Memphis Veg Guide

(Copied from Vegan Crunk )

A-Tan Chinese Restaurant — Chinese restaurant with sushi and hibachi grill. Menu features several vegetarian selections. If you drink alcohol, try the Flaming Volcano (a tropical, flaming cocktail served in a ceramic volcano-shaped bowl).  3445 Poplar (901-458-8877).



Absynnia Restaurant – This Ethiopian restaurant features a number of low-fat vegetarian dishes served with endless spongey injera bread. Don't miss their amazing Saturday buffet where almost every dish offered is vegetarian. 2600 Poplar (901-321-0082).



Bangkok Alley — Thai meets Japanese at this Thai eatery/sushi bar. Vegetarian options are clearly marked as "Vegetarian (No Meat)." While the veg selection is not huge, the sauces used for entrees are absolutely delicious, and plain un-fried tofu can be added to veggie stir-fries. Brown rice is also an option. Bangkok Alley also serves Lolonis Ladybug wine, an organic wine produced by a winery that uses ladybugs for pest control rather than chemicals. 121 Union Ave. (901-522-2010).

Bewala's Vegan Gourmet — The only raw cafe in town. Offers Bewala's signature raw burgers, carrot salad, sprouted quinoa chili, and more. 1651 Union Ave. (901-274-3917). 

Bhan Thai – Gourmet Thai dishes, any of which can be prepared with fried tofu. Be sure to ask the server to leave out fish sauce since it comes standard in most of their entrees. Avoid the curries, as they cannot be prepared without fish sauce. Also, avoid the soups as they are prepared with chicken stock. Its romantic ambiance makes this a great date restaurant. 1324 Peabody (901-272-1538).

Blue Coast Burrito – Make your own veggie burritos! 3546 Walker Ave. (901-323-3730).

Blue Fin — Hip downtown sushi bar with several veggie rolls, including the best shitake roll in town. 135 S. Main (901-528-1010).

Boscos Squared – This Midtown microbrewery serves yummy veggie burgers and locally-sourced, locally-brewed Ghost River beer. 2120 Madison (901-432-2222).

  

Brother Juniper’s – Scrambled tofu, veggie sausage, and other vegetarian breakfast items. Located in the University of Memphis area. 3519 Walker Ave. (901-324-0144).

Cafe Eclectic — Best black bean burger in town, available in wrap with spicy vegan mayo or on a whole wheat bun. Also hummus pita, roasted sweet taters, soy lattes, and fresh-baked loaves of sourdough and ciabatta bread. Cafe Eclectic offers a tasty tofu scramble wrap with avocado and grilled veggies during Sunday brunch. 603 N. McLean (901-725-1718).

Café Ole – Mexican fare with plenty of vegetarian options. Try the veggie tacos (served with bean sprouts) and the black bean soup. 959 S. Cooper (901-274-1504).

Casa Grill – This eatery offers Middle Eastern fare. Their falafel is to die for (the secret’s in the sauce). Also check out the rice-stuffed grape leaves. 5030 Poplar Ave, #7. (901-725-8558).

Central BBQ – Get your BBQ fix sans the pulled pork with their BBQ portabella sandwich. Vegans, ask them to leave off the cheese 2249 Central (901-272-9377).

Chang’s Bubble Tea – Numerous vegan bubble teas options! Stick with the fruit-flavored teas, as the milk teas and creamy teas (like coconut and chai) contain dairy. The food menu has a few vegan options, like curry tofu, vegetable tofu, and vegetable fried rice. 8095 Macon Road (901-682-7229).



Cosmic Coconut — This all-vegan juice and smoothie bar offers delicious drinks using fresh, organic produce. They also serve coffee, tea, and smoothie bowls (smoothies served in a bowl topped with nuts, coconut, or granola). Try the Chocolate Covered Almond smoothie (bananas, coconut milk, carob, cacao, and almond butter) or the Solar Power Juice (carrots, apples, ginger, and orange). 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 104B (901-729-7134).

Deja Vu Creole Soul Food and Vegetarian Cafe — Large vegan menu featuring Southern comfort foods, like mock chicken salad, BBQ tofu, and much more. All the soul food sides are vegan, like collard greens and candied yams. And they have vegan desserts!! 936 Florida St. (901-942-1400).

