- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Soul Vegetarian's Exodus
Categories: Restaurants Soul Food Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Vegetarian Soul Food, Vegan, Vegetarian [Edit]
2606 Georgia Ave NW(between N Fairmont St & N Euclid St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 328-7685
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
Emily M. said: "I didn't have super-high expectations for a place with a big vegan menu, but Brookland went above and beyond. First, the vibe of the place is really great. It's obviously a fun community place for the neighborhood, and we saw it…" read more »
86 reviews for Soul Vegetarian's Exodus
Review Highlights
"The mac and cheese is the absolute best."
(in 48 reviews)
"I suggest the Mac & Cheese, greens, yams and BBQ tofu."
(in 10 reviews)
"I dream about Soul Veg at least once a month."
(in 23 reviews)
Loading...
86 reviews in English
-
Review from Jessica L.
Cambridge, MA
1/15/2012
Went here with a friend using a Scoutmob deal. I had always heard that Everlasting LIfe was better, but they were out of vegan fried chicken at the time we went, so we kept walking down Georgia Ave to this place.
Inside, there was one customer and a really friendly staffperson. She explained all the dishes to us, waited patiently for us to order, answered our questions, and got us the food promptly. Meanwhile, the one customer kept raving about how good the food was and recommending dishes to us. That was pretty cool, he said he went there all the time and had tried a lot of things.
I had the blue corn tacos, and a strawberry banana soy smoothie. The smoothie was thick and tasty- I think they packed a lot of fruit in there and didn't make it mostly soymilk. The tacos were delicious- TVP was really well flavored, some kind of vegan cheese up in there, and good amount of lettuce and tomato. My friend got the mac and cheese, greens and sweet potatoes- looked really good. They had an interesting drink selection, and lots of cakes to choose from.
I'm not in the area a lot- and don't eat out as much as I used to (or as many carbs as I used to), but if I ever am, I'll be back and try another dish. Glad it's here! -
Review from Minda M.
Washington, DC
8/22/2011
I want to love this place so much! It's right around the corner from me, and I've tried it a few time, but every time it pretty much sucks.
Alright, the first time I arrived I got some stereotypical tofu in some sauce, greens and rice. The rice was super crunchy and gross, like it's been sitting on the steam table forever, and the tofu was tofu in a sauce. about $12
So the second time I ordered a sandwich, they were out of it. So I ordered another sandwich, they were out of that. 4 out of the 6 sandwiches they were out of. Then they gave me a sandwich covered in about 3 different condiments, onions, etc... They never ask, and I HATE yellow mustard, so this sandwich was pretty much trash. $6
According to my neighbor, who has lived here 10 years, said this place has drastically gone down hill. The old owners made amazing food, gave large portions, and everything was great. Since they changed, they've minimized their food and raised their prices. I believe to counteract their loss of sales.
Everyone raves about the mac and cheese, and yelp gives Soul's 4 stars. I feel they need to erase all the reviews and start fresh, because the amazing 5 star reviews from many years ago are counteracting the more accurate 1 star reviews.
I have no idea why people love this place. If you like bland tofu in some kind of congealed sauce, dried out rice and soggy greens that'll run you $10+, then please visit Soul's. -
Review from Marlon S.
Springfield, VA
1/23/2012
Poorly run business. The set up is very confusing. Apparently you place an order down stairs when you walk in and walk upstairs to dine-in. I had no idea that that was the procedure, so I asked the woman at the cash register if the restaurant was carry-out only because there are no dining areas visible when you walk in. She had no idea what I meant be carryout-only. So, I ask a man who worked there, "Where do i place an order...do I place it up stairs or do I place it down here"? He saiy, "Yes you can go up stairs." So I go upstairs to the closterphobic dining area and wait for 15 minutes for someone to come and take the order. No one shows up. I leave. Waste of time. Poorly run business.
-
Review from Alyssa J P.
Brighton, MA
10/27/2011
I can say now that I have truly lived, now that I have had the worlds best vegan Mac n cheeze thanks to Soul Veg.
