I arrived fresh off a plane from Los Angeles and a friend brought me here around 9:30am on a Thursday. This all-vegan cafe is located in the lobby of an apartment complex and is bright with tons of natural light from all sides. There is tons of seating and there are even a few of games for people to enjoy. I've heard there is open mic nights which is always a good time. Now onto the food: Their nachos were highly recommended so I had to try them. My friend had the jackfruit slider with added cheese and we split it. Both dishes were so fresh and flavorful! This nachos were LOADED! And the pretzel bread on that slider was soft and pillowy toasted perfection! They were also having a Week of Wakanda themed menu so I had to try out a few items like their Vibranium smoothie with spinach, sea moss, and berries: superb! So delicious! I loved the cherries in it! I also had their Kilmonger cookie which was light but flavorful and delicious. I left super satisfied but not overly heavy or full; which, for me, means quality ingredients. You couldn't ask for better service. They were kind, attentive, and even had treats for doggos. I hope I can go back once more before heading back out of town to try some of their other menu items that sounded so good like their jarsagna and quesadilla.

The nachos had made me go “wow” every time I took a bite. They loaded the tortilla chips with lots of yummy flavors and that hit every flavor note. They made me super full and meat people out there would not be left wanting. I feel confident I’d be happy ordering something different from the menu—they know what they’re doing!

Black Leaf is incredible. My partner and I stopped here on a cross-country drive after 8 months of traveling and our visit to Black Leaf was a food highlight of our trip. The owners are extremely friendly, generous, personable and so kind. The place had really good energy, music and ambiance. The food was so amazing and inspiring- I’ve been plant based for 2 years and vegetarian for almost all of my life and this is some of the most creative and flavorful vegan food I’ve ever had. We loved meeting the owners and hearing their stories and they offered to keep in touch and give us recommendations for vegan spots around the world. We wanted to stay for longer but unfortunately needed to hit the road. If you’re in Indianapolis or driving through Indianapolis, make sure to stop here. I wanted to try everything on their menu, we got chicken sliders, gluten free Mac and cheese, green smoothies and jarsagna. I can’t wait to visit black leaf again in the future.

I will be back 100%! As someone who has never liked meat or the taste/texture of meat, along with having been a vegan for 13 years, I really want nothing to do with mock meats. I really love that there are a few options here that do not include meat like products. I got a grilled cheese and a Mac and cheese! My friend, who is not a vegan or vegetarian, got the jack fruit slider and really liked it. I would love to see them include baked tofu and a black bean patty in the future! The atmosphere is calm, clean and relaxing. The owners/staff are very kind and welcoming! The only slight downside was the water is $3 and there is no pitcher to get free water from. My friend and I went ahead and brought in our own water bottles.

Introduced to this spot by a great friend. It was amazing. I’ve been trying out vegan options and by far the best so far. Let me start with the amazing service including the owners checking in to make certain we enjoyed our food and service. I had the nachos and tried the bacon cheeseburger. The nachos were so flavorful! We also enjoyed one of the smoothies which were also good. If you want to enjoy some vegan food this is a great spot

You know, it's not every day you find a vegan joint that nails it, but this place? Total HOME RUN. I went for their Original Burger, and let me tell you, it’s in a league of its own. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill plant-based patty that tries to imitate meat. Nah, this one’s unapologetically vegan and juicy in its unique way. It comes smothered in this drool-worthy teriyaki BBQ sauce that’s just...wow! And let’s not forget about those fries—absolute perfection. Crispy, golden, and seasoned to hit all the right notes. But the awesomeness doesn’t stop at the food. What struck a chord with me was learning that Black Leaf Vegan is a family-owned, African-American-run business. Supporting them felt like I was backing a cause that matters, which is close to me as an underrepresented, and that was pretty empowering. The people here? Top-notch. Our server, Fundi, was like the warm vibe friend you didn't know you needed—super attentive, full of great recommendations, and just an all-around joy. Another staffer even tipped us off about where not to park, saving us from the nightmare of a towed car. The vibe is warm and welcoming; It’s a no-brainer—I'm returning, and you should hit it up, too. If you want food that fills your belly and feeds your soul, Black Leaf Vegan is where it's at.

