Is a Plant-Based Diet the Same as Vegan?

Plant-based and vegan are not the same thing, though many diners and restaurants use the two terms interchangeably. For anyone searching for a best vegan restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, this difference is worth understanding before choosing where to eat. Beyond Sushi, located at 134 W 37th Street, is a fully vegan, kosher-certified Asian-fusion restaurant open daily from 11:30AM, with 75 seats, full table service, delivery, and take-out available at its flagship Midtown West location.

Beyond Sushi, a part of City Roots Hospitality, applies a strict vegan standard across its entire kitchen. As a result, no animal products appear in any dish, from black rice sushi rolls to Korean BBQ Brisket made with Chunk Foods plant-based protein. This applies to ingredients, cooking surfaces, broths, and finishing sauces alike. Understanding why that level of commitment matters starts with knowing how plant-based and vegan actually differ.

Plant-Based vs. Vegan: What the Terms Actually Mean

Donald Watson, founder of The Vegan Society, introduced the word “vegan” in 1944. It describes both a dietary commitment and a lifestyle position. In practice, vegans avoid all animal-derived products, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, gelatin, and collagen. For many vegans, this extends beyond food to clothing, cosmetics, and goods that animal testing or animal labor produces.

In contrast, researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell introduced the term “plant-based” into nutritional science in the 1980s. He used it to describe a diet focused on whole, minimally processed plants, without the ethical or lifestyle implications that veganism carries. Because of this distinction, a plant-based diet means eating primarily plants but does not automatically exclude all animal products. Someone following a plant-based diet may still eat eggs occasionally or wear leather goods without any sense of contradiction.

This is where the gap becomes most clear in restaurant settings. For example, a plant-based restaurant may build its identity around vegetables and whole foods while still incorporating butter or cream in some dishes. A fully vegan restaurant, however, removes all animal products from every item on the menu, every day, without exception.

Food labeling adds another layer of complexity. In the United States, no federal regulation governs the use of the term “plant-based” on a menu. As a result, any restaurant can apply it without third-party verification. The term “vegan” carries more expectation among diners, but restaurants can also self-report it without oversight. A kosher certification, however, requires external supervision and documented standards, which is what distinguishes a kosher vegan restaurant from one that simply claims the label.

Finding the Best Vegan Restaurant Near 134 W 37th Street

Beyond Sushi’s 37th Street location sits in the heart of Midtown West, between 7th Avenue and Broadway. The surrounding area includes Times Square to the north, the Garment District to the south, the Theater District to the west, and Koreatown directly nearby. Because of its central position, the N, Q, R, W, B, D, F, and M subway lines at 34th Street Herald Square all serve the location, making it a practical option for diners coming from across the city.

In addition, the restaurant handles lunch, dinner, and group bookings at this address. A full bar program featuring cocktails, wine, beer, and sake runs on-site, which is uncommon among fully vegan restaurants in this part of Manhattan. Groups of 11 to 25 guests can book through Resy with a prepayment option, making it a workable choice for corporate dinners, birthdays, and dietary-specific group events.

Diners planning ahead can browse the complete menu online before arriving. It covers sushi rolls, starters, special rolls, chef’s choice dishes, entrees, and sides, all following fully plant-based and kosher-certified kitchen standards. The location stays open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30AM to 9:30PM and Friday through Saturday from 11:30AM to 10:30PM.

Vegan and Plant-Based Restaurants in Midtown Manhattan: A Comparison

Beyond Sushi is the only kosher-certified vegan sushi restaurant among this group. That dual certification, therefore, places it in a specific category that no other restaurant in Midtown Manhattan currently fills.

What to Look for When Choosing a Best Vegan Restaurant

Not every restaurant that uses “plant-based” language in Midtown Manhattan operates under a fully vegan kitchen standard. Consequently, diners who follow a strict vegan lifestyle, keep kosher, or carry allergies tied to animal-derived ingredients need to verify standards before booking. Two things to confirm before choosing:

• Certification: A kosher certification or third-party vegan verification carries more weight than a self-applied “plant-based” label
• Ingredient transparency: Diners who want to eat at a fully verified vegan spot in New York should look for a restaurant that clearly identifies what each dish contains and excludes, including broths, sauces, and cooking fats

Finding an affordable vegan restaurant in Midtown Manhattan that also meets strict vegan and kosher standards is a specific requirement that only a small number of restaurants address. Beyond Sushi at 134 W 37th Street is one of them. Furthermore, the restaurant applies its kitchen standards equally to every dish across the full menu, from a simple edamame side to a full entree of Korean BBQ Brisket made with Chunk Foods plant-based protein.

Why Beyond Sushi Is the Right Choice for Vegan and Plant-Based Diners

Beyond Sushi serves both groups without asking either to compromise. Plant-based diners focused on health find dishes that use whole vegetables, black rice, legumes, and minimally processed plant proteins. Similarly, vegan diners who require strict animal-free standards find a kitchen where external certifiers verify and maintain those standards across every service.

Two things separate this restaurant from a standard plant-based dining option in Midtown:

• Active third-party supervisors maintain the kosher certification at both Manhattan locations, rather than the restaurant self-reporting its own compliance
• The kitchen excludes animal-derived ingredients from every dish, including finishing oils, condiments, and broths across the entire menu

For diners who have searched for a kosher vegan restaurant in New York City and found few reliable options, the 37th Street location offers a consistent and documented answer. The restaurant has earned 1,853 reviews on Yelp at this location, reflecting thousands of visits from both vegan regulars and first-time plant-based diners. Those planning a visit can order online ahead of time or reserve a table through Resy for dine-in service.

Where Plant-Based Meets Fully Vegan at Beyond Sushi

When the question is whether a plant-based diet is the same as vegan, the honest answer is no. The two approaches share a foundation in plant foods but differ in scope, labeling standards, and the level of external accountability the industry holds a restaurant to. For diners in Midtown Manhattan who want a restaurant that meets the higher standard, Beyond Sushi at 134 W 37th Street provides a clear and verified option backed by active certifications.

Guest feedback on Yelp and TripAdvisor reflects consistent satisfaction from vegan diners, kosher diners, and first-time plant-based visitors alike. Because the restaurant actively maintains both certifications, diners at this Midtown location can make informed choices with full confidence.

Beyond Sushi at 134 W 37th St

Address: 134 W 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 564-0869
Email: info@cityrootsnyc.com
Service Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11:30AM to 9:30PM | Friday and Saturday 11:30AM to 10:30PM

For reservations and upcoming dining plans, book a table with us and enjoy a thoughtfully paced dining experience.