Despite an estimated 16-20 million Americans avoiding meat and dairy, not a single fully vegan or vegetarian restaurant landed on OpenTable’s 2025 Top 100 list. This omission has left plant-based diners questioning how influential rankings align with America’s growing appetite for cruelty-free cuisine.

Ree Drummond once embraced a meat-free lifestyle in college, but a single dish fundamentally altered her approach to food. Since trying that meal, she has never returned to vegetarianism.