The New Vegan Hotspot In NYC’s West Village Impresses Omnivores And Herbivores Alike

Urban Vegan Kitchen is not just about gourmet innovative vegan food; it’s a movement.

Green Curry

The rich and creamy Green Curry is made with coconut milk infused with lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime leaves, and Thai basil with green peas, sweet peppers, fresh garlic, Japanese eggplant, and crispy fried tofu. It is served with four “scoops” of jasmine rice. For those with high heat tolerance, you can order the dish “spicy as hell.”

Chick-un & Waffles

The fan-favorite chick-un & waffles is as delicious as it looks. Crispy Belgian waffle is topped with crispy, Souther-fried seitan and topped with sauteed garlic kale and maple mustard aioli for the perfect balance of sweet and savory. You can order a side of maple syrup for additional flavor.

Lasagna

Made with gluten-free brown rice noodles, the lasagna has layers of vegetables like carrots, kale, and zucchini with vegan mozzarella, sunflower tofu ricotta, and house-made marinara. You would never guess this satisfying dish is gluten-free and vegan!

Waffling Up At Zinneken's

There is a new waffle place in town, and I visited the eatery with a videographer from the Crimson to report on it.

Zinneken's, located on 1154 Mass Ave., serves fresh Belgian waffles, which is different from American waffles in that it is made of dough rather than liquid batter. The space has been vacant since a creperie there closed last year.

The menu featured signature waffle ($4.70) with various toppings, including fresh fruits and sweet sauces) that cost $0.50 to $1 extra. I tried The Gourmand--signature waffle with whipped cream, sliced bananas, and a drizzle of caramel sauce ($6.70).

The waffle was chewier and doughier than the veritaffles, but considering its size I don't think the price was worth paying for.

The last time I was here, I actually just got the signature waffle without all the extra toppings, and I could taste the waffle better.The place itself was quaint and homey, definitely an ideal space to get some busy work done, but not so much dense readings.

Another thing--the waffle has sugary syrupy thing inside that makes it chewier. Well, at least I tasted it the first time I had it but not so much in this one.