Within the coronary heart of California’s Central Coast close to the agricultural hall of the Pajaro Valley, Santa Cruz is a small metropolis with massive character that’s at all times given off critical vegan vibes. And for good motive: town of 64,000 is thought for its forward-thinking nature and progressive historical past. Moreover the long-lasting seaside boardwalk the place the film Misplaced Boys was filmed, it’s residence to UC Santa Cruz, group activists, environmentalists, and extra not too long ago, Silicon Valley expats in search of respite by the ocean.
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With surf, mountains, and concrete trails all inside 20 minutes, there’s loads of out of doors adventuring alternatives to work up an urge for food—together with ample vegan choices to satiate it. Although on the time of writing, there’s just one completely plant-based eatery: Veg On the Edge. As Santa Cruz retains evolving, nonetheless, so does its penchant for plant-based delicacies.
The Vegan Chef Problem involves Santa Cruz
Even eating places that don’t overtly promote vegan choices have plant-based, “secret menu” entrées cooks put together on request. Some eateries are additional evolving their plant-based choices due to the Vegan Chef Problem, coming to Santa Cruz for the primary time this month.
All through April, taking part eating places compete to create one of the best new vegan menu merchandise. A winner is chosen by way of diners’ critiques, and eating places are inspired to maintain the brand new dishes on their menus lengthy after the problem concludes.
With 27 taking part eating places, it’s stiff competitors. Vim is whipping up spiced lion’s mane mushrooms served with creamed corn grits, celery apple slaw, and remoulade. Chipotle black bean-stuffed tetelas and a decadent rhubarb frangipane galette are additionally on provide. At Pharaoh’s Plate, which makes a speciality of Egyptian road meals, anticipate koshari, Egypt’s nationwide dish composed of fluffy rice, lentils, macaroni jam, cumin-tomato sauce, and garlic-infused vinegar da’ah. And in downtown, Chocolat is providing roasted butternut squash in spicy mole, comforting deep dish pizza, and extra. These are only a few of the dishes diners can anticipate.
The place to go for a fast vegan chunk in Santa Cruz
Not one, not two, however three acai-centric institutions present the affect of Santa Cruz’s Brazilian expat group. The OG, Samba Rock, has a wide range of vegan bowl choices and smoothies made with plant-based milk. Downtown provides the primarily plant-based Palmetto Superfoods and Café Roxa, aka “the hammock café” within the breezeway of Abbott Sq., the place you may swing in a hammock together with your acai bowl and an natural tonic. Simply make sure you ask them to swap the honey in case it’s in one of many tonics.
Palmetto Superfoods
For these whose vegan refuel can be incomplete and not using a little post-meal high quality cafecito, Santa Cruz boasts its justifiable share of native impartial espresso roasters. Whereas Verve is most well-known, two up-and-comers in your caffeine repair are Cat & Cloud and eleventh Hour. Accompany your oat milk cortado or almond cappuccino with the In a single day Oats or vegan burrito at Cat & Cloud. Seize a Brunch Bowl (maintain the egg and pesto) or the Unique Avocado Toast at eleventh Hour.
Vegan Santa Cruz: the 12 must-try eating places
Whether or not you make it to expertise the Vegan Chef Problem or arrive effectively after its conclusion, the 12 spots beneath could have you consuming your manner round Santa Cruz no matter once you go to.
Veg On the Edge
1Veg On the Edge
Santa Cruz’s solely completely plant-based outpost, Veg On the Edge is housed in Abbott Sq., a meals corridor positioned downtown. Multitalented chef and musician Akindele Bankole, a German-born, Nigerian-American, has created a menu of tastebud-tantalizing West African delicacies. Standouts embrace pumpkin seed stew and spicy mushroom suya, a vegan tackle the grilled meat skewers common in West African road meals.
