We dropped into this place while travelling in CT recently, hoping for something similar to Veggie Castle in Queens and were not disappointed. Once the owner/chef knew we were first timers, he kindly went through all the options explaining what each of them were. These are all his own recipes, and you could tell he took a lot of pride in his creations and had to have cooked them with love. If you're going here for the first time, 1)let him know and 2) get the 6-item large place so you can try a lot of dishes! Note: the name of this place has 'vegetarian' in it, but it is entirely vegan! Also, some of the dishes were described as having tofu, but I think they may have been seitan due to the texture. My favorites in this order: Curry potatoes and tofu, lo mein and bbq tofu. I also had the rice/veg and a carrot/tofu type dish that were also good. The only item I would stay away from would be the yellow lima bean dish. This was just plain bitter and did not taste good at all. It was the only thing we didn't finish! My wife and son also enjoyed the rasta pasta, vegan chicken/red peppers and the sunshine tofu. Definitely worth the visit! read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Top L- clockwise: Curry potato and tofu, lima beans, bbq tofu, lo mein, fried rice and carrot/tofu - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Great food I'm not even vegan and I love it only problem is they are never open lol read more

Amazing delicious food every time !! I always recommend this place to everyone whether they're vegetarian or not!!! read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

I've been coming to Shandals for over five years now. One of the best vegan spots in Bridgeport. I love the portions and how flavorful food the food is. It's reasonably priced and the service is great :) Only get disappointed when the cafe is closed without notice! Aside from that 10/10 recommend if you want vegan Caribbean food. Parking is tough, but you can find a spot on either side of the street or if you're lucky right in front. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Six sides: Lima beans, vegan chicken, sunshine tofu, Rasta pasta, and bbq tofu - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Oh, where do I begin? Wonderful food made by someone who obviously takes pride in their craft. Even the carnivores enjoyed it! My partner and I come from a small town in upstate New York, vegan options are few and far between. So naturally, visiting friends in the area I did some searching for food we could all eat. Upon walking in, we were given the disclaimer EVERYTHING is vegan and nothing comes from a can. Once we were told what everything was, our group made decisions and we ate in the cozy little dining area. The owner/chef came and chatted with us. We spoke a little bit about his lifestyle and how more people should live with more child like wonderment read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Authentic/custom vegan Jamaican food 4 Items - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

I'd been hearing about Shandals for at least 2 years on social media. I don't make it down to Bridgeport often but I had hatched a plan that next time I was down that way, I'd grab some grub from Shandals for sure. Started chatting with this chica who lived out thatta way, and I suggested we meet up for a meal. We walked in and the dude behind the counter was friendly and funny and told me what each dish was. I told him to give me to large orders with some of every item. I added that one would be my lunch and the other, my dinner. I also grabbed a little pie-like pastry and another for the woman who joined me for lunch. The food was freakin' great, I'd definitely go back. I'm glad I got 2 large orders and a taste of every dish. There was not one thing I didn't like. I wish Shandals was closer...I'd be going there at LEAST once a week, no doubt in my mind. I'll definitely drive out there just for Shandals again, meeting up with someone or not. The food's worth it. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - a display of food - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Wonderful little hole in the wall gem. It's so amazing to have multiple items that are vegan and delicious. Super satisfying meal. We tried ten different options, we would order every one again! read more

Such a gem! Though parking may be difficult as it's located by a busy road in a neighbourhood area, it's totally worth the visit. The portions are always generous, at 15$ for a large and 10$ for a small. I ordered a small, and he added in one extra item for no extra charge. Each item was incredibly flavourful, there were no 'bad' choices in the mix. Even as lukewarm leftovers everything was still top tier delicious. All the items make a fantastic rollercoaster of flavours in the mouth, highly recommend. To conclude, we've been coming here a few times, and we will definitely continue to do so! read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Phenomenal place. It's all vegan & I love how the seitan is homemade. Fabulous service. The owner is always friendly & recommends the best dishes. I love the quantity & always have enough for the next day read more