Listed in: Out of Town Vegan
-
Review from John M.
Washington, DC
12/29/2011
Think a vegan place on Georgia Avenue is too good to be true? Well, you're kind of right. While the food is alright, the place is owned, operated, or otherwise affiliated with the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem. These are the same people that stand outside the Gallery Place and Columbia Heights Metro stations shouting their hateful message. Just so you know where you're money is going...
-
Review from Yana J.
Washington D.C., DC
5/4/2011
The main reason I'm posting a review here is to say that one of the photos listed for this place of the nice brown tables with the bar in the background is NOT for Soul Vegetarian but for Everlasting Life down the street, which of the two (they're very similar) is much better than this place. Better/larger food selection and quality, better prices, much kinder service, and much better facilities. Unlike the picture, Soul Vegetarian is more of a tiny, fairly unclean little carry-out spot with very little seating. I also don't think the service there is very good - the people there are simply not very nice, you just have to order and go, and don't even think about asking questions about the food.
In terms of the food, it is pretty decent, which is why I am at least giving 3 stars - the mac&cheese in particular is great.
Also please keep in mind that Soul Vegetarian is a chain of restaurants owned by the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, a very controversial and even prejudiced religious group, with some views that are offensive to Ashkenazi Jews like me - http://en.wikipedia.or.... -
Review from Rain T.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
I absolutely loved this place! :)
-
Review from Matt L.
Sacramento, CA
4/22/2011
The food here is pretty good, the burger was a little small and the shake was pretty watery, but the Mac and cheese and the turkey and gravy were awesome!
The service was really bad... You order at the counter, which is fine, but the girl just didn't really give a fuck... Neither did the cook.
The seating area up stairs was nice, but a little weird. I give the place 3 stars over all.
I think if they dropped the attitudes it could be a better place. -
Review from Randi M.
Washington, DC
3/3/2011
Just tried this place out for the first time (after passing by and wanting to for forever) and it was fantastic. My 8 year-old had the steak and cheese and loved it - I stole a bite too and will gladly confirm that it was delish. I had the BBQ twists, mac and cheese and greens and they were all so good.
I'm vegetarian, not vegan - but this place has convinced me that you really don't need dairy in soul food. Really. -
Review from Beth L.
Washington, DC
8/12/2011
The macaroni and cheese is very good here. Everything is vegan. But the place is nothing fancy. It is not very clean. Service is slow. Prices are good.
-
Review from A T.
Los Angeles, CA
11/15/2010
Oh the places a vegan diet will take you. If you're out-of-towners like us, this place is 100 percent not worth riding all the way across town for. My boyfriend gives it four stars. I give it two (I was thinking about one but that seemed not nice) so the average is three.
The outside looks grimy. The inside looks grimy. I did not want to eat there based upon looks alone. Had I had a car I would've left, but since we spent $15 on a taxi we stayed.
The girl working there was very friendly and nice. I had the mac&cheese, collards and sweet potatoes. The mac&cheese was just okay. I've definitely had better. The collards weren't seasoned like you get in the south. They needed some oil and vinegar. I put a little salt on them. That helped. The sweet potatoes were good.
My boyfriend had some beef seitan & rice, collards and broccoli. He liked it.
He also got a nice hoodie that zipped at a clothing store down the street for $22 so that made the adventure a little more worthwhile, and it was neat to see a non-tourist part of D.C. -
Review from Valerie S.
Washington, DC
8/24/2011
A friend RAVED about this place eight years ago. I got a deal to try their fare for half price, to I decided to finally check it out, and I was sorely disappointed. Even though it wasn't crowded at all, it took awhile for them to prepare a simple vegetable sandwich from their menu. And the sandwich just didn't taste very good. I ate it because I was hungry and had no other choice at that point, but I would not have eaten it if I had other choices.
The mac and cheese was meh - Everlasting Life is SOOOOO much better. Cafe Green's is better, too. And they gave me enough of it to feed a family of four. That's a lot of meh-c and cheese for one person.
