Soul Food Vegan image

Soul Food Vegan

Restaurant Vegan restaurant

Laid-back outpost offering traditional soul food dishes alongside vegan choices & hearty sides. People often mention vegan, good, greens, Vegan, taste, delicious, cheese, restaurant, platter, time,


Address

2901 Emancipation Ave, Houston, TX 77004

Contact

(713) 814-8865

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

3.90 (1.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 12 to 8:30 PM
  • Friday: 12 to 8:30 PM
  • Saturday: 12 to 8:30 PM
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: 12 to 8:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 12 to 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 12 to 8:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: vegan (26) good (20) greens (18) Vegan (12) taste (10) delicious (10) cheese (10) restaurant (9) platter (9) time (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 2/5 Leon C. 2 years ago on Google
    *** Overhyped and Overpriced *** So I was visiting from south Florida and was told about this Soul Food Vegan restaurant. I saw the pics and reviews and decided to give it a try. I wanted to love this place so bad but it just did not live up to the hype. The food was overpriced. I paid $46 for a Catfish platter with dirty rice, collard greens, and a side of boudain balls. The fish(jackfruit) was too thick and had no seasoning. Only the batter seemed to be seasoned. The dirty rice was just awful and dry. The collard greens were okay but needed some hot sauce, which they did NOT have. What kind of soul food restaurant doesn't have hot sauce? Seriously! The customer service was mediocre at best. This restaurant definitely has room for improvement. I definitely would NOT return to eat here as I feel it was a complete waste of money. I've been vegan for a while now and know what good vegan dishes taste like. Not recommended. 2 stars!
    35 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 A S. 2 years ago on Google
    Super disappointed. Fried mushrooms are tasteless. I had to go back and ask for BBQ sauce for some flavor. Mac & Cheese is overpowered by the fresh parsley. Customer service was very meh. Not really welcoming to a paying customer.
    20 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Tasha L. 2 years ago on Google
    I got the cauliflower platter. The cauliflower steak was good. The greens taste like canned greens which aren't vegan,over powered with salt. $20 for the platter and about $9 for the juice. The whole situation is over priced. Again the cauliflower steak was great and I threw everything else away but I won't return
    20 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sorelys R. 1 year ago on Google
    We were in Houston, TX for the 1st time, and my friends and I decided to try Soul Food Vegan. We’re from New York City, so we’re not strangers to Vegan spots. We didn’t realize we got there 30 minutes before closing time and thought they may not allow us to sit and eat. To our surprise, they went out of their way to serve us, gave us time to decide what to order, explained the ingredients, made us laugh and after we nearly begged for a Banana Pudding that had sold out, they surprised us with special cakes we couldn’t believe were “Vegan”, along with 2 other dishes to try. Everything was so delicious!! I myself, was impressed with the Fried Mushrooms, the Fries, the Mushroom Poboy and the Mashed Potatoes. Upon tasting the mushrooms, my initial reaction was “OMG what is THIS delectable morsel!?!? How is this so good??” The fries tasted fresh and were seasoned to perfection and started eating them without ketchup. The cakes, we couldn’t believe were Vegan because they were too good to not be “real” LoL We asked a few times to make sure they were indeed “Vegan”. Two of us got the Strawberry Moringa Lemonade which was amazing! We came to find out that all the delicious recipes were created by Taliek, the owner of the establishment who also has a published recipe book. Thank you Taliek, Carlos and Max for your hospitality and great service! Next time I’m in Houston, I’ll know to call in advance to put aside the Banana Pudding before you sell out to people who are buying them in bulk. Because why do 2 people need 5 of them? That math equation doesn’t even make sense! Anyway, it was a pleasure. Until next time.
    15 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Errol Mccalla J. 10 months ago on Google
    Where do I start? This spot is better off being called a shack and not a restaurant due to the atmosphere, and Styrofoam and plastic utensils used to serve you with. This was the second visit, and unfortunately, the last as they have not grown since the first disappointing experience. On this visit, the menu was used as a picture on the wall. Have you ever been to a place, and nothing on the menus was being made? That was this day, so our attention was pointed to a small board of "what's available to choose from." After the selections and spending, over $110 for 4 dishes, we were eventually greeted with a plastic bag containing our meals in Styrofoam containers with plastic utensils. Odd because we chose to dine in, but soon discovered that this is how their presentation is. Thumbs down 👎. No plate was perfect, mine contained