Citizen Eatery is a Vegan Haven
Tucked away on the side of Eye Physicians of Austin off Burnet Road is Citizen Eatery, a health-conscious, meat-free cafe and bar. Although they don’t serve meat, there’s no shortage of flavor in their menu, with amazing meat substitutes like JUST Egg, Beyond Meat, and chik’n. Trust us, you won’t even be thinking about meat at Citizen Eatery.
One of the most exciting aspects of Citizen Eatery’s menu is their all-day breakfast. You’ll recognize a few classics, like their breakfast platter (named simply: Just Breakfast) and their flapjacks, but there’s a few Citizen Eatery specials, such as the Californian Toast. A spin on avocado toast, the Californian Toast is wheat toast topped with scrambled JUST Egg (or tofu!), avocado, asparagus, and arugula. When I say the asparagus is a game-changer… it’s a game-changer. Also, if you’ve never had JUST Egg before, go to Citizen Eatery just to try it. It’s amazing how close to actual egg the flavor and texture are, and Citizen Eatery has perfected it’s scramble.
Let’s move onto their lunch and dinner menu. Their appetizers have the classic trio, salsa, queso, and guacamole, as well as brussels sprouts and hen of the wood mushrooms. The brussels sprouts are to die for. Genuinely. They’re topped with delicious sweet onions and slivered almonds with a side of Sriracha aioli. So delicious. The hen of the wood mushrooms are nothing to scoff at either. If mushrooms are your thing, try them. If mushrooms aren’t your thing, still try them. Hen of the woods mushrooms are insane — they almost taste like chicken and have the most amazing texture. The house espresso BBQ sauce is smoky and sweet; the perfect combo.
A few highlights from their entree menu are the Vegan Paleo Bowl with brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes with tahini, the Assam Burger, which features an Indian-inspired chickpea patty, and the Flame Grilled Tofu Sandwich, with tofu, pesto, and grilled veggies. Everything is super flavorful and exciting since it’s not a menu you see every day! There’s an option for everyone to enjoy; vegans and meat-eaters alike. Oh, what’s that? You eat meat and you don’t think there’s anything on the menu that will satisfy you like a burger does? Wrong! The Beyond Belief Burger uses Beyond Meat, and honestly, the resemblance to an actual burger is uncanny. You carnivores won’t even know the difference.
I know y’all want to talk about drinks. Citizen Eatery has a full bar with its own specialty cocktails. Their margaritas are super creative — there’s a marg for every type of person! The Basil-Berry Margarita is sweet and refreshing, the Diablo Rita has a little kick from its habanero shrub, and there’s always the Classic Margarita for those who want something familiar.
All together, Citizen Eatery is a great lunch spot, a great dinner place, and a great nib and drink restaurant. It has pretty much everything. So, if you want to do something good for the environment and your happiness, check out Citizen Eatery! They have happy hour drinks and food specials Monday through Friday from 4 to 6, which is the perfect excuse to pop in! Here’s the best part: they have a free, huge parking lot. Great food, amazing drinks, AND free parking – what more could you ask for?!