Do - This Cooper-Young sushi joint features several vegetarian items, like the veggie roll and the cucumber roll. Try the flash-fried tofu as an appetizer. 964 S. Cooper (901-272-0830).



Escape Alley Sundry — Hidden in a back alley off of Marshall Ave., this quaint artsy joint offers a couple of vegan options on their regular menu. There's vegan chili. There's veggie dogs. Or you can put those together and make a veggie chili dog! They also offer occasional vegan specials, like bbq tofu sandwiches, vegan pasta, and red beans & rice with veggie sausage. 655 Marshall (901-528-3337).



Fuel - This eco-friendly Midtown cafe offers plenty in the way of vegan options. The smoky house made vegan burger will blow your mind! The vegan nachos and chili mac are both topped a hearty quinoa chili. Ask the server for vegan cheese. They usually have it. At dinner, ask for the vegan pasta of the day or the tofu Thai curry. By the way, this place is Project Green Fork certified, which means they recycle, compost, use green cleaners, and commit to sustainable business practices. 1761 Madison Ave. (901-725-9025).



Hi-Tone — This Midtown rock club also boasts an impressive lunch and dinner menu with several vegan options. There's a veggie burger, and the Hi-Tone now serves vegan cheeze pizza (made with Daiya). They also typically have a vegan brunch special (think tofu scramble or vegan pancakes) every Sunday. 1913 Poplar Ave. (901-278-8663).

Huey’s – Famous Memphis burger joint offering veggie and black bean burger patties. The patties are completely vegan! 77 S. Second (901-525-4839); 1927 Madison (901-726-4372); 4872 Poplar (901-682-7729); 7825 Winchester (901-624-8911); 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (901-754-3885); 2130 W. Poplar, Collierville (901-854-4455).



Imagine Vegan Cafe — Memphis' ONLY totally-vegan cafe! Imagine offers a HUGE menu of veganized comfort food classics —French dip subs, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken fried steak, Frito chili pie, you name it. There's also a build-your-own vegan cheese pizza option and hot dog bar. Oh, and they have vegan cheese sticks! Freakin' vegan cheese sticks! And let's not forget dessert. The peanut butter milkshake will change your life, and the cakes, brownies, and cookies are to die for! 2156 Young Ave. (http://www.imaginevegancafe.com/)

India Palace – Lots of veggie options are offered at this Midtown institution. Try the vegetable curry, the dhal soup, or the extensive buffet. 1720 Poplar (901-278-1199).

Jasmine – There are tons of vegan options at this yummy Thai restaurant. Dishes on about half the menu are served with tofu (and they have a huge menu). Try the Potato Basket (fried tofu and stir-fried veggies served in a basket made from fried hashbrowns). 916 S. Cooper (901-725-0223).

Java Cabana – This Cooper-Young coffeehouse serves vegan tacos, soy burgers, vegetarian sausage and biscuits, giant vegan cookies, and vegan cappuccinos. 2170 Young Ave. (901-272-7210).

Kwik Chek – Who says convenience store food has to be unhealthy? At the Kwik Chek on Madison (across from the Blue Monkey), they’re serving up falafel and hummus pitas (vegans: ask them to leave off the cucumber sauce). 2013 Madison (901-274-9293).

Mellow Mushroom — Vegan-friendly pizza parlor offering Daiya vegan cheese (OMG y'all!), BBQ tofu, pesto tofu, and tempeh toppings. Also offering tofu and tempeh hoagies. 9155 Hwy. 72 (901-907-0243).

Moe’s Southwest Grill – This national chain of burrito restaurants offers marinated tofu in place of chicken or steak on burritos and tacos. And bring your appetite because the burritos are super-fat! 6300 Poplar (881-6012); 465 N. Germantown Pkwy. (901-737-5058).

Molly’s La Casita – A Memphis staple, this Mexican joint makes a mean vegetarian platter. 2006 Madison (901-726-1873).

Mosa Asian Bistro — This Asian fusion eatery offers an assortment of Chinese and Thai dishes, most of which can easily be made vegan. Tofu is offered as a protein choice for almost every dish, and most are fish sauce-free. The friendly staff is happy to help vegans decipher the menu. 1825 Kirby Parkway (901-755-6755);  850 S. White Station (901-683-8889).

Otherlands – This quaint little Midtown coffeeshop serves vegan frozen coffee drinks, juices, bagels with various spreads, soups, and other yummy quick items. You must try the vegan cheese toast! 641 S. Cooper (901-278-4994).

