Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill’s finest fake meat comes from a proprietary blend. The chillin’ chickin’, says the menu, is the restaurant’s own unique veggie protein, something that the place dares you to taste and believe. And in the time that Veggie Grill has spent across from UC Irvine (nearing two years as we crawl towards the fall), the restaurant has wholly succeeded in suspending that disbelief and making vegan eats accessible to all. To that end, there are the excellent salads (the Baja Fiesta gets chopped up with lettuce, papaya, avocado, roasted corn salsa, quinoa, cucumber, cilantro and a ginger-papaya vinaigrette), veggie chili and even fake chicken wings. But the sandwiches are what have truly brought the restaurant its success. And the best of that bunch is the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’, which stuffs that breaded chillin’ chickin’, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado and spiced vegan mayo in a whole wheat bun. Paired with an order of the best sweet potato fries around (and some chipotle ranch for dipping), the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ sandwich goes even beyond the finest fast-food alternatives, and not just in health or size—the huge thing tastes better, too.

VEGGIE GRILL 4213 CAMPUS DR | IRVINE 92612 | 949.509.0003 | VEGGIEGRILL.COM

Tags: Food, irvine, Restaurants, SIDES, uc irvine, vegetarian, veggie grill