Let's Eat! A Brief Guide for the Kansas City Vegetarian

There’s a new guy in town, A.G. Sulzberger, a reporter for the New York Times. And he’s dissed my town. OK, he hasn’t totally condemned the place, just pointed out how difficult it is to be a vegetarian in the stretch of land I live in. He’s right of course. The coasts are hospitable. Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, not so much. We are home to cattle sperm suppliers (yes, we are; I knew someone who made their livelihood at that), corn, feedlots and meat packers. Declining to eat barbecue borders on a capital offense. But the ranks of vegetarians here are growing, just like everywhere else. Or maybe we’re just “outing” ourselves more. That doesn’t mean you’ll have an easy time of it at a group-sponsored meal (or the company cafeteria). As A.G. noted, you are wise to eat first, bring your own stuff, or just prepare to be hungry. Working in health care makes things easier for me than for most. They are used to special diets. I suspect it’s harder for teachers and cops (but maybe fire fighters are more veg friendly with the advent of the Engine 2 diet).

With all the difficulty getting fed here, especially in high-end restaurants, things have still markedly improved over the last 5 years. The Times named some restaurants that are vegetarian-friendly, but the writer seems to stick pretty close to the Kansas City, Missouri core. So as a public service, I’m going to start a list of places where I’ve had some wonderful vegetarian food. None of these restaurants is exclusively vegetarian. All my family and friends are omnivores and I don’t want to insist that they eat where they can’t find something to enjoy. Some are vegan-friendly too. Yes, the majority are ethnic restaurants but that almost guarantees that they are locally owned, which is important to me.

I invite you to add to the list. These are in no particular order, by the way.

1. Ingredient: There are several of these located throughout the metro area and in Lawrence. They have a great veggie burger, pizza, and wonderful salads. They will make whatever you’d like using ingredients on the menu. Casual dining. They support local farms. Their motto: “formulate satisfaction.”
2. Blue Koi: Absolutely at the top of my favorite restaurant list. Their “tofu in black bean garlic sauce” is to-die for. Many an omni prefers this to some of their meat-based offerings. Great owners, always friendly. The one in Leawood offers brown rice for an up-charge. Sit at the bar; it’s terrific entertainment!
3. BRGR Kitchen & Bar: Tucked away in Corinth Shopping Center in Prairie Village, this burger joint has marvelous sweet potato fries, onion rings, and a darn good VRGR (veggie burger, made with lentils). Appeals to all ages. Try the homemade condiments. They’re yummy!
4. Spin! Neopolitan Pizza: Many options for both vegan and vegetarian diners, all offered with a whole wheat crust. If you like fancy beer, they have that too. The patio in summer is a treat, even if there isn’t much to look at but your companions. They are a local endeavor and support cycling, which is another plus.
5. Thai Place (Overland Park): In 2011 there were changes in ownership here but the food remained as delicious as ever. They have a large, separate vegetarian menu and always ask if you are vegan so they can modify the recipe to suit you. The wait staff is professional and the atmosphere is quiet and well-appointed.
6. Duo (Ethiopian): Located at 3415 Main St on the Missouri side, this hole-in-the-wall had the best Ethiopian greens I’ve eaten anywhere in the city. Service is slow but if you aren’t in a hurry, the food is good and the price is low. Chat up the owner, she’s a friendly, attentive woman. They are not well-located unfortunately so I hope they survive. Their vegetarian options are sumptious and provide plenty to eat for two.
7. Swagat Indian Restaurant: Thanks to a former beau, I discovered Swagat, which is located in Zona Rosa, of all places. If you want to take a day trip and explore points north, this is the place to plan lunch or dinner. Indian food is my hands-down favorite cuisine and for my tastes, this is the best Indian restaurant in Kansas City. I rarely make the schlep to go here, but I encourage you to give it a try if you live south and have the time to visit them. The lunch buffet is great. They have patio seating when weather permits.

Sadly, another favorite vegetarian resource, Paradise India, just closed its doors. In the era of Groupon, they couldn’t sustain their model of cooked to order, fresh, natural meals and satisfy the demand for a deeply discounted price. I loved that place; they will be missed.

If you want to explore more options for eating vegetarian in the metro area, check out VegKC's web site too.