New York is probably the best place in the world to be vegan. There are tons of vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants. I can recommend Hangawi at 12 East 32nd Street, where you can have Korean food that is authentically vegan (it's what Korean Buddhist monks eat). I also love Souen East Village at 326 East 6th Street for vegan ramen; it's not a vegan restaurant, since they serve fish, but if you don't choose a dish that has fish in it, everything is vegan. I've also heard good things about Avant Garden at 130 East 7th Street. Finally, try Blossom at 187 9th Avenue, where I once had an amazingly realistic "steak".