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro – Fine dining the vegetarian way. Though only a few menu items list tofu, ANY dish at P.F. Chang’s can be made with tofu instead of meat. Just ask your waiter. 1181 Ridgeway (901-818-3889). 

Pei Wei Asian Diner – A fast-food version of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, this Midtown chain serves several tasty tofu dishes. 1680 Union (901-722-3780); 540 South Mendenhall Rd. (901-761-9226); 2257 North Germantown Parkway (901-382-1822).
 

Pho Hoa Binh – During the work week, this little Vietnamese joint has a buffet full of fried tofu stir-fries and soups. And it’s only like $6 for all-you-can-eat! Other times of the day, order off the extensive menu. 1615 Madison (901-276-0066).



Pita Cafe — Best damn falafel in the world! The always fried-fresh-to-order falafel is best enjoyed stuffed inside their giant Falafel and Hummus Wrap with the works (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onions, jalapenos, hot pepper relish, and hot sauce). 3950 Park Ave. (901-452-1055).

RP Tracks – This U of M area bar and grill serves YUMMY barbecue tofu nachos, a barbecue tofu burrito, a barbecue tofu sandwich, a veggie burrito, wild rice & veggies, and some damn good hummus. A must for any local or visiting vegetarian! 3547 Walker (901-327-1471).

Saigon Le — Vietnamese restaurant with tons of tofu dishes and a few wheat gluten-based entrees. Try the Kung Pao Tofu or the Barbecue Wheat Gluten. 51 N. Cleveland (901-276-5326).

Safari World Tapas Bar –  Gourmet vegan grub and tapas. The stuffed bell pepper with mushroom sauce is totally vegan and it will blow you away. Great-tasting food from very earth-conscious and friendly folks. 414 S. Main (901-9672-7339). 

Sekisui – Sushi place with numerous different vegetarian options. 25 Belvedere (901-725-0005). 160 Union (901-523-0001); 50 Humphreys (901-747-0001); 4724 Poplar (901-767-7770).

Tasty Buffet – One of the largest Chinese buffets in the city. Quite a few vegetarian items, including lo main, green beans, fried rice, and occasional veggie sushi. Also some American items, like fried potatoes. 3420 Plaza Ave. (901-323-3889).



Three Angels Diner — This kitschy little cafe in the Broad Avenue Arts District offers several vegan options like the ever-so-tasty Momma Veggie Sandwich (baked tofu, roasted red pepper, red onion, balsamic vinegar, and vegan mayo) and a scrumptious mock egg salad sandwich (made with tofu and vegan mayo). All the seasonal veggie sides are vegan too! 2617 Broad Ave. (901-452-1111). 



Trolley Stop Market — Every Monday night is Vegan Night at this quaint neighborhood cafe in the Medical District. Food is prepared from fresh, local produce grown at Whitton Farms in Arkansas. Vegan Night specials vary according to what's seasonal and available, and vegan specials are served from 5:30-9 p.m. They also serve veggie burgers any time of day. In addition, the Trolley Stop sells locally grown produce and food products, like Ugly Mug Coffee and treats from Delta Pecan Orchard. 704 Madison Ave. (901-526-1361). 

Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine — South Indian restaurant with a large selection of vegetarian items, like dosas, gobi manchurian, aloo gobi, and much more. Their Saturday buffet will leave any vegetarian overwhelmed with delicious choices. 4205 Hacks Cross Rd. (901-737-9914).

 

Whole Foods – Offering several vegan and vegetarian entrees on the hot bar and salad bar, as well as a number of vegetarian take-home deli items. The mock chicken nuggets on the hot bar are a must-try. 5022 Poplar (901-685-2293).



Yolo/Lady Bugg Bakery — This local yogurt shop carries a few fruit sorbottos. The lemon sorbotto (made in-house) is absolutely amazing! The bakery side usually always carries at least one vegan dessert each day. You're in luck if they're selling the vegan chocolate spice muffins. 6 S. Cooper (901-343-0438).

Young Avenue Deli – Not only do they boast the best homemade French fries in town, they also serve several delicious veggie wraps, quesadillas, yummy hummus, and sandwiches (one even includes fried tofu). 2119 Young Ave. (901-278-0034).