Every time I come to Bridgeport I come to Shandal's. It's a must!! The owner is a great guy. Always friendly and we often have cool conversation. Great value for your dollar. The Rasta pasta is amazing !! read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Six item plate - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Been here countless times and always introduce other acquaintances to Shandal's .His food is delicious ,reasonably priced and consistent . It's hard to believe that there's a palate that can't be pleased read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - a man preparing food - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Hands down some of the best vegan food I've had. It was a nice surprise that it was Caribbean. When I first looked at the food I know I was going to wish I had more. I ordered two large plates. Each plate comes with you choice of 6 options and all 12 that I had were amazing. Curry Chicken BBQ Tofu Lo Mein Noodles Mock Chicken Tofu Rasta Pasta Sunshine Tofu read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Large plate: 6 items - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

This is a delightful restaurant unlike any other. All preparations are original recipes, and they are all tasty and unique. The menu is colorful and appealing. The proprietor is the nicest person you'll meet anywhere, generous, mild mannered, and really kind. He took time to explain every offering and was generous with portions. I had enough to take home for a delightful snack. Friendly environment. read more

Amazing food, amazing service. This is the best food I have ever eaten in my life and I will choose this establishment over every single other place, every time. The kind of food that's so good, non vegans always enjoy it as well. Cafeteria style set up, you can choose a 4 or 6 dish option and everything tastes like it was made by angels. read more

Love the food! Always take home and have some left over My whole family enjoys the food and are surprised it was plant based

Genuinely delicious vegan food made and served by peerless owner / chef / human being, always with peace and a smile - year after year after year. Thank you! read more

Was working in the area so I got a chance to try this place out. Oh Man ! This vegan food is really delicious ! All prepared by the owner/chef himself with his own creative recipes. It was super tasty with tons of flavor. Every dish was just delicious but to describe a few: The BBQ just melts in your mouth and leaves a slightly sweet aftertaste. The okra Is buttery soft and juicy, and the potato dish was amazing ! With the spices and mouthwatering flavors that came from it. Another that you tastebuds will never forget once you have had it is the sunshine tofu... yummy, Just absolutely loved everything. Can't beat the prices for such quality food either. Very clean and super friendly service from the owner who will take the time to explain each dish. You can choose a platter of 6 different things or 4 different things. Definitely worth stopping in here. So glad I did ! read more

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Like everyone says this is a super satisfying and tasty place to eat. People and food you can trust. No more need be said. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Veg Chicken (tempeh) and Red Pepper, Lima Bean, Plantain, Rice &Bean, Rasta Pasta and Lo Mein. - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

I Love Shandals. The food is fresh, establishment and where food is kept for selection is always clean! I've been back every week since I've tried it. The owner is nice and the food is always good no matter what time of day it is. It's really the best out there! I love it! read more

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OMG! Loved this little place. The food was delicious and the chef/owner was so friendly. Food was home cooked with care and pride. Definitively worth the 45 minute drive. read more

I live in Long Island. Was visiting a friend and needed to Google a vegan restaurant in Bridgeport CT. Yelp recommended Shandal's restaurant. Just a 10 minute drive from where I was visiting. I read the great reviews and had a good feeling about the restaurant. It's was a 10 minute drive. The food was extremely tasty and so delicious. I ate every drop in one sitting. Very satisfying. Please open up a store in Lindenhurst NY. Come to Long Island too or I will settle for Brooklyn NY. read more

Small, teeny tiny little place which offers little seating but offers so much more in vegan food choices! Shandal makes and serves it all up--do not know how he does it. Great food choices, all of which he thoroughly explains and answers any questions about. Those lima beans? To die for. A great experience and I will return for more of that great vegan food. read more

Other than the food not being ready until 12 pm , it's very filling and you get a nice portions of the food . Place is a bit small if you go in at a busy time , overall I love this food ! read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Great vegan food. Super unique offerings. Everything was delicious and the owner is a nice guy. Will be back!!

