HappyCow - Vegan Food Near You Reviews

by EmeraldCityGurl

In response to Happy Cow’s response: You suggest “lowering your standards” and adding establishments that only offer “a few” vegan friendly options - excuse me but I thought the purpose of HappyCow was to guide us vegans to restaurants that have vegan friendly options, even if it’s only “a few.” Maybe I misunderstood the premise of HappyCow? I don’t think so. And I tried adding the place we ate at in Ely, NV and the website made me feel like it wasn’t appropriate to add it so I didn’t. Stupid questions like “are you SURE they have more than a few vegan options?” No, I’m not sure but I’d still like other vegans to know they can get a pizza there if they’d like. Google can do that, too. Google all the way. (Original review:)This used to be a great and helpful app for finding vegan food nearby - when I was in Seattle. Now, not so much. A month ago I went on the road and was fully expecting HappyCow to help guide me to vegan friendly establishments. That has not been the case. For example, I’m sitting in Ely, Nevada right now and when I search in Happy Cow one restaurant pops up and it’s closed. However, when I search in google I found a pizza joint, a Mexican restaurant and a couple other places that offer vegan friendly options. I was borderline angry when I discovered that because I paid for this stupid app. I’m on the road 100% of the time and I’d suggest just using google and not waste your money on HappyCow.

by [J_C]*

As a vegan I like supporting vegan products, but HappyCow is not worth even $.99... the selection is poor and only limited to places that are 100% vegan. I want to find places I can eat and don’t want to be controlled by the developer’s filtered choices. Many restaurant in my area that are vegan friendly, but only like 7-8 within 25-30 mile radios (I live in the currently 4th largest metropolis area of US).
I went to find by the map and when used the selected area, the map zoomed in (glitch) and gives me the result just for small selection.
I hate the fact that I can’t get my money back!! I paid $3.99 thinking it was a good app as I usually get if I pay more than $1... can’t believe that Peta recommended HappyCow.

Do not purchase until they improve their database and bugs. I see plenty of options in TripAdvisor and Yelp in my area. HappyCow is only worth if it is free at the moment, and even then TripAdvisor or Yelp provides more options and includes vegan friendly places.

Btw - not supporting restaurants that are vegan friendly and offer 100% vegan options in their menu without having to modify the order, is not supporting restaurants management that are being open minded and value our life style.
Also it makes our cause easier when you can share with non-vegans without having to inconvenience anyone.
The more people order the offered options, the larger will be the vegan menu. Then, demand will grow when the options are available (more vegans).

by Pwdmom

This place looks as if it is barely hanging onto life. Without a doubt, one has to be committed to eating there as it is extremely difficult to find. In an almost totally vacant shopping center it is only one of a few occupied stores. The food is expensive for vegan (and yes I’m vegan) but isn’t adequately outstanding to warrant the prices. It seems that the place is held together by one employee. As you enter the restaurant there is a podium where you place your order and then you wait outside if you like but no indoor seating and only a couple of tables outside.
While you wait the person who took your order disappears, probably to microwave the food order, and then returns to deliver or serve the food. My recommendation is give it a miss and look elsewhere.

by Majoylind

I was very excited to get HappyCow. I live in the middle of the Midwest in a college town, and didn’t know if there were any vegan options near me. Looking at the list on HappyCow , I was pleased to see quite a few options, and I had hope.
But as I started making plans with friends and them asking the age old question of “can you eat here?” I found HappyCow almost no help. So many restaurants in my area have vegan options or are vegan friendly, but aren’t listed in the search results. I tried to add one of them, and was discouraged by how big of a pain it is to add a place. I’m all for being thorough when listing restaurants, but you have to add every single menu item that is or could be made vegan, as well as answer way too many questions about willingness to accommodate.
All of this is to say that I paid for an app I don’t use because the list of vegan restaurants is outdated. Pretty disappointed.

by AlexT2019

I live in a town with an amazing food culture, and tons of veggie friendly businesses.

