Vegan Hampton Roads

Sushi is something usually reserved for the meat-eaters among us, not vegetarians and vegans. But Kotobuki in the Ghent section of Norfolk has changed that with its extensive, and sometimes startling (vegetarian shrimp, anyone?), vegetarian menu. The owners even launched a monthly vegetarian lunch special, but you’ll need to ask for that when the server brings you a menu.

I’m usually a fan of the vegetable maki (hand rolls). I always get fried sweet potato and avocado rolls, and I always preface it with a bowl of miso soup. Their miso soup is one of my favorites and the owners assured me its fish flake free.

But when I want something to stick to my ribs, I go for the Vegetarian Sesame Chicken. The chicken pieces have a truly meaty texture and are fried and drenched in a sweet sesame sauce atop a bed of lettuce. In the bento tray, you also receive a salad with a terribly addictive dressing, a tiny fried spring roll and potato cake, and of course rice. And like most meals at the restaurant, it comes with a miso soup appetizer. Also not featured on the menu is brown rice, but they usually have it on hand for the vegetarian specials, so ask for it if you like.

The veg sesame chicken is a favorite among friends, but I’ve also tried the veg chicken teryaki and the veg chicken and broccoli. The teryaki has a great sauce, but the “meat” is a turn off - half moon shaped and cooked to a crisp, it’s pretty hard to tear your teeth through. The chicken and broccoli was the least enjoyable with an off-tasting gravy.

There are still a number of the restaurant’s faux meat dishes I’ve yet to try, such as the tofu steak or the eggplant “ham” platter, which won an award from PETA in 2006 for the best vegetarian meal in Hampton Roads

You may like these dishes, but if you’re going for the first time and want something spot-on, go for the veg sesame chicken.

And don’t forget the wealth of vegetable maki available, from vegetarian shrimp tempura rolls to spinach, fried tofu and asparagus rolls. Kotobuki also offers a number of veggie-friendly appetizers.

The details:

Kotobuki Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
721 W. 21st Street
Norfolk
Phone: (757) 628-1025

Hours:
Lunch: Mon - Fri, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; Sat - Sun, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Dinner: Mon - Thur, 5 - 10 p.m.; Fri - Sat, 5 - 11 p.m.; Sun, 4:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Dine in or take out.
Accepts cash and major credit cards

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!