These Latinx Vegan Places Are Amazingly Good

"I will never lose touch with my roots. Every dish has a story behind it, re-creating meals vegan just adds a twist to it." —Lyana, owner of Black Rican Vegan

Whether you're going out to eat or cooking for yourself, combining vegan/plant-based food with bold Latinx flavors doesn't have to be a challenge.

Black Rican Vegan / Instagram: @blackricanvegan

BuzzFeed spoke to the following six establishments about what it means to provide Latinx vegan and plant-based versions of some of their favorite meals while keeping the culture present.

1. Lyana Blount, owner of Black Rican Vegan located in NYC.

Lyana Blount

When asked how it feels to be Latinx while providing vegan/plant-based meals to the community, Lyana said, "To be able to provide food to my community using recipes I’ve eaten with my family over the years and turning them vegan is an extreme blessing and something I feel that is making a huge impact on the way people eat. Losing meat doesn’t mean we need to lose culture. The seasoning, herbs, and love are still there and better that is guilt-free. I absolutely love what I do and what I am providing for others."

Lyana continued by saying she will never lose touch with her roots and that every dish "has a story behind it. Re-creating meals as vegan just adds a twist to it. I would also like to think that we are finding better ways to enjoy healthy eating."

Black Rican Vegan / Instagram: @blackricanvegan

Back in 2016, Lyana ran a meal-prep business. She decided to try eating vegan in 2017, but "was still cooking meat and seafood and I didn’t feel right anymore. Once the pandemic started, I lost the kitchen I had to prepare meals and I started working from home again. It was a challenge for me and it became very expensive because I had no help."

Lyana told us she started Black Rican Vegan just for fun and was surprised at the amount of attention she received when everyone wanted to try her food. "In April, I made a menu and started taking orders and selling out as fast as five minutes. Today has marked five months in business with a following of 9K+."

Black Rican Vegan / Instagram: @blackricanvegan

Lyana feels she has a huge responsibility in re-creating meals that help her customers be reminded of home, too. "They help me choose what goes on and off the menu. I always listen to them because this service is for them. I’ve been asked for a cookbook and to open a restaurant and I’m planning to make that my goal for 2021."

Black Rican Vegan is available to order online here.

2. Alex, Steve, and Danny, owners of Vspot.

Alex Cara

BuzzFeed spoke to Alex, who said, "For over a decade, we've been pushing our plant-based comfort food, but our main clientele was typically Caucasian or Afro-Caribbean."

"More recently, Latinos have caught on and it feels amazing to hear how much they enjoyed the familiar filling flavors they've missed since their diet change."

vspot express / Instagram: @vspotexpress

"Plus, knowing that it's also a healthier option makes me proud and hopeful because my own Colombian family can also benefit. It really picked up as all the documentaries came out on Netflix. Before that, I remember the days when a Latinx would walk into our restaurant and I would make sure they weren't lost, haha... but sometimes they were! Wait, sooo there's no chicken AND no beef?! But thankfully, Latinos are now way more aware of the abundant cholesterol-free options opening up."

When it comes to how it's impacted his own life, Alex says when they first opened Vspot, located in NYC, he actually still ate meat.

vspot express / Instagram: @thevspotrestaurant

He also reflected on his plant-based journey with the following story: "I used to sneak chicharron in the back patio and eat it away from everyone like a possum in the garbage dumpster. A year later, after an edible and a documentary (plus the inner animal lover not letting me sleep), I realized i just couldn't look at meat the same. Everyone's body is different, but much of my family has various heart issues, so I am just very happy I made the change. On top of that, I really do love animals and many have this very strong sense of 'innocence' which leaves me feeling grateful to have something to offer these beautiful creatures by supporting cruelty-free options."

Vspot is available for pickup and delivery at both 12 St Marks Pl, New York and 156 5th Ave, Brooklyn. To view their website, click here.

3. Blenlly (Owner) and Ana (Executive Chef) of Next Stop Vegan

@grr8jon / Via instagram.com

Blenlly, who is the owner of Next Stop Vegan (located in the Bronx), says that "As a Bronx native, first-generation vegan Dominican, providing plant-based meals to myself and the community has been nothing but a positive journey. "

"Next Stop Vegan was founded with the intention to help our community eat healthier food without feeling deprived from the flavors and taste of their culture."

