Service and food are always fantastic. In my opinion, it's the best place for a healthy, vegetarian meal in town. I've never had a bad meal there, and I've tried almost everything I'm the menu. A++ - would highly recommend :) read more

My wife and I both love eating here. The atmosphere, food, staff, and everything else is perfect. It has become our favorite restaurant. The fried mushrooms are fantastic. We also love Heart and Soy, which is the place right next door. You can watch them make tofu in the window. The curry soup is my favorite dish, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Even my carnivore parents loved this place. read more

I was pleasantly surprised to find a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Louisville during my recent short visit to town. The place was fairly empty, but it was a Thursday night when we walked in. We were immediately greeted and were allowed to pick wherever we wanted to sit. We chose to sit in the back, which had recessed seats, so it felt like you were sitting on the floor but your feet could still be under the table. Wish I got a picture of it because it was definitely a neat concept. The décor was modern Asian and the atmosphere was a little intimate, and certainly nice for a date. There are small plates of food that are perfect for trying a little bit of many things on the menu and to share with others. We had the avocado egg rolls, the pot stickers, a Vietnamese savory crêpe (banh xeo), rice in a steamed banana leaf, and a steaming rice plate and they were all delicious. The tea menu is also impressive. We both got tea and were given a small hourglass timer so we would know when our tea was ready. Service was attentive and friendly. She made sure our water glasses were always full. I am usually take it or leave it when it comes to desserts, but vegan desserts are typically incredible so we agreed to look at the dessert menu after being thoroughly stuffed. He got a peanut butter chocolate gelato that was heavenly. I'm a sucker for flan so I got that. It wasn't my favorite though; the caramel sauce that I usually love on a flan was more of a vanilla sauce that seemed a little too heavy on the vanilla extract. All in all, I would highly recommend this place, whether you are a vegetarian, vegan or omnivore. read more

I'm sorry, Roots. I appreciate and understand the necessity of having an upscale vegetarian Asian restaurant, but I feel like I get the same type of food next door at Heart and Soy for half the cost. There wasn't anything too spectacular about the food here that wowed me. read more

The food was fantastic and the servings were pretty big. Our waiter, Jim, was very friendly and helpful. Definitely a good place to eat!

Simply the best! I've supported this restaurant for years and definitely did during the 2020 quarantine as I didn't want them to go out of business. Everything I've ever ordered is delicious. The wait staff is always friendly as well as the people taking the take out orders. Even my non-vegan friends and family love the food here. Definitely worth the money! read more

It's a great option for the romantic dates as you have plenty of options and won't feel stuffed to the brim like you would at an italian restaurant or other fancy places. read more

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place. For the record, I am not a tofu eater. I tried the sizzling sticky rice and thought it was good. It had a lot going on in the dish which helped me get over the consistency of the tofu. The rice on top was the best part. I also had a taro bubble tea and I believe it was the best taro tea in town. I also recommend the avocado bubble tea and having it blended. read more

Absolutely love this quiet and kind place! We drive from Lexington just to eat here! Everything we have is delicious and the tea is amazing

I have been going to Roots for years. I have always loved it and I wanted to support them during the pandemic. I ordered the pan-seared noodles for my brother and we found hairs on top, in the middle, and on the bottom. At first we were convinced it was just dog hair from our house, but we found 3 or 4 hairs and eventually called it quits. So disappointing. read more

Apparently I will have to go back to this place as I am missing what everyone else is getting. I really liked Hear & Soy next door but when my brother took me here for my birthday in December to help me stick with my Vegan/no oil/no nut diet I actually ended up mad. I am going to chalk this up to the server. I asked HER a bunch of questions and maybe her brain is fried or something because she said later when I asked her after running into mistakes with my food, that she is NOT new to Roots. So how come you are CLUELESS about your menu??? I asked if the tofu in the Hue was fried, she said no, I asked about a few other things that she gave me wrong answers to - as I found out after they were ordered and delivered. Yes, the tofu is FRIED in the Hue and in the Vietnamese crepe (beyond the crepe being very oily itself). Anyway, I won't bore you with these issues but I will say ASK FOR THE WAITER not the waitress! He was actually helpful. I will go back since I have limited choices in this town for vegan options but I will ask for the waiter. read more

i always depend on Roots and Heart and Soy always dependable always awesome and the people you will love their sweet kind and peaceful peaceable and just so so good to see every time you come in their food is impeccable incredibly fresh with anything that you get all vegetarian it's fresh their vegetable wrap is our go to when we are there their roll ups that they have made out of cucumber and fresh vegetables and lettuce with the sauce for dipping sauce it's similar to The type of sauce that you would have for an egg roll so wonderful go and check it out both sides are great read more

