30 spots for meatless munching around the Motor City

By Metro Times Staff on Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 5:35 pm

Detroit's new, talented chefs are generally hip to the fact that more and more people are going meatless, and they're adjusting their recipe books accordingly. Add to that the presence of national and regional cuisines like Middle Eastern or Bangladeshi that come with vegan options built in, and you start to see why meatless dining in Detroit isn't too difficult.

We have pulled 30 restaurants, eateries and food trucks that we think you should visit from the 72 spots that our sources say are among the metro Detroit and Ann Arbor's most vegan-friendly.

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Detroit Vegan Soul
8029 Agnes St., Detroit; 313-649-2759
It's Detroit's only all-vegan restaurant, which several of our sources point out is a huge bonus because "you don't have to worry or ask questions." Vegan Soul trades in comfort foods and our favorite is the Catfish Tofu (cornmeal battered tofu, a broccoli and corn medley, redskin potatoes, and onions). Collective favorites include Smothered Tempeh (tempeh smothered in a brown mushroom gravy topped with green onion and sliced almonds, served with redskin mashed potatoes, and green beans) and the Soul Platter (mac-n-cheese, tenderly smoked collards, maple-glazed yams, black-eyed peas, and a cornbread muffin).
(Photo courtesy of Detroit Vegan Soul)

The Clean Plate
45629 Hayes Rd., Macomb; 586-580-3293
The east side's most comprehensive vegan and vegetarian restaurant makes everything from scratch and serves dishes like the ABLT, a veggie BLT on toasted wheat bread topped with avocado, shiitake "bacon," lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli. There's also the Thai, a colorful, piquant Thai-inspired dish built around spiral zucchini noodles, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, and a peanut sauce. Owner Amber Poupore is one of the area's most talented and pioneering vegan chefs, and her resume is lengthy - she worked at Inn Season for around 11 years, then opened Cacao Tree Cafe before venturing to Shelby Township for the Clean Plate three years ago.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Perkins)

Brooklyn Street Local
1266 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-262-6547
The Corktown diner is one of our sources' collective favorites for the variety and because it sources from the area's best producers. That shows in its vegan breakfast options, like the banana walnut pancakes (organic bananas, Carncross Sugar Bush real maple syrup, and candied walnuts) or vegan breakfast hash with tempeh. The housemade Ashley's Veggie Burger is another favorite, as is the spicy tofu sandwich, along with sides like roasted potatoes and fresh greens.
(Photo courtesy of IG user @pu_su_gi)

Taste Of Ethiopia
28639 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-905-5560
Ethiopian kitchens generally produce a good deal of vegan-friendly cuisine, and some of the top dishes here are gomen with collard greens and teff injera, and defin misir with green lentils simmered in garlic, ginger, onion, and turmeric.
(Photo courtesy of IG user @kiva_tya)

Cacao Tree Cafe
204 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-336-9043
This raw, soy and gluten free cafe is a favorite of the city's vegan community, and a second owned by Amber Poupore. The smoothies and juices are a main attraction, and our sources recommend the Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie (strawberry, almond mylk, honey, date, brown rice protein, hemp seed, maca, and raw tahini) and burrito (seasoned nut "meat," pico de gallo, guacamole, cashew sour cream, and shredded romaine). We also will point you to the General Tso's Lettuce Wrap (romaine leaves, sesame nut "meat," cilantro, basil, avocado, carrot, red cabbage, sprouts, and General Tso's sauce).
(Photo courtesy of IG user @kylie_johnston)

Al Ameer
12710 W Warren Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-8185
Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurants' come with a good amount of vegan options built in, and Al Ameer is a James Beard winner for a reason. Items like the Ameer tomato kibbee — a meatless take on the classic Lebanese raw meat dish — are unmatched in its piquant flavor.
(Photo courtesy of IG user @austinramzy)

Pie-Sci
5163 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-818-0290
Most Pie-Sci pizzas can be made vegan for a couple extra bucks, and the Woodbridge pizzeria uses Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet cheese, which some of our sources say is the best on the market for pizza making.
(Photo courtesy of IG user @ekmfoodiepics)

Try it Raw
213 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-593-6991
Among the highlights in a simple-but-exciting menu at the Birmingham raw cafe is Los Tacos. In the dish you'll find a collard-green wrap holding walnut pate, pumpkin seeds, "refried beans," avocado, tomato, lettuce, green onions, red pepper hot sauce, nacho kale chip crumbles, red peppers, sprouts, and cashew "sour cream."
(Photo courtesy of IG user @rawveganginger)

Moor Herbs
16140 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-583-9709
Detroit's Moor Earth is part store, part grab-and-go restaurant offering daily specials and dishes like pineapple fried rice, or sandwiches like the Philly Cheeze Shroom, a take on the Philly cheesesteak but with shiitake mushrooms, red onions, green peppers, garlic, seasonings, and vegan cheeze.
(Photo courtesy of IG user @moorherbs)

Chive Kitchen
33043 Grand River Ave., Farmington; 248-516-7144
This slightly more upscale vegan-only restaurant boasts items like the Grilled Chicken Marsala (panko crusted grilled chicken seitan, creamy marsala wine sauce, cremini mushrooms, potato mash, and grilled zucchini) and the jalapeno burger (seitan, house made cashew nacho cheese, jalapenos, and Avalon bread) along with a long list of craft cocktails.
(Photo courtesy of IG user @wanderlustandtofu)