The broccoli was overcooked and the tofu pepper steak was mostly inedible.
Needless to say, I will not be returning. Deal or no deal.Listed in: VeganDC
-
Review from Steve R.
Washington, DC
10/15/2010
The macaroni and cheese is to die for. I haven't tried any of the other entrees, because... well.. i don't get a chance to come by too often and the macaroni and cheese is that good. I cannot possibly believe they could make anything better.
Yams - A+
Greens - fantastic
Small dining area downstairs but extra seating upstairs is where i usually sit for some quiet dinner and flipping through the newspaper. However, you can always strike up a conversation with one of the customers downstairs about the food, politics, etc and get an earful, lol. -
Review from ivonna s.
Temple Hills, MD
8/19/2010
Having being a graduate of Howard University on Georgia Avenue (c/o 2003!!) I passed this place every day for five plus years. I have eaten here many times; over a hundred I'm sure. There are many items on the menu that I love (curry tofu, bbq tofu, tacos, the garvey burger and jerusalem bakes (fries)) and there are a few that I'll pass on (peppered steak and the wheat loaf) because they were a tad to salty for my taste. I have tried most of what they offer and the food basically falls into two categories 1. really good or 2. too salty.
Now on to the mac and cheese that everyone raves about it is really good. I'm not going to say it taste like "regular" mac and cheese because it doesn't taste anything like the non-vegan version and dairy eaters will definitely be able to tell the difference, but with that being sad it is really very good mac and cheese. I get it almost every time I'm there. Usually, everyone that I see entering Soul Vegetarian leaves with the mac and cheese. It is important to taste it with no expectations. Go into it not expecting the mac and cheese that you're used to, treat it like a food you have never tasted, like you're trying something new. They also offer some dishes that I didn't expect to see there like pizza and a "steak" and cheese sandwich, both of which I haven't tried yet, but heard that they are pretty good.
Costumer service is kind of hit or miss and really depends on who is doing the serving. I have come across some very friendly people that serve you with a smile and I've had the exact opposite. That doesn't really bother me though because I just come for the food and not the people, but service is important for many and because the service is spotty I really can't give anything more than 3 stars.
The restaurant menu is divided in to two parts, a hot case with a selection of food that is pre-prepared and ready as soon as you walk in and then they have the menu items that are made to order. The made to order items tend to take a while but they are worth it. No-one really complains they just come prepared to wait. With that being said, if you're ordering from the made to order section of the menu bring a magazine, if not you can be in and out in a reasonable amount of time depending on the line (every time I go there is a line). -
Review from Becky C.
Boston, MA
8/24/2010
Soul Veg was the very first all-vegan restaurant I'd ever been to. I stopped in with some fellow coworkers when I first moved here. And it was like entering the holy land. I was giddy and kept asking (everyone who would listen) 'and it's ALL vegan?!'. My first experience with vegan mac 'n cheese, vegan chicken friend steak(!!??) and they had some killer greens. I also took some cake and sandwiches to go. Their fish sandwiches were SO fish-like, I talked about it for days. (I don't get out much.)
It's a very small, nondescript location near Howard University. So if you're not looking for it, you might miss it. And they're not open on Sundays (boo!). But I would definitely recommend seeking this place out. It's a to-go counter, so it's not waiter service...and it's fairly small, so plan to get your food and get out! :) -
Review from Ashley L.
Washington D.C., DC
3/18/2011
I'm just repeating what everyone else has said, but the mac and chese is amazing. I've been here twice with non-vegans and both times we've remarked on how amazing the mac and cheese is.
The other entrees and the veggies I've tried are also really good. The bbq tofu... yum! Really good flavor and the tofu is a really good consistency. But seriously, the mac and cheese is the stuff dreams are made of.
It's like $11 or $12 after tax for two entrees and a vegetable, which is fine, but not an amazing deal or anything.
