Vegan Commissary

Came here on their last day at current location. We were sat immediately (at the same time as another couple), ordered our food, and waited. 20 minutes later we saw food go out to the table that had sat/​ordered at the same time. Our waitress came up to us to ask what we got again. 20 minutes later she brought out our food. .. and gave it to a table that sat 30 minutes after us. The man happened to order the same thing as me, but the woman said that she didn’t order what she was given. The waitress took the item to the back and I think at that point realized her mistake. She hid in the back and peeked out a few times, until I went back to the kitchen and said that because we had waited nearly an hour and I don’t want my item to sit in the kitchen getting cold while my wife’s food was cooked we were just going to leave.
While it was our first time and their last day before moving locations, I’m not sure we’ll go back because of that, even if their food is rated well.

Went for brunch and their food is amazing. I got the cheesesteak and it was great. The side salad was awesome too. My friend (who is a meat eater) got the biscuits and gravy which was amazing as well. I can’t wait till dinner starts there. I will definitely be back.

I love Philly for their music scene and vegan food, and every time we come for a show, we always make a plan to end our trip with some yummy vegan food. The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars is because of the wait. Since it is so small, we had to stand outside in the freezing cold as we waited to be seated for about an hour. Other than that, the food was awesome! I wish I tried more of their items, such as their Tempeh Hash and Fried Mac N Cheese Bites (they looked amazing), but everything I did try was very flavorful. The Poached Avo­cado with Tem­peh Hash was amazing, along with their Cheeses­teak. If it wasn’t for the wait, I would give this place 5 stars. I will be back!

Not sure where to start describing this gem– simply perfect! Recommend it 100%. I can say with certainty I finally found a safe place to eat in Philly gluten free and Vegan… No cross contamination did not get sick… I had the poached avocado with the most awesome vegan hollandaise sauce and my friend had the French toast… Super delicious… The service was great. Our waitress was personable and fast…
We will go there any time.

I have been wanting to brunch here for a while now, and finally got the opportunity when some vegan friends were in town. We showed up on a rainy and terrible Sunday morning at 11am (prime brunching time). I was pleased that there wasn’t a wait as long as we were willing to sit at the counter looking outside (which we were). The place is definitely smaller than I anticipated on the outside and though the décor is a bit lacking, it’s definitely cozy. There were two things that kept this meal from being 5-​stars, and the first one was the coffee. You had a choice of brews and my whole crew went with the Reanimator dark roast, which I have had many times before. For some reason though, it was terrible here. The coffee cups are about 5 ounces (literally, they are laughably small) and the coffee was just plain bad. I am not sure if it was old or brewed wrong, or what. The coconut creamer didn’t even help. Next, they were out of the drool-​worthy cinnamon rolls (which was a bummer, but I am not docking them on that).
All of the food was presented well and tasted amazing. My boyfriend and I split the cinnamon toast, which comes on HUGE pieces of fluffy texas toast with tons of Earth Balance and sugar. Then, we got the poached avocado hash and the breakfast wrap. The potatoes that came with the wrap were super good, and the hollandaise on the hash was the best vegan variety I have ever tasted. Everything was very filling and satisfying. My friends also got the hash and the breakfast sandwich, as well as a pancake. After tasting it all, I would definitely order the breakfast sandwich if I go again, and be warned that the pancakes are massive (and fluffy!). Service was great– there are no complaints here. It’s pretty cool that the tax and tip is all wrapped up into the process from the start too! However, the last boo came when we got the bill. Though they are no longer cash-​only, they charge you an extra $ 1 for every credit card that you use when paying your check, as a «service fee». I would rather have a cash only joint than some made-​up fee tacked onto my bill (which is also not stated on the menu) and it left a definite bad taste in my mouth. I know its just a buck, but it’s still a jerk move.

I am from New York. I was seeking good vegan food while in Philly. I ate some great pizza at Blackbeards and even had Thai. I was happy to find this place with my favorite breakfast indulgence… pancakes. I went with someone. We both ordered pancakes. The waitress warned us that one order could feed two people. I laughed, and told her, «Oh I can eat the whole thing». She looked at me and said you will see.
Damn things were so light, fluffy and moist that I wanted more. I also ordered mushroom scrapple which taste reminded me up of thanksgiving stuffing. Topped off with coconut lime green tea (unsweetened)
Wait, did I read this is now closed? What happened? It was a great find!!!

