[motohagiography]

"The most intolerant wins," dynamic may explain much of it. The availability of vegan food may have grown because it is a complimentary good which lets groups that include vegans eat there. Previously, groups that included vegans either ended up in vegan restaurants, or didn't eat together at all. Other purity urges could seem to have the same property.

[colanderman]

Your comment is correct, except that veganism is not a "purity urge", despite popular media. It probably is for some, but for most it is an ethical, health (as in, need to avoid cholesterol/dairy/etc.), or environmental concern. There's usually an external motivator.

[michaelbrooks]

I became mostly vegan (also known as flexitarian) because I want to reduce my meat consumption due to climate change. I now cook vegan food as much as I can while eating meat every once in a while.

[ptah]

it is health and environmental to me. in practical terms it is no different from "purity"

[mises]

Except there's a stubborn minority on the other end - people who want a meat offering. There are a good number of people who actually want to eat meat, and there are a few who don't want to go places without it. I feel like this will somewhat bound the growth of restaurants with only these options, though those with veggie alternatives can still grow. Not every one is okay with just rabbit food, though.

[tuukkah]

> Except there's a stubborn minority on the other end - people who want a meat offering.

That's a given, and vegans have an important role in the society to counterbalance it.

> There are a good number of people who actually want to eat meat, and there are a few who don't want to go places without it.

On the other hand, (I hope) the majority actually just wants to eat delicious dishes without big negative externalities.

> Not every one is okay with just rabbit food, though.

Here, I'm not sure whether you're referring to what rabbits eat (grass), what restaurants stuck in the past offer to vegans (what's left of meat menus and salads when you leave out animal products), or a prejudice toward any vegan food.