They have a very nice and attentive staff. The atmosphere is grown, clean, and pleasant. The food is outstanding. I have had the jackfruit slider and the loaded nachos, so far. They are both great choices, but I think the slider was my favorite, if I had to choose. Also make sure to try their coffee, or the house made cider. They are both excellent. Not to mention that they are the only vegan Cafe in Indy open on Mondays.

Delicious and such a great location for them. Tucked away while still downtown. The inside is cozy to sit and chat with friends. Food, amazing. I got this pudding desert that was cream cheese my with strawberries, amazing. The jackfruit slider and mango lemonade, also just amazing.

Bruhh!!!! So I found this place because I was out downtown and NEEDED something healthy! I HAVE NEVER tried vegan food but I started a Daniel fast and need to stop somewhere quick cuz my STOMACH WAS HUNGRY!!! Went there not expecting too much and also restricted on menu because of fast BUT I the crab something and it was good!!! My date had a taco something (I’m sorry y’all I just remember what it look like) and it smelled/and looked so good I started digging in her plate. Oops!! Idk if I slipped on my fast but I think God was happy to see the smile on face lol. Definitely Going back and I’m not even Vegan. I might be after this 😂 If you reading GOOONE HEAD, STOP PLAYING! AND GOO!!!

One of the few vegan options in Indy. A short walk along the canal from downtown, nice and modern interior. Super friendly staff, excellent food. We had some burgers, among the best vegan one we ever had. Super tasty dessert lemon cake, too. Minor downside (coming from Europe and not being used to it): everything is served in to-go boxes, even if you're eating in.

I attended the jazz performance on May 20th and it was my first time attending the restaurant. I must say the music was awesome. However, the service from the staff was awful. I am unable to offer comments on the quality of the food or drink because it was nearly impossible to get an order filled. The entire team seemed to be disorganized and unable to accomplish simple tasks such as preparing a smoothie or cooking a burger in a reasonable amount of time. I was told it would take more than 30 minutes to prepare a burger! my assessment of the chaos and disorientation starts from the top. The gentleman who self identified as the owner needs to fix his attitude. His customers were rightfully frustrated with the inability of the staff to complete an order in a timely manner and the owner responded to customers in a rude and condescending manner. I witnessed this on several occasions. When it came time for me to place my order I was told I could not order a burger, although at least eight were visibly cooking on the griddle. When pressed on way I couldn’t get a burger his reply to me was because they were not supposed to be selling them! But they were selling burgers. Anyway I returned to my seat and enjoyed the music. Other customers were still waiting for the meals after the show was over and many said they had been waiting for the food they purchased for over an hour. Totally unacceptable and a prime example of a restaurant owner who was disorganized and unprepared for the crowd that came out to enjoy and afternoon of food and music. a crowd that came out to support a locally owned black business. I am giving them one star because of the music only. Next time the owners need to be prepared to serve the customers who patronize their business with courtesy and a clear goal of providing excellent service- not the mess that was delivered on Sunday, May 20, 2023.

I had a Vita Verde smoothie (I could taste pineapple, spinach), a piece of cinnamon cake and lemon cake. The desserts were absolutely delicious. They also had vegan cinnamon roll and cookies. The smoothie was nutrient dense and very filling. The owner was so warm and kind. We had a good conversation while she was making the smoothie for me. She also added sea moss that she happened to have at that time to make the smoothie even healthier. I would definitely want to visit this place again.

The nachos is bussin!! But them dad jokes are even better!! Great food, great atmosphere, amazing owners, I will be back!! Oh…I can’t forget to mention how incredible the apple & pineapple smoothie was!! Highly recommend this place!!

Absolutely lovely cafe, as other reviews have said the owners are the sweetest, super genuine people who seem like they love what they do. The food is stellar, too, I'm gonna be craving the jackfruit slider for a while. All around excellent choice for vegans and non-vegans alike, the meals will leave you satisfied for sure.

