Eating vegan doesn't have to be impossible, we found five delicious local spots where your special diet won't be an issue.
Check out each restaurant's location, hours of operation, prices, most popular dish and our favorite dish.
BLUE WILLOW
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Weekends, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Blue Willow is more than just your mom's 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. Don't suffer watching your mom eating her huevos rancheros, get yourself the gluten free version. Blue Willow has a gluten-free and vegan menu with breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert options.
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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 (pictured above).
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.
Check out the full menu here.
URBAN FRESH
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.
New Urban Fresh owners Chauncey and Dana Padilla are bringing plant-based cuisine back to downtown.
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 oz.). This is the perfect light afternoon pick me up.
Prices:
- Fresh juice: $5.95 (12 oz.)-$7.95 (16 oz.)
- Smoothies: $5.95 (16 oz.)-$7.95 (24 oz.)
- Breakfast: $4.99-$5.99
- Salads: $8.25
- Soups and chili: $3.75 (8 oz.)-$5.75 (16oz.)
- Wraps: $8.25
- Snacks: $1.45-$3.95
- Other drinks: $1.95-$4.50
THE TASTEFUL KITCHEN
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 520-250-9600 to sign up for a class.
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.
These vegan tacos from the Tasteful Kitchen are wrapped in daikon radish.
People's pick: Miso Eggplant with eggplant medallions, miso glaze, coconut black rice, green curry sauce and Asian greens for $18.
Our pick: The sweet potato and chickpea enchiladas made with sweet potato, chickpeas, quinoa, green chiles, corn tortillas, red chile sauce, cilantro pumpkin seed pesto, slaw and fajita vegetables for $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: $6-$10
- Main courses: $18
- Dessert: $7
- Beverages: $3-$4
Check out their full menu here.
CASHEW COW
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.
Cashew Cow's raspberry 'ice cream,' $4.25, is swirled with a housemade fruit puree. It tastes like fresh fresh fruit and cream.
Flavors:
- Banana & Chocolate Curls
- Cinnamon Toast
- Kahlua Almond Fudge
- Maple Walnut
- Chocolate
- Mint Chip
- Strawberry
- Mango
- Cookie Dough
- Vanilla
- Lemon Poppy
- Raspberry Vanilla Swirl
- Coffee
- Cookies and Cream
People's pick: Kahlua Almond Fudge
Our pick: Strawberry
- Quart: $20
- Pint: $12
- Double: $6.50
- Single: $4.25
CUP QUEQUITOS
Vegan cupcakes don't usually sound appetizing, but they 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 before it goes into your belly. Her cupcakes are vegan but you can choose to order them gluten free or soy free.
Dávila's favorite: Chocolate Raspberry Rose
People's pick: Mole and Coconut dos Leches
Here's how to make an order:
- Go to cupquequitos.com
- Click the shopping cart icon on the top right of the page to place an order.
- Click on the cupcake that you want (there are so many to choose from).
- You can choose half a dozen or a dozen.
- There are soy-free and gluten-free options that will cost you a little extra.
- Go to check out.
- Insert your information and choose a pick up time.
- Pay