Honestly though I don't come here too often is because it kind of drops off my radar. I actually only live a mile away, but I am just never on Georgia Ave. I guess I will usually go to a place because the location is close to where I usually am. It's just hard to go out of my way for amazing food when there's amazing food everywhere, but I think it's a worth a trip here every once and awhile if you like soul food or if you're vegan. I'd probably eat here every week if I was a Howard student because they get a discount and it's close by. -
Review from Kevin R.
Washington, DC
7/23/2010
I'm not a vegetarian, let alone a vegan. That said: This place is ballin'.
The vegan country fried steak is, I daresay, better than just about any real country fried steak I've had. And as a lover of Southern country breakfast, I've had more than a few CFS's in my day. The vegan meatloaf--hilariously named "wheatloaf"--is just as tasty and comes with the same delicious gravy.
The mac and cheese, well, I don't know how they do it. The "cheese" part tastes more like real cheese than any non-lactic dish I've eaten. Maybe it tastes a LITTLE gamy, so I can see where some of the haters are coming from, but I like it just fine.
The yams and the greens are likewise excellent. The prices aren't too bad, considering you get a huge plate of what is normally very expensive food (i.e. vegan food made substitute for meat and dairy).
Try it out! -
Review from Martina R.
Washington, DC
8/21/2010
I'm not going to say you need animal fat to make food taste good. I have had plenty of meals devoid of flesh and animal products that were incredibly delicious. (I've never been a huge meat eater) BUT, this place was just lacking.... I don't know if vegans have accepted a lower quality of food, or if their food is generally so overseasoned to the point that the garlic in the mac and cheese burns your tongue, and the barbeque sauce is so overpowering that no other flavors other than the sauce can be distinguished.
The service was fine for a carry-out style restaurant. But the food... We'll let's just say this place is within walking distance of my apartment, and I'd rather get in my car and brave insane DC drivers to find some quality grub. -
Review from Lauren C.
7/11/2011
My co-worker calls their mac and cheese "crackaroni" and she isn't kidding. I crave this stuff! It's amazing. Pair it with their cinnamon-y sweet potatoes and delicious collard greens, and you have yourself one fine vegan meal.
-
Review from Terinee B.
Washington, DC
Stopped in for a little Sunday brunch. I had the breakfast burrito (which is a MUST try), and a pancake. Every time I come here for Sunday brunch, the food is SLAMMIN'!!!
Listed in: Great Grub!, DC's Must Try Veggie & Vegan…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/20/2011
Let me start off by saying that I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN!!! If anyone would have told me a year ago… Read more »
-
-
Review from Meg G.
8/27/2009 ROTD 4/7/2010
I suddenly have writer's block, and cannot think of anything witty to say. I will say this, though: Soul Veg has been around for quite some time now and its clientele just keeps growing for several reasons. I'll state the obvious.
The food is a healthy alternative to the traditional soul food, but does not lack the seasoning or flavor that most expect.
The macaroni with soy cheese is the truth. One spoonful of this version of our favorite dish and you will want to cry with orgasmic delight.
The smoothies are so delicious that you wonder why you've ever walked into a jamba/java/robek/whatever before. Well, that is if you love sweet smoothies like we do in the South.
Due to Yelp & basic word of mouth, Soul Veg has an increased demand for creating some of its famed dishes like the "wheatloaf", tacos, curry, etc. The service is still the same. You know what? I like that. I like the fact that they are not rushing at super-human speed to serve people. Your orders are never mixed up; and, people from any side of town can stand and have a pleasant conversation with complete strangers. That is refreshing to me, at least.
If you don't like the cramped space downstairs, go upstairs and enjoy your meal. This is not a place for snobbery. The whole establishment is based on humility and human decency, as it is a foothold for the Black Hebrew Israelites, Rastafarians, etc.
In all, I can say that after eating here for years I never tire of dining in or taking out. The staff is always pleasant and the sense of community is evident. I think the meals are filling. The mac-n-cheese, greens, and corn together in a cup/bowl have become my standard order. Definitely stop in and get a taste of some good down-home cooking, vegan style.