The menu additionally options fan-favorite American fare like Past Burgers and tofu scrambles with housemade sriracha maple sauce. When you’re ordering traditional American consolation meals, attempt incorporating a West African twist: go for cassava fries as an alternative of typical French fries or get your burger or bowl topped with suya.
Copal
2Copal
Oaxacan restaurant and mezcaleria, Copal is the long-held dream of govt chef Ana Fabian Mendoza, and it’s likewise dreamy for plant-based diners. Mendoza’s domestically well-known negro and coloradito (crimson) moles can be found in a vegan dish made with tempeh, chickpeas, and roasted chayote. The vegan carne asada within the Oaxacan taco plate is completely seasoned, juicy, and scrumptious. For these trying to imbibe, mezcal is out there by flight or in a satisfying margarita.
Ibiza
3Ibiza
For an upscale lunch or an early Friday dinner, Ibiza is a Mediterranean gem with a full vegan menu. Anticipate choices such because the falafel platter with delectable, creamy hummus; the Ibiza Hippie Salad that includes yams, bulgur, kale, and crispy chickpea; and the Fatoush-y Salad with romaine, castelvetrano olives, blood oranges, fennel, mint, za’atar pita croutons, pepitas, and lemon sumac French dressing. Add falafel to your alternative of salad, and pair your meal with sangria or a housemade glowing lemonade. Professional tip: don’t miss the vegan tahini delicate serve for dessert.
Vim
4Vim
This upscale but laid-back Nineteen Twenties-themed restaurant is known as for that decade’s phrase “vim and vigor,” that means one possessing vitality and vitality. A 3rd “V,” for “vegan-friendly,” needs to be added to the phrase, as Vim’s chef-owner Jesikah Stolaroff makes some extent to function a inventive plant-based possibility in every class of appetizer, entrée, and dessert on the seasonally rotating menus.
Dharma’s
5Dharma’s
An informal spot with counter service, this longtime institution in close by Capitola provides vegetarian and vegan dishes with worldwide aptitude. Whether or not you’re craving pad Thai, a Dharma Canine, or a large burrito, there’s one thing for everybody. Relationship again to 1982, Dharma’s is a real Santa Cruz establishment and an authentic on the vegetarian/vegan eating scene.
Fairly Good Recommendation
6Fairly Good Recommendation
An all-vegetarian, vegan-friendly eatery, Fairly Good Recommendation is a well-liked vacation spot to seize a fast breakfast or lunch. The homeowners develop their very own fruits herbs, mushrooms, and greens, so seasonal components shine in sandwiches, salads, burgers, and extra. Don’t miss the tofu bánh mì, Ryan’s Lobsta Roll (a housemade French roll filled with oyster and shiitake mushrooms, artichokes, and chives dusted in Outdated Bay seasoning), or Tom’s Vivid Eyes Shock (hashbrown, avocado, roasted jalapeno, mushrooms, caramelized onion, and vegan sauce between two ciabatta buns).
The Buzz Sushi
7The Buzz Sushi
The one sushi restaurant on the town to supply plant-based fish alongside the standard suspects, the menu at The Buzz Sushi options a complete record of inventive vegan rolls just like the Cuerno de Chivo—with steamed pumpkin, shiso, avocado, spicy nuts and tofu, jalapeño, and garlic—and the Alcatraz Escape with vegan salmon, cream cheese, avocado, jalapeño, and unagi sauce. Strive the poke salad for a style of all of the plant-based fish, or the vegan hen teriyaki don for a non-sushi meal.
Hula’s
8Hula’s
Whereas this longtime Hawaiian favourite as soon as had a separate vegan menu, they’ve not too long ago included the choices onto the principle menu. Fortunately, the delectable plant-based choice at Hula’s stays the identical: contemporary Vietnamese spring rolls paired with peanut and Thai chili mint dipping sauces, kale or arugula salads you may prime with vegan hen, the Jungle Tofu bowl with housemade curry sauce, and the spicy Jawaiian Jerk Plate that may be made with vegan hen or tofu. Select from a rotating collection of Tiki and non-alcoholic drink specials to spherical off your meal.
