photo from Karelyn’s Vegan Beachside

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: www.vrg.org/restaurant

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Flatbelly VEG, 1020 Bethlehem Pike, Erdenheim, PA 19038

Focused on health, Flatbelly Veg aims to eliminate as much processed food as possible such as oil. Some of their items are even inspired by customers. They offer several Sandwiches like Pesto Chikn’ Guac Melt Panini with vegan smoked roasted chikn’, romaine, onions, guac, and melted vegan cheese on toasted sunflower panini bread, or Reuben’s Cousin Ruth–the famous Reuben sandwich’s “healthy” relative featuring grilled portabella mushrooms, peppers onions, romaine lettuce, house made seitan deli slices, melted vegan cheese, and sauerkraut on Jewish rye; the name alone is bound to bring a smile! Besides Salads and Mac and Cheese, they have Nachos and Quesadillas. Another of their Sides is Chick Pea Curry with Basmati rice, peppers, onions, tomato warm coconut curry sauce, and their blend of Indian herbs and spices. All listed as gluten-free, they offer Bowls like Teriyaki Chikn’ with vegan smoked roasted chikn, Basmati rice, and romaine. Avocado Toast showcases house made guac, radishes, house-made hot honi drizzled almonds, cantaloupe micro greens, and tomato herb sauce on toasted Jewish rye. They also serve Wraps such as Carrot Tuna with cucumber, pickle, vegan cheese, vegan mayo, romaine, tomatoes, and herb sauce. There are green or fruit Smoothies too as well as Avo Chocolato–blended avocado, cocoa, chocolate almond or oat milk, banana, and strawberries.

Gorilla Eats Sushi, 6334 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92115

They offer a large menu including Nigiri Sushi such as red Tuna Nigiri with house Wasabi relish. Classic Roll examples are I/O Yam Roll: Tempura sweet potato and avocado and Philadelphia Roll featuring cream cheese and smoked vegan salmon. One of their many Specialty Rolls is Rio Roll with cucumber, avocado, house-pickled red onion, cilantro, vegan shrimp tempura, and vegan crab mix with sweet and sour Ponzu sauce. They have various Hand Rolls too. Besides sushi, they serve appetizers such as Seaweed Salad, Panko Tempura Fried Avocado with spicy mayo and vegan eel sauce, Stuffed (Shiitake) Mushroom, and more. You might quench your thirst with Kimino Sparkling Juice imported from Japan, in flavors like Yuzu (Lemon), Ume (Plum), Momo (Peach) and others.

Ingrained, 108 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60654

Snack Attack? Ingrained hopes to inspire joyful nostalgia through gluten-free and refined sugar-free treats. Though their selections change daily, here are some examples. Happily, ingredients are listed on the menu. Customers are encouraged to order ahead because items sell out quickly. Some Savory Sides include Basil Pesto (spread) and Lentil Kale Pesto Soup. Among their most popular items are house-made Cashew Ice Cream Bars. Some possibilities are Banana Bread Toffee Tiramisu Bar, with toffee-covered, moist espresso infused banana bread replacing ladyfingers, stuffed in house-made vanilla “mascarpone” cashew cream sealed in “gooey” toffee, melted cacao stripes, cacao nibs, and la Colombo espresso bean dust. Italian Gelato Shop Bar showcases a vanilla cinnamon protein base covered in strawberry balsamic Jammie sorbeto with freeze dried crunchy strawberries, raspberries, pistachios, and swirls of their pistachio maple sea salt gelato topped with cinnamon pistachio swirl and salted raspberry pieces. Pineapple Ginger Cheesecake Bar features pineapple gingerbread vanilla date protein truffle crust filled with dried: pineapples, ginger, banana, fresh pineapple juice, dates, Vermont maple, walnut butter, ginger, cinnamon, a layer of gingerbread cookies for a “chewy” center crowned with whipped vanilla bean coconut cashew cream. Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake Bar has brownie chocolate protein date cake crust, vanilla ice cream, and cashew crème. The center aims for a healthy version of the namesake’s molten chewy cookie brownie layer followed by Chocolate Cake Batter Cacao Ice Cream Cashew Crème with a house-made chocolate frosted top. They offer many Cookies besides their Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. A couple are Gingerbread Molasses–cashew butter-frosted, blackstrap cinnamon gingerbread cookie and Moosetracks featuring chocolate chip cookies covered in peanut butter, house-made dark mini Peanut Butter cups, and melted chocolate. One of their many Cake options is Salted Caramel Banana Toffee Cinnamon Crumb–banana bread swirled with English toffee butterscotch “goo” and cinnamon coconut sugar crunchies baked into toffee butterscotch cake, cashew whipped cream, English toffee, banana bread truffle, and cinnamon sugar dust.

