Raleigh offers diverse dining options for vegans
Fiction Kitchen
428 S. Dawson St., Raleigh
919-831-4177
Prices: $
Open: Dinner Tuesday-Saturday and brunch on Sundays
Anyone experimenting with fake meat will be in good hands at Fiction Kitchen. The crispy fried “chicken” and waffles, a menu staple at brunch and dinner, will blow your mind. You would never know that the succulent, tender superstar of this entree is not chicken, but is instead some kind of soy magic trick, married perfectly with a fluffy Belgian waffle.
Atmosphere: Eating at Fiction Kitchen is a bit like dining in your grandma’s attic; tables are surrounded by oddities, and the space is a little cramped. But people aren’t deterred by the eccentricities; the spot always seems to draw a crowd.
Recommended: crispy fried “chicken” and waffles, tinga tacos
Remedy Diner
137 E. Hargett St., Raleigh
919-835-3553
Prices: $
Open: Lunch and dinner every day and brunch on weekends
This is the place to bring your parents if they think vegans are weird.
Remedy Diner offers “Mainstream Therapies” to satisfy meat eaters as well as something for even the pickiest eaters, including a homemade black bean burger and the aptly named “Tempeh Tantrum,” (because your taste buds will throw a hissy fit of happiness with one bite of this marinated tempeh sandwich with pesto mayo, vegan bacon, avocado and lettuce). The menu consists mainly of sandwiches and offers gluten-free alternatives at no up-charge.
Atmosphere: This modern twist on the traditional diner exudes a retro vibe, which is underscored by the waitstaff, every one of whom is probably cooler than you will ever be. But what truly sets Remedy Diner apart is the idyllic patio seating that puts you right at home, complete with picnic tables, carefully groomed plant life and strings of twinkling lights.
Recommended: viet nom nom, Tempeh Tantrum, homemade black bean burger, fried broccoli, Buffalo non-chicken wings
Irregardless Cafe
901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh
919-833-8898
irregardless.com
Prices: $$
Open: Lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends.
Raleigh’s first vegetarian restaurant, which now caters to vegans and meat eaters, is a food-lover’s Garden of Eden.
If you want to entertain and confuse your taste buds, be sure to start off with the Vegan Sex. This small meal (I ordered it as an appetizer), which combines savory and sweet flavors from avocados, oranges, quinoa and sweet potatoes, is both strange and delicious. Follow that up with any of the entrees from the vegetarian/vegan menu and one of the seasonal desserts to find out why the locals flock to this spot.
Atmosphere: Irregardless Cafe has a laid-back, hometown vibe complemented by live music, offered almost nightly, and a friendly staff. The prices weren’t so friendly to my college student budget, but the overall experience was well worth the expense.
Recommended: Vegan Sex, stuffed acorn squash, vegetable ravioli
Lilly’s Pizza
1813 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh
919-833-0226
Prices: $
Open: for lunch and dinner
Lilly’s Pizza opened in Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood in 1993 and added a second location in Durham in 2012.
Customers have the option of customizing a pizza or ordering from the selection of pies on the menu, most of which can be made vegan. To me, vegan cheese is weird. I don’t normally go near the stuff. But when it was melted on one of the pies at Lilly’s, I didn’t even notice. The sauce was flavorful, the toppings were fresh and the nondairy cheese blended right in. But the crust stole the show. Lilly’s also offers a mock chicken option on the unlimited toppings list and gluten-free crust, both of which pair well with any of the fresh, locally grown vegetables.
Atmosphere: Lilly’s is a friendly neighborhood dive. Its whimsical, come-as-you-are-atmosphere and “hoarders”-themed decor draws a diverse crowd, who clearly show up for the food and not the service – the wait can get a bit long.
Recommended: Build a vegan pizza
Kimbap
111 Seaboard Ave.,
Suite 118, Raleigh
919-900-8053
Prices: $
Open: Lunch and dinner
At Kimbap, freshness is king. Before the Korean restaurant opened in 2013, owner Kim Hunter managed a farmers market. Buzzwords like local, fresh and seasonal are put into practice with the rotating menu.
At first glance, this tiny blip of a restaurant may not look like a vegan destination. But its homemade tofu and tempeh, made with non-GMO soybeans, ensure Kimbap as a haven for all ethically conscious eaters. They also produce delightfully spicy kimchi in house.
Atmosphere: There’s not much in the way of atmosphere, but the enthusiastic staff makes up for it. They know everything there is to know about the menu and where the ingredients come from, and they will gladly make a recommendation.
Recommended: “Ssam” lettuce wraps with marinated tofu
This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Raleigh offers diverse dining options for vegans."