Roots is probably my favorite restaurant in Louisville. I also love Heart & Soy but as another reviewer (Megan) describes, Roots is just different. They offer a fancier, sit-down, server experience. Roots has a large menu, in my opinion and it's always hard for me to chose! Everything looks good! They do offer veg or vegan. My favorite is the Thai Salad. Simple yet so darn delicious. They have what seems like hundreds of types of teas from around the world, including organic. I love Roots! read more

Slowest service in town,very small servings, not organic pricey for quality. Servers change frequently because owner is cold to both customer and employee. They are rarely even half full and only remain in business because they currently have no competition that they don't own. Least compassionate business owner I have encountered yet professes a compassionate business won't ever eat here again read more

As a vegan, I'm not used to so many choices on a menu. We are only here in Louisville for 3 days and we have already eaten here twice. The hue was great. Braised spinach delicious and cooked just right. The ginger dressing on the Thai salad is great. Tofu hot pot was hearty, although I think it could have used a greater variety of mushrooms, and the rice should be included. The hibiscus tea was intense and fresh; the green Jasmine bright and aromatic. Tableside timers are provided for accurate steeping. read more

Amazing dinner out for our anniversary! As a vegan, it is sometimes hard to find restaurants that offer a wide selection of items (that aren't just salads or seitan wings). Options were endless at roots! My wife and I sat at a low table in the back...you sit on pillows on the floor. It was nice and quiet for us to have a great conversation over her lavender tea and my vegan thai iced tea. Oh yea, there is no alcohol as the owner is Buddhist. Fine by us, we LOVE tea. Even though our server, Cheyenne, was new and really busy, she gave us knowledgeable answers to our questions and guided us through the menu. Food all came as it was ready, which I love. We had the summer rolls (only wish there was a lighter, citrusy sauce), and cucumber rolls as appetizers. We then moved on to the sautéed spinach(our favorite), seasonal root vegetables(could have had some turnips or beets along with the delicious potatoes), and the beautiful potato nest entree. Food was delicious, service was amazing, and we will be back!!!!!!! read more

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Same as heart & soy but with a comfortable dining room and fantastic high- quality tea. The food is fantastic, and the service makes it feel like I'm eating in someone's home - warm and attentive. The food is so fresh and flavorful! I just order randomly every time and am always impressed. Plus, they have the best veggie fried rice I've ever had. I'm the type to add soy sauce and siracha to everything, but I don't even think about it with that fried rice. read more

I visited Louisville for a conference and I needed to get a vegetarian meal that was better than cheese, crackers, and mashed potatoes being served at the hotel. Found Roots via an internet search and had a wonderful lunch in an open air setting. I am glad that I took a cab from my downtown hotel ($9 plus tip) an sampled a soup and two dishes that were served tapas style. The house-made tofu lived up to my expectations, as did the dishes overall. Was greeted warmly by who I can only assume was the owner. She made me feel welcomed. The wait staff were prompt, knowledgable, and courteous. Many others were there for lunch on a Monday afternoon. Would go back over and over if Roots was in my hometown. read more

Owner "Koko" has added another feather in her cap with the opening of her latest ventures - Roots & Heart of Soy ! Love the atmosphere - distinctive and somewhat upscale compared to the "Zen Garden" , yet subtle and cozy. The food is great even though it leaves scope for improvement but again something that can be overcome by paying more attention to the details in the days and months ahead. The staff is super courteous and accommodating. Prices are moderate. Can't thank my stars enough that we now have three vegetarian restaurants in town - four if you count Morels ;) ! read more

