By Cat Kemp
Whether you’re an aspiring vegan or just looking for a quick vegan meal, these restaurants are perfect for you. As a vegan who enjoys going out to dinner with friends and is also just too lazy to cook, I’ve comprised a list of the best places to eat with stellar vegan options.
- Veggie Grill
Marketed with the slogan “comfort food the world can love,” Veggie Grill provides an entirely vegan menu full of classic non-vegan favorites such as mac and cheese and burgers. Additionally, Veggie Grill has vegan-spins on foods from many different cultures and regions. My favorite items from veggie grill include the caesar salad, Santa Fe chicken sandwich, southwest nachos, pudding parfait, and many more. Although frequently eating Veggie Grill is not great for the bank account, I would highly recommend giving it a try.
- Mendocino Farms
Although not an entirely vegan menu, Mendocino Farms provides accommodations for many dietary restrictions such as vegan and gluten free options. A great option is to add tofu to any salad for some added vegan protein. However, they do already have three entirely vegan menu options: the Impossible Taco Salad, Vegan Bahn Mi, and the Spicy Curried Couscous. My personal favorite dish is the Avocado and Quinoa salad with no cheese and added tofu.
- MOD Pizza
Although mostly known for their delicious non-vegan pizzas, MOD Pizza has the option to create your own pizza or substitute any pizza on the menu with dairy-free cheese. This means that MOD can be customized to any form of dietary restrictions, if you’re just dairy free the vegan cheese with meats still on the pizza is an option, as well as getting a vegetarian pizza with regular cheese. MOD Pizza is the perfect recommendation for an outing with friends because everyone’s dietary needs can be met.
- Ike’s Love and Sandwiches
Composed of a half-vegetarian half-normal menu, Ike’s Love and Sandwiches has a wide array of sandwiches to try. Although there are no vegan sandwiches straight off the menu, if you ask the cashier for the vegan-style sandwich then they automatically add vegan cheese and a vegan version of their house “dirty sauce.” The best menu item in my opinion is the James and the Giant Peach sandwich on dutch crunch with added pickles, vegan-style.
- Loving Hut
Although the food is definitely not as amazing as the other places listed, Loving Hut — located in Westfield Valley Fair — is a great place to look for vegan options in the mall. Specifically for teenagers who enjoy shopping and frequent the mall, the food court and other restaurants within do not provide the best vegan options. So, Loving Hut is my recommendation for vegan asian food in a pinch at the mall. My favorite items are the curry and the chow mein, however I have yet to try the soups or dishes such as ramen and rice plates.