Vegetarian and Vegan Dining Guide for Helen, Georgia

Helen is a schnitzel-and-wurst town, so eating plant-based takes a little planning, but you won't go hungry. A bakery cafe lists a veggie hash and a vegetable spaetzle, a cafe on the river sells a vegan bratwurst, a Thai kitchen can sort out most requests, and the German restaurants have enough sides to build a real plate.

The table below lists what each place publishes. Where a menu doesn't say, the entry says to ask.

"Ask" means the menu doesn't say. Call before you go, especially if you're vegan or have an allergy.

Hofer's cafe is the most reliable vegetarian stop in town. The breakfast menu lists a Veggie Hash (sauteed zucchini, yellow squash, red peppers, onions and mushrooms in hash browns, baked with cheddar jack) and a Veggie Omelet, and the lunch side adds a Vegetarian Sandwich on French bread and the Gemuese Spaetzle, with the same vegetables baked with cheddar and Monterey Jack. The online menus aren't dated, so confirm with the cafe. It's closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cafe International at 8546 S Main St calls itself "overlooking the Chattahoochee." The menu lists a Beyond Bratwurst in a pretzel bun with sauerkraut and Swiss, a Beyond Burger, a black bean burger, hummus, spinach dip and a black bean quesadilla. Skip the Swiss if you want the bratwurst fully vegan. Read the Cafe International page for more.

Spice 55 at 705 Brucken Strasse across from the Welcome Center has served Thai and sushi since 2013. The website lists pad Thai, Panang curry, Pad Kee Mao, pineapple chicken and classic Thai fried rice, plus weekly off-menu specials. Its menu on the ordering page is where to look for tofu and vegetable options. It's closed Tuesdays, with a short break at 3 PM. See the Spice 55 page.

La Cabana at 707 Edelweiss Strasse has been feeding Helen for over two decades and is open every day, 11 AM to 10 PM. Ask for bean-based dishes and whether the beans are cooked with lard. Q'Paso Latin Grub at 202 Narr Weg is open Thursday through Sunday and is known for empanadas and a Cuban sandwich; call about vegetarian fillings.

The Heidelberg's menu is built around meat, but the sides are listed separately, and a plate of spaetzle, red cabbage, potato salad and the vegetable of the day (each $4.50) makes a meal. The Kartoffelpuffer (three potato pancakes, $10.95) and the giant pretzel ($10.95) are meat-free as listed, although the Krautkrapfen and the house and Caesar salads include bacon, so ask. Bodensee's lunch spaetzle comes with cheese and crispy bacon, so ask for it without, and its three potato pancakes with sour cream and apple sauce are $14.

At every German kitchen, ask whether soups use meat stock and whether the gravy has meat. Hofbrauhaus and Old Bavaria Inn don't publish menus; phone before you rely on them.

Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria at 7275 S Main St is open noon to 9 Sunday through Thursday and to 10 on Friday and Saturday. Pizza with vegetables is the easy order. For picnic supplies or a cabin kitchen, Betty's Country Store at 18 Yonah St has sold homemade and specialty groceries since 1973. Helen has no dedicated health food store, so bring specialty items with you.