basically cold food, the red beans, dirty rice, Mac all were likely from the days before, and to add to this, the fried mushrooms where definitely not fresh. As a result, I sent that isht back, and the gent prepared a fresher batch for me. The rest of the plates were microwaved and were re-presented hotter than before. The other dishes shared similar discomforts, fries were not fresh, nacho chips not fresh, etc. We were better off just making a donation to this place and not having to leave such a review. It was bad, but the staff tried their best to make up for the slack, so an "E" for the effort. It's not worth traveling from so far to be so disappointed. Again, I may add. The food pictures better than it taste, so it will be good for your social media pics. If you are in the area, try and support because any day they may improve their performance and you may be pleased. But for me, no more will this be a place to visit, I may just donate to them and extend helpful tips for improvement.
    12 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 A R. 1 year ago on Google
    I've seen so many great reviews for this place but after visiting I'm not quite sure why. We arrived at 7:25 (over an hour and a half before closing) and they had no food left. We were told the only thing they had left were certain sides, one burger, and the daily special (jambalaya). So I ordered the greens and the jambalaya. The greens were BITTER and not flavorful and the jambalaya was dry. I didn't even finish it. Also we weren't allowed to sit outside in the seating area because the staff wanted to go (again this is 7:25 and they close at 9). Trying to get folks to take your order when you arrive seems extremely difficult and you can tell they obviously do not want to be there. I will not be going back. My food is pictured at a local brewery since I wasn't allowed to sit at the restaurant!
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Robert G. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is good. Not great, not bad, just... Good. Maybe this is unfair because Houston is swamped with delicious vegan soul food, but the food here is fine but nothing to write home about. The upside is you get massive portions, the food is certainly good, and it's guaranteed to be vegan. The downside is that the food isn't great, a lot of it is dry, and while it gets the job done it leaves you feeling over stuffed but not satisfied. And thinking about the food afterwards with friends, there was nothing that stood out as describing the food. It was just good food that mimicked typical soul food fare at a mild markup. Would I eat here again, yes. Would I recommend that someone come here to eat? If you're in the area and you're interested in vegan soul food, sure, and odds are you'll like it too. Would I recommend that anyone go out of their way to eat here? No.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 glamorous k. 1 year ago on Google
    Good vegan food! Great selections! Casual outdoor dining is available. We didn't know this as we were a bit dressed up for our day. But, we sat outside and ate. The flies did attack us while eating; however, it was really good. Cool spot...I'm glad we visited while we were here. :)
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rawrraguilar 2 years ago on Google
    We spent about $50 for 2 plates and 1 lemonade,what I tried was okay but I would like to try more things on their menu. Food came out quick and it was a good portion. I’m giving it 5 stars because they were friendly,menu was unique and I was happy to support local and black owned. Will come back and try the poboy.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jodie B. 1 year ago on Google
    Wife and I decided to stop by while in town to try some healthy eats. They had just opened for the day, so it was a bit of a wait for our meal. Once we got it, my wife enjoyed her sandwich but I found the fries a bit underwhelming in terms of flavor. The greens however were delicious and my sandwich was pretty tasty as well. Overall the place was a tad expensive, but worth a try for those in the area looking for healthy options
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David J. 3 years ago on Google
    I've never been to a black-owned restaurant that can deliver food so quickly. And yet the food some of the best vegan food I've ever had. Glad that I have visited this place. I am from Chicago. The neighborhood doesn't look the best it's a lot of gentrification taking place but no matter how far away you are from this place if you're anywhere within an hour it is worth the drive
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mary D. 8 months ago on Google
    It’s disheartening to see so many poor reviews from a black owned vegan business but it’s understandable when it comes to the atmosphere. It’s scorching hot inside in the dead of summer and actually warmer than the outside temp of 95+. I’ve been here 3 times with no complaints of the taste of the food but the portion sizes are laughable so the value isn’t totally there. My pasta was definitely kid size at a whopping $12.50 so I guess I’ll have water for the rest of my dinner, lol! Regardless of the quality of the food, shame on this small bowl.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 GabbyKat 1 year ago on Google
