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Writer's pictureTrey B, NP

The 2023 KC Restaurant Week Plant-Based Guide

Updated: Jan 12, 2023

This year KC Restaurant Week is Friday January 13 - Sunday, January 22. Globally, we've seen a shift as more people embrace the health, environmental, and animal welfare benefits of Plant Based Nutrition. Our local Kansas City Restaurants are beginning to recognize an opportunity to create offerings that plant-based and flexitarian guests will love.

January is the most popular month for people to try vegan food. Many even try vegan for the whole month, known as Veganuary.


This year, out of 215 restaurants participating, 15 restaurants appear when you filter for vegan under the "Specialty Diets" dropdown, up one restaurant from last year. Read on to learn more about the options at each restaurant.

Of those 15 that appear, they do not all have a clearly indicated vegan option on their Restaurant Week Menu, so we spent hours diving into each menu and calling restaurants. See all the results — and our top picks — below.

Despite our best efforts, some questions about the vegan (V) or gluten-free (GF) status of the dishes still remain. You can help! If you have information about any of the dishes, if there are off-menu vegan or gluten-free options, or if a restaurant is willing to sub-out a vegan or GF menu item; please comment on the social posts, or this blog and we will update the list.


Thank you for your interest in plant based options in Kansas City, Subscribe to get Vitality's Dining Guides, Blogs and Newsletters hot off the press!


Trey's Top 6 Picks:

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Soup Surprise (V & GF option available)

  2. Smoked Tofu Bites (V & GF)

  3. Mushroom Burger (V, contains gluten)

  4. Crispy Tofu Sandwich (V, contains gluten)

  5. Sweet Treat (V option & GF option available, but not V & GF)

$50 Dinner Menu

  1. Soup Surprise (V & GF option available) or Blue Bird Salad (vegan upon request: hold cheese please)

  2. Oyster Mushroom Risotto (V & GF), Moroccan Stew ( V & GF), or Vegan Meatballs (contains gluten)

  3. Vegan Port Cake (V, contains gluten)

NOTES:

  • The menu items are clearly marked with V and GF options.

  • The offerings are not just vegan, they are wholesome and plant based (made from recognizable plant ingredients).

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Miso Soup (V upon request of vegan kombu broth) contains gluten

  2. Choice of vegan rolls

  3. Choice of second vegan roll

  4. Mochi Ice Cream (all are GF), V options: Chocolate Hazelnut, Lychee

$50 Dinner Menu

  1. Miso Soup (V upon request of vegan kombu broth) contains gluten (confirmed by phone)

  2. Brussels Sprouts (V), Charred Edamame (V), Seaweed Salad (V), Shishito Peppers (GF, Vegan upon request)

  3. Choose vegan Roll

  4. Choose Second vegan Roll

  5. Chocolate Torte (V), Ice Cream (V)

NOTES:

  • All menus on their website are clearly marked indicating vegan (V) or gluten-free (GF) options.

  • They even have a separate "Gluten Sensitive" menu online.

  • Quick tip: anything fried (with crunchy in the name, or tempura in the description) contains gluten at this restaurant.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Fountain drink

  2. Small salad or salad bar (Vegan Options)

  3. 10” 2 topping pizza (upcharges may apply for cauliflower crust & vegan meats & cheeses)

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. 2 beverages: draught beer, wine, or cocktails

  2. Appetizer to share (several vegan options)

  3. 14” Specialty Pizza (can sub any 12” GF crust, upcharges may apply for vegan meats & cheeses) Vegan Ratatouille, Vegan Veggie, Vegan Tex Mex, Vegan Cheeseburger.

  4. Chocolate Bomb Cake (V)

NOTES:

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Vegan Soup of the Day (V, GF)

  2. Countryside Warm Bowl (Vegan upon request: swap chicken for quinoa or mushrooms, GF)

  3. Chocolate Brownie (V, GF)

$20 Dinner Menu

  1. Vegan Soup of the Day (V, GF)

  2. Countryside Warm Bowl (Vegan upon request: swap chicken for quinoa or mushrooms, GF)

  3. Chocolate Brownie (V, GF)

NOTES:

  • Menus are clearly marked to indicate (V=vegan, VT=vegetarian, GF=gluten-free).

  • Rotating seasonal V & GF options.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. 2 Mini Pizzas (V, GF +$10)

  2. Cookies (V & GF)

  3. 2 fountain sodas or fresh brewed teas

$50 Dinner Menu (They offer a vegan menu and a gluten-free menu at this price.)

