I thought I’d do a little round-up of my favorite vegan dishes in Philly! As you can see, some of them are raw, some aren’t, but they’re all vegan, mostly gluten-free (I think!) and are completely delicious. They are in no particular order.
10. “Clean” Green Juice
Where to get it: Jar Bar in Center City
My favorite juice in the city, hands down. “Clean” contains: cucumber, celery, romaine, spinach, kale. $5.50 for 16oz is very fair and makes this my go-to juice when on the go in Philly.
9. Chickpea Salad with Falafel
Where to get it: SweetGreen in University City.
This salad is delicious. SweetGreen is amazing, and so close to where I live it’s almost criminal. (Image.)
8. Banana Whip, aka “Frobana”
Where to get it: HipCityVeg in Rittenhouse Square
A long time ago, Gena Hamshaw figured out how to make frozen bananas into truly magical soft-serve ice cream using only a food processor or green star juicer, empowering legions of vegans to make the treat for themselves. HipCityVeg, which opened a little while ago, serves this healthful vegan twist on soft serve from 10a-10p each day of the week! I love that I can get this whenever I’m remotely near Rittenhouse Square. Everything is remotely near Rittenhouse Square, and for that I am very, very grateful. (Image)
7. Brussels Sprouts shaved and grilled with smoked mustard
Where to get it: Vedge Restaurant, when it’s featured on the “Dirt List”
This dish is unreal. Shaved, grilled and smoked, these Brussels Sprouts are unlike any I have ever tried before. Crisp, savory, and slightly crunchy bits grace each sauce-coated shaved Brussels sprouts mound. I ordered this dish both times I have had the privilege of dining at Vedge and was consistently thrilled. Pure vegetable bliss. (Image)
6. Brown Rice Inari
Where To Get it: Mizu (in various locations throughout the city)
Inari is so amazing. It’s traditionally made with sushi rice wrapped in fried bean curd, but Mizu makes a version with brown rice that’s a tad more healthful and really delicious. You have to specially request it with brown rice but it’s totally worth it! (Image.)
5. Sea Vegetable Salad
Where to get it: Vegan Tree on South St.
Generous chunks of wakame, fresh greens and other veggies, plus sesame seeds and well-prepared tofu. A truly delicious option for pre-made seaweed salad–the best I’ve found in Philly so far. (Image)
4. Vegan Bubble Tea
Where to get it: Vegan Tree on South St.
While some controversy abounds as to whether bubble tea is safe, for now I’m a huge fan of the bubble tea options at Vegan Tree. Completely vegan bubble tea is semi hard to come by in Philly, so these are a real find. I love the green tea, coconut, and Jasmine green tea flavors best, but have a (tapioca) ball and enjoy what you will! (Image)
3. Chocolate Coconut-Based Vegan Soft-Serve
Where To Get it: Pure Fare, Center City
This soft serve is out of this world good. Coconut-based soft serve has arrived to Philly and it’s unbelievable. (Image.)
2. Gluten-Free Vegan Cake Balls
Where to get it: Sweet Freedom on South St.
Sweetened with low glycemic coconut sugar, these gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free confections from Sweet Freedom are made with high-quality ingredients and taste like a chocolate Universe just collided in on itself to form black (brown?) holes of deliciousness. These are gone in just a few bites. Perfect. Image.
1. “Green Delight (w/ Spirulina)” Popcorn
Where to get it: Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods in West Philly.
This spirulina-coated popcorn is like crack for those of us who love algae snacks. And who doesn’t love algae snacks?
Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear in the comments which dishes you love to enjoy in Philly that I haven’t listed here ๐
Wonderful selection and awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing.
DELICIOUSNESS!!!!!
Wow, I obviously need to visit Philly. I just recently had mango bubble tea and probably loved it a little too much. All of your favorites look like things I would enjoy, including the brown rice inari. Hurray for awesome veg.
This post made me HUNGRY! Love the diverse options you’re discovering (and I agree with you, that Vedge dish is off the hook!)
Thanks, JL! Please do let us know if you make it to Philly anytime soon, we’d love to meet up! xo
You’re making me want to take a day trip so that we can stuff ourselves silly! What a great roundup.
Ok!
Thank you so much for creating this list. Im so excited to try them all. My TO DO list just grew by ten!
Sarah E. Brown I am so upset that you didn’t include the vegan cheesesteak from Blackbird!
Oh gosh! I haven’t tried it. Is it the BEST?
definitely! I’ve tried them all. The one in reading terminal is 2nd best but no vegan cheese so wahn wahn.
Just found your blog via the post that both of our blogs were featured in on Autostraddle : ) I used to live in Philly, so this post was very nostalgic! I’m not sure if this place still exists, but they used to sell delicious vegan tofu Vietnamese hoagies at the corner store on 47th and Baltimore in West Philly…
Hey Allison! Rad. I do know what you’re talking about. Fu-wah mini market, right? Haven’t tried them yet but I’ve heard amazing things . . .
Yes, Fu-wah! Can’t believe I couldn’t remember the name, but could remember the streets of the intersection… (I lived 2 blocks away from there for a while and the owners knew me… well.) Anyway, I think that’s a must for any list of top vegan dishes in Philly, or at least it used to be. : )
Also there’s a place with vegan cheesesteaks (gross, in my opinion) inside Reading Terminal Market that also sells amazing vegan sweet potato fries.
ha, yeah, I understand the local thing ๐ Cool rec, I’ll have to check it out sometime. Thanks for stopping by the blog, hope to see you around more! There’s lots of backlog posts on veganism, queer stuff, etc. Hope you’ll weigh in on things! ๐
Definitely! I just followed you, too. Always happy to read about queer stuff & find more great vegan recipes ๐
If you ever go to New York, check out the vegan ice cream place Lula’s Sweet Apothecary. It’s my favorite ice cream place and the cake batter soft serve is the best.