****P.S. I eat meat, but my review is still legit.*****Listed in: Spices & Spirits, Cool Runnings, Livin' the Right Life
-
Review from Esther O.
5/29/2009
If you're looking for good vegan food... do NOT come here. I wanted to like this place. I wanted to like it so badly, because vegan soul food? Yay! (And because my brother was taking me out to finally fulfill a long promised present and had specifically researched and found that this place was supposed to be really good. So I feel bad not enjoying it. But oh god.) But this place? Boo. Triple boo. I cannot understand the other reviews they've gotten. I can't begin to imagine giving them 5 stars. I'm having trouble giving them 2.
To start - the mac and cheese? AWFUL. I don't understand how people can say it's good, unless they've been vegan so long they've gotten to used to this flavor (and forgotten what mac and cheese really tastes like). If you like nut-based mac and cheeses - then you will probably like theirs. If you like real mac and cheese - theirs is better than some nut-based ones, but since nut-based ones are gross... you do the math. I made GOOD vegan mac and cheese this week, and actually had it for lunch yesterday, so the comparison was very fresh, and no contest.
The one vegetable I had was also just not good. I ordered zucchini as my side, and it was just weird. How do you screw up zucchini??? I LOVE zucchini!! I don't understand. I don't understand how you can make it bad. But it was. It had this really weird flavor, and just uch. I couldn't eat more than a bite or two.
The service was beyond slow. And we were in a rush and thought that this would be easy because everything was already prepared. But there was ONE person in front of us and it took at least 10 minutes for the cashier to even talk to us. And then it took ages to get our food, since we ordered sandwiches.
The sandwiches were the one redeeming quality however, and the only reason I have to give them the extra star. They were not great, and I would never choose them over a meat sandwich (were I eating meat, which I'm not, but theoretically), but at least they were hot and fresh, and mine had some nice veggies in it. The flavors were ok, but I have no desire to have one again. I ordered the steak and cheese, which is absolutely NOTHING like a real steak and cheese. My brother had the gyro, which bore some resemblance in flavors to a gyro, but still - nothing to write home about.
The decor is whatever - it's a hole in the wall, which would be awesome if the food were as good as a hole in the wall usually is. But it just isn't. I can't understand why people would go out of their way to come here. I would go out of my way to NOT eat here again even if I were in the area, unless I really just couldn't find any other vegan food. And I mean ANY other food. I would happily eat french fries for dinner if that was the only option at another restaurant, as long as they were good, versus returning to Soul Veg.
Don't do it! -
Review from Aisha M.
Washington, DC
6/4/2007
When I pick the number of stars I never know if that's for the food or for the entire experience. Soul vegetarian is not really a place you hang out. I think of it as fast food vegetarian.
Every entree I have tried is delicious. I particularly like the curried cabbage and the pepper steak. For many people being vegeterian means gving up some comfort food. This place proves you can eat like you are at your grandmothers and keep it vegeterian. It is also very inexpensive and the portions are huge.
Beware that if you order anything that is not in the hot bar you will have to wait at least 15 minutes. The Liberian and Black Eyed pea burger are well worth the wait.
p.s. i'm not a vegeterian nor have I ever been. -
Review from Michael G.
Rockville, MD
1/16/2009
My eyes honestly began to water when I saw the name Soul Vegetarian in the Veg D.C. guide. Soul Vegetarian East is a Chicago institution and Exodus is owned by the same group (they also own restaurants in Atlanta and a few other cities). Therefore, I expected the same kind of quality and it just wasn't there. It's a shame because I had been possibly planning to move to D.C. Oh, what other surprises might await me with these similarly named restaurants? It might be safer just to stay in Chicago.
But the positives first. There is nothing quite like vegetarian soul food. It's like a double helping of good feelings going into the belly and mind. And Soul Vegetarian Exodus does deliver on the idea with tasty fake meat dishes that would be found in carnivorous form in an actual soul food restaurant.