    There is a season, I can't put my hand on it, that lingered after several brushes and meals. I tried the jack fruit plate with greens. I asked for the macaroni to be replaced with more greens. When I opened the plate, the macaroni was there. It smelled really bad, so I didn't try it. The jack fruit was in a really heavy barbecue tasting sauce, and the season that I can't pin point, was really heavy. The texture was okay. The greens had a sweet taste. The inside is pretty small, but there are 2 small tables outside where you can sit.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gee R. 2 years ago on Google
    The cauliflower plate was delicious. The service was good as well. I would suggest you stop in if you are vegan or looking for a different option of food.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Muhammad A. 1 year ago on Google
    First timer. Not bad. The Cajun burger was good. The strawberry moringa lemonade is awesome. I also ordered the oyster scampi fettuccine, and didn’t care for it at all. I could have spent that $22 on something else. I didn’t include a pic of the oyster scampi fettuccine dish because it was not very appealing. Order at your own risk.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eugenio G. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow, all I can say about this place is that the food is plant based, but super delicious. Both my nieces had a burger, Mac n cheese, and I, shrimp scampi. The service was excellent. Beautiful decorations. Nice setting. Good abd beautiful people behind the counter. Please, you gotta try this place if you are vegan. I recommend this place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Camie B. 2 years ago on Google
    First time trying Vegan food was at Soul Food Vegan. The nachos were really good, surprisingly! Small little place, limited seating & parking but it definitely is worth the visit!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Demarcus W. 7 months ago on Google
    I called my order in 15 minutes in advance I'm at the pool across the street. Come to find out when I get here they don't do orders over the phone so I have to wait 10 to 15 minutes. The prices on the menu are not the prices when you get here they are marked up way to high. $35 for three things no sir. The food was ok, The atmosphere is not to hot. Service on the cold side like you don't have any passion for you job. This ain't it I'm sorry. I will give it another try at another time
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Z Bryant (ZJB C. 10 months ago on Google
    Pulled this place up through Google reviews, was really craving some plant based soul food. When I arrived I thought the place was closed, once I made it inside no one was there to greet me for service. Once I spotted someone face to face I still wasn't greeted! The food was okay, greens are really good! Going forward work on the customer service skills, and everything else will fall into play!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Shawnta W. 2 years ago on Google
    I went here due to I seen there business on Facebook, when you go inside it's kinda run down, they air conditioning wasn't working because it was very hot inside. However, that didn't really concern me, I got a platter, with Mac & cheese, greens, dirty rice and fried mushroom along with a lemonade. All that totaled to $30, $20 for the food and $10 for lemonade in which I thought it was very pricey for vegan food. When I got my food and my drink, it was good but I don't think it worth the prices they charge, The Mac & cheese taste like it was from the box, the greens and mushroom were good, and the rice was overcooked. I listed a picture. I wouldn't return due to the prices, I dont think it's worth it
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mr. M. 2 years ago on Google
    Made time to visit Soul Food Vegan and treat myself to a proper vegan meal. I ordered the Soul Food Vegan Platter with the cauliflower steak, mac and cheese, collard greens and dirty rice. I must say that everything was on point. Anybody that thinks that vegan food is bland and boring needs to come and eat here and you just might convert to the vegan lifestyle permanently. I meant to ask if they had the jackfruit available, but I'll check on my next visit. My Wife tells me I need to get in the habit of doing more things for myself and I believe this is a good place to start.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sharise J. 5 months ago on Google
    While visting Houston, I really enjoyed Soul Food Vegan. I went on a Thursday evening and it wasn't crowded or a long wait. We ordered and received our food within 15 minutes, freshly prepared. The sitting area is very intimate so I wouldn't suggest a large group to eat in but for my husband and I, it was perfect. I had the Double Agave Bac'n Burger (spicy) which came with Moringa fries. I also ordered a side of Mac n Cheese and collard greens with a Strawberry-Moringa Lemonade. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. The Mac was cheesy like I like it! I loved the soulful atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and I hope to visit again to try something new off of the menu!

