About Time: You Went on a Vegan Food Tour of Scottsdale, ArizonaBy Alicia Grimshaw
Scottsdale may house numerous barbecue joints, but underneath the layers of brisket, chicken wings and meaty tacos – this Arizonian city is dishing up insanely good plant powered eats. We swam through a sea of smoothies, ate a mountain of tofu, and bathed in all the meat-free goodness to discover Scottsdale’s best vegan hangouts:
Scottsdale Vegan Food Tour: Breakfast
1. For Breakfast Toasts: Juice Core
Order: Tex Mex Toast
The Blend: Organic artisan bread topped with avocado, tomato, pumpkin seeds, cilantro, onion, and house-made vegan chipotle ranch.
The Lowdown: Situated in the heart of old town, Juice Core is one of the best juice spots in Scottsdale. They take the freshest organic fruits and vegetables, and extract the juices on a hydraulic press. The result? 100% organic, cold-pressed juice. Tasting is believing. The team are super friendly – and are highly knowledgable about their smoothies and liquid concoctions. Along with their juices, their concise breakfast menu is worthy of a look – there’s plenty of toast options including the sweet toast with homemade almond butter, and our fave: the Tex Mex toast with vegan chipotle ranch. It’s traffic haltingly good.
Where: 7137 E Stetson Dr #10, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
2. For Breakfast Bowls: Kale & Clover Mindful Kitchen
Order: Quinoa tofu scramble ($7)
The Blend: Edamame, broccoli, red pepper and ginger sauce
The Lowdown: Kale and and Clover Mindful Kitchen is a virtuous hangout – perfect for vegans and healthy foodies alike. This modern cafe in the grey hawk area does an amazing breakfast (note: tofu scramble), as well as killer lunch time salads and delicious juices. Power through the morning with one of their cold-pressed juices, or their unbelievably dreamy almond milk cappuccino. There’s plenty of vegan lovin’ going on at Kale & Clover (and also sustainable sourced protein for all the meat fiends too).
Where: 20511 N Hayden Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85255
3. For Protein Shakes and Smoothies: Chop Shop
Order: Beach Burn ($8)
The Blend: Strawberry, pineapple, plant-based protein powder and coconut water
The Lowdown: Chop Shop is a favourite pit stop for the virtuous foodie crowd, who come here to lap up a bit of zen and tasty, nutritious food. There’s everything from fresh salads, healthy juices to super fruit bowls and protein plates. A great place for vegans, coeliacs and dairy-free queens. Just promise us you order one of their traditional lemonades. Sweet, with a touch of sour. And all their protein shakes can be made vegan-friendly by swapping whey protein for the plant powered hemp protein – it’s too good to miss.
Where: 7158 E. 5th Ave. Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Scottsdale Vegan Food Tour: Lunch
Order: Spicy Lemongrass Tofu ($8)
The Blend: Tofu sautéed with lemongrass, green and white onions, simmered in a curry coconut sauce
The Lowdown: Owner and Executive Chef Mai Ly is the girl boss behind Fresh Mint, a casual hangout banging out veggie and vegan fare with an asian twist. Everything is made fresh to order, and the menu is a mecca of Vietnamese (meat-less) eats – think curries, spring rolls and chow mien. The pad Thai is a fantastic lunchtime option. Be sure to bring your coeliac chums along as there’s a dedicated gluten-free menu too.
Where: 13802 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 161, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Order: Vegan Ingredient ($8)
The Blend: Romaine, cauliflower, avocado, roasted corn, baby tomato, sun dried olives, sunflower seeds and lemon tahini vinaigrette.
The Lowdown: Flower Child is by no means a cute independent restaurant, there’s three sites in Arizona, and seven branches in total across America. But their receipe is a simple one: serve ‘fast food’ which is healthy and cooked fresh. The team take great care in sourcing all produce from local supplies, organic farms and they never cut corners. Their mix and match salads are what we think vegan heaven would taste like – there’s everything from red chilli glazed sweet potato with bok choy and sesame seed, to Indian spiced cauliflower with turmeric, date and almond, and spicy Japanese aubergine with Thai basil and cashew.
Where: Locations here
6. For Sausages: Simon’s Hot Dog
Order: German traditional dog
The Blend: Californian vegan dog topped with sauerkraut and vegan cheese
The Lowdown: Yes you’ve guessed it – Simon’s Hot Dogs dish up one thing: sausages. And vegan ones too. Their Colombian hot dogs are crazily good, and there’s two vegan options on the menu; tofurky, an Italian dog made with tofu, sundried tomatoes and basil, and the California vegan, a plant based dog which looks and tastes like the real thing. But there’s so much more, because your vegan dog can be topped with a range of meat-less ingredients including vegan chili, vegan cheese, vegenaise, and vegan bacon bites. Let’s face it: everyone should be able to enjoy a decent banger in a bap. Vegan or meat eater.
Where: 4280 N. Drinkwater Blvd suite 200, Scottssdale, AZ 85251
Scottsdale Vegan Food Tour: Dinner
7. For Small Plates: True Food Kitchen
Order: Charred cauliflower ($8)
The Blend: Cauliflower, harissa tahini, medjool date, dill, mint and pistachio
The Lowdown: True Food Kitchen is a health-driven, seasonal restaurant merging nutrient-rich ingredients with a flavor-forward menu that rotates regularly. Their menu is clearly labelled – and features dishes for the meat lover to the plant-powered princess and gluten-free babe. We’re potty for the teriyaki quinoa bowl with broccoli, heirloom carrot and bok choy. Their menu is a vegan paradise – there’s so much choice. From pizzas, to salads and vegetable dishes, True Food Kitchen gets it.
Where: 15191 N Scottsdale Rd #101, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
8. For a Leisurely Dinner: The Herb Box
Order: Kale, corn and sweet onion pakora ($12)
The Blend: Sweet-hot serrano glaze and vegan yellow pepper aioli
The Lowdown: The Herb Box’s water front patio was made for early evening dinners; the balmy weather, the Scottsdale rays, and that vegan pakora. This place adds their own quirky twists onto well-loved classics, and there’s plenty of vegan munch to keep everyone happy. The crispy brussels sprout chips with sea salt and vegan aioli is a great pre-dinner nibble, best washed down with one of their cocktails.
Where: Locations here
Order: Senza Formaggio ($12)
The Blend: Tomato sauce, basil, oregano and rosemary
The Lowdown: Craft 64 champion local, organic ingredients and the team make all of their doughy delights in their custom build 100% wood oven which heats to over 900 degrees, producing thin and crispy Neapolitan pizzas that would make the people of Naples proud. They may have only one vegan pizza on the menu, but when it taste this darn fantastic, who needs choice.
Where: 6922 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Scottsdale Vegan Food Tour: Cake
10. For Sweet Bites: Sugar Happy
Order: Banana Bread ($4)
The Blend: Banana, dates, coconut oil, agave syrup
The Lowdown: This adorable bakery/cafe/lunch spot has everything you could possibly want to satisfy your sweet tooth craving. The vegan banana bread is moist, and oh-so-delicous, and there’s heaps of other vegan favoured cupcakes to choose from. The vegan cakes are pretty inventive – anything from peanut butter cupcakes to red velvet slices and scones.
Where: 14202 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 167, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
