Can’t believe it has been a year since I turned into 100% whole food plant based diet. Yay, it’s my first anniversary as a Vegan baby. So I decided to write my first vegan post here on this special day.
As vegan has become more mainstream, NYC’s restaurants are catching up with lots of delicious choice on the menu. After keep trying all different places for the past year, here are some of my all-time favorite restaurants. However the list below does not include any Vegan Fast Food type restaurant, as I don’t eat highly processed vegan “meat”.
Pure Vegan Restaurant
1. XYST – A Matthew Kenney’s restaurant. This is a really cute & cozy place located at flatiron area. It serves real food (plant based). I fell in love with this place in the first day it opened and I keep visiting regularly when dining out. All my friends, even some are not vegan, love this place and enjoy every single dish from the menu. Compare with other Matthew’s restaurants (Double Zero, Bar Verde, Plantmade, and Arata) in NYC, this place is for sure my favorite. It is really hard to pick just one favorite from the menu because I just simply love all of them.
2. Nix – located at union square; this place used to be a pure vegan until recently added a separate non-Vegan menu. For the vegan menu, my favorite ones would be the “Tandoor Roasted Baby Carrots”, “Spicy Tofu with Hedgehog Mushroom”, and the lovely “Raw Veggies Dips”. You can choose to have light taste or bolder taste from the menu or combine them. All ingredients are as fresh as they were just picked up from the farm.
Vegan Friendly Restaurants
Being vegan didn’t stop me from hanging out with my meat-eating friends. More and more restaurants start to have at least one or two vegan options on the menu. Or simply just tell them made some of the non-vegan course vegan friendly. Surprisingly, tons of restaurants can accommodate this type request and make the food really delicious too. One good example I has this summer was I enjoyed a real VEGAN brunch with my friend at the famous “Egg Shop” by just simply talking to my server ok choices and options. Here are some really good restaurants that make amazing vegan dishes from its menu.
1. The Little Beet arable – this place is just simply AMAZING. It promotes the whole food plant based concept throughout its menu, while doesn’t limit itself to a pure vegan restaurant. Basically, less processed real food is the key for this restaurant. Before introducing my favorite food, one thing I absolutely love to recommend is the “Coconut-mint Cooler”. It is just coconut water blend with mind the lime, which produce a fresh taste. When comes to food, the “Cauliflower Steak” together with “Brussels Sprouts” on the side are always my go to dinner courses.
2. BLACKBARN – this farm to table restaurant again promotes the concept of real food. In addition, this place has a huge selection of wines. From “Curried Cauliflower Steak”, to “Grilled Corn&Kale Salad(Butter Free), to “Sautéed Spinach”, to “Shishito Pepper”, everything is cooked just right and tasty. Worth to mention, they also have a cute cafe at the Chelsea market that serves delicious cafe style brunch and dinner.
Quite Bites (but not deep fried fast type)
Formal lunch or dinner may not always the case for us, especially in NYC when everyone gets busy. Here are some places I always go when running in between different errands/fitness classes.
1. Whole Foods Market – Yes and it is WHOLE FOODS. At its self-service food area, I am always able to pick whatever I want to eat and pack them into box. My favorite summer moment would be grab my own lunch then sit in Bryant Park to enjoy the sunshine and delicious food while fully relaxing myself before go to next workout class.
2. Le Botaniste – I love to make my own bowel every time I am there. All food is made from fresh and organic ingredients. “Carrot, Grapefruit, Turmeric” detox juice has been my must go from its drink menu.
3. Pure Kitchen – 3mins walking distance from my apartment. I couldn’t live this place more. I am obsessed with all the superfood bowls they have, especially the “Pink Dragon Bowl”, which has Pitaya as base.
4. West Bourne – this is a very unique place near soho, decorated in a LA style (Quite but live atmosphere). Counter service and you and sit there all day long for readings, studying, or maybe blogging. The food can be made vegan friendly as always. My favorite ones would be “The Bounty” and “Over the Rainbow”.
I know this list might look a little bit different from others suggestions, lots famous vegan places are not on my list. It is because food is so personal and should be really personalized. What I love may not be enjoyable at all by other people. And the purpose here is not to recommend my eating style or habit. The real concept I want to bring is no matter what is your favorite food, eat REAL FOOD. No matter what type of diet you are keeping up, be open minded and make it accommodate with your lifestyle.
Hope next time, I can start taking more good picture when I dine out.
Enjoy this for now.
And oh year, again Happy 1 year anniversary for me being vegan.
Cici
Beautiful pictures!