The Original Burger I enjoyed at Black Leaf Vegan Cafe on Thursday, June 22, for an early dinner, is the best vegan burger I've ever eaten. I confess that I rarely eat out, so I've probably only tried about a half dozen varieties. Still, the meatless burger tasted much like quality ground beef. The price seemed about average for a restaurant. To drink, I ordered the Lovely Lemonade with strawberry-banana. The flavor didn't come through as much as I'd have liked, especially for the price, which seemed above average for a soft drink. However, it was okay. The men's restroom seemed clean and stocked. I was visiting Indianapolis for just one day and happy to find a vegan restaurant offering tasty food. That's why I gave it 5 stars for excellence. I enjoyed walking part of downtown from Union Station to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and the Central Indianapolis Public Library. This restaurant is within walking distance of all those sites for persons like me who don't mind walking several blocks. The neighborhood near the restaurant seemed to be a rundown area, but that may have just been my perception as I walked along. If I'd had more time I might have walked over from the restaurant to the Indianapolis Canal, which apparently is a short walk from this cafe. I recommend this restaurant for persons living in or visiting Indianapolis who are on vegan diets or willing to try out vegan food. I'd love to visit again and try out some other menu items on a future Indianapolis visit.

Finally got the time to go to Black Leaf Vegan Cafe, and from the moment we walked to the counter, the great energy of everyone in there, their awesome recommendation and OMG when those Loaded nachos come out, there's not words to describe how delicious they were the Crab Cake Sandwich was out of this world and the Amazing Super Cider was so expectacular that we have to order another asap. On top of all that, the owners Derrick and Taira are amazing nice humble approachable overall, one of the best experiences in a Vegan Restaurant in Indy!! Wish all of the success

I ordered the SEC bagel; where SEC is plant substitute Sausage, plant substitute Egg, and plant substitute Cheese. By the taste and texture, I don't think anybody would guess this was vegan, rather than the normal animal products. Vegan or not, the SEC bagel was very delicious, and surely better than any fast food breakfast sandwich you could get, at minimum. It's somewhat more expensive than I'd like, but otherwise 5/5 across categories. The "cafe" has a very nice interior, is connected to the 9 on Canal apartment building, and is a short walk east from the Canal Walk. (I mainly tried here because they helped cater an annual Keep Indianapolis Beautiful event, with one of their food trucks.)

Amazing vegan food! It honestly was very hard for me to differentiate it from the "real" thing. The staff is beyond friendly and open to answer any questions. I highly recommend giving them a try, but be aware that it gets pricey like all healthy food tends to be.

Amazing food. If you’re looking for vegan food that is on point to a tea, you have found the place. It’s a black owned business with great vibes and with a great atmosphere. The service is top notch A1, and once you step into this restaurant it’s immediately like being around family. Overall, one of the best vegan spots we have locally in Indianapolis. Definitely give it a try if you can 🫶🏽

So so good! I had the jackfruit slider and my partner had the crab cakes. We both got Mac n cheese as the side and it was all excellent! We will definitely be back to Black Leaf Vegan.

THESE ARE THE BEST VEGAN BURGERS I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE!!! I am blessed to have the opportunity to play my drums and travel all over the world. eating delicious vegan food is one of the perks to being a traveling musician. I had the jack fruit burger and their quac burger and both were absolutely perfect. The staff is amazing, friendly and the restaurant is beautiful. Passive Inspiration. This place inspires me. Thank you Black Leaf! (On the road with Death Kill Overdrive and City Mouse)

This was my first time trying and visiting the Black Leaf Vegan Cafe. I was researching Black-owned restaurants I could support and try. The owners provided exceptional service and were very informative with all of my questions as a non-vegan! (Lol, yes, I'm not vegan, but I like trying plant-based food options). The cafe is modern chic and has a very welcoming and chill atmosphere. The food was AMAZING! I ordered the mango lemonade, which was recommended by one of the owners (the wife) and it did not disappoint! 🔥🔥🔥Best mango lemonade I've ever tried! I also ordered the chocolate marble cake, mac n cheese, and jasagna. Every thing was delicious! 🔥🔥🔥 I most certainly will be back! You reading this review should come by too! 😊