Mexico Leads Latin America in Vegan Restaurants in 2025

Mexico ranks as Latin America’s leading country for fully vegan restaurants in 2025, with 512 dedicated establishments, according to new data from Veganuary and HappyCow. 

Mexico also placed second overall in total venues offering vegan options, with 3,224 locations, behind Brazil at 4,259 and ahead of Argentina with 1,402. Chile and Colombia rounded out the top five. While Brazil leads the region in overall vegan offerings, Mexico stands out for having the highest number of fully vegan restaurants, followed by Brazil and Colombia.

The data were released ahead of the Veganuary 2026 campaign, which encourages people worldwide to try a plant-based diet during January. The fourth edition of the ranking, Places with the Most Vegan Dining Options in Latin America, shows that total vegan options in the region increased 12.9% year over year in 2025 compared with 2024. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of registered vegan options rose 20%, from 10,834 to 13,010.

“As the numbers show, the vegan market is no longer a niche but a consolidated trend that continues to expand,” said Mauricio Serrano, Veganuary’s Latin America director. He added that the growth reflects a broader cultural shift toward sustainability and more inclusive food choices.

City-level data point to concentrated demand in large urban centers and tourist destinations. São Paulo led the regional ranking with 785 vegan dining options, followed by Santiago with 650 and Buenos Aires with 561. Mexico City and Tulum also ranked among the top 10 cities in Latin America for vegan options. Within Mexico, Playa del Carmen, Tijuana and Oaxaca were highlighted as cities with a wide range of plant-based offerings.

Claudia Torres, HappyCow’s new owner and spokesperson, said the region’s culinary traditions have helped support the growth of plant-based food. “Many traditional dishes in Latin America are naturally vegan, reflecting a strong connection to the land and long-standing food cultures,” she said, adding that this foundation is driving innovation across the sector.

The report notes that more than 1,400 additional vegan options were recorded across Latin America by September 2025 compared with the previous year. According to the organizations, the expansion reflects rising consumer interest as well as increased participation from restaurants, entrepreneurs and brands.

According to a Nielsen study, Mexico has the largest number of vegan consumers in Latin America, followed by Brazil and Peru. Data from Statista show that Mexico has the second-largest population following a plant-based diet worldwide, with 9% identifying as vegan and 19% as vegetarian, behind India, which recorded 9% vegans and 29.5% vegetarians. Mexico’s vegan market is valued at US$389.1 million and could reach US$714.4 million by 2030, according to Horizon Grand View Research.

Meanwhile, a study by the Vegan Entrepreneurs Association in Mexico (AEVM) estimates that 30% of Mexico’s population can be considered flexitarian, meaning they follow a predominantly vegetarian diet but occasionally consume meat, fish or other animal products.

Rocío Cavazos, founder, AEVM, said a critical factor for the sustainable development of the vegan market is local production, which is why the association focuses on helping entrepreneurs overcome barriers such as distribution and access to points of sale. “We want vegan food to be accessible and part of everyday options, not a luxury,” she said.

AEVM has established collaborations with the Mexico City Ministry of Economic Development to provide entrepreneurs in the sector with funding and visibility. “We hope the new administration will put innovation and sustainability on the agenda,” Cavazos added.