For varying prices, you can choose which entrees you have (a different set of fake meats each day of the week, except for Sunday). And the prices here are quite reasonable. Two entrees and a vegetable (choices abound) were $10. Two vegetables and an entree are $8. The problem is that instead of being prepared fresh, they are spooned out lunch lady style. The taste is still there, but not the fresh experience like at the Chicago location.
And the vibe is not the same either, despite the reggae soundtrack in the background busting through the winter chill on the night I went. The staff, such as it is, was friendly enough but it wasn't the kind of embracing, like you're in someone's veggie kitchen, restaurant that their Chicago location is.
If I'm ever in the neighborhood again (not that I find much occasion to end up by Howard University even when I'm in Washington D.C.) I wouldn't think twice about stopping in here for a quick lunch. And vegan fast food is a great concept. I've just been spoiled. I feel bad for any vegetarian Obama staffer who has to switch to this location following him to D.C. from Chicago's south side and Soul Vegetarian East.Listed in: Before It Was The Center Of My…
-
Review from Petra L.
Portland, OR
1/29/2009
I dream about Soul Veg at least once a month. While Portland does offer me things like vegan convenience stores and milkshake carts, it cannot provide me with the thing I crave most - a trip on a hungover afternoon to Soul Veg where my soul (and my gut) are soothed by the impossibly delicious Garvey burger.
Everything here is good. No, really, everything. Close your eyes, stab your finger at a random spot on the menu, order it, and prepare to leave a wet spot on your chair.
Everyone who works here is an absolute darling and the portions are large, filling, and good enough to make me dream about them nearly six months after settling into Portland.
Get thee to the green line and make sure this place never closes.
P.S. They have a special dinner price for students! What more do you want!? -
Review from Paul L.
Washington, DC
7/28/2009
This place truly is GREAT.
If you are going to get extremely disappointed with limited hours, food running out, and no table service, perhaps it's not for you. But if you are flexible, laid back, and appreciate good food at a great price, please do stop by.
Notice, I didn't even say "if you are vegetarian or vegan..." My meat-eating friends love this place, too!
Definitely some of the best mac n cheese I've ever had. So creamy and delicious, and not overly sweet from the soy. All of the food I've had (just dinner entrees and sides so far) has been substantial and flavorful. The staff is always helpful and polite, too.
If you are trekking out of your way and worried about them being out of some food options, just make sure you go early. -
Review from Daphne Y.
Silver Spring, MD
4/24/2011
After I ate a lot of fatty foods last time, I told myself, I need to eat vegetables again. So I decided to eat here in Soul Vegetarian's Exodus. I am happy that I ended up eating here because the place is just so perfect. The place is not that fancy but it's clean and well organized. The service was also good. They always make sure that the vegetables were fresh. After eating, I left the place with such a healthy feeling at the same time satisfied tummy. I will be coming back here!
-
Review from Lydia M.
Burke, VA
12/16/2008
Soul Vegetarian is now my all time favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant! The food was so good, that I engaged in some serious gluttony.
I dropped by SV today on a whim and made the best decision ever! When I walked in, all the brothers and sisters greeted me as if I were of blood relation.
The operator stepped behind the counter to assist me and immediately handed me a sample of the country fried chicken which was HELLA GOOD!!! I explained that it was my first visit, and he cheerfully gave me an overview of their hot bar and menu. Further, when the gentleman noticed that I was looking at the various drinks in the refrigerator, he was nice enough to point out which ones contained ginger and that ginger may be too strong for someone who is not used to it. I thought that was nice of him to explain.
I selected the vegetable platter, as all the vegetables looked yummy. (read: FRESH) I think if I were involved in a blind taste test with SV 's greens and my mother's, it would be really close! This is the kind of soul food that warms my spirit! By the way, the country fried chicken almost didn't make it to my house. I kept opening the container and eating more! I will DEFINITELY return! -
Review from LiJia G.
