There’s a wave of vegan restaurants opening in Colorado. No, not in Boulder. Nope, not Denver either.
Colorado Springs is going vegan.
OK, not exactly, but the city is having a surprisingly vegan moment. In recent months, two new, 100-percent vegan restaurants opened, joining the well-established leader of the pack The Burrowing Owl in a trifecta of pretty much anything a plant-loving foodie is looking for.
Santana’s Vegan Grill
This one’s a—wait for it—vegan drive-thru. Hidden at the southwest corner of Union and Academy, the stand-alone fast-food joint is regularly surrounded by cars four and five deep. You’ll find meatball subs, hot dogs and burgers—standard fast-food fare, with zero cholesterol or animal cruelty. Go for the belly-busting deluxe bacon cheese burger and greasy fries. (Proof that vegan eats won’t earn you healthy sainthood.)
5046 N. Academy Blvd., santanasvegangrill.com
Moxie
On the other end of the spectrum there’s the unpretentiously stylish Moxie, with exquisite food and clever drinks. A must at the bar: The Dude Went Vegan. Its housemade coffee liqueur, vodka and coconut milk are dangerously on point. Two musts at the table: tempura Brussels sprouts and sage gnocchi. Healthy never tasted so slightly decadent, and the lunch and dinner fare rivals some of the best New York City vegan restaurants. Something to look forward to in summer: breakfast and gorgeous patio-views of Pikes Peak.
925 S. 8th Street, livemoxie.co