This is my new favorite date night spot. The simple and clean interior, with small tables just invites you to want to stay and have a conversation. The menu is ordered from the lightest fare to the heavier fare with calories listed. For two hungry people, on our first visit we got a small soup, a salad, an appetizer, and two entrees. We left with almost half of our entrees in to go containers. The second time we ordered as we went, so that we didnt get as much food. So far we have tried: -Glass Noodle Salad: This reminded me of a salad version of Singapore noodles. I loved all the different textures. You had a good mixture of soft, crispy, and crunchy. The tumeric tofu was cooked to perfection. My partner was not as keen on this because of the many textures. -Thai Salad: Wow, this was incredible. Lettuce, daikon, peppers, edamame, roasted peanuts, cellophane noodles, and onions tossed in a light ginger dressing. I was expecting the ginger dressing you get at a japanese restaurant, but this was more of a sesame ginger brown dressing. It was so refreshing. I would definitely order this again. It is big enough for two (or more) to share, or one person to eat it on their own. -Fresh Udon Noodle Soup: Hot damn. I didn't want to waste a single noodle so I slurped the bowl when I was done. When say its spicy, they mean it. The broth is exactly what I wish for whenever I am sick. It is so flavorful with that kick at the end. It has tofu, vegan ham? (it sort of looked like vegan beef slices), crispy shallots, and two different types of mushrooms. I don't think I can go there without getting a bowl of this goodness. -Crispy Avocado and Tomato Rolls: These spring rolls are filled with avocado and tomato. We tried them since Yelpers seemed to love these. I found them just okay. Crisp rice paper exterior met with the soft, sweet avocado on the inside. They were a little greasy. -Summer Rolls: These guys are fat! They are filled to the brim with delicious, fresh vegetables, tofu, basil, and crispy shallots. The tamarind dipping sauce it comes with is out of this world good. My partner who doesn't even like fresh spring rolls ate her fair share. -Crispy Potato Nest: A crisp nest of shredded potato filled with sauteed veggies in a light brown sauce. I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. The nest was too crisp for my taste. I didn't really end up eating any of the potatoes because of how crispy it was, but the vegetables were perfectly seasoned and sauteed. -Pan Seared Rice Noodles: This is my partner's favorite entree here. The rice noodles are seared into almost latke patties. So you have crispier noodles and pieces that are soft. I think we could just eat the rice noodles alone. It comes with the same vetetable and tofu mix that many of the dishes have. -Japanese Eggplant: I really enjoyed this curry. I wish I had ordered it with rice though. It was so rich, I could barely eat it without a carb. If you aren't sold on eggplant though, this dish is not for you. The eggplant is tender and soft, but not crispy at all. I plan to eat my way through the entire menu. I cannot get enough! My only issue here is the service. Every time I have come, I had to look around the restaurant for our server because we needed something. On Valentine's Day we had to actually get up to find someone to get us our check after we had tried for 10 minutes to stare down our waitress without luck. They seem like they are always one server short. Just plan to take your time. read more

My mom is a vegetarian, so when she was visiting I thought this was the perfect place to take her. They have a great selection of teas, small plates and entrees. The white beans and cabbage, lettuce wraps, Japanese eggplant, and a new mushroom item were all amazing! Even if you aren't a vegetarian, it's a great place to try! read more

I love meat. I'm not ashamed. I'll be the first to jump on a piece of bacon. That being said, it takes a lot to knock my socks off when it comes to vegetarian fare. Roots got it right. Don't skip the tofu clay pot (house made tofu, at that!) OR the desert. Meat eaters, you will not be sad. In fact, you might forget about bacon for a minute. One small little complaint: the staff seems a little...unsure. I don't expect 5 star service, but it was almost as if no one even trained some of the servers. Disappointing, but not enough to make me forget about that vegetable nest. read more

Food is ok not very flavored... You will pay 16 plus tips for a small tofu clay pot plus a cup of tea.

