Eating vegan can be easy. We found five delicious local spots.
Check out each restaurant’s location, hours of operation, prices, most popular dish and our favorite dish.
BLUE WILLOW
2616 N. Campbell Ave.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Weekends, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Blue Willow is more than just a favorite brunch spot. It has a gift shop full of things you don’t need but desperately want and its menu is considerate of special diets. Blue Willow has a gluten-free and vegan menu with breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert options.
People’s pick: Tofu Scramble with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, scallions, sesame seeds with brown rice or potatoes and your choice of bread for $9.75.
Our pick: Greek Salad with feta cheese, kalamata olives, red onion, and tomato with greek dressing (minus the feta cheese) for $9.50.
Prices: Their special diets menu has options from $4.75 to $10.95.
URBAN FRESH
73 E. Pennington St.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Get a delicious vegan meal without breaking the bank. Urban Fresh has everything you might need before dinner; including smoothies, snacks, salads and wraps under $10. Seriously, go here if you want something fresh and delicious.
People’s pick: Maca Java and Funky Monkey smoothie
Owner Dana Padilla’s pick: Ginger Snap smoothie
Our pick: Rainforest Purple Haze with blueberries, acai, apple and black cherries for $5.95 (16 ounces). This is the perfect light afternoon pick-me-up.
Prices: Smoothies run $5.95 to $7.95 and lunch could set you back as much as $8.25 for wraps.
THE TASTEFUL KITCHEN
722 N. Stone Ave.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
This restaurant is every vegan’s dream. The entire menu is made for vegans, vegetarians and people who eat gluten-free. Unfortunately, The Tasteful Kitchen is only open for dinner but they offer free cooking demos for those that want to make eating vegan a lifestyle. Call 250-9600 to sign up.
Ingredients are listed under each item on the menu and it even tells you if gluten or dairy has been added to an entrée or starter. The Tasteful Kitchen wants you to know what’s going in your body before you order.
People’s pick: Miso Eggplant with eggplant medallions, miso glaze, coconut black rice, green curry sauce and Asian greens ( $18).
Our pick: The sweet potato and chickpea enchiladas made with quinoa, green chiles, corn tortillas, red chile sauce, cilantro pumpkin seed pesto, slaw and fajita vegetables ($18).
The Tasteful Kitchen gives you the option to dine in or take out — this might be the healthiest take out you’ve ever eaten. Enjoy the sweet potato and chickpea enchiladas at home in your comfiest pajamas with your favorite show playing in the background.
Prices: Starters are $6 to $10 and entrees are $18.
CUP QUEQUITOS
110 E. Pennington St.
Vegan cupcakes don’t usually sound appetizing, but these totally are. At Cup Quequitos, you don’t have to worry about eating a cardboard box disguised as a cupcake. Owner and baker Shanali Dávila gives each cupcake the love and attention it deserves.
Dávila’s favorite: Chocolate Raspberry Rose
People’s pick: Mole and Coconut dos Leches
CASHEW COW
16 S. Eastbourne Ave.
Hours: Closed Monday, Open noon-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-9 p.m. on Sundays.
Experience the hidden treasure that is Cashew Cow. Their ice cream is made with cashews, which means it’s dairy-free, local, vegan, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and non-gmo ice cream. Go in after dinner for a single scoop or buy a quart to last you the whole week.
Flavors: They range from lemon poppy to reliable chocolate and vanilla and everything in between.
People’s pick: Kahlua Almond Fudge.
Our pick: Strawberry
Prices: Start at $4.25 for a single scoop.
