Vegan Avenue on Main - San Antonio
I am so excited to tell you all about a new and fantastic vegan restaurant in San Antonio called Vegan Avenue! I was lucky enough to partner with them this past week and try some of their tasty menu items for you guys. The restaurant is owned by a lovely chef named Griselda and run by her business partner Kayla. Their menu is filled with anything from vegan enchiladas, burgers, tofu scramble, smoothie bowls and even honey butter biscuits! My favorite part of the restaurant is that they are an entirely gluten free menu so I am able to take all of my Celiac friends out to lunch finally!
The most decadent sweet treat on the menu is the Tres Leches Waffles. It’s pretty rare to be able to find pancakes and waffles that are vegan, but also being GF is insane! I was so happy to find these on the list, and let me tell you - they did not disappoint! They were super creamy, buttery and I am blown away how they make this without dairy. The sweet topping is a smooth blend of different non-dairy milks and of course the whipped cream on top! 10/10 will be eating this one again!
Next on the list is the Honee-Butter Chick’n Sandwich! This sticky little sandwich was surprisingly filling and a great option for comfort food for vegans. The breading on the chick’n piece was incredibly crunchy and it definitely had the essence of honey - I’m thinking agave! Not to top the sandwich, but the hashbrown on the side could have been a dish of its own - there was so much fluffy and crispy texture in that little potato pancake!
I paired this sweet sandwich with the Pretty in Pink smoothie! First off - that color is mesmerizing! The tropical flavor hidden in this gem is very light but it has the wonderful feeling of summertime in a cup. The glass also gives me the essence of an old-timey diner which is super fun! Lastly, the best part about this is that it’s not a heavy smoothie and it was the perfect addition to the more filling sandwich.
This is their Kale Caesar Salad - the creamy dressing is stunning! I absolutely loved the roasted chickpeas on top, they had the perfect mixture of a crunchy outside and a softness on the inside. The touch of paprika and nutritional yeast really helped with the cheesiness as well. Although I would like to see the kale be a bit more massaged than raw, the little tomatoes on top add a great texture to the dish!
Ceviche is something that I didn’t eat often before going vegetarian but it’s one of the first recipes I loved (my favorite is inspired by NaturallyZuzu!). The wonderful secret to this dish is heart of palm - a simple ingredient you can surprisingly find in almost every grocery store! This crunchy and creamy ceviche has a really interesting freshness from the cucumber and is not too salty, which is perfect to pair with the chips made in house. One of my favorites from the day I know I will go back to order again and again.
I adored this lovely meal with one of their amazing non-alcoholic drinks, the Dragonfruit Lemonade! It had just the right amount of tart, sweet and smooth all at the same time. With almost a limeade flavor, it’s a great option for warm days, staying hydrated, and the perfect addition to the ceviche dish!
Vegan Avenue has some amazing specials that they announce for each weekday, as well as a Happy Hour (yes they have AMAZING drinks!) from 3pm-7pm everyday. If you decide to bring your furry friends for lunch, you can sit outside in the dog friendly patio as well! One inspiring thing that they are offering to the community is their Sunday Markets - I am so grateful for a place that is supporting other local businesses in the midst of this pandemic. Every Sunday from 12pm-4pm, local vendors can come and setup a table for their business and sell their goods, with no vendor fee!
As a Texas native, I can say that the Enchiladas Verde was unbelievably perfect! I haven’t had tasty enchiladas since going vegetarian, especially being lactose intolerant myself, but these were great. The beans and rice are so authentic and the verde sauce is killer. The sprouts and edible flowers on top add a little extra excitement to the visual as well as the flavor! There’s a bit of a creamy sauce drizzled on top that has a nice zing to it to match the massaged citrusy kale inside the tortillas.
I’m not much of a drinker, but occasionally there is a cocktail that catches my taste buds - and I am adding the Peach Please to my list! The light and sweet juice tastes like a twist to a Bellini or a Shirley Temple. It’s a drink that I could easily have a few without realizing! And of course it pairs really well with the enchiladas and the fresh salads!
One thing I’ve missed for a long time is a classic Vanilla Milkshake - this one is insanely thick and has a super strong vanilla flavor. For a vegan milkshake, it’s also very very creamy! The best part is that even the whipped cream is dairy free - a great addition to an already delicious milkshake.
Make sure to check out Vegan Avenue and their amazing food! This weeks specials are as follows: 11am-2pm Monday - Friday $10!
Bistro Burger w/ fries
Sweet potato flautas w/ beans and rice
Crispy Chick’n sandwich w/ fries
BLTA w/ fries
Kale Caesar Salad
Carne Asada tacos
