A sudden explosion of flavors and options has put Downtown Glendale on the local and national map as a vegan mecca.
For vegetarian Zach Willekens, manager at Cuff Downtown Bistro, adding vegan options to the menu was a “no brainer” and he says it didn’t take long for customers to take notice. The vegan “Impossible Burger” often outsells Cuff’s meat hamburger.
If tacos are more to your taste, everything is vegan at Mexican food hot spot Mi Vegana Madre.
And within just a few blocks, many restaurants have added vegan options. You can feast on vegan pizza at Pizza Old Roma, then try a vegan latte or pastry at A Shot of Java and top it all off with vegan ice cream at Nomadic Ice Cream. And Glendale is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Bonebreaker’s Vegan Smokehouse food truck, by Chef Jason Wyrick, who also owns the nation’s longest running vegan meal delivery service, The Vegan Taste.
Believe it or not, historic downtown Glendale, known for tree-lined streets, family-friendly festivals and quaint bungalow shops is making history again as a vegan dining destination.
It really took off when Veggie Rebellion, the state’s first vegan grocery store opened in February 2018.
“We planted the flag and now they are coming,” says owner Sandra McKee. Now, Mi Vegana Madre, Cuff, Pizza Old Roma, Moe’s Burgers, So Juicy Café, Nomadic Ice Cream, and A Shot of Java all have vegan options, helping turn the city into one of the Top 50 best cities for vegans in the nation, according to Wallethub.com.
Once seen as “on the fringe” or a fad, veganism, which excludes all animal products including dairy and eggs, is now mainstream. Diners want it and Glendale businesses are embracing it.
