November is World Vegan Month, and what better way to celebrate than to support local Phoenix vegan restaurants.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, more people across the U.S. became more mindful about many aspects of life, including what they eat. These vegan restaurants in Phoenix have a variety of plant-based cuisines whether you are vegan or just looking to try some great healthy dishes.

Related: First-ever Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week kicks off

The Coronado PHX

Where: 2245 N. 12th St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85006

Emily Spetrino, Elle Murtagh, and Liz and Juan Tavarez opened The Coronado PHX in late 2015 in hopes of creating a restaurant that reflects the same plant-based lifestyle they live.

“We hope by running a plant-based spot we’re helping positively impact our environment just a little bit,” Spetrino said.

The Coronado PHX works closely with various charities within the Phoenix Community like Unsheltered PHX Street Watch and other community-led organizations.

Read more: Coronado PHX mixes plant-based meals with social justice

“We’re not perfect by any stretch but we’ve tried to run as ethical of a business as one can have in this world, while at the end of the day hoping people still just enjoy the food,” Spetrino said.

Spetrino added The Coronado PHX’s most popular dishes are the cauliflower tacos and breakfast burritos, but the chilaquiles and jackfruit flautas are her personal favorites.

“There is definitely no hidden vegan agenda or “vegenda” behind this spot but if our food helps folks start a plant-based journey, hell yeah,” she said.

The Giving Tree Cafe

Where: 2024 N. 7th St. #111, Phoenix, Ariz. 85006

The Giving Tree Cafe opened two years ago with the value of making food that is fresh, organic, gluten-free and vegan.

David Warr, founder and executive chef of The Giving Tree Cafe has been a chef and worked in the food industry for 47 years. Warr is also the founder of ChocolaTree which is a nationally recognized vegan eatery in Sedona, Arizona. After receiving requests from customers to open a similar restaurant in Phoenix, Warr and his daughter decided to open The Giving Tree.

“In our world, we only accept what truly comes from Mother Nature,” Warr said. “Authentic, real, and healthy are our guideposts and we never ever stray away from them.”

Warr says that The Giving Tree Cafe’s most popular menu item is its crunch wrap supreme, modeled after the classic Crunchwrap Supreme from Taco Bell. The Giving Tree Cafe’s version of the crunch wrap includes a lentil pancake wrap stuffed with a veggie burger, crispy lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, hot sauce, and vegan cheese which is all made from scratch in house.

“A lot of the food we make is common street food or junk food but is made organically. I always tell my staff I can make anything vegan,” Warr said.

The Giving Tree Cafe’s version of the Crunchwrap Supreme became so popular it added a Mediterranean and Korean barb-e-que version to their menu.

Gooder Goods

Where: 3802 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, Ariz. 85018

Gooder Goods opened its doors right as most businesses were closing. Harmony Fulton, Joe Meyers, Jaqlyn Collier and Nate Lowrie opened Gooder Goods in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their goal was to open a cafe that was positive, powerful and real. With their creative menu and playful names, Gooder Goods has a menu with delicious plant-based and high-quality nutritious food.

“We are snobs about our ingredients,” Fulton said.

Fulton, Gooder Goods co-owner, says their mission is to use organic and local ingredients to make food that makes people happy and thriving.

“Our most popular menu item is our avocado toast, everyone loves it,” Fulton said.
Gooder Goods’ avocado toast is made with smashed avocado, oranges, pomegranates, jalapeños topped onto Noble bread, which is a local artisan bakery in Phoenix.

Gooder Goods’ other best-selling item is their Fluffle which consists of a gluten-free waffle with flax, maca, fresh berries, walnuts and maple syrup.

Earth Plant Based Cuisine

Where: 1325 Grand Ave. Unit 7, Phoenix, Ariz. 85007

Earth is a Mexican plant-based restaurant with a goal to make dishes that are more than “just eating grass.” Earth opened in 2019 in hopes to create a restaurant that is better for people and better for the environment.

Earth features many classic Mexican dishes like flautas, tacos and burritos. Kate Robles, a regular customer at Earth, is thankful that she can be vegan and still enjoy traditional inspired Mexican dishes.

“Being Mexican, meat and animal products are known to be a huge aspect of our culture. Thankfully, Earth Plant Based Cuisine has provided me with so many Mexican inspired dishes that allow me to partake in traditional foods that I grew up with & can still enjoy as a vegan,” Robles said.

Robles said her favorite dish at Earth are the crazy shrimp tacos, which is made with beer battered vegan fish topped with cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, chipotle cream sauce and salsa roja.

Nami

Where: 2014 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ 85006

If you are looking for a sweet plant-based treat, try Nami cafe. Nami cafe is a plant-based cafe that sells vegan treats, coffee drinks and their signature tSoynami.

Damon Brasch, the owner of Nami, opened the cafe in 2010 alongside its vegan sister restaurant Green. Brasch and his family are long-time vegans and at the time there were not many vegan restaurants in the Valley.

“We wanted to show people that vegan food can be just as enticing and delicious and give people a fresh new option,” Brasch said.

Nami’s most popular menu item is its homemade vegan soft serve ice cream. The key ingredients in tSoynmai include unrefined cane sugar and organic soy and coconut milk. Nami has 18 different signature combinations to try, or you can create your own vegan sundae.

Nami creates more than just vegan ice cream, the sweet treat cafe serves brunch on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nami’s weekend brunch features several beloved breakfast dishes including French toast, eggs benedict and huevos rancheros. Nami also serves plant-based pastries including donuts, fritters, bagels and turnovers.

Contact the reporter mwelser@asu.edu.