A vegan's guide to eating around Arizona State University

[Guest guest]

I will never touch a pack of Ramen again… and neither should any college vegan

Phoenician out there. Repeat after me, Sundevils: " I love my body and my health

too much to touch those noodles. " I know everyone's wallets are hurting in these

times, but what you eat affects concentration (ie, cram sessions), mood, and of

course, weight. The freshman 15 happens due to poor dietary choices like Ramen

and excess alcohol. So, skip the 25-cent pack of junk and grab a meal at one of

these places around campus instead. Your body will thank you for it.

 

Jamba Juice: all of those sorority girls swarming the line of this place

downstairs at the MU have the right idea. Opt for a 100% fruit smoothie with a

vitamin boost, and you'll be ready to tackle your next ECN221 statistics

midterm. A power-sized version of this smoothie runs around $5.30, but suffices

as a great raw vegan meal full of nutrition (and lots of natural sugar).

 

Three Roots: this is the place vegans should go when they feel like Tempe is

becoming a little too… shiny and artificial (think Tempe Marketplace). Three

Roots is a no-frills, comfy-cozy café serving up some wonderful coffee and

decent vegan comfort food. Dishes like vegan mac-n-cheese, hummus plates and

warm tomato soup are all a few menu options. The ambiance is akin to a hippy

aunt's house: a little off-beat, but still a " home away from home " feel. If you

don't mind the slow service, head over to this place right across Gammage on

Mill Ave and 10th St.

 

Engrained: This localvore organic restaurant on the third floor of the MU has

some healthy-yet-hearty vegan options. Try the simple chard, avocado and tomato

salsa with basil flat bread for a unique twist on basic chips and salsa. While

not economical at $9.25 for this plate, the sauté of " roasted balsamic

Portobello, arugula, polenta with basil pesto, wild mushroom ragout and braised

red Russian kale " is a delicious dish. I'd take your parents here when they come

to visit you to 1) have them foot the bill (thanks Mom and Dad!) and 2) prove to

them you're not starving here in AZ as a result of your diet.

 

Blue Nile Café: located on University and Rural, this Ethiopian place is a vegan

mecca. You've never tasted veggies so exceptionally seasoned until you've

stopped in this café. For $8.50 you can try a sampler platter of 5 different

vegetables and leave stuffed with a to-go box for lunch the next day. If

vegetables aren't your thing, the non-leafy salads (ie, potato, lentil, tomato,

fruit) are all good choices for around $4.00, as is the vegan falafel plate at

$8.50. The staff is also exceptionally kind to students who linger for hours

over their food while studying their finance homework. On Sundays and Mondays,

you can catch Chef Ron in the kitchen making the best raw meals AZ has to offer.

 

Chipotle: two words says it all regarding this chain right on Mill and 11th

St—enormous burrito. To avoid going comatose in the library over this carb-heavy

meal, either skip the 330-calorie tortilla or cut the burro in half and save it

for the next day. For just over $5, the meal is a great value health-wise given

the cost.

 

Devils Market: the MU's convenience store houses numerous vegan options. The

vegetarian sushi with avocado, carrots and cucumber is the cheapest in the Tempe

area at around $5 for 12 pieces. Odwalla bars are around $2.00, Naked Juice is

around $4.00 a bottle (but so good!), and trail mix are all good bets. The fresh

fruit is a little too outrageously expensive (ie, $4.00 for a small pint of

blueberries), but I'm certainly grateful for the Devils Market when I'm trekking

my stuff around campus looking for a quick bite.

 

Delhi Palace Cuisine of India: located in the same complex as Blue Nile Café

(University and Rural), anyone longing for some great Indian food should head

here. The buffet is reasonably priced at $6.95 and buy-one/get-one free offers

can be found online if you have one of those Entertainment coupon books. The

servers are incredibly attentive and the food is delicious. I've left here with

a full stomach and a full wallet on a few occasions: the baigan bartha (eggplant

curry) is a great starter dish if you're new to Indian food. Add a side of naan

bread, some vegetable samosas, and it's a fine meal.

 

Green: this all-vegan restaurant requires a car (or knowledge of the bus

system), but it's worth the short 5 minute drive for some vegan food. This place

is wonderful to bring some meat-eating friends since Green is great at turning

meat dishes into vegan ones using mock meats and fake cheese. Admittedly, raw

foodists are left in the cold since Green offers next-to-no raw options (other

than a paltry salad). But for those missing their BBQ chicken days not seen

since junior high, order a " secret BBQ chicken sandwich " and reminisce. The

$4.50 tsoynamis (soy ice cream) are delightful and creamy, especially as the

summer months come with brazen heat.

 

La Bocca: one of the newest additions to the Mill avenue strip, this trendy

urban pizzeria is the place to go when you want to blend in your diet with

normal cuisine. If you don't feel like telling a date quite yet that you're

vegan (since you want to avoid snap judgments or giving a 10-minute speech as to

why), take `em here for a first date. Build-your-own pizzas with a wide variety

of veggie toppings are a great choice, as is the tri-hummus appetizer (mmm,

basil hummus…). The setting is intimate, candle-lit but energetic and stylish: I

hope La Bocca stays on the Tempe dining scene for years to come.

 

Thai Basil: whoever thought of tofu and veggies simmered in coconut milk

deserves a century-award gold star. The vegan options at this well-known Thai

restaurant (just a bike-ride away from campus) are numerous, from green to

yellow to red curries to sautéed vegetable dishes. With 5 curries and 7 stir-fry

options, a vegan's definitely got some choices. Thai Basil makes a mean peanut

sauce, too. Not too many tables can fit into this small establishment so it's

best to go during off-hours to get some quick service.

 

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