We all know the savory taste of a well-grilled steak, but sometimes we just don’t want to eat a dead animal. For those who choose to eat from the bottom half of the food pyramid, there are several places nearby that offer vegan/vegetarian friendly menus.

Kesari:

Completely vegetarian and immersed in Indian culture, Kesari foods is one of my personal favorites.

Despite the absence of the famed chicken tikka masala, possibly the most well-known curry around, Kesari’s soft rotis (a type of flatbread, similar to the tortilla) and homemade curries were rich enough to stand up to even my own mother’s cooking. Of course, the signature dish of the restaurant, the kesari (a dessert made from durum wheat and butter), lived up to its well-reputed name. Though the dining space was small, the wide selection of authentic food from both halves of the subcontinent, the classical Indian music that gently poured out from the discreetly placed speakers and the temperate prices made up for it.

Kesari foods provided a calm ambience that is perfect for a relaxing dinner on a Friday night after a long hard week of work.

4/5 stars

Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; 5:30 pm to 9 pm

Friday and Saturday: ll:30 am to 2:30 pm; 6 pm to 9:30 pm

Monday: closed

Price range: $3 to $7

3100 Independence Pkwy

Plano, TX 75075

Snappy Salads:

Usually the most irritating thing anyone could say to a non-meat eater is “What can you eat other than salads?” However, Snappy Salads stands as an exception to this stereotype.

With its many options of salad toppings and lively pop music, Snappy Salads is an ideal place to hang out with friends. In addition to appealing to vegans, this restaurant also beckons health nuts, who are thrilled by the variety of nutritious and innovative options to choose from like their orange flavored butter, which actually tastes a lot better than it sounds. However the serving size of the “healthy” food is another story. If the circumference of their “small” bowl is larger than my head, how big is their “large” size? So in that sense, their “healthy” aspect is kind of redundant when compared to their serving size. One major drawback to this place is skyrocketing prices. Why would I pay $7 for an oversized bowl of lettuce when I can get a foot-long sub, chips and a drink for five?

Snappy Salads, with its animated ambience and diversified food choices, lives up to its slightly sexist motto, “So good, even guys like our salads,” as long as those “guys” live in a house made of dollar bills.

3/5 stars

Monday to Saturday: 11 am to 9 pm

Sunday: 11 am to 3 pm

Price range: $11 to $30

5930 W. Park Blvd.

Plano, TX 75093

Lyfe Kitchen:

Despite the unexplained misspelling of “life” in the name, Lyfe Kitchen proved to be a good place to spend one night of my life.

The main thing I noticed about this restaurant was its ambience. There were ample seating options (though not many were occupied) and it was serene, making it the perfect place to eat dinner and work, or have a quiet date; not to mention its friendly staff that not only was patient and polite, but was also very prompt in serving my food and cleaning it up. The food served there only added to its merit. In its Scallopini sandwich, the substitute chicken wasn’t like the normal trash I would find in a frozen Lean Cuisine; it was actually flavorful and seasoned well. Also the chocolate Budino offered a change for my taste buds as it blended bitter, sweet and sour flavors to smooth and crunchy textures. And most important for any vegan/vegetarian on a budget, their prices were very inexpensive.

Overall, Lyfe Kitchen is a healthy and affordable dining experience that brought class to the simple act of serving food.

5/5 stars

Monday to Sunday: 8 am to 9 pm

Price range: $7 to $30

1900 Preston Rd

Plano, TX 75093