Washington, DC
10/23/2008
I live just a few blocks from this place, so my roommates and I decided to give it a try last night, especially because pretty much everyone I live with is vegetarian. Unfortunately, we got there pretty late--8PM--which meant that they didn't have many options. There was nothing made with tofu!
As a result, three of us got gyros (not really soul food...) which was delicious!!! The fake meat was a little salty when eaten alone, but tossed together with tomato, lettuce, and sauteed onions and wrapped in a pita, it was perfect! mmmm, I'm salivating just thinking about it. I also had a strawberry smoothie which was pretty standard.
My other roommate got the mac 'n cheese, and it was super rich--a little too rich, in my opinion. There was also an overpowering garlic flavor. It was ok, but I'm glad I had my gyro.
I plan on coming back a little earlier in the evening so I can try more of their menu (like that BBQ tofu...)
FYI: It's run by black israelites and they have a cool map near the front of the migration of the israelites from Israel to Africa. -
Review from Pete L.
Washington, DC
2/19/2009
Okay, this was a tough one. The food was delicious (5 stars) but the place was, well 2 stars.
Went with the GF and we had to get our food to go since there was no place to sit downstairs and the upstairs was closed "for repairs". The service was inefficient since they didn't even have a cash register (you hand your money to the woman who goes to the back to make change and brings it back to you. It takes a while when it's slow, I wonder how they handle it when they are busy.
As for the food, it's already prepared and wrapped in tin foil sitting behind the counter in high school lunchroom style. But althought the place is not very appealing, the food is delicious. One of the best vegan burritos ever!Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from Dominic H.
Seattle, WA
8/12/2009
Go here. It is the best. This place is the reason I decided to join yelp. I came to DC for work, and decided to give it a try first because in Seattle we don't have that many non-asian vegetarian places.
The food is the BEST. It is stuff that I could not recreate at home without cooking for 10 people. And even then, I would not be able to to make that vegan Mac&Cheese. The second time I came back I tried the steak and cheese with, of course, more mac&chesse. It was great. It wasn't just field roast or chewy seitan like the sandwiches that I assume would come from a vegetarian place.
Now, both times I got my food and left, so I didn't even go upstairs. I saw a few tables down stairs, and one outside, and it wasn't the finest dining in the world, but usually vegetarian places aren't. It was clean, and just fine.
AND the woman that was working both days was great. She was informative and super nice. -
Review from Stephanie J.
Washington, DC
8/16/2009
I'm not going to lie. I had my doubts. My parents are both from the Deep South and I've eaten soul food many a time at family events where meat is used as a seasoning.
However, this place was a pleasant surprise. I got the BBQ tofu with greens and mac and cheese. The BBQ sauce was nice and tangy and the greens were great as well (even without the aforementioned ham as a seasoning). Maybe I went on an off day, but I wasn't floored by the mac and cheese--it was good, but it seemed like perhaps they were overcompensating for the soy by adding a lot of salt and garlic.
The place itself isn't much to look at--this fits the definition of a hole-in-the-wall. The religious literature scattered around was a little odd (run by Black Hebrews), but luckily they weren't serving a helping of proselytism with the mac and cheese.
Will definitely be back and will check out the sister location in Chicago next time I'm there. -
Review from Punanamous P.
Baltimore, MD
6/20/2010
Yummmmmy! I had the yams, mac& cheese ( tons of garlic), lasagna, greens and cake. My friend had some dish (can't remember the name) that looked kinda, sorta like pepper steak & gravy. She hated it!
2 meals ( 1 meat + 2 veggies )
2 cakes
1 side = $38
Downstairs is HOT AS HELL! Upstairs is pretty cool. Nice owner...etc...etc.
Why haven't they invested money into the decor after all these years? rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr -
Review from Brandon M.
Columbus, OH
11/7/2008
Ahhh, Soul Veg. It was nearly ten years ago in Chicago that I first had a Soul Veg gyro at a catered event. I was so hungry that I wasn't quite sure what I was eating wasn't meat. Soul Veg had become a "must stop" every time I went to Chicago. Unfortunately, I haven't been to Chicago in about 5 years so there has been an enormous void in my stomach. I've tried to block it out and anyone that has had the food knows that is easier said than done.