Karelyn’s Vegan Beachside, 318 Seabreeze Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32118

The owners hope you’ll “…meet your new favorite comfort foods” at Karelyn’s Vegan Beachside. For Starters there’s Fried Green Tomatoes, seasoned, Waffle Soul Fries or their loaded version with grilled onions, cheese sauce, bacon bits, and their signature soul sauce, Heavenly Mac and Cheese and continuing the celestial theme—Onion Halos (AKA Rings). Karelyn’s Chef Specials include OG Lions Mane Chick’n sandwich with vegan mayo and pickles on a toasted brioche bun or the very popular Soul Food Fantasy featuring crisp fried Chick’n wings, mac and cheese, kale ginger salad, and cornbread. Kev’s Famous Cheesesteak showcases house-made steak grilled with green peppers, onions, melted cheese, and mayo on a toasted Philadelphia hoagie. They offer many Burgers—some with crisp onion chips, BBQ sauce, vegan bacon, smashed avocado, and more. The Islander Burger is a plant-based patty, sweet plantains, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, and their Soul Sauce on a Brioche bun. The Soul Bowl Angel Wings features crisped oyster mushroom ‘chicken wings’ with your choice of sauce over seasoned, waffle fries. The Healers Bowl combines kale, shredded carrots, purple cabbage, sunflower seeds, and a zesty ginger dressing. Their very popular All-Day Brunch offers Southern fried Chick’n and Waffles with strawberries, and maple syrup. They also have Mushroom Beverages and Root Beer Floats. For Dessert, besides Banana Pudding and Strawberry Shortcake, there’s Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Aunties Carrot Cake crafted with crushed pineapples and vegan cream cheese frosting. Some of their Hand-spun Milkshakes are Cookies and Cream, Kev’s Favorite—Oreo cookies, chocolate chip cookie dough bites, and peanut butter drizzle, and French Toast Milkshake with French toast pieces, maple syrup, and a hint of cinnamon.

The Dirty V, 301 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 103, Raleigh, NC 27603

Choose between burgers, hot dogs, chik’n, waffles, mac n’ cheese, salads, shakes, and desserts!

Tropicups, 2525 Shallowford Rd., Ste. 100, Marietta, GA 30066

Family run Tropicups creates Desserts and Custom Cakes with classic flavors as well as Caribbean flare. Besides being vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free options are available. At the storefront, they offer Cupcakes, Muffins, Brownies, Lemon-Blueberry Bars, Blondies, and Trifle Cake Cups—layers of cake, frosting and fruit spreads. For Cakes, choose 4” or 6” with one layer or two. Some selections of Classic Flavors are Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Carrot with vanilla frosting, and Cookies and Cream with chocolate cake and cookie and cream frosting. For a taste of the Tropics, you might step aboard the Booze Cruise–Caribbean black rum cake with red wine, dried fruits, and vanilla frosting. Or take a Vanilla Vacation with vanilla cake and lemon frosting. Carrot Carnival is crafted with vanilla-frosted carrot and beet cake. Coconut Caribbean combines coconut cake and coconut frosting. Banana Beach features banana cake with vanilla or chocolate frosting. They also have soft serve, coffee, hot chocolate, and mocha.