Even Meat Eaters Can’t Help but Fall In Love With the Menu at This Plant-Based Restaurant in Kentucky

As a meat eater, I once assumed that plant-based entrees were mostly salads and grilled veggies. Maybe there'd be some vegetable soups or rice and beans, too. I couldn't have been more wrong. Plant-based dining has come a long way, so far that carnivores may not even miss the meat. Shahar, a plant-based restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, serves some of the best vegan and vegetarian food in the state. Customers rave about the flavors in their brunch dishes, sandwiches, shareables, and more.

Shahar first opened on Bardstown Road in Louisville in May 2019 but moved to the Shelby Park neighborhood in December 2024. The corner restaurant on Logan Street has bar and table seating and a welcoming casual atmosphere. Its plant-based menu has big flavors and a variety of familiar items, appealing to all types of eaters.

Shahar's menu includes a Classic Burger and the Philly Style, a sandwich with a marinated patty, grilled peppers, and grilled onions on a brioche bun. It also serves several crispy chicken sandwiches, including the classic Chicken Sando, as well as hot and BBQ varieties. The Kickin Chicken has crispy chicken covered in an Asian zing sauce and topped with slaw, pickled onions, and garlic aioli. The menu also includes shareables like the Bomb Bowl with crispy buffalo chicken over fries or tots and wings covered in the customer's choice of sauces. It also often has special menu items, like tacos on Taco Tuesdays. I can't wait to try their delicious tacos on a Tuesday soon.

If brunch is more your thing, Shahar has you covered. It serves several breakfast sandwiches, like the Egg Cheese and Sausage Sando and the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich. The menu also features a breakfast burrito and the Fully Loaded Bagel, a toasted bagel, egg, sausage, bacon, cheese, hash browns, and garlic aioli. Doesn't that sound like the perfect way to start any morning?

The restaurant also wows customers with its fantastic cocktails. The O'Snap has Makers Mark bourbon, peach schnapps, lime, and ginger, and the La Rosita has tequila, Campari, hibiscus syrup, and lime. These cocktails could turn any of Shahar's plant-based dishes into a celebration.

For more information, visit Shahar's website and Facebook page.

After enjoying a delicious meal in Louisville, there are plenty of things to do and see in Derby City. Some unique attractions are the Louisville Slugger Museum, 21C Museum, and the Frazier History Museum, which has a new exhibit dedicated to Kentucky's 120 counties. The Big Four Bridge is a stunning walking bridge that connects downtown Louisville to Indiana and provides visitors with amazing views of the skyline and Ohio River. One of the city's best hotels is the Omni Louisville Hotel, with a pool, fitness center, and breakfast.