City Roots Hospitality · Sentir
Best Vegan Mexican Restaurant Near Union Square, NYC
Best vegan mexican restaurant Union Square searches usually turn up the juice bars, salad counters, and vegan-friendly cafes clustered around the park itself. What the square doesn’t have, right on it, is a full sit-down Mexican kitchen built entirely plant-based. That’s where Sentir comes in, a short walk north on 19th Street.
Sentir, a fully vegan and kosher-certified Mexican restaurant at 37 W 19th St, is the best vegan mexican restaurant Union Square visitors can reach, about a 9-minute walk (0.4 miles) north of the square.
How Far Is Sentir From Union Square?
| Mode | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Biking | 3 min | 0.4 miles |
| Transit | 9 min | 0.4 miles |
| Walking | 9 min | 0.4 miles |
| Driving | 10 min | 0.4 miles |
Nine minutes on foot, mostly flat, straight up Fifth Avenue or Broadway before a turn onto 19th Street. It’s one of the shortest trips to Sentir from any neighborhood we cover.
For anyone comparing the best vegan mexican restaurant Union Square area diners can reach, that short walk is really the whole story. Our scratch kitchen, agave bar, and kosher certification aren’t things you’ll find at the cafes circling the square itself.
The Menu Worth the Walk
Every dish on our menu is built plant-based from the ground up, not adapted from a meat-based version, which is part of why Sentir keeps coming up as the best vegan mexican restaurant Union Square diners search for. A few that guests coming from the square order most:
- Carne Asada Tacos: Grilled Chunk Foods plant-based steak, roasted cherry tomato, queso fresco, and chili broth
- Birria Tacos: Slow-braised Chunk Foods steak with a side of adobo consommé for dipping
- Hen of the Woods Mole: Crispy mushrooms, a slow-built mole sauce, crema, and crispy red quinoa
- Salmon Ceviche: Guajillo-cured plant-based salmon with passion fruit, lime, and jalapeño
- Chocolate Chili Tart: Cayenne-infused ganache, chocolate mousse, and caramel tuile
Start with the Crispy Yucas if the table is sharing. Fried until golden, served with our housemade dipping sauces, they’re usually gone before the mains arrive.
What Does Dinner Cost?
Sentir is priced as a full sit-down dinner, not a quick counter order, reflecting the scratch kitchen and dedicated agave bar behind every dish.
Tacos and starters generally run in the mid range for a Manhattan dinner, with the agave program adding a separate line if cocktails or a tequila flight are part of the night. Groups of 11 to 25 can also book a reserved four-course package rather than ordering individually, which is worth asking about when reserving for a birthday or work dinner coming from Union Square.
A Common Mistake Worth Avoiding
Not every restaurant near Union Square marked “vegan-friendly” is fully vegan. Some cafes use dairy or egg-based ingredients in dishes labeled vegetarian, which can catch guests off guard. At Sentir, every dish on the menu is built vegan from the start, so there’s no need to double-check with the kitchen.
Common Questions
Does Sentir take reservations for groups visiting from Union Square?
Yes. Sentir accepts reservations through Resy and can accommodate groups of 11 to 25 guests with a reserved package.
Is Sentir kosher as well as vegan?
Yes. Sentir is both fully vegan and kosher certified, making it a fit for guests with combined dietary requirements visiting from Union Square.
Is there a fully vegan Mexican restaurant directly at Union Square?
Not directly on the square itself. Sentir, about a 9-minute walk north, is the closest fully vegan, kosher-certified option, and arguably the best vegan mexican restaurant Union Square has within easy reach.
Can I order from Sentir if I don’t want to make the walk?
Yes. Sentir offers online ordering for pickup and delivery directly through its own site, which can reach parts of the Union Square area depending on delivery radius.
What other neighborhoods does Sentir cover?
Our guides to NoMad, Herald Square, and Murray Hill break down the walk from each, alongside our broader look at the vegan mexican restaurant NYC scene.
Sentir holds strong guest feedback on Yelp and TripAdvisor, one of the reasons it’s named the best vegan mexican restaurant Union Square visitors keep coming back to. Nine minutes is a short trip for a full vegan, kosher-certified Mexican dinner.
Nine minutes from the square, and worth every one of them. Book a table whenever you’re ready.
