining room was busy for lunch but comfortable. Great coloring provided for kids too!

    I was in town for a massive gathering of beer nerds for the homebrewers convention and needed a…read moresolid breakfast to reset my system after days of heavy tasting. I found Chestnut on Yelp and decided to wander in. The space has this elevated modern rustic vibe with a southern twist and a little bit of sass. They even sell shirts that say neither hoity nor toity, which cracked me up. Honestly, the atmosphere was great, but our waitress was the real star. She was absolutely phenomenal and looked after us perfectly. My palate was pretty fried, so I started with a Bloody Mary to wake up. Truth be told, it was just okay. The house mix had an odd flavor that nobody at the table could quite identify, and it seriously lacked spice. It was just kinda bland. I noticed a bottle of Firewalker hot sauce on the table, and splashing that in helped a little bit. After that, I transitioned to a mimosa. You really cannot mess up a mimosa too much, and it was a solid, reliable second drink. For the main event, I ordered the southern chicken and waffles. This came with a fried chicken breast sitting on golden malted waffles, smothered in sausage gravy, and drizzled with chipotle honey. It was a really great dish. The kitchen did a solid job with the fry on the chicken, and the gravy had a nice flavor. It leaned a little on the sweet side because of the honey, but it was not totally overdone. The real sleeper hit of the morning, though, was the side of cheesy grits. Those grits were absolute heaven. They were incredibly creamy and perfectly seasoned. If you go, you have to order them. Chestnut is in a great location, and despite the weak Bloody Mary, it was a stellar visit.

    Photos
    Me encanta como se ve este bar
    Me encanta como se ve este bar
    Chocolate Caramel Tart
    Chocolate Caramel Tart
    Su-Mack Down

    See all

    Su-Mack Down

    Laughing Seed Cafe - vegetarian - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...