The word “vegan” sometimes feels very intense to me because of how the lifestyle is portrayed with an all or nothing mentality. I enjoy incorporating plant based meals into my diet, but such a label comes with pressure I’m not interested in keeping up with. Nonetheless, when new restaurants pop into my neighborhood, I’m always down to give them a try. Today, I’m sharing a local vegan restaurant in Union, New Jersey, Killer Vegan.
The Vibes
A red and black bunny logo in a storefront caught my eye as I walked into my hair salon last year. The outside doesn’t exactly give away what kind of business it is. You enter Killer Vegan and are welcomed by the smooth sounds of Lauryn Hill and a restaurant filled with smiling patrons. As I walk in on a Thursday night, a couple by the window is feeding each other tiny bites of cake as they giggle to one another. To my right, a man scrolls on his phone as he awaits his takeout. The vibe is nice so I decide to stay a while.
Smoothies and Dessert
My biggest requirement with vegan food is that I want to eat foods that are homemade and minimally processed. For my first time at Killer Vegan, I kept it simple and ordered a berry smoothie with almond milk. It was delicious enough to lead me to buy frozen fruit to recreate the ‘Berry Me Alive’ at home. I stopped in again a few months later to satisfy my sweet tooth with a slice of chocolate cake. It was decadent and moist; eggs and butter were not missed at all.
Sandwiches and Fries
My most recent visit was my first foray into their extensive sandwich option. The first item on the menu caught my eye. ‘The Killer’ has two classic patties, sautéed onions, homemade cheese sauce, and coconut bacon. I figured if I was going to get a burger, I wanted the works.
While I enjoyed the sautéed onions and the flavor of the patty, the cheese sauce threw things off for me. As a cheese eater, cheese lover in fact, this wasn’t a close imitation. The Ninja Kitchen Sriracha that sits on the self-serve shelf compensated for the nuttiness of the cheese. If you like coconut, the coconut bacon will do what it’s supposed to. It adds a nice crunch factor the burger. Overall, the veggie patty alone, as it comes with The Killer Vegan burger is a great option despite how simple it sounds. The french fries are also impressive. I know you’re probably thinking, “aren’t fries always vegan?” These were better than a lot of fries I’ve had. They had the perfect crunchy exterior with the melt in your mouth inside and were even good as leftovers.
As someone who doesn’t follow a primarily plant-based diet, Killer Vegan wouldn’t be at the top of my list of restaurants to go to. I’d go in for a smoothie, cake, or fries if the craving came up. For those who’ve eaten meat and want something close without resorting to real beef, I’d recommend it because their homemade patties are delicious and good in texture.
If you’re in the area and give it a try, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