The Vegan Commissary is all sorts so intriguing. Tax and tip included in your overhead meal pricing? Crazy amazing vegan menu and specials? Sign me up.
I’ve been vegan for five years and this was the first time I had stumbled upon Veggs. If «vegan» weren’t in the restaurant’s name, I would have sworn my faux yolks were real. I went here for brunch with my friend and we were both blown away by the mushroom stock seitan stew. Our other stuff? Satisfying and feel-​good food.
If teleportation was a thing, I’d say Boston’s Veggie Galaxy still has this place beat for price, service, selection and atmosphere but if I’m in Philly? Oh hell yeah.

Yummy! Came here on Sunday morning for brunch, arriving around 10:30, and it was not completely full, as I understand it often is. I didn’t mind though, as there were plenty of tables to choose from, and the place filled up as our meal continued.
We were seated immediately and helped by two friendly ladies working, who were happy to talk about the menu and give suggestions. I must admit that I wanted to eat EVERYTHING, but there were only two of us, and our appetites were only so big, which means no cinnamon rolls (though they seem to be favorite).
The fellow got the breakfast wrap and I got the avocado hash… my meal was amazing. The hollandaise sauce was good (a bit sweet, but it went well with the hash), the avocado was good, and the combination of the smoked tempeh, sweet potatoes, and regular potatoes was divine. I asked our server and she said they smoke the tempeh themselves, and the result is a really rich, flavorful, complex taste.
As for the breakfast wrap, it was good and filling, though maybe a bit heavy on the scrambled tofu. We both agreed that some of the tempeh inside would make it even better, but on its own, it was still good.
For dessert, we split a pumpkin spice snicker doodle ice cream sandwich, and by «split» I mean I ate most of it.
What was also cool was the pricing here… a look at the menu might result in some strange looks, with bizarre number amounts. But Vegan Commissary includes tax and tip in the prices already, which means no sitting around and puzzling over the cost of things. And considering the quality of the food and service, though the prices might initially strike some as a bit high, considering those things are built in to the cost, the food is actually rather affordable.
Sadly we were only in Philly for a few days, but I hope this place continues to do well, because I want to come back.

Service & food both fantastic. I will never forget the beet-​tarragon lemonade the owner brought out for my group to sample while we waited for food. Not just the fact that free samples rule, but also that it was one of the best drinks I have ever had in my life.
Menu is always creative & intriguing, changing often to celebrate seasonal produce. Another place that proves how much more exciting vegan food can be than basic «American» fare.

this place is delicious! I loved it!
Service was great. Food was great. Portions were perfect. Everything the server recommended was amazing.
This is definitely a must go to spot for brunch in Philadelphia!

I LOVED this place! My server (I didn’t get her name but she was a tall brunette with awesomely gauged ears) was very friendly, helpful, and answered all of our questions-​which were numerous.
The Fried mac and peas were amazing, and so was the French toast special with the ‘nutella’ sequel chocolate sauce and «bacon» ahh so good! Thanks for existing!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it when i don’t have to search the entire menu for vegetarian options! We came as they opened on a Saturday morning and were the first diners. People quickly trickled in within a half hour. It was quite obvious they have a faithful following. I knew they were cash only so i came prepared, or so i though. My two complaints (hence i deducted a star) about this place is they couldn’t break a $ 100 bill and my coffee wasn’t refilled even though our waitress stated she would be right back to top me off. I had to walk down the bodega for the atm, pay the atm fee and my non-​bank fee. I would think a cash only place would be prepared to handle this kind of a situation even if they were just opening for the day.
Anyway the coffee was great. I had the japanese pancake called okonomoy­aki. It was made of taro root flower with veggies and oko sauce accompanied with pickled veggies. This was more of a lunch entrée rather than breakfast. Nevertheless, the oko was delicious. I loved the sauce. They also give your crushed cashews mixed with something i can’t recall to add a nice crunch to your bite. The guy ordered the veggs damian which consisted of tofu with vegg yolk, broccolini, scrapple, potatoes, toast, and dipping sauce. Even as a carnivore he enjoyed his meal. I had a few bites and loved it. The vegg yolk with the toast tasted quite close to the real thing. I’d definitely recommend this place especially for the carnivores out there to try. I can’t wait to come back for another taste. I guess i’ll come prepared with smaller bills!