I recently took a trip to Washington D.C. and lo and behold...they have a Soul Veg. The food, absolutely stellar. I had the gyro, my girlfriend had the bbq sub and her friend had the burger. We shared some mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. I would probably eat here at least once a week if there was one nearby. The only downside was they were out of some of the stuff we wanted to try. -
Review from Tom M.
Washington, DC
12/20/2008
Really delicious food. And it's nice that it's all vegan/no-gmo, etc., given a few rough experiences with restaurants that don't cater quite as well. Not too expensive at all - quite reasonable.
An although a lot of people have commented on the service being harsh and offish, the guy I dealt with was really nice and my food was ready within 10 minutes. -
Review from Eric P.
Allston-Brighton, MA
8/31/2008
I'd had some of Soul Veg's food back in Los Angeles, at a Farmer's Market booth this organization operated every weekend in Hollywood. There I enjoyed the field roast and mac and "cheese."
When recently in the D.C. area, I stopped in and tried local Soul Veg, ordering the barbecued seitan, kale, and beets, all with brown rice. It was all I could do to put my fork down when I was full. The price was very reasonable for how much they feed you, and the food itself is addictive.
The decor itself is nothing to write home about, but the guys behind the counter were both cool and nice. (hint, though: don't forget to check the paper towel supply in the bathrooms upstairs; I had to dry my hands on my pants)
Looking forward to going back! -
Review from Leah P.
Sterling, VA
4/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Soul Veg is amazing. Do not be alarmed when you walk in, it has a wee bit of a "hole in the wall" type atmosphere, but the food is awesome. There is space to sit upstairs if you choose to dine in. I've tried many different vegan versions of mac n cheese, including making our own versions, and Soul Veg definitely ranks up near the top. The taste is subtle- cheesy and unexpectedly fatty. Candied yams were on point, pepper steak was slathered in delicious sauce. Their homemade baked goods are good, not amazing, and the fruit smoothies are tasty. The employees are welcoming and will advise you if you ask for recommendations. If Soul Veg happens to be closed, head up the street to Everlasting Life Cafe- they serve the same dishes with a more modern dining space.
-
Review from Erin D.
3/21/2011
Soul is quite out of the way for me from both my apartment and work, but it is well worth the trip when it's nice out for the mac and cheese. The barbecued tofu and sweet potatoes are pretty good too, but the mac and cheese is the real highlight here. Don't let the location fool you - it looks a little dicey from the outside, and service, decor, and atmosphere are pretty bad, but the food makes it all worth it. Remember there is an upstairs dining area too, in case there is no seating available downstairs.
-
Review from Kedar D.
1/3/2009
Soul Veg.'s DC branch is not so impressive. For one thing, it's not clean; the floors and counter are dingy, and the kitchen didn't look much better. There's limited seating. The service was extremely slow and confused; I placed an order and then waited twenty minutes before it was ready, and this was in the middle of the afternoon, with few customers.
If you're going for the buffet items, it would be fast, but if you're ordering off the menu, be prepared to wait. That said, the food was quite good (particularly the tacos) and reasonably-priced, which is why I give the place two stars. But I still probably won't come back here, which is a shame, because I love Soul Veg's Chicago branch quite a bit---why can't their DC one be as good? -
Review from Chuck F.
Charlottesville, VA
3/3/2009
I didn't bother eating there - just took it to go, as I would recommend to most - it has a "diner" feel to it.
You can order off a menu to have something prepared, or out of the cafeteria-style serving area. We had the specials out of the front, and everything we had was delicious!
It's not exactly near our home, nor on the home from work, but we're definitely going to go out of our way to grab more Soul Food!
This place reminds me of when I was overseas - we always had our "Soul Food Wednesdays" and now after becoming Vegan, I can finally satisfy that craving ;)
