What to expect when viral vegan chain Slutty Vegan comes to Ohio
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Casey and Swilley checked out this tongue-in-cheek Atlanta eatery. Photo: Tyler Buchanan/Axios
Slutty Vegan, the viral and vulgar plant-based restaurant chain, will soon turn heads with new locations across Ohio.
Driving the chews: Exact opening dates are TBD, but founder and "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Pinky Cole Hayes has teased upcoming spots in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.
- During a recent Atlanta work retreat, Georgia native and repeat customer Swilley took Casey and our editor, Tyler, to see what all the fuss is about.
The greeting: "We got some virgins from Ohio in the building!" shouted a worker, who made liberal use of the first half of the restaurant name.
- "What's up, s----?"
💠Swilley's thought bubble: Reader, I lost it.
- I felt like a kid on Christmas morning watching my wholesome guests process the menu items' names.
- I ordered the … ahem … "Sloppy Toppy," a jalapeño-topped plant burger with risqué strips (vegan bacon) and promiscuous potatoes as a side.
- For research, we tried the peach pudding: ridiculously rich, creamy and one of the best fast-food desserts I've ever had.
💠Casey's thought bubble: If you hadn't told me my "chick'n" Caesar wrap was vegan, I would've called it a damn good chicken Caesar wrap.
- The chick'n was well-seasoned, the dressing delicious and the vegan bacon flavorful, even if nobody would mistake it for the real thing.
- The fries? Crinkle-cut, seasoned and just greasy enough.
Meanwhile, Tyler tried the wings whose government name he refused to use.
- His verdict: The wings weren't as good as the real thing, but the sauces — especially the vegan ranch — delivered.
Catch up quick: Cole Hayes started the chain as an Instagram-based delivery business in 2018 before opening her first location later that year.
The intrigue: The chain proved initially popular, but has had a rocky road since.
- It went into debt and she lost control of the company, but bought it back and filed for bankruptcy protection, per the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
- The current franchise push, including the three Ohio cities, is part of what the company describes as its next chapter after that restructuring.
- We could see it thriving on Short Vine, in OTR or filling the BurgerFi-sized burger void at The Banks.
The bottom line: Slutty Vegan is basically an edgier Shake Shack with a lot more vulgarity and no meat. The shtick might not be for everyone, but the food makes it work.
- It's a reminder that vegan food can be greasy, saucy, delicious, terrible-for-you fast food worth treating yourself to.