Went here for a unofficial Unilocal Event which was a lot of fun.
This is obviously some of the best Vegan food in Philly.
Brunch was yummy and I need to add that they have a great variety of cool drinks you can try.
The service was outstanding, and the restaurant had a homey feel to it. It was also very clean.
I order the poached avocado, tempeh hash, with hollandaise, and also a side of mushroom grits.
The Tempeh hash was to die for, and the hollandaise was the best I ever had in my entire life.
The grits texture was quite off which left it unappetizing.
Finally, they have some funky pricing… this may work out in your favor. Taxes and tips are included in menu prices… kinda cool added bonus.
I’m really excited to go back and try the mini cinamon buns, as well as other options on the menu. Give it a shot.

Brunch update!
I finally got to try out Vegan Commissary for brunch, after hearing that it was a must-​eat vegan meal. I organized a group of around 10 of us to hit up VC on a Saturday last weekend at 11. As soon as we all arrived, the servers put a few tables together and we sat down. The service, overall was very good, over the course of the meal: attentive and fast.
My husband and I split the mini cinnamon roles which were sweet, soft and wonderful. Next, we split two dishes: the veggs Damien and the poached avocado. The veggs Damien was by far my favorite dish! I have been missing soft boiled eggs, and this dish captured them completely. The mushroom grits on the side were very bad. But the toast, «eggs», broccolini and home fries made up for that in spades. I was full after half of this dish!
I have two complaints and they are kind deal breakers. One, the coffee is very pricey, they charge if you want refills, the one cup I had was the size of an espresso cup, and the coffee itself was weaker than Wawa coffee. I did enjoy the coconut creamer, but otherwise, it was a total waste of money!
And two, we got some serious attitude the morning of our event. I had received a message from VC asking that we «call ahead» to let them know exactly how many were coming. So, my husband called that morning a couple of hours before we got there, and was told that calling wasn’t necessary and that they could not hold a table for us. Basically, he was given serious attitude for FOLLOWING VEGAN COMMISSARY’S DIRECTIONS and calling them. I don’t think I’ll be back after that attitude, honestly. But we had a UYE planned so we had to go that day.

Absolutely delicious vegan food. Catch their vegan brunch! Truly unique dishes that taste great. One of the best vegan brunch places I’ve been too
They have Vegan Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake with cabbage, tofu, onions etc) which is hard to find vegan. It was full of flavor and the texture was great. Fluffy on top with a thin crispy layer on the bottom. Drizzled with sriracha vegenaise sauce!
I also tried their Poached Avocado with Tempeh Hash smothered with Vegan hollandaise sauce. the tempeh hash is genius and went perfectly with the creamy hollandaise sauce.
For a sweet kick I had mini cinnabuns with icing. Really sweet but a nice ending to a delicious brunch. I love that they are mini sized because to be honest, giant cinnamon rolls are pretty intimidating to tackle ! :p
Nice casual atmosphere with great service. Prices are $ 10-​$ 15 for an entrée which includes tax and tip. Prices listed already include tax and tip which explains the «odd» prices listed.
All in all, a great experience. If you’re vegan or not, check it out! I’ll be back for brunch next time I’m in philly! Also I heard their menu changes often so it won’t get old: D

I FINALLY made it to Vegan Commissary this weekend for brunch, & I’m so glad I did. Tina was our server, she was awesome. I had the biscuits & gravy. They started out amazing, but by the time I got to the second biscuit, they were less amazing. Maybe because I was getting full. I LOVED the potatoes that came with the biscuits & gravy… I want to eat them all day.
My friend & I also shared the tempeh hash (tasty, but could have been more flavorful & also we didn’t really need to order that too) & the mini cinnabuns. THE MINI CINNABUNS! They were my favorite part. I’d go back just for them. Amazing!
I definitely recommend, it’s a little far away from my Center City stomping grounds, but worth the subway ride (hahaha, it’s 2 stops!).