Even with these elements, this app is inconvenient at best. There is a breakdown of dietary levels and some great reviews, but you have to go to a different section “filter” to refine a search

If you are in the mood for a certain place, you have to take additional steps to find it, unfortunately, competitors like Yelp work better for my family, (which I don’t necessarily like, but reliability and functionality is key for an app for us).

Recently, Happy Cow reached out to me for feedback, and I attempted to give some constructive feedback to help make the tool better. I received back an email basically stating, “well you are just doing it wrong”. Yeah I do agree, I was probably doing it wrong. However, if in this day and age, someone interacts with your app and has trouble using it, then perhaps there may be room for improvement. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to figure out how to use every app I use, so my default is to not use those apps that seem abstract.

I really want to support Happy Cow, it just is more trouble than it is worth for me. Hopefully they are able to address their limitations objectively, as I am appreciative of their mission.

by Dmagne27

Ok I get how valuable this information is catering to vegan / vegetarians. The problem is if I’m paying $3.99, I expect the data to be reliable. The price point is not the issue but the fact that the end result is the opposite of the value I expect out of it. My girlfriend is vegan and I bought HappyCow to use in Paris and, no exaggeration, three places in half a day were closed or had no vegan food left. I also noticed places that had some options that aren’t listed. That said, I think they should reconsider making HappyCow free so people can share the info that improves the data quality being offered. At some point, going around is time consuming, exhausting, and expensive. I’d like for you to succeed but you need to make some changes pronto.

by Luna1437

There are tons of places with vegan options around me that are not on HappyCow . HappyCow is showing me that I live in a dead zone for vegan options, which is kind of true but HappyCow is still missing a lot.

Edit: I appreciate the developer response, but it seems like HappyCow is not what I was looking for. It seems like it is not geared towards those of us who are having difficulty finding restaurants with ANY vegan options, but instead for people who are surrounded by vegan and vegetarian restaurants and just need help choosing which one.
Disappointing, because I am aware of the one all-vegan restaurant in my town, but I wouldn’t necessarily know which places would have a vegan item or two on their menu. It seems HappyCow would be helpful if you lived in a large, vegan-friendly city.

Edit 2: after reading the other reviews, it looks like they’re no longer allowing submissions for restaurants that serve meat? That would explain why nothing was coming up for me. If this is true, that completely erases the functionality of HappyCow in my mind. Not all of us have the luxury of getting to eat at all vegan and vegetarian restaurants! Sad.

by Tried To Make It Work.

The happy cow app has been very helpful to my wife and I under our new lifestyle of plant-based know oil living. We are wondering if you could add a feature or filter for establishments that are willing to serve a plant-based know oil option. Very difficult to find places that have it on the menu. We recently found a great one near JFK Airport in New York City thanks to your app. We were disappointed that there is no way to identify such accommodating establishments with your app.

The numbers behind Dr. Collin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn continue to grow exponentially. We hope you can serve this growing group of followers with your wonderful app.

by Internalzebrapower

Upon going vegan I chose not to purchase HappyCow due to the higher than average price, but since then I have had many great meals thanks to HappyCow which makes it well worth the cost. HappyCow has some issues that need to be worked upon and the kind developer team has informed me that they are aware of them and are doing their best to integrate them.

I recommend HappyCow to anyone who is traveling or living in a metropolitan area where there may be vegan/vegetarian restaurants unknown to them. For those who reside in the suburbs and don’t travel I recommend you use the free website to see what types of options there are around you at one time. I wish there were vegan/veg restaurants everywhere but that is not always the case so check the website first.

I hope that the happy cow community grows because for now I use happy cow to locate the restaurant but google to see the reviews and photos. If a rest isn’t on happy cow has a large number of positive reviews and photos it’s bound to be a home run of a a meal.

by Blukas

It’s nice to get a social side of plant-forward diets, and the following for HappyCow has really made it a great resource for finding those places.