Lúpulo
9Lúpulo
Craft beer home Lupulo (Spanish for hop) includes a plant-forward, closely Mexican menu together with vegan asada tortas, nachos, and tacos. For one thing somewhat lighter, the Inexperienced Goddess salad will be topped with the housemade vegan asada.
Bookie’s Pizza
10Bookie’s Pizza
Situated inside Sante Adairius Brewery, Bookie’s Pizza provides a very distinctive, flavorful pie topped with vegan mozzarella, feta, arugula, harissa zucchini, sungold tomatoes, and black lime. For the Vegan Chef Problem, Bookie’s created “Beeteroni pizza” that includes vegan pepperoni made in-house utilizing Badger Flame beets. Other than pizza, maitake mushroom wings and the Inexperienced Goddess salad with nooch and avocado dressing are additionally standout choices.
Charlie Hong Kong
11Charlie Hong Kong
That includes staple consolation meals like rice and noodle bowls, Charlie Hong Kong’s dishes are vegan by default; so, in a refreshing reversal from the standard format, there’s the choice so as to add non-vegan objects somewhat than take away them. Regionally sourced produce is featured closely on the menu. Bowls include a medley of natural greens, and garlicky tofu makes for a scrumptious plant protein possibility. The large salad wrap, within the type of a contemporary roll with pickled carrots, daikon, vermicelli noodles, avocado, and mint, is a must have.
The Crepe Place
12The Crepe Place
A Santa Cruz establishment since 1973, The Crepe Place is a staple of the Midtown neighborhood. You’ll be able to view the unique menu on show on the bar, and it positive didn’t embrace vegan tenders or crispy cauliflower florets with buffalo sauce. However instances have modified. Each crêpe on the menu, such because the Italian-style Mamma Mia with eggplant and the Mexican-inspired Particular Salsa, will be made vegan. Linger at a patio desk over brunch on a sunny day or go at evening for stay music.
48 hours in Santa Cruz
Solely on the town for a weekend? We received you. To begin your day, roll into Harbor Café for brunch and order a Harbor Bowl (maintain the feta) or tofu scramble (ask for the vegan model) together with espresso or a guava mimosa earlier than hitting up the Boardwalk, seashores, farmers market, or trails.
For lunch, seize some seaside grub from Workers of Life Market together with vegan Reubens, pastries, salads, and scorching bar choices. Or cease by New Leaf Markets, which sponsors the Vegan Chef Problem. Their latest location on River Avenue ups the ante with a complete vegan prepared-foods part.
The Penny Ice Creamery
Different nice grab-and-go’s for the seaside are the vegan burrito from De La Hacienda and acai bowls from the aforementioned Palmetto Superfoods or Samba Rock. To chill down afterward, native ice cream retailers provide vegan ice cream and sorbet. Penny Ice Creamery has rotating sorbet choices, and Mission Hill Creamery now provides oat milk ice cream along with sorbets (get oat milk vanilla as an affogato for a caffeinated kick!). Longtime household favourite Marianne’s not too long ago added a full dairy-free ice-cream menu, together with chocolate mint chip, Oreo fudge ripple, mango coconut, and blackberry fudge.
Come pleased hour, wind down with a cocktail and hummus plate at Venus Spirits’ Westside tasting room. When able to dine, the adjoining restaurant’s vegan menu objects embrace a mushroom bánh mì, vegan Caesar, and crispy Brussels sprouts with date jalapeno cashew cream, black garlic sauce, pickled onion, and nori sprinkles. Nonetheless hungry? Make it over to close by Vim for a vegan dessert and nightcap; the restaurant is known as Vim Eating and Desserts for good motive.
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Liza Monroy is a contract journalist and the writer of the novel ‘The Distractions,’ which takes place in a future the place the entire world is vegan. She lives in Santa Cruz, CA.
