The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php
To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate
Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide (Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many are doing take-out and/or delivery now):
Bowlila, 11419 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
One of the restaurants located within the Colony food hall, Bowlila offers “an international take on Middle Eastern street food.” Their signature ingredient is chickpeas, which can be the base for the customizable bowls they offer. They also have other items like their Persian Pita, Chic Mango Pancakes, and Crispy Italian Bites. Bowlila can be bought and delivered through many food delivery services like UberEats, Postmates, GrubHub, and DoorDash. Check them out on Instagram at @eatbowlila
Café 1610, 521 Wayne Ave., Dayton, OH 45410
All items are packaged to go, although limited seating is available. The menu includes Jelly Donut Pancakes; Churro French Toast; a “Grits Bowl”; “Cactus Tofu Scramble”; Breakfast Tacos and a delicious sounding Fruit Salad, with apple, pear, papaya, bananas, strawberry, and cantaloupe topped with granola, coconut, and walnuts. Co-owner Xtine Brean explains “We are all enthusiastic vegans, but that’s not what this café is all about. Our target market is people who are not vegan. We will show them that vegan food is not flavorless, and it is not boring.”
Crust, 4409 Main St., Philadelphia, PA 19127
Crust Vegan Bakery has every baked good you would want – peanut butter blondies, blueberry coffee cake, snickerdoodle cookies, and even loaves of pumpkin bread! This new storefront is located in the heart of Philadelphia, but if you can’t go there to order, feel free to shop online. This small, women-owned and passionate company do their best to provide affordable and quality vegan items, alongside donating food and money to great causes. They specialize in wholesale, and also offer gluten-free items so everyone can enjoy their goodies.
Dodah’s Kitchen, 1210 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201
‘Dodah,’ meaning ‘aunt’ in Hebrew, specializes in soul food. Some favorite menu items are the mac n’ cheese (made with handmade soy cheese), “crab” cakes, and collard greens. Dodah’s Kitchen is also known for its desserts, such as decadent chocolate cake and mouthwatering blueberry cheesecake. Not only is the food great, but the staff is also fantastic and very friendly. This is grandma’s (or you’re aunt’s) home cooking and hospitality at its finest.
Planted Bakery, 5400 Woodway Dr., Ste. 120, Fort Worth, TX 76133
Cases are overflowing with cookies and cakes, sandwiches and wraps, making it a great place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or a midday snack. Known for the Texas cruffin, there are both sweet and savory options. Cinnamon is the classic flavor and is their take on a cinnamon roll. However, if you want to opt for something more adventurous, try the spicy jalapeno & cheddar cruffin. Also, don’t forget to order the artisan sourdough bread, which is baked fresh every day and proofs for 20 hours prior to baking. The place is owned by a husband-and-wife team so the staff is friendly and the ambiance is homey.
Saramsam, 111 East 7th St., New York, NY 10009
Located in New York’s East Village, Saramsam is a Filipino restaurant. The vegan menu is designed to share plates, so come hungry and with others that love to try new foods. Some dishes to order are Tokwa (silken crispy tofu, brussel sprouts, sweet & sour sauce), Kare Kare (sweet potato, baby eggplant, yardlong bean, peanut miso), and Sisig (sizzling teriyaki strips, baby onion, shishito). The name of the dishes may be intimidating to pronounce, but the staff is very friendly and will help order. Although Saramsam means “casual dining” in Llocano, you will want to make sure you have your cameras out because the dishes are anything but casual. This restaurant serves artfully plated dishes that are authentic in flavor.
Vegan Cuban Cuisine, 9640 SW 72nd St., Miami, FL 33173
Wondering what vegan Cuban food tastes like, check out Vegan Cuban Cuisine in Miami, Florida. Popular are the crispy Ham Croquetas made with cashew cream and soy-based ham and the Cubano Sandwich stuffed full with lechon asado pulled jackfruit, soy-based ham, “cheese,” pickles, and more, creating a party in your mouth. As fun and as flavorful the food is, the atmosphere is the same with food being served out of a ventanita or in English, a little window. Going to Vegan Cuban Cuisine will transport you to Cuba, one bite at a time.
Vegan Deli & Butcher Shop, 524 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301
While the words ‘vegan’ and ‘butcher’ sound contradictory, this deli shop located in the Midwest will make you ask yourself why this pairing has not happened sooner. When making vegan ‘meat’ taste and look like real meat, the chef does not skip on technique, making sure to use traditional butcher methods like smoking and braising. Due to innovative cooking, the roast beef for instance, is made with wheat gluten to make it mouthwateringly juicy and using a soy-base for the meatball sub keeps it moist and tender. This is down home cooking that will leaving you full and satisfied, curing all of those savory meat and gooey cheese cravings breakfast, lunch, and dinner.