* Update based on developer’s second response:

I appreciate your time to explain the intention behind HappyCow . I think that others could benefit by understanding that you want to highlight places that are *purposely* providing plant-based options. I recommend you put that in HappyCow ’s description. As it stands, it seems like you’re trying to advertise your service as a yelp-for-vegans; which is why I was confused.

by Miraj Lee Saxton

I used HappyCow to locate vegan food places all over the world. From when I am just going out to find local vegan locations to planning my vacations to preview the areas with vegan options. There is also a setting in search that helps you find natural stores. I can’t even begin to tell you how HappyCow has saved me again and again. As a vegan you often try to pre plan but every so often you get caught in a situation where you need to eat something and have no idea where there is a vegan place to eat. This is a must have for any vegan or vegetarian. HappyCow allows you to essentially be empowered to always plan out even your vacations search food places save them as a destination so you can visit the ones interested when you arrive. This is why I have given it 5 stars. It is the best app ever. 😀

by Ckorss

I tried HappyCow a while ago, and I didn’t like it too much because there were a few issues with it at the time. But, I recently went vegan and had a hard time finding places that would suit my diet. Luckily, I decided to give HappyCow a second chance, and I’m glad I did! Every issue has been fixed, and I love it now! I don’t travel much, but it has helped me find new places to eat in a town that I thought I knew like the back of my hand. When I do travel, the first thing I check is my app to see where I can eat- it’s a lifesaver!

by Xmrfigx

Someone recommended this to me when I first went vegan a few years back. It had been less than a month and I was just starting to feel that I wouldn’t be able to do it because I missed eating out with the family. We met this guy in front of the one vegan restaurant I managed to find by just trying to Google a bunch of stuff and when I told him what I went through, he told me about HappyCow and I have been an avid user since! I have used it to plan trips because you can save an itinerary of places you want to visit beforehand and it’s really easy to add restaurants that you may find on your own. If you use HappyCow I encourage you to leave reviews and add restaurants because that’s how the information grows. It is definitely worth the download!

*As of Aug 2018, HappyCow has been redesigned and looks great! The ability to filter by restaurant type directly from the main page is a welcome new addition!

by Legotti

- Appreciate the sorting options. Made it a lot less hard to identify vegetarian options. Appreciate most the ability to remove chain restaurants on top of all the sorting options. - Would prefer a more minimalist app icon on my screen to the cartoon cow drawn in that specific children’s show style. Doesn’t look great mashed up against other app icons. Not relevant to app function though, just means I relegate HappyCow to a back page. - Regarding the common complaint I’m reading about 5 stars not being permitted for non vegan restaurants and vegan restaurants not being permitted 1 star - you could simply asterisk it by color-coding the 5th or 1st star outside your preferred system. More information is better for consumers. I want to know if a vegan restaurant is garbage but works for emergencies, cause I’d rather give my money to the legitimate 2 star vegan restaurant over the 1 star if given choice. They’re more deserving.

by MahlyC

I’ve never felt strongly enough about an app before to bother rating it. We rely on this wherever we go - even in Europe. I love the “veg options” feature because we have a vegan, a lacto-ovo and two omnivores who prefer meat. So we’re able to find places fit for everyone.
We use HappyCow to plan our sightseeing schedule so we’re close to something good at mealtime. Options include grocery stores, so whether we’re with family in Frankfurt or AirBNB in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire, we know where to go. Love that you can see what’s open and easily click for directions.

by GraceLorraine

The convenience is priceless! As in, it’s worth a LOT more money than is charged, just to find exclusively vegan dining establishments—and they also list so much more, even farmers’ markets. I recall my last pre-vegan roommate asking me get “heartburn” pills for him, which he took nearly every day; they were expensive. For anyone regularly taking antacids because of meat eating, I’d highly suggest buying HappyCow to find all-vegan restaurants once in a while—you can go in, order anything on the menu, and probably not need to take any pills! There are so many reviews to help you choose, especially by vegans.... Get out and live a little!

