Where to get vegetarian takeout and what to order

While on this journey to veggie heaven I noticed something pretty frustrating about Charlotte. There are like four vegetarian restaurants. Maybe six but that’s REALLY pushing it. This was hard news because I just so happen to be the (self proclaimed) takeout queen. I never cook. If I can call it in, order it or yell out of my car window to get it, I am all up in there.

Here are my top five takeout places for new veggies like me:

Bean Vegan Cuisine

Location: 3001 E. Independence Blvd. | 980-939-1234

Why: Seriously, if you want to trick your carnivorous boyfriend (or girlfriend) into a meat-free meal GO HERE. There’s also a cool little market attached where you can pretend to know what gluten actually is and buy stuff.

What to order: Jalapeño cheddar burger, Buffalo tofu fingers and cowboy cookies

Luna’s Living Kitchen

Location: 2000 South Blvd | 704-333-0008

Why: It’s DELICIOUS. You will literally feel like the healthiest person on earth after eating here and nothing tastes like cardboard #ftw.

What to order: The Rawco Taco Salad, the Living Bagel with jalapeño and field pea soup

JJ’s Red Hots

Location: 1514 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why: Two words — HOT DOGS. I literally went back to the register to ask the cashier if he mistakenly put in the order for regular hot dogs and not veggie ones. It’s THAT good. If that’s not incentive enough, they have $2 hot dogs every Tuesday which means (at least to me) that you’re basically saving money by eating delicious food.

What to order: Anything. Just sub in veggie dogs and veggie chili where needed. And yes, that means vegetarian chili cheese fries.

Zizi’s Vegan Take-Out

Location: 7945 N. Tryon St. | 704-595-9170

Why: Hidden gem alert! So if you’re brave enough to drive up North Tryon while the “light rail” is being “constructed” you can score some really delicious vegan food. Zizi’s is basically the size of my apartment (read: small, tiny, why do I live here) but there is so much deliciousness coming from that kitchen. I devoured a buffalo “chikn” philly that I’m almost positive was made by the inventor of philly cheesesteaks after he became an animal activist (totally false). Go here.

What to order: Buffalo “Chikn” Cheese Steak Sub with fries (ask for white sauce), Eggplant Curry, Niya’s Island Smoothie

Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe

Location: 1601 Central Ave.

Why: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? There are lots of cool places to get breakfast but none of them have the incredible soysage from Zada Jane’s. Best dish hands down is the Bunny Rancheros: two eggs, breakfast potatoes, black beans, queso and the soysage. Someone thought I was trying to ask for sausage in a New York accent which made for a really funny moment. Ah… breakfast memories, ah… soysage.

What to order: Bunny Rancheros, Amaretto French Toast, The East Western, biscuits.

Honorable mention: Fern, Flavors from the Garden 

Location: 1323 Central Ave. | 704-377-1825

Why: I know I said five places but: chicken and waffles. Here you can get delicious food that’s meat free and filling. I actually wouldn’t recommend takeout here because the inside of this place is SO COOL. You’re gonna want to dine in; the wall is made of grass and flowers. It feels like you’re eating inside the secret garden.

What to order: Chicken and waffles, bolognese, butternut steak

More honorable mentions: I wanted to keep the list short but man cannot survive on five restaurants alone. Here are some other cool places that have really yummy veggie options that I’ve tried and loved.

• Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar 
• The TIN Kitchen 
• Thai Taste
• Bang Bang Burgers 
• Dolce Ristorante
• Bakersfield Tacos
• Viva Chicken 
• Sabor Latin Street Grill

Cover photo via Sara Kendall