Must try for any vegan or vegetarian. The pan-seared ravioli and the ginger pear salad were delicious. Absolutely loved their taro root bubble tea! read more

Nice place, I was excited to visit Louisville and see a place that caters to vegans. Too bad it took 20 minutes to get our water glasses filled even on a slow Sunday afternoon. We never got to order. Walked out after 30 minutes. read more

I was excited to try Roots after reading such great reviews & realizing its owned by the folks at Zen Garden, but I definitely wasn't as impressed as other yelpers! We had crispy rolls, pho soup, wonton soup, and fried oyster mushrooms. The mushrooms tasted like beer batter and nothing else. The soups were delicious, but the crispy rolls were not worth $6.50 for 2. We also ordered the potato basket, which was dreadfully subpar. If it weren't for the presentation, I might have realized that I could order vegetables in brown sauce at any Chinese delivery place, pay less, and get twice as much. . . We sat at the recessed tables, which seemed fun, but they were about 4 inches too short, so by the end of the meal our backs were killing us. (I'm 5'2, and it was still awful!) the waitress was nice, but too busy to recommend teas, which looked intriguing, but I didn't want to just randomly select one because I didn't know one from another! For the $50 we spent, I would have rather gone to the original Zen Garden or Simply Thai, (both 5 stars in my book.) Live and learn! I'd come back for soup, but I'd go next door to get it cheaper! For my future Roots fill, I'll stick with the band! read more

Roots is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant with the motto "mindful, compassionate cooking" located at 1216 Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. Located in a semi-residential area, Roots decor has a modern but relaxing feel. It was the perfect place for lunch after spending the night flying. My Vietnamese Crepe was quite tasty, and my dining companion enjoyed the Green Curry Soup. The extensive selection of teas would be enough to tempt me to return even if the food wasn't as tasty as it was. The meal was light but filling. I enjoyed the Organic Fine Lung Ching "Dragon's Well" Green Tea very much. The only downer was the cappuccino which had an artificial taste. The waiter offered to refund our money for those. We were unable to finish them. I would definitely eat at Roots again if I lived in Louisville. read more

I am a loyal customer at heart & soy, so I have been itching to try roots for a long time. I came during lunch with my best friend and there was no one there- I mean literally no one. Our server was outside talking to someone and a woman that worked at heart & soy came over and told us to sit wherever we would like. That is the only thing I would deduct a star for. It was very odd coming in and not being greeted by anyone. However, I will say that the place has a great ambiance. I love the Japanese style seating towards the back of the restaurant. There are Vietnamese watercolor paintings on the walls and a wide selection of any kind of tea you could think of. Many of the menu items are already on the menu next door at heart & soy, but at roots you are paying a little more for a dining experience- which I do not mind. And not only do they offer American dining utensils, but they also offer chopsticks for you to eat with. The food was simply awesome! The wait time was short and we were regularly checked on by our friendly server and given more ice water to drink. For appetizers we got the pan fried potstickers and the crispy egg rolls. Both were hot, fresh, and delicious. For entrees, my boyfriend got Hue and I got the sizzling crispy rice with bbq tofu. Both were filling yet light. The bill wasn't too bad, either! For two appetizers and two entrees, we paid around $30 (not including a tip). Overall, it was an awesome experience and I would eat there again :) read more

If you are a tea lover, the roots boast a broad array of choices. No alcohol on the menu, but Bubble Tea available. I had a lovely rich Chai Rooibos with honey. The Green Curry soup is a MUST. Full of flavor with a light kick while still remaining brothy, and not heavy. Get a BOWL! Also had the steamed rice rolls. Loads of crunchy fresh veggies! Like an Asian market in my mouth. Best if you pour the Vietnamese sauce over the whole plate for the best flavor. Happy rooting! read more

Went last night. Everything was amazing. Got the braised beets- complex flavors a little sweet and savory. Delish. Orange tofu was incredible. Their homemade tofu is so fresh and the veggies were nice and crisp. The pan fried noodles were a fun dish with savory brown sauce and again crisp fresh veggies. Went to heart and soy and had a wonder bar. That too was amazing! Coconut, raspberry, chocolate and some other yummy things amp I read the Yelp reviews so I had low expectations on the service. They were right. She was nice but it wasn't attentive or fast by any means. If you know that going in like I did you'll really enjoy your meal. And we felt great afterward. Not too stuffed or weighed down. Perfect!! read more

