Note: This page is
extremely out of date and will be deleted soon if no one local volunteers to
update it. If you are interested, email vegan
at veganconnection dot com.
THE BLUE CACTUS, 2002 GREENE STREET. (803)
929-0782. This was actually the first restaurant I ever went to that had
the word Vegan on the menu. They serve a variety of food, mostly Korean,
but also some sandwiches and rice and beans. The dishes that can be made
vegan are indicated on the menu. I suggest the Bee Bim Bop. It is
addictive.
BAAN SAWAN, 2135 DEVINE STREET. (803)
252-8992. I am often troubled by how hard it can me to find a somewhat
fancy restaurant that will serve a vegan meal other than a salad. This
Thai restaurant is classy, but very comfortable. It is open only for
dinner and not even every night, but the food is excellent. The menu
advertises that they will try to accommodate to the vegan lifestyle as long as
you ask.
ZA'S BRICK OVEN PIZZA, 2930 DEVINE STREET. (803) 771-7334.
This place offers pastas, sandwiches and a lot of tasty toppings to go on their
vegan pizza crusts.
M Café Asian Grille and Espresso Bar, 1417 Sumter Street, (803)799-5788. Several vegan options, including a grilled tofu kabob. Great atmosphere.
NOTE: serve some dishes that they SAY are vegetarian, but they aren't
really because they have oyster sauce in them. This is in their brown
sauce and on their grill. it is probably in more, customers should just
ask the wait staff.
O-Bok Restaurant, 1616 Decker Blvd. Excellent Korean food. Try the vegetable
Bi Bim Bob, and if you're a vegan, ask them to hold the egg. They will also leave
the meat out of any of their stews, a few of which are made with a bean paste base
(instead of meat broth). Each meal comes with many small side dishes, and you
might want to tell them ahead of time if you don't eat fish (so you don't have to
send back the little minnow-looking things).
The Orient, 1735 Decker Blvd. A great selection of vegetarian dishes is on the
menu. Plus, there are daily specials that make use of seasonal produce. Our
favorites are the Eggplant in Garlic Sauce and the Tofu with Black Bean Sauce.
Yesterdays, 2030 Devine Street. Has always had vegetarian side dishes, and now
has added a black bean burger as well as a few Tex-Mex dishes that probably
could be prepared without cheese. And best of all, they actually have a burger that's labeled "vegan" on the menu! (That's
the first time I've seen that word on a Columbia main-stream restaurant menu.)
Rosewood Market and Deli, 2803 Rosewood Drive. Like the Basil Pot, an
essential spot for the vegetarian. The deli is filled with vegan and macrobiotic
selections, and there are daily specials for lunch and dinner (except Sunday).
Eggroll Chen, 715 Crowson Road. Okay, you're tired and you don't feel like
cooking or waiting a long time for take-out. This place is fast! Try the Monk's
Choice or the Vegetable Lo Mein. They'll even cook it without oil if you ask.
Miyos, 922 Main Street. Good vegetarian selection, small portions, noisy atmosphere at lunch time.
NOTE: serve some dishes that they SAY are vegetarian, but they aren't
really because they have oyster sauce in them. This is in their brown
sauce and on their grill. It is probably in more, customers should just
ask the wait staff.
Asian Star, Sumter Street. Has a good lunch buffet that has vegetarian dishes.
El Menchaca, 3024 Two Notch Road. Been there once, and it was okay. Other
people seem to like it, though the atmosphere is unappealing.
The Mediterranean Tea Room, Devine Street. Hummus, Baba Ganoush,
Tabouli, and other Middle-Eastern dishes.
India Pavilion, 2011 Devine. Vegetarians should love this place, but vegans beware: they use ghee (clarified
butter) in all the main dishes.
Restaurants and Remarks
readers have sent in (Thanks, Jac!):
The Delhi Palace on Broad River road in the Economy Inn is
new, Indian, and fabulous. They are very helpful with what ingredients are
in what.
There's an Earth Fare (natural food store) on Devine St now,
and it has a great cafe type buffet line with some great vegan options (my
personal favorite is the grilled veggie pita). *(They also have take-out
sushi which is nice for a quick meal.)
Courtyard Cafe is a real good coffee shop on State St right across the
Gervais St. bridge. They'll make drinks with soy milk and they have yummy
hummus, portabella sandwiches (ask for no cream cheese) and fruit plates,
etc.
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