By: Rianna Turner Photos by: Rachel Benavides
House of Rock
Pizza places don’t necessarily come to mind when considering vegetarian-friendly options, but this classic share-friendly dish can easily be tailored to dietary restrictions. This is even easier at House of Rock, where their pizza crusts are always vegan. The classic Margherita pizza is always a great option, but their Earth Day pie is really why they belong 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, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Joint Venture
Joint Venture is, without a doubt, one of the most vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Corpus Christi. The menu is extensive, and for every meat-inclusive menu item, there’s a vegetarian one. The sandwich shop has recently been catering to vegans with a sweet tooth by carrying vegan goodies made by local bakers. The standout vegan option on Joint Venture’s menu, however, is not based on a product they make in-house, but a twist on an item that’s been loved by vegans across the country: the Beyond Burger. Joint Venture’s Beyond Burger is served on house-made gluten-free cornbread, with spicy barbecue sauce and pickled veggies. 6355 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
8te
This trendy eatery offers American-style cuisine with a twist, and pulls off a variety of options on a small menu. There are options here for nearly everyone — meat-eaters, pescatarians, vegetarians, and even those who are gluten and grain-free. Their BBQ Tofu burger is a great vegan option for those who have daring taste buds. This is no nasty veggie burger, just pan-fried tofu with pickled vegetables, arugula, and micro greens, covered in their house-made curry barbecue sauce. We recommend the beet fries for a side — or the avocado fries, if you’re willing to splurge. 1220 Airline Rd #250, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
Thai Spice
This list wouldn’t be a real list of the best vegetarian-friendly dishes if there wasn’t a best curry option. Thai Spice has been standing on Water Street for years. 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 their curries can be served with just veggies or tofu, and some curries are served inside of a coconut for extra flavor. My personal favorites are the panang curry and the green curry — but watch out for the green curry. It’s the spiciest on the menu! 523 N Water St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Hester’s Cafe
With three locations across the city and a wide variety of options on the menu, Hester’s Cafe makes finding a vegetarian meal that suits your fancy quite easy. Both their 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. Locations vary, hesterscafe.com