This place is a hidden gem. When I am feeling like having Vegan food that actually taste good I go here. You can order anything from their menu and it's good and I do mean good. The flavors burst in your mouth, the textures of the "meats" will have you second guessing if it's vegan cause it taste like the real thing. read more

I only wish I could give him MORE stars!! THE BEST vegan food I have every had!! And almost everything is gluten-free!! Very nice hard working owner/chef. Only drawback is hard to find, lack of parking and a not so nice area .. and not so close to me .. otherwise I would eat here every day!!! Last trip when we were leaving there was a line out the door and down the street. People were salivating! I can't wait to go again - YUMMM!!! read more

Went here a bit ago, and forgot to leave my 5 star review Anyways, this place is soooo good! The owner is very kind and very patient. We didn't know much about the kind of food he was serving and he didnt hesitate to go over all of them. Its a super casual spot, and there is outdoor seating as well. Now for the food, it was delicious. So delicious. I miss it. I had a little bit of everything, and it was all 5 stars. Nothing was too spicy, it was all perfectly seasoned. And for being vegetarian/vegan, I was left satisfied and full from a standard to-go container of food. I recommend this place. Definitely try it. read more

What a find! Awesome vegan food in Bridgeport. The owner is a kind soul and happily describes each dish. Healthy large portions, tasty dishes and lovely owner/chef. Can't wait to visit again. Great Lima beans, plantains and okra. Happy tummy! read more

Shandal's is a diamond in the rough. Please take the time to come here to taste a new culinary experience that Shandal brings from his home Antigua. The seating is limited so this place works better as take out, but you wouldn't be sorry if you did stay to eat here. Vegetarians, come ready to EAT. Others, come to be surprised! read more

Visited based on Yelp reviews. Very easy to find with many options and the owner/cook provided good pleasant service. They offer 4 items for $8 or 6 items for $10. Since it was my first time I decided to try 6 items : lima beans, bbq tofu, rasta pasta, stewed tofu, and two others I can't remember. The food tasted okay. The tastiest dish was the bbq tofu. The others were lacking something I can't really put my finger on. Ater having so many great options in the Washington, DC metro area, in my opinion it didn't really live up to that standard. It's okay if you live in the area and want to eat out vegan. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Six vegan items for $10 - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Recently stopped eating meat & this restaurant helped with my cravings. The food was so flavorful

Shandal's has been on my radar so I used having to go to the DMV as an opportunity to run in for a quick lunch before returning to work. When I got to the counter I told who I assume to be Shandal that it was my first time. In typical lunch speed fashion, I was ready to go and just start picking things. However, Shandal asked me if he could take just a minute to explain it to me. He first told me everything was vegan, which is why I was there. He then went on to describe each dish. I appreciated that he took a moment for a newbie. I decided to go for 6 items for $9 so I could try more. I picked BBQ Tofu, lima beans, rasta pasta, brown stew tofu, beans and rice, and corn. Shandal put his hand up and said, "Go for the stars. Corn and beans you can get anywhere. Go for the stars when you are here. Can I pick some for you?" Sounds great. Chose the first 4 I named and then added Sunshine tofu and the vegetarian chicken with onions and pepper. I'm so glad I listened. The sunshine tofu ended up being my favorite and I wouldn't have even picked that. The entire experience was as wonderful as the food. I almost want to take another trip to the DMV just to have a reason to eat there. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - I was ordering boring things corn. He told me to take the stars and asked if he could pick them for me. So glad I listened. - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Let me say. This place is the bomb! For all you vegans it's a must. Mr shandel is so nice , he explained all the foods and the place was so clean. He didn't mix and spoons all were clean before he dipped into another food. Favorites: Rasta pasta BBQ tofu Chicken with peppers Delish!!!! Can't wait to go back. Reasonably priced and good portion for $9. ********dont go before 1 pm as the food is not ready. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

First time coming to Shandal's Cafe, and it most certainly will not be my last. I am absolutely blown away by the flavor combinations! Everything is so light, yet filling - his dishes fueled my soul. You can tell that love is an ingredient in his dishes simply by the way it's prepared. Happy customer, over here! You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Shandal! read more

How refreshing to find a vegan caribbean spot in Bridgeport. I was in Bridgeport just for the day and wanted something vegetarian and filling. The food was excellent! The standouts for me were the pasta pasta, lima beans and BBQ Tofu! Too bad I don't live close by! I had a really nice chat with the owner as he discussed his desire to open a place that served quality hearty food. When I arrived at 12:30, all the food wasn't quite set up