Quick Guide #1: Vegan Spots in Sunnyside
Saag Chana at Cardamom Indian Cuisine (Photo: Sunnyside Shines)
We get regular DMs via our Instagram page asking us for recommendations in Sunnyside and one recurring topic is where to get vegan food in the neighborhood. Recently, local Vanessa R. suggested we compile a short list to share-out and here we are! Below, please find some of Vanessa’s and our favorite spots for vegan food.
Thank you to Vanessa R. for submitting this post suggestion!
I Am Thai
49-08 43rd Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
718-457-7700
Recommended by Vanessa R. for being vegan friendly and owned and operated by Sara aka Queen of Vegan, I Am Thai boasts 35 vegan appetizers and entrees on their menu! From Vegan Pad Thai to Vegan Massaman Curry to Vegan Green Curry Noodle, the small business in Sunnyside/Woodside does not disappoint with their options.
Cardamom Indian Cuisine
43-45 43rd street, Queens Blvd, 11104
718-706-9718
Chef Alywn Audinho’s Vegan Veg Dishes menu at Cardamom might be one of the most extensive in the neighborhood. Classics include Chaana Masala, Saag Chana, Aloo Gobi Muttar and Jeera Aloo. Hailing from Canacona, Goa in India, Chef Audinho brings the traditional dishes, such as Vindaloo, from his hometown to Sunnyside, Queens.
Go Natural
45-03 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-482-0008
Known for their fresh fruit juices and organic grocery options, the women and minority owned health food shop is a staple for many with a wide range of vegan products and brands. We love their rotating menu of hot food dishes and permanent items such as olive bread, breakfast burrito, locally made cookies and desserts, and of course, their drink combinations (our go-to is The Zinger with orange and ginger).
Souk el Shater
43-03 Queens Blvd, Queens, NY 11104
718-392-2702
We would say that almost a quarter of Souk el Shater’s menu is vegan. Our go-to is their $5 falafel wrap and honestly we could have that for breakfast, lunch, dinner and anywhere in between. The Osman family’s Lebanese falafels are made with fava beans and chickpeas and are fried to perfection every time. Don’t forget to check out their mini-market for Lebanese products towards the back of the storefront!
Cooldown Juice
48-19 Skillman Ave, Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-803-2900
Located on Skillman Ave, Eric & Sylwia Barthel’s juicery is another local favorite for fresh juices that are 100% organic and cold pressed. Their unique and seasonal flavors keep us coming back for more! Our favorites are the Delhi Defender and Coco Cafe.
Ricas Pupusas & Mas
Women led and owned and operated by the Vargas family, Ricas Pupusas & Mas is well-known for their El Salvadoran fare. The pupuseria recommends two types of vegan pupusa fillings - Chipilin and Loroco - to be combined with Frijol/beans. The Chipilin is a vegetable used in the cuisines of Southern Mexico and Central America. Meanwhile, the Loroco (otherwise known as the Quilite in Indigenous language) is an edible herb that is used widely in El Salvador. Read more about the family and their pupuseria in this New York Times feature.
Have local vegan recommendations? Let us know! Email us using the form below or at jcho@sunnysideshines.org. We will be compiling another list soon.