by Kathryn Speaks

We just returned from a 10 day tour in Italy and HappyCow was a lifesaver!! We were able to search out vegan restaurants in Rome, Tuscany and Venice!! We ate like kings and everything was so easy to find! Thank goddess for HappyCow! In the land of dried meats oil and cheeses we found fresh and savory selections in every town we visited! HappyCow was so worth the price! We use it all the time!! Thank you Happy Cow! My only request/feedback is that you add “Whole Food Plant Based” or “WFPB” as one of your dietary label choices, pretty please🙏🏻 I’ve selected Herbivore but would appreciate the correct title to be available for those who are WFPB, which many are for health reasons.

by Shanpelle

I was initially hesitant to purchase HappyCow due to it not being free (I’m cheap when it comes to app purchasing), but upon downloading it, I could not be happier. Especially when visiting new and unfamiliar locations, I have used HappyCow to find restaurants able to accommodate my dietary choices.

Secondly, I really appreciate the ability to add reviews to the locations – both pros and cons – and the ease of adding photographs of the restaurants. (Venue is important!)

Third, I admit that I was annoyed when I noticed that multiple restaurants offering veg options were not listed on the this app app; however, I decided that I could change that by adding them myself. Since then, I have found HappyCow the greatest resource for me because it engenders and cultivates a community who is collectively trying to make eating veg an easier and more delightful experience.

Lastly, I’m extremely thankful for HappyCow and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to try veg, already veg, or simply interested in seeing veg options throughout their area.

by Purerenegade

I’m a 26 year vegan / 15 year raw vegan and lifetime performing artist who tours all over the world and HappyCow is everything. I’ve used it in Spain, Japan, Thailand, Switzerland, Italy, Costa Rica and so much more. I’ve certainly used it in all 50 states. And surprisingly, I use it regularly in my home city, Los Angeles, the world mecca of vegan food just to see what new places pop up. They show up on Happy Cow first. Of course HappyCow is only as good as its community reviews, so I always try to upload a photo and short review where I go - especially if it’s a small town. It’s easy to use and through the photos and reviews, you can really tell what a place is going to be like before you make the trek there. Support!

by Don Forman

This is a great app to find vegan restaurants. I hear people complain about HappyCow tho saying it does not have much and would rather use other apps. Well they do name streets after people like them. ONE WAY>>>
Places don’t magical appear on Happy Cow. The users need to help out by adding places and pictures. BTW, how do you think places show up on other sites? HC has made it easier in the last couple years. Yeah, they have a couple stupid pop ups asking if a place serves animal products, then asks again, are you sure.
It’s annoying but if your serious about adding a place just go with it.
I’ve used HappyCow all over the world and found some great restaurants. I also add places all the time.

by Zyxwv Utsr

Edit: HappyCow is asking me to log in literally *every* time I open it, including when I switch between apps to look at a restaurant’s website for a few minutes. Perhaps it’s a bug, but it’s happening and it’s driving me bonkers. Not loving this response here.

Really good app overall, but definitely a pain if you somehow get logged out or dare to try using HappyCow without an account. It will very aggressively keep popping up a prompt to get you to log back in, presumably so it’s easier for them to track your info. Wish they would cool it there. Other than that irksome fault, it’s one of the more convenient ways to find vegan food wherever you are.

The best use for HappyCow is when you’re short on time in an unfamiliar place. Unfortunately, since it relies on user submissions and its standards are quite high, it’s not really the most comprehensive collection of vegan options around. Tons of places are missed that you would otherwise learn about in Facebook groups, or even Instagram hashtag searches. Even Google will often give you better results. this app just is not as up to date as they could be. Still, it’s a great tool to have on hand along with all of the above so I still recommend.