If you’ve ever wanted to explore the local vegan eateries and the diverse plant-based culinary scene, here’s your chance.
Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week starts this week on Sept. 12 and runs through Sept. 18. During the week, diners will be able to support local vegan businesses in the community and experience specially curated menus that best represent the many vegan establishments across the Phoenix metro area.
The PHX Vegan Saturday Night Market, which took place on Sept. 11, served as an exciting prelude to this week-long event. This all-vegan monthly night market, which hosts over 40 vegan and vegan-friendly vendors, is free and open to the public every second Saturday of the month.
Genevieve Feister, owner of Sweet Genevieve’s Vegan Treats, makes and sells a variety of freshly made vegan cookies, muffins, cupcakes, scones and birthday cakes. She said became aware of the vegan week and the vegan night market through Instagram and immediately contacted the owners to become a vendor.
“So the night market is fun because you can definitely do like more indulgent things … I wanted to go full indulgent so I’ve got like cookie sammiches with peanut butter frosting, a lot of chocolate items, that sort of thing,” Feister said.
She was keen on participating in the vegan week again and would like to see more vendors participate in the future, “The more the merrier, more people, more vendors. I just want to see it grow more as vegan food becomes more popular.”
Tia Ferguson, owner of the small vegan company Teacup’s Treats, bakes and sells vegan desserts and treats that are also gluten-free.
She also made the discovery of vegan week and the vegan market through Instagram and felt inclined to apply as well as include more food options as a vendor on Saturday.
“I added a few more recipes this time, just because it seemed like having a larger variety than I had last time would be better, also adding a seasonal option,” she said.
For those in the Valley actively seeking out plant-based options, this week-long celebration guarantees a memorable dining experience from local Phoenix eateries like Beaut Burger, Brunch & Sip and Chilte, which have created unique vegan and plant-based cuisine sure to entice foodies.
According to the Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week website, “Each dining establishment, whether that’s a restaurant, food truck, or cart will offer a one, two, three, or five-course meal unique to that establishment and served for dine-in, and/or take-out, at their location.”
Take a sneak peek at what some of the vegan eateries in and around downtown Phoenix will be serving on their menus this week:
Verdura
Location: 5555 N. 7th Street Suite 108, Phoenix, Arizona 85014.
For $33/person, this local plant-based eatery will provide patrons the option between roasted broccoli with pecan pesto or a traditional Italian polenta cake and meatballs as their appetizer, along with either an Anarchy Burger or a Rainbow Connection sandwich for their entree. Patrons can pair their food with a drink of their choice. Both appetizers and entrees have gluten-free options. Check out the menu.
Giving Tree Cafe
Location: 2024 N. 7th Street #111, Phoenix, Arizona 85006.
This organic vegan gluten-free cafe known to serve comfort cuisine and beverages will be offering a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Their breakfast menu ($15) will consist of a breakfast krunch wrap filled with vegan scramble, vegan sausage and potatoes along with a choice of latte. The lunch menu ($20) will include a Korean BBQ wrap filled with kimchi veggie crumble, a side of roasted brussel sprouts tossed in sweet mustard sauce and ginger lemonade. And their dinner menu ($33) will consist of lentil dal curry with basmati rice and a side of shishito peppers, along with a choice of dessert pie. Check out the menu.
Earth Plant Based
Location: 1325 Grand Ave. Suite 7, Phoenix, Arizona 85007.
Earth Plant Based, a family-owned business that opened in 2019, will be serving both a lunch and dinner menu. The lunch option ($20) will include an appetizer of homemade chips and Sereno pepper guacamole along with an entree of vegan chicken enchiladas in red salsa paired with a horchata drink. Dinner ($44) offers a veggie garden salad appetizer and a vegan scallop & shrimp fettucini alfredo entree with a side of garlic bread, which will be paired with a topical fruit agua fresca drink and a slice of cheesecake for dessert. Check out the menu.
Urban Beans
Location: 3508 N. 7th Street #100, Phoenix, AZ 85014
Urbans Beans touts itself as a marketplace, coffee shop, bar, caterer and bakery located in the midtown Phoenix area. This week, they will be offering a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Breakfast ($15) will include a Breakfast of Champions Deluxe Sandwich served with roasted potatoes and a hot/iced latte. Lunch ($18) will consist of a Buffalo Chick’n with UB Vegan Ranch Rueben Sandwich along with a Tangerine-Currant Black Iced Tea. They will also be offering the option between a 3 course ($30) and a 5 course ($40) dinner menu. Check out the menu.
Chilte
Location: Pop-up locations
Chilte, a Black and Latina owned Phoenix artisanal food truck, is known for its handmade vegan Birria tacos. For $20, patrons can get a vegan Bahn Mi torta made of local Telera bread, braised mushroom, Mezcal pate, and pickled veggies. The entree comes with a side of yuyu frites with chili aioli and a drink. Check out the menu.
If this list wasn’t enough to satiate your appetite be sure to check out all of the other menus and specials being offered by participating restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, juiceries and carts on the Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week website or their Instagram @veganphx.
Contact the reporter at mlok1@asu.edu.