  • 2/5 Greg A. 8 months ago on Google
    I just moved to the neighborhood and live mainly on a plant based diet. I love good food but unfortunately this was not good at all. I tried the special, fajita nachos to go. Most of it went in the trash after I got home. I see mixed reviews on Google so I may give you one more try but not the lemonade for $10.

  • 2/5 Chrissa C. 2 years ago on Google
    This place was a disappointment. Super excited to find a vegan restaurant near our hotel. Got the Supreme Burger and platter with cauliflower steak. Both were ok. Fries were soggy, burger not filling and the cauliflower steak was bland. When we asked for hot sauce, which was badly needed and expected at a soul food restaurant, they didn't have any. My advice is to skip this place and try another vegan restaurant option, Houston has plenty.

  • 5/5 Luci 8 months ago on Google
    I got the vegan platter + kids Mac n cheese. The vegan platter came with rice, collard greens, my choice of coliflower (instead of fried mushrooms) and Mac n cheese. This plant based dish was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately my kids were not able to eat the Mac and cheese because of the spice level. I will definitely come back here next time I'm in town. Very authentic. Tastes like a home made meal. The fact that it's Vegan is a huge plus.

  • 5/5 Drew P. 1 year ago on Google
    The jackfruit sandwich was out of control. I did a double take thinking it was smoked brisket. The textures, flavors, colors, etc were all right. And I love that it was just called a jackfruit sandwich--not imitation anything. This should make the list for top vegan food you must try before you die (but get it sooner than that please).

  • 5/5 Prayank J. 2 years ago on Google
    “Food is very delicious” 4 dishes for 25$ The taste was great and I was impressed! The chef knows how to cook southern style and taste is to the point, Mac and cheese were hot made with garbanzo cheese, greens are simple and taste fresh and was served hot however Rice and Cauliflower “main dish” I felt could have used fresh seasoning. They were served cold or couldn't hold the heat on the foam box or maybe they were precooked and lying around for a while. I generally don't like rice when cold, not sure if that’s how’s it supposed to be served. I felt the price is pretty expensive to eat that food in a Tent outside in a foam box - with no water available in the kitchen. I was super thirsty and found it quite surprising that no water was available, I drove for 1.5 hrs to eat here from The Woodland, TX. The good thing is I had some bottles lying around in my car. Recommendation- Bring your water bottle and maybe a plate if you don’t like the food served on a foam box.

  • 5/5 Mark B. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the best vegan nachos I've had

  • 5/5 Samera W. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was AMAZING!! I had the pattern with the cauliflower steak, mac n cheese, and greens. I promise you would not know any of this is vegan! The taste is superb! My husband had the Supreme burger and it was delicious as well! We recommend to anyone vegan and non vegan!

  • 5/5 Fantasia V. 2 years ago on Google
    Food is absolutely divine!! Gluten free, vegan, etc. I got the supreme burger for myself 💖🤤 and ordered the vegan soul food platter, jackfruit platter, and pasta melt for the family!! Service was amazing~ Can't wait to come back!!! 💖😍


Call (713) 814-8865 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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