DaJen Eats is rich. It’s hearty. There’s gravy and rice and fried things and flavor. But there’s no meat. No animal products at all. Because this Eatonville favorite, the realm of charismatic and creative Jamaican-born chef Jenn Ross, is 100 percent vegan. And you’re gonna 100 percent love it. Yeah, they have salads — which you may want from time to time — but it’s going to be hard to pass up that incredibly “meaty” Hoax Tail (and not just because the name’s great). There’s also ice cream. Or, as it’s called here, Irie Cream. Plus desserts. Go, dahling.
Hungry Pants‘ plant-curious operation in SoDo goes both ways. So you’re covered whether you want black bean sweet potato wontons or a big ol’ (real) beef burger. The lines are softening a bit for the vegan goods at Winter Park Biscuit Company, though you still might find folks wrapped around East End Market waiting for breakfast or lunch biscuits and sammies as decadent as the real deal. I like ’em drizzled with vegan honey.
Critic’s Choice
Winner: DaJen Eats (323 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Eatonville, 407-543-8105; dajeneats.com)
Runners-up: Hungry Pants (Orlando) and Winter Park Biscuit Company (Orlando)
Readers’ Choice
Winner: Ethos Vegan Kitchen (01-B S New York Ave. in Winter Park, 407-228-3899; ethosvegankitchen.com)
Runners-up: Hungry Pants (Orlando) and Bombay Street Kitchen (Orlando)
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