@grr8jon / Via Instagram: @nextstopvegan

"Our mission is to help our community get creative and learn how to eat healthier by using all ingredients we can acquire from our local supermarkets and fruit/vegetables stores."

Blenlly says she is constantly inspired by how customers have decided to try vegan food or switch to a vegan diet entirely because of her food.

@grr8jon / Via Instagram: @nextstopvegan

"It is my daily commitment to provide the best food and experience in order to enhance the health and mind-state of our community members."

Next Stop Vegan is available to order for pickup at 1818 Archer St, The Bronx. To view their website, click here. To view their Instagram, click here.

4. Michelle Carrera, Founder of ChilisonWheels

Michelle Carrera

Michelle says that while her community is varied [in terms of race/ethnicity], a large percentage is Latinx "so the food needs to reflect the cultural background of our population."

"Veganizing popular dishes, that I myself grew up eating, is a great way to keep the culture present while showcasing amazing Vegan food, and modeling to people that are not yet vegan that they too can keep those flavors and those memories alive while preparing food that is healthier for themselves, and the planet, and at a great price point!"

Chilis on Wheels / Instagram: @chilisonwheels

"Vegan food doesn't need to be bland, alien, and expensive. It is flavorful, familiar, and affordable!"

Michelle says that providing vegan food relief for the past six years has changed her life.

Chilis on Wheels / Instagram: @chilisonwheels

She said "I now have a community of people that care about one another, I have meaning in my life and my work, and I have an endless list of recipes that I've created to serve thousands of people. I am blessed to do this work, alongside some amazing organizers and volunteers that have become my family."

To visit Chilis on Wheels in person, you can find them:
• Fridays at Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park at 3 p.m.
• Saturdays: Tompkins Square Park (Ave B and 9th St) from 2–4 p.m. (for meal shares, open to the public).
• Sundays: Sunnyside, Queens at 2 p.m. in collaboration with Sunnyside Mutual Aid 47th Bliss Station.
Click here to follow them on Instagram.

5. Savage Sicko

SavageSickoAstoria / Instagram: @savagesickoastoria

Alex Ayala, Owner of Savage Sicko, located in NYC, said he started the restaurant at a time in his life where his energy started to change for the better. "I feel the energy of the food and culture [is] so powerful; just pure and innocent. Any world free of harming any animals is definitely a business that I want to own and be fully a part of. I wanted to give back to the universe and Astoria by creating something special."

Alex says that for him, he felt the community needed it and he also wanted to raise awareness about the extinction of sharks and pollution of the ocean.

SavageSickoAstoria / Instagram: @savagesickoastoria

"My ultimate goal for Savage Sicko is to make it an eco-friendly brand."

Alex wants to help set a standard "for all businesses to start worrying about our animals and oceans and the earth in general instead of just making a profit."

SavageSickoAstoria / Instagram: @savagesickoastoria

"This is the future I’d like to see and be a part of, and we must act quick and take care of our planet."

To order for pick up, visit Savage Sicko at 37-10 31st Ave, Astoria, NY and click here to visit their Instagram page.

6. Alex and Priscilla, owners of the online vegan bodega No Carne

Instagram: @nocarnebodega

Alex told us it's hard to put their feelings into exact words, but they appreciate the opportunity to do so. "We feel like we all have a social responsibility to do what we can as individuals to make the world a better place."

Both Alex and Priscilla felt that one great way to do their part was by opening a bodega that was entirely plant-based right in the Bronx.

Instagram: @nocarnebodega

Alex said, "For us, it was important to do that while making sure the culture was present. That’s why we went with the name No Carne BODEGA...for the cultura!"

"Once we really started getting out there, and people started coming to No Carne for their groceries, we started to understand the value we bring to others."

Instagram: @nocarnebodega

He said that between both him and Priscilla, they have had about 20 different jobs. "and never have we felt we played such an important role in people’s lives. A lot of people rely on us for their vegan grocery needs, and they count on us to stock those hard-to-find foods that complete their meals for their families. Honestly, there’s nothing else we’d rather do."

To order groceries in the New York and New Jersey area, click here.

Join BuzzFeed as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and explore more content celebrating la cultura.

Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed