Vegan Restaurant Options in Fresno

A little over eight years ago, I decided to take my already-challenging vegetarian lifestyle a bit further by transitioning to full-on vegan. I was still in high school and was pretty clueless on the changes that were ahead. I learned a lot in the process.

What is a vegan?

Like vegetarians, we don’t eat meat. But we also avoid all dairy products and animal by-products. This includes eggs, cheese, foods with gelatin and even some beers. Simply put, if it comes from an animal, we won’t eat it.

So long, marshmallows! Goodbye, grilled cheese sandwiches!

Somehow, I've forgotten about the “real” versions of these foods and found delicious alternatives. Over time, I’ve learned how to shop at standard grocery stores--for
vegan specialty items, we have Catalina’s, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

But where is one to go when they feel like going out to eat?

Over the last eight years, I have found a few options. First, it’s important to note that there are some other restaurants in town that serve food that might “accidentally” be vegan.

These restaurants go out of their way to cater to those with the alternative-eating lifestyle:

Charlotte’s – If you’ve been to Charlotte’s, there is a good chance you’ve had veganized versions of some bakery staples. They feature daily breads and deserts that aren’t made with any eggs or dairy. I’m a huge fan of their daily soups, moon pies and Boston cream pie cupcakes. I have a major sweet tooth, so I am always trying out whatever vegan sweets they have out for the day. They also are the only place that I know of in town where you can get a vegan panini.

Revive Café – This café is not only vegan, but also raw! This was a new experience for me. Their menu changes daily and I have yet to be disappointed by anything I’ve ordered. I loved the noodles they use for their pastas, which are made out of zucchinis.

Little Peking – When I first became vegan, this was a staple of mine. This restaurant is pretty much the epitome of every great restaurant that offers vegan food – it is a restaurant that doesn’t look like anything special from the outside, but the food is outstanding. The signature vegan dish here is the Peking chicken. This is the veggie equivalent of Kung Pao chicken that you’d find at other Chinese restaurants. Instead of using meat, they substitute a textured soy protein and cook it in a tangy sauce. I’d recommend starting here if you are even slightly curious about exploring vegan and vegetarian food.

Little Peking also offers a very popular Fresno food that vegans can enjoy: Pho. Rather than piling vegetables in the broth, they add both tofu and veggie ham. They also offer pho with meat, so this has become a hangout for and my carnivorous friends and m. I’d also recommend the Mongolian veggie beef--I’m a big fan of green and red onions.

Loving Hut – (Formally known as Au Lac.) This restaurant became my favorite spot to hit up while I was a student at Fresno City College. Surprisingly, Loving Hut offers the best fish substitute I have ever had.  The flavor and texture is pretty close to the real thing. I know a few vegans who can’t eat it. It seriously tastes that real.

Mehek Punjab de – While this restaurant is geared towards vegetarian dining, they are more than willing to make their food vegan. I love how they focus more on cooking with vegetables and legumes like lentils, garbanzo beans and eggplant over tofu and soy.

Casa de Tamales – I seriously doubt there is another restaurant like this anywhere. This family business has made it a point to master not only the art of tamales, but also the art of delicious vegan substitutes. On my first visit, I ordered the soyrizo tamale. This tamale is a combination of soy and spices formed to make a delicious chorizo substitute without all the oil. I know quite a few people who prefer soyrizo instead chorizo because of these tamales.

I hope you enjoy these Fresno vegan eats as much as I do!