  1. Vegan Garlic Cheese Bread

  2. Salad for 2 (V & GF)

  3. Vegan 12” Medium pizza (GF & Vegan options available on $55 dinner menu)

  4. Gooey Butter Cake (V & GF)

$55 Dinner Menu (V & GF)

  1. Gluten-Free and Vegan Garlic Cheese Bread

  2. Salad for 2 Gluten - Free & Vegan

  3. Gluten-Free and Vegan 12” Medium pizza

  4. Vegan Garlic Cheese Bread

NOTES:

  • Menu is clearly marked indicating V & GF.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Napa-Kale Crunch Salad (V)

  2. Cashew Hummus (V, GF upon request: hold za’atar sesame naan)

  3. Butternut Squash Tacos (V upon request: hold cheese please)

$20 Dinner Menu

  1. Cashew Hummus (V, GF upon request: hold za’atar sesame naan)

  2. Napa-Kale Crunch Salad (V)

  3. Butternut Squash Tacos (V upon request: hold cheese please)

 

It's unclear if the remaining 9 restaurants have a full vegan menu offering for

KC Restaurant Week 2023.


$20 Brunch Menu

  1. Roasted Beets (Vegetarian (contains dairy)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Curry Soup (?) or Roasted Beets (Vegetarian - contains dairy)

  2. Eggplant Parmigiana (Vegetarian - contains dairy)

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. Curry Soup (?)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  3. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

 

Kobi Q Sushi:

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate by substituting: a vegan salad from the menu such as seaweed or cucumber

  2. Japanese Curry (vegetarian upon request)

  3. Sushi Roll options: Pickle roll, avocado roll, veggie, tempura yam, fried tofu

  4. Ramen Noodle with soy base & tofu (V)

NOTES:

  • Restaurant uses a leaf icon on their online menu, appears to indicate vegan options.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Wild Mushroom Tamale (Vegetarian (contains cheese), GF)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. Kale salad (Vegetarian, contains cheese)

  2. “Vegan option available”

  3. None Listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

NOTES:

  • Restaurant uses V for vegetarian options, not vegan options.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Onion Strings (Vegetarian) or Crispy Brussels Sprouts (Vegetarian, GF)

  2. Greek Wrap (Vegetarian, contains cheese, contains gluten)

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. Crispy Brussels Sprouts (Vegetarian, GF)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  3. None Listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  4. None Listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

NOTES:

  • Restaurant uses V for vegetarian options, not vegan options.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Kale Salad (Vegetarian, dressing contains cheese)

  2. Grilled Eggplant Ratatouille (marked "VG" on KCRW menu, online menu does not indicate vegetarian or gluten-free)

  3. None Listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

$20 Brunch Menu

  1. Brunch Menu

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  3. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

$55 Dinner Menu

  1. Kale Salad (Vegetarian, dressing contains cheese)

  2. Grilled Eggplant Ratatouille ("VG")

  3. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

NOTES:

  • Restaurant uses V for vegetarian options, not vegan options.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Soup of the Day (?)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

$50 Dinner Menu

  1. Soup of the Day (?)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  3. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

NOTES:

  • Menus are not clearly marked indicating vegan or gluten-free dishes

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Eggplant Frites (not likely vegan or GF)

  2. None Listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Couscous Salad (contains feta, unsure if removable garnish or mixed in)

  2. None Listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

 

Thai Orchid: (dinner menu may have V options?)

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  3. Noodles - Pad Thai (GF, vegan upon request), Pad See Ew (Vegan & GF upon request), Pad Khee Mao (Vegan & GF upon request)

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. Papaya salad (V, GF)

  2. Chu Chee Tofu (unsure if vegan, contains gluten)

  3. Mango Sticky rice (V, GF), Coconut Cake (not vegan or GF), Coconut ice cream with coconut wafers (not vegan or GF)

NOTES:

  • Staff is helpful and accommodating over the phone.

  • Thai Curries are all prepared with fish sauce.

 

$20 Lunch Menu

  1. Chef Soup of the Day (vegan offerings in the past), Dip Duo (vegan upon request: hold whipped goat cheese & honey), or The House Greens (vegan upon request: hold goat cheese)

  2. Quinoa Burger (V)

$40 Dinner Menu

  1. Chef Soup of the Day (vegan offerings in the past), The House Greens (vegan upon request: hold goat cheese), Chop Chop (vegan upon request: hold goat cheese)

  2. None listed, ask your server if they can accommodate

  3. Chef’s Dessert of the day (not likely vegan)

NOTES:

  • Staff was very helpful over the phone.

  • They have a chef that is vegan.

  • They're willing to sub out certain menu items and accommodate vegan diets during restaurant week, ask your server for details.

 

RESTAURANTS: If you see a "?" beside your dish, this is because we can't tell if it's a vegan or gluten-free option. Please comment on the Facebook post, or fill out the form linked below to clear this up for people, then we will update the blog to reflect the changes.

Whether you have one vegan option, or one for each course, we appreciate your offerings.

Please contact us if you would like us to highlight a healthy, vegan option from your menu or seasonal specials.


Vegan (V): free from animal products or byproducts.

Gluten-Free (GF): free from grains containing gluten and their byproducts.


Happy KC Restaurant Week 2023!



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