San Antonio vegans have a new reason to celebrate. SoCal pop-up Southern Fried Vegan is making its first Alamo City appearance in three years, bringing its award-winning plant-based barbecue to Artisan Craft Bar at 402 Austin St. between 5-8 pm on Thursday, October 30.
Southern Fried Vegan has built a devoted following on the festival circuit, serving droves of hungry fans at Coachella, Vegandale, and Velocity. The appearance has earned the concept a national reputation with USA Today readers and VegNews, both naming the concept the No. 1 vegan barbecue spot in the country.
Artisan says guests can expect a full spread of plant-based favorites — fried chikun, smoked “meats,” mac ’n’ cheeze, beer cheeze-battered Beyond Burgers, jambalaya, po’ boys, Cajun corn, totchos, and more.
The menu is nut-free with gluten-free options, making it as inclusive as it is indulgent. To sweeten the deal, several local vendors will join in with baked goods, snacks, and other market finds.
Artisan Craft Bar’s event marks a growing trend of bars teaming up with plant-based food creators. According to wine industry publication, VinePair reports, watering holes across the U.S. are waking up to the reality that more than 10 million Americans now follow a primarily plant-based diet.
As with any traveling pop-up or food festival, guests should not expect a Michelin-starred experience. Despite the many accolades in the national press, there’s a whole thread on Reddit stating that buyers should beware of Southern Fried Vegan. But the worst that can happen is that you enjoy a few cocktails, then grab dinner at a locally owned spot like Green Vegetarian Cuisine, HASH Vegan Eats, or Vegan Avenue.