ABQ Vegan Chef Challenge: July 28–30

Y’all. I barely survived the onslaught of delicious restaurant food that I subjected myself to this month, but I think I did a damn impressive job at completing my self-imposed Vegan Chef Challenge in Albuquerque.

On top of that I met some cool people in town and got to know many more areas than I did before. It all comes down to supporting restaurants who support vegans with delicious and clearly marked vegan options!

Clown Dog Hot Dog Parlor

I had a take on the Vegan Chef Challenge Special of the week. That one was “Avocado Toast” with avocado, tomato, pepitas, and sweet green chile. Instead, mine had avocado, sweet green chile, pickled red onions, and popcorn.

The dog is a housemade veggie burger type situation, rather than a more realistic “meaty” kind. I like that, because I drunkenly ate a supposedly vegan hot dog at a place in New Orleans four years ago after day drinking all day with a roller derby buddy and it haunts me to this day wondering if it was actually vegan.

With that said, it would be awesome if they added Impossible or Beyond Sausages and Field Roast Frankfurters someday for those who prefer a more authentic experience.

Food Fight Vegan Popup

Tia Mom’s Cocina

CVZ

Fram’s Desserts

Churro Bar

Ordinarily Beautiful Cotton Candy

Project Pollo

I made it to 26 out of 30 places, plus 8 additional places with vegan options who were not even part of the challenge. You can follow me as PebblesEatsPlants on Instagram or Facebook.

Vegan Chef Challenge:

  • RubyReds Vegan ❌
  • Vegos ✅ (A-Beet-Q Burger)
  • Tia Mom’s Cocina ✅ (While Chocolate Macadamia Cookie)
  • VeganVato ✅ ✅ (Special Torta, Hella Good Tacos, Elote Tostadas, Taquitos)
  • Rush Of Prana ✅ (Acai Bowl)
  • El Veganito ✅ (Stopped By, Too Hot Out)
  • CZV ✅ (Two Tacos)
  • Annapurna’s ✅ (Mumbai Frankie and Thali Plate)
  • The Acre ✅ (Chilaquiles)
  • Mata G ✅ (Grab & Go Salad)
  • Trail Rider Pizza ✅ (Pizza)
  • Holmes Pizza & Arcade ✅ (Pizza)
  • M’tucci’s Bar Roma ❌
  • Leona Banh Mi ✅✅✅ (Crab Won Tons, Summer Rolls, Bai, Bahn Mi, Bubble Tea)
  • El Cotorro ✅ (4 different tacos)
  • ClownDog Hot Dog Parlor ✅ (Vegan Special)
  • Kickstand Cafe ✅ (Sad Tacos Because Cake Sold Out)
  • Hollow Spirits Distillery ✅ (Mushroom Bowl)
  • Burrito Baby ✅ (Bowl)
  • El Mariachi Authentic Mexican ✅ (Calabacitas Flautas)
  • Soo Bak Seoul Bowl ✅ (Vegan Veggie Bowl)
  • Hummus King & Lady Falafel ✅ (Hummus, Falafel, and Babaganouj plate)
  • Blue Door Patisserie ✅ (Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake)
  • El Káahal Nuestro ✅ (Chicken Taquitos)
  • DDs Babycakes ❌
  • ABQ Coffee ✅ (Iced Oat Latte and Panna Cotta)
  • Zia Bros Pizza ✅ (Cheezy Bread)
  • Tokyo Bankok ✅ (Orange Tofu, Fried, Rice, Sushi)
  • La Posada Dining Hall at UNM ❌

Bonus Places Not On the List

  • B2B Garden Brewing ✅ (Tacos with Chips and Guac)
  • Flying Star ✅ (Double Chocolate Cake)
  • Cafe Nom Nom ✅ (Shanghai Noodles)
  • Los Ranchos Bakery ✅ (Blondie and Matcha Ice Cream)
  • Churro Bar ✅ (Churro Trio)
  • Ordinarily Beautiful Cotton Candy ✅ (Pineapple flavor)
  • Fram’s Desserts ✅ (Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Cake Cup)
  • Project Pollo ✅ (Popcorn Chickn)

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I write short fun pieces that people actually have time to read. Topics Include: Algorand, Crypto, Travel, Fiction. I am a childfree, vegan, digital nomad.

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Jennifer Keene

I write short fun pieces that people actually have time to read. Topics Include: Algorand, Crypto, Travel, Fiction. I am a childfree, vegan, digital nomad.