Vegan Hampton Roads

Ah, Chinese takeout. It’s greasy, salty and there’s enough for dinner and lunch the next day.

Kin’s Wok on West 21st Street in Norfolk is my favorite pick for a quick and filling dinner. Kin’s Wok isn’t a vegetarian restaurant by any means, but they serve some great tofu. My favorite is the orange flavored tofu ($8.25). The dish comes with white rice and a plastic container full to the brim with fried tofu glazed in a sauce of red chile and orange - there are even chunks of orange peel in the dish. And to make it slightly healthier, the orange tofu is served alongside some steamed broccoli. The sauce is very sweet with a hint of heat, but you can request it spicier, which I prefer.

If you visit Kin’s Wok, make sure you bring cash! You can dine in, takeout or have food delivered, but it’s all cash only.

There is a “vegetarian” section of the menu, but the name isn’t accurate. For example, one of the dishes is Tofu with Loster Sauce….not vegetarian. But there are other options in the vegetarian, health food, tofu and vegetable sections of the menu. It’s a huge menu, so look around.

Watch out for dishes containing egg - you may want to double check before ordering. The vegetarian combo dinners come with fried rice and an egg roll, neither of which are vegan.

You can add steamed or crispy tofu for an extra $1.00 to any of the vegetable dishes (avoid the String Bean w. Garlic Sauce - it contains minced pork).

If you’re around for lunch, check out the lunch specials. There are a few mixed vegetable dishes - all for less than $5.00. The lunch combos come with rice, but make sure you specify white rice.

As with any restaurant that serves meat, eggs and other non-vegan things, double check if you’re unsure of the ingredients. Just because something appears on the tofu menu, doesn’t mean it’s vegetarian or vegan.

Here’s a shot of a recent takeout order of orange flavored tofu:

The details:

Kin’s Wok
21st Street Pavilion Shopping Center
222 West 21st Street
Norfolk
Phone: (757) 623-2933 / 623-8025

Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am - 11 pm ;
Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11:30 pm

Dine in, take out or delivery (minimum $10)
Remember, cash only!