photo from RAS Plant Based

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: www.vrg.org/restaurant

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:

Blue Tree Café, 612 NW 9th Ave. A, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

“Most liked” items include: Build Your Blue Soul Bowl, Chili with Cornbread Muffin, Crabless Balls, Collard Greens, and Blackeyed Peas. Sides include Fries, Plantains, and Steamed Cabbage. Drinks include Hibiscus Ginger Tea and Mela Watermelon and Pineapple.

Bravocados, 3-368 Main St., Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0, Canada

A restaurant with expansive vegan foods and a friendly, fun atmosphere. Some food options include Mushroom Calamari, Bao Buns, and Sam’s Sammie, and a vegan egg sandwich.

Funky Love, 1436 N. Federal Hwy., Ste. B, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Funky Love showcases all vegan, international flair with Burgers, Hot Dogs, Tacos, a Gyro, and more. The very popular Latin Burger offers a patty, melted “Cheddar,” crispy fried onions, plantains, pickled Jalapeños, and Pink Sauce on a Brioche bun. Southern Chick’n Sandwich is a breaded Chick’n Patty, Southern Slaw with cilantro, and BBQ sauce on a Brioche. Have you ever had a Thai Hot Dog? Here’s your chance to try one. Enjoy a “sausage” and bun, sweet Thai coleslaw, peanut sauce, red bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and chopped peanuts. One of their most popular Hot Dogs is the Venezuelan with “sausage,” bun, Guasacaca Sauce (Venezuelan Guacamole), Pink Sauce, mustard, cabbage, fried crispy onions, and “bacon” flakes. Also popular is the Colombian Hot Dog with many of the same ingredients, except it has cilantro sauce and Pineapple Sauce instead of Guasacaca Sauce. Mushroom Tacos feature grilled Portobello, pickled red onions, and Chimichurri Aioli. Tinga Chick’n Tacos has grilled King Oyster shrooms, grilled onions, avocado, and Chipotle Aioli. Both come with fresh cilantro. The Mediterranean Gyro is “sausage,” lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pickled onions, Feta Crumbles, and Tzatziki sauce on a warm grilled Pita. Want to cool off with something sweet? Dessert serves up GF Vegan Ice Cream Sandwiches in Cookies and Cream, Mocha Almond Fudge, and Strawberry Shortcake.

Inika Foods, 2410 Dixie Hwy., Wilton Manors, FL 33305

Family owned and operated, with “globally inspired vegan meals.” Entrées include Lebanese Oasis Platter (tabouli made with quinoa, blackeyed pea salad, chickpea salad, hummus, and stuffed grape leaves); Thai Green Curry (rice, creamy coconut curry sauce, veggies, AND fried tofu); Lentil Mushroom Meatballs (homemade lentil mushroom meatballs, with marinara sauce and pasta topped with vegan cheese); Japchae (Classic Korean dish made from gluten-free sweet potato noodles, stir-fried veggies, and fried tofu); Shawarma (shawarma “lamb” made from soy flour grilled with mushrooms and onions; coleslaw, various empanadas; various pizzas.

La Chia Vegana, 121 S. Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460

A lighthearted Latin Fusion restaurant with friendly employees and delicious food. Some of the items served include empanadas, Cubanito Rico, fruit smoothies, and tasty vegan desserts such as Coconut Guava cake.

Matchaful, 184 Prince St., New York, NY 10012; 217 Mulberry St., New York, NY 10012; 87 Christopher St., New York, NY 10014; and Whole Foods, 450 W. 33rd St., New York, NY 10001; Clean Market, 240 E. 54th St., New York, NY 10022; and Clean Market, 250 Vesey St., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10281

With its cafes offering a moment of Zen amidst the bustle of New York City life, the thought and intention behind Matchaful’s “farm-to-whisk” matcha elevate this Japanese drink from a unique coffee alternative to an experience that will ensure you never look at a cup of tea the same again. There are several ways to enjoy their matcha, from the more classic Matcha Au Lait (matcha with water and plant-based milk) or Cold Foam Matcha (made with oat or almond cold foam and maple), to the more creative concoctions, such as the Fountain of Chai, made using house made chai, reishi, maple, vanilla, cinnamon, and oat milk. Matcha also makes its way into some of their smoothies, like the Emerald Sunrise Smoothie, which also includes almond milk, hemp seeds, cacao, cacao nibs, dates, and flaxseeds. To add more sustenance to teatime, Matchaful also offers a range of yummy pastries and snacks, including donuts (flavors include Matcha, Yuzu, and Chocolate Pistachio), a matcha brownie, parfaits like the Matcha Sunflower Butter Oats Parfait, and the Earth Glow Soft Serve (which includes cashews, oat milk, taro, and blue spirulina). For those who can’t completely abandon the coffee habit, they also have a small selection of coffee drinks, including a mushroom cold brew and lattes and cappuccinos. With matcha offerings like these, though, even hard-core coffee drinkers may find themselves craving a green pick-me-up.

Ras Plant Based, 170 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012

Enjoy sambusas, red lentils, collard greens, yellow split pea stew, and more along with injera (Ethiopian bread). They also offer Ehiopian coffee and various bowls.

Unicorniverse European Bakery and Cafe, 2400 S. I-35 Frontage Rd. #130, Round Rock, TX 78681

Afternoon tea weekdays includes a selection of seasonal finger foods and desserts served on a three-tier tower with choice of tea.  Also does private parties and makes custom cakes. Café items include Lemon Pepper Tofu Toast (toasted croissant, garlic hummus, lemon pepper tofu, mozzarella, sautéed onions, spring mix, spouts, lemon aioli); Sicilian Avocado Toast (toasted focaccia, avocado, sautéed garlic, tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella); La Verte Sandwich (croissant, pesto, mixed greens, tomato, avocado, feta, Just Egg or Tofu); Tuscan Panini Sandwich (Focaccia bread, portabello mushroom, spinach, mayo, provolone, sautéed onions, garlic).  Features two salads (Mediterranean, and Crispy Chickpea, and “Magic Quinoa Bowl.” Many different kinds of hot and cold drinks.