9 Vegan- and Vegetarian-Friendly Options in Corpus Christi - The Bend Magazine

9 Vegan- and Vegetarian-Friendly Options in Corpus Christi

These local spots offer vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options packed with flavor.

Bkk thai kitchen + bar offers a wide selection of vegan-friendly curry dishes.

BKK thai kitchen + bar | Photo by Rachel Benavides

There’s no need to fear finding a place where all of your friends and family can eat! If you’re looking for vegan- and vegetarian-friendly options in Corpus Christi, these 10 restaurants have a little something for everyone. From vegan pasta and curry to vegetarian power bowls and pizza, each item below packs in the flavor.

Thai Cottage

Menu Spotlight: The Vegetable Lovers Menu

This popular Thai eatery has a menu section called “Vegetable Lovers” which contains a nice selection of vegetable-oriented dishes. One standout is the Green Dish, a combination of vegetables such as bean sprouts and mushrooms, served with fried tofu and rice. The Eggplant Tofu dish is another great option and includes stir-fried eggplants and fried tofu with broccoli, bell peppers and fresh basil in a spicy basil sauce and served with steamed rice. 5830 McArdle Rd.

A power bowl on a table at Zambra Fusion Cafe.
Zambra Fusion Cafe | Photo by Rachel Benavides

Zambra Fusion Cafe

Menu spotlight: Power Bowl Options

There’s a dish for everyone at Zambra Fusion. Rose Vela, chef and seasoned restaurateur, offers a wide range of menu options, from Mediterranean pitas to one of her beloved power bowls. The Vegan Brazilian Bowl celebrates the flavors of Brazil with crisp, tender zucchini, lightly stewed tomatoes, sautéed corn, potatoes and red onion. Each power bowl is accompanied by a bed of organic spring mix tossed in the house vinaigrette, making for a healthful, satisfying portion. 5625 Saratoga Blvd.

Ginger Cafe

Menu Spotlight: The Fattoush Salad and Vegan Pasta Options

When dining at Ginger Cafe, you’ll find several vegan options packed with flavor. Get things started with the hummus and tabouli appetizer, which includes cracked wheat tossed in olive oil with lemon juice, herbs, chopped parsley, tomato and a side of hummus. The Fattoush Salad, which combines mixed greens, cucumber, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, paprika and pita chips, makes for an excellent second course. Then, finish things off with one of its vegan pasta options, Spiedini D’Angelo or Spaghetti Marinara with Roasted Garlic. 7009 S Staples St.

Smoothie bowl on a table at Hesters Cafe in Corpus Christi.
Hester’s Cafe | Photo by Jason Page

Hester’s Cafe

Menu Spotlight: Sonny Rollins Breakfast and Nourish Bowls

With two locations and a wide variety of options on the menu, Hester’s Cafe makes finding a vegetarian meal that suits your fancy quite easy. Both its breakfast and lunch menus have veggie-friendly options, whether you’re looking for an omelette or a salad. We recommend the “Sonny” Rollins for breakfast — egg whites, a bowl of organic oatmeal and vegetarian sausage patties — and any of the Nourish Bowls for lunch. 3812 S Alameda St. and 1714 S Alameda St.

Hu-Dat Noodle House

Menu Spotlight: Delightful Noodles and Anything off the Vegetarian Menu

This local mainstay has a vegetarian-friendly menu for hungry diners to choose from. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but we recommend trying the Delightful Noodles which combines bean thread noodles sautéed with onions, mushrooms, spinach, bok choy, carrots and eggs tossed in a house sauce. The Stir-fry Bok Choy & Veggies is another excellent choice and includes broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, cabbage and onions sautéed with fresh bok choy and served with steamed, fried or brown rice. 6418 S. Staples St.

Curry and white rice plated on a table at BKK thai kitchen in Corpus Christi.
BKK thai kitchen + bar | Photo by Rachel Benavides

BKK thai kitchen + bar

Menu Spotlight: Jay Pad Thai and Curry-Made-Vegan

BKK thai kitchen + bar’s menu features a great variety of vegan and vegetarian options. Almost all of the stir-fry, fried rice and noodle sections of the menu can be made vegan upon request. The Jay Pad Thai dish, made with rice noodles, organic tofu, bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots, garlic, green onions and roasted peanuts, tops our list. But, you can never go wrong with any of the curry dishes — almost all of which can be made vegan-friendly. 6702 S Staples St. Unit C and 3850 S Alameda St. # 27

Thai Spice

Menu Spotlight: Curry Selection

Thai Spice has been a landmark restaurant on Water Street for decades. The mellow atmosphere and friendly service have made it a favorite stop for locals for years, even for those with the strictest dietary restrictions. All of the curries can be served with just veggies or tofu, and some curries are even served inside a coconut or pineapple for extra flavor. Our personal favorites are the panang curry and the green curry. 523 N Water St.

A hand pulls out a slice of House of Rock's Earth Day Pie.
House of Rock | Photo by Deux Boheme

House of Rock

Menu Spotlight: Earth Day Pie

Pizza places don’t necessarily come to mind when considering vegetarian-friendly options, but this classic dish can easily be tailored to dietary restrictions. This is even easier at House of Rock, where its pizza crusts are always vegan. The classic Margherita pizza is a great option, but the Earth Day pie is really why it belongs on this list. It’s a pesto pizza with fresh goat cheese, artichokes, mushrooms and spinach — a refreshing break from the typical vegetarian option of plain cheese pizza. 511 Starr St. 

Ramen Legend

Menu Spotlight: Vegetable Ramen

Packed with flavor and perfect for cold weather, Ramen Legend’s Vegetable Ramen will have you slurping the bowl dry. Broccoli, shiitake mushrooms, cauliflower, mixed greens, purple cabbage, avocado, lime and yuzu paste mix and mingle in a delicious shio broth. 4938 S Staples St. Ste C16

Looking to whip up your own vegan-friendly dish at home? Check out these dishes from our resident recipe developer Kayla Butts.