I love the vegan commissary, despite me not coming here in their first months of opening because I didn’t realize it was a restaurant (commissary to me means a grocery on base).
The food is fantastic, and the desserts … my husband loves the peanut butter cup. It’s BYOB, and they have a nice beverage list of tea and kombucha available.
I like that the menu changes constantly, and love that the prices include tax and service. I get panic attacks trying to split the bill sometimes (why doesn’t Philly believe in separate checks? WHY), so it’s a well-​appreciated relief for me.
Faves: I usually lean towards getting whatever sandwich is available, as it usually comes with a side of one of their awesome salads. The pasta with nut-​based cheese is awesome when they’ve got it, and peanut butter cup … that’s where it’s at.

A lot of this is going to sound mean. Just know it is said with good intentions, and that VC is not a bad place at all. Let’s just offer some context here.
Had this been the first vegan place I’d ever been to I would likely have given this 4, maybe 5 stars because the food IS decent. But it isn’t my first experience. I’ve been to Vedge, HipCityVeg, Blackbird, and even had a ridiculously good Korean seitan taco from the soon to open V Street by the Vedge crew at Rittenhouse Row last weekend. What they taught me is how ridiculously good vegan food could be, so much so I crave certain dishes from these places regardless of it’s effect on the living creatures of the world (well except plants, because f*ck their feelings). But that’s the standard in Philly these days, and Vegan Commissary just does not reach that level.
To me, this was what I thought vegan food would taste like before I’d been to the places mentioned above. Fine enough, slightly higher priced, vaguely recognizable flavors with textures a bit off (graininess of the cheesecake comes to mind) served up by a friendly if not pale-​ish host leaving me feeling like I did OK by my body for the night. Thankfully I know something much better exists now.

One trip so far but great results based on what I experienced. My wife and I ordered multiple courses to get a feel for it.
I started with the spicy miso soup. It might have been my favorite thing. It is so good. A little thick, spicy and full of great vegetables.
We then had the butternut squash gnudi. They nail the texture and taste on this one. The tofu «cheese» is just right.
The «pickles» is actually a small dish of pickled vegetables that have been shredded. They are very healthy. You can get that for $ 5 and feel good about yourself.
We split the polenta with roasted vegetables for our entrée. I would suggest splitting it like we did. It is deep fried and heavy. Delicious for sure but I would not want to eat the whole thing.
We had the crème brûlée for dessert. It was good but not over-​the-​top awesome. The layer below the sugar was a little bland and could have used some more vanilla. I have a feeling they rock dessert judging by the pictures they put on social media so I am excited to try other offerings in the future.
The first visit has me wanting more. I am hoping the snow let’s up so I can drive down there with ease. I will update this review as I get to know it better.

Such a unique and special place — cash only and tax and tip is built into the menu price. How refreshing! Wondering if it’s because like every vegan I know is a penny pinching cheapskate (did I say that out loud?)
Either way — I’ve been a huge fan of chef Steve’s offerings at places like sook hee’s for a while and I had been looking forward to going ever since it opened. This place met all my expectations.
Bright and comfortable atmosphere, extremely friendly staff, and delicious offerings make it truly 5 stars.
First up were the cinnamon rolls which were a special of the day. Flakey and sweet and served with butter — these were such a treat! I got a reanimater coffee which was served as one cup or bottomless. Then I had a kale salad which was crisp and refreshing with almonds and tofu. It was very filling. My friend had the biscuits and gravy special which was, again, a huge hit. The gravy was mushroom based and the whole entrée was very opulent and served with homefries. The biscuits were topped with these interesting onion rings that were crispy and savory. The biscuits were stuffed with spinach so at least you had the appearance of an actual vegetable! For dessert you MUST order the peanut butter cup. It’s an oversized chocolate and pb treat. So rich with a crumbly chocolate crust and a gooey peanut butter filling.
I can’t wait to come back and try the other menu items — everything looks amazing and I have a feeling everything tastes that way as well.