Good vegan eats in Manhattan?

August 21, 2008 6:47 PM

Where is a good place to get a vegan breakfast (around 8 a.m.) in or around the Village in Manhattan?

The boyfriend and I are taking the crappy Chinatown town bus from Richmond to NYC tonight and will be arrive at our destination around 8 a.m. and will be starving. We're looking for some good vegan eats, any advice will be greatly appreciated.

posted by MaryDellamorte to food & drink (20 comments total)

spring street natural is delicious! according to the website, they open at 9.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:13 PM on August 21, 2008

Shopsin's General Store, Tuesday - Saturday, 9am - 3pm. stall 16, Essex Street Market, 120 Essex Street (at Delancey Street). Menu. But be prepared... Kenny can be a prick.
posted by Dave Faris at 7:36 PM on August 21, 2008 [1 favorite]

from the article Dave Faris linked to:

We stop to ask one question about whether grits are vegetarian, and that's it. "I'm not cooking for you. Eat at McDonald's."

vegan, then? i'd make a wide berth. i've seen the documentary about this place though, and want to check it out- as a non-vegan.
posted by tremspeed at 7:49 PM on August 21, 2008

Well, not to get all chatty, but if you look on the menu, there are plenty of vegetarian options. But if you're the type of vegan who is going to ask if the grits are vegetarian, you probably should find your sustenance elsewhere.
posted by Dave Faris at 8:16 PM on August 21, 2008

It'd be a little uptown for you anyway, but Veg City (14th just east of 6th) used to be the place. Does anybody know if it ever reopened after its interminable hiatus?

Sigh. It was like the vegan Denny's.
posted by Beardman at 8:18 PM on August 21, 2008

uhhhh...didn't the WV shopsin's close?
posted by jeb at 8:21 PM on August 21, 2008

Shopsin's is closed, no?
posted by nitsuj at 8:29 PM on August 21, 2008

(This is their third location, I think. Lookit the Serious Eats link. It was written just a couple days ago.)
posted by Dave Faris at 8:34 PM on August 21, 2008

It's a little bit east in alphabet city, but Kate's Joint on 4th street and avenue B is an awesome fully vegan (with vegetarian options) diner.
posted by suedehead at 9:18 PM on August 21, 2008

Beardman- Veg City Diner was still gone as of July.
posted by harrumph at 11:31 PM on August 21, 2008

Caravan of Dreams at 405 E 6th St is awesome but they may not open that early - there's also the Atlas Cafe at 73 2nd Avenue which is open early.
posted by tkbarbarian at 12:23 AM on August 22, 2008

Spring Street Natural is NOT vegan.
posted by watercarrier at 3:46 AM on August 22, 2008

Angelica's Kitchen
posted by watercarrier at 3:47 AM on August 22, 2008

My friend David says Kate's Joint is the best choice. They do breakfast.
posted by mathowie at 3:51 AM on August 22, 2008

Kate's Joint isn't vegan.

And usually? People who are into vegan lifestyles? Feel a tad uncomfortable around dead animals served with parsley and a smile.
posted by watercarrier at 4:25 AM on August 22, 2008

Just to clarify Kate's Joint serves CASSIEN based cheese.
posted by watercarrier at 4:31 AM on August 22, 2008

Yes, my apologies. I confused vegan with vegetarian. Shopsin's is no where near the planet Vegan. But I can tell you this much, Ortho... Kenny is not antisemitic.
posted by Dave Faris at 5:27 AM on August 22, 2008

Quantum Leap
posted by dm_nyc at 8:59 AM on August 22, 2008

Shopsin's is not closed. They are now located in the Essex Street Market. The first location was Bedford and Morton. The second location was 54 Carmine at Bedford. Market Table is now there. They were not operating for a while, and pondering a move to Brooklyn, but then opened in their current (and third) location, a stall in Essex Street Market, by Saxelby Cheeses.

If you are taking a Chinatown bus, it will probably drop you off in Chinatown, around Bowery and Canal. That is a bit of a hike to "the Village" if by "the Village" you mean "the West Village" ("the village" = "west village" to most of my 20-something and 30-something NYC friends). Chinatown is much closer to the Lower East Side, and also the East Village.

Kate's Joint (Avenue B at 4th) is a good choice but a bit of a hike from where your bus will most likely drop you off and also doesn't appear to open until 10am. Atlas Cafe (2nd Avenue at 4th), also in the East Village, is open at 8am. Note: most places in NYC don't open for weekend brunch until 10am or so. Here's a sortable Yelp list for vegan breakfast in Manhattan.

Oh, and if you have dietary restrictions or are picky eaters in any way shape or form, I can't really recommend Shopsin's. I love his food but Kenny can occasionally abuse his customers.
posted by kathryn at 9:16 AM on August 22, 2008

The Angelica Kitchen, which would otherwise be the right answer, doesn't open until 11:30.
posted by ikkyu2 at 4:08 PM on August 22, 2008