I have been to Heart and Soy a few times and loved it, so I was excited when my friend made reservations here for her wife and her's birthday. We had to leave after an hour, which we didn't think would be an issue. While we were there, three tables were sat and served their food, but by the time we left no one had even taken our food order. A few people at the table are diabetic and count on having food within an hour of arriving at a restaurant to take their medicine. I get that serving can be hard work, and there were only two people handling the entire floor. But, why is it that three tables had food before we even got to place orders? My friend kept trying to get the servers attention and couldn't. My fiance and I had to leave, and couldn't eat. However, I got a sip of my friends bubble tea and it is THE BOMB!! It's worth the $4.50 price tag. read more

I am from the Indian subcontinent, a couple of months ago I took my cousin from India to Roots because the many times I had been there had enjoyed the cuisine and thought this would be a "different" experience for her. We got there around 12:15pm on a Tuesday and saw plenty of empty tables. The hostess/waiter showed us to a table in the interior of the restaurant. I asked if we could have a table closer to the glazed front which had more light and next to the street. Even though there were plenty of seating availble in front we were told it was being saved for larger groups (nonexistent)! Amazed by the rudeness we left. I have wondered whether the reason was our ethnicity- my cousin was wearing a sari! Resolved never to return! read more

The soups! The smoothies! EVEN THE CARROT CAKE! So tasty! I had a friend come into town who is Vegan. She adored this place ! The built-in-the-ground tables are unique. Overall satisfied with this place. I love it. read more

I have been here many, many times and have never had a bad experience. In fact, each meal is a surprise and a party in my mouth! I am a very happy meat eater, but all the veggies and the combination of tastes always makes my body very happy. The Forbidden Rice, the Great White Beans and Spinach, the Hue Soup and the Summer Rolls are simply AMAZING. So lucky this establishment is in Louisville. I had a friend visit from Cincy and he still talks about his Avocado Bubble Tea experience! read more

Really enjoyed this restaurant on a trip to Louisville! I am a vegetarian, but rarely eat at all-vegetarian places because there's always great options at my favorite places at home. But the menu looked really good, and I wanted to check out the neighborhood, so headed down. The food was great! I had the green curry soup to start, which was incredibly delicious and filled with vegetables. I also had the green bean and tofu dish, and the lemon chiffon tea. The spice level was perfect for me and everything was cooked and seasoned so well. Also, compared to what I'm used to in Boston, I couldn't believe how affordable this was (my total bill was about $20 for an appetizer, entrée and a special tea). Also, the staff here were incredibly nice and the décor was also welcoming. read more

My wife and I went here a few weeks ago for the first time and got a bunch of various items, most of which were suggested by the waiter. Some of the most interesting and amazing food I've ever tasted. I've been a vegetarian for almost 9 years, so you can imagine that dining out gets boring with the lack of selection and imagination with traditional vegetarian fare. This place blew me away with new tastes and flavor combinations. Even a meat-eater would love these foods. Recommend highly!! read more

Tofu was delicious and flavorful and the portions surprisingly large. I suggest the wonton soup and smoked caprese salad. Can't wait to come back! read more

Roots - Smoked caprese salad - Vegetarian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Heart & Soy never disappoints. Roots in the other hand... The food had very little flavor and the service was bad. I'll stick to heart & soy. After reading the reviews, I have to wonder if they are just having an off day. Either way it's heart & soy or Zen Garden from now on. read more

Came in to hang out with girlfriend and friends, place is well decorated, minimalistic, enough space, ordered wonton soup and it was yummy! I'm not vegan or don't require any gluten free diet, but everything we ordered were yummy and looked really good. Only downside would be finding a parking spot, but other than that, I'd recommend this place for vegan and gluten free people! read more

The 5 star rating is well deserved. Everything I ordered was artfully prepared. Delicious green curry soup an Thai salad really uplifted my mood. I also tried my friends dishes and they were all amazing. This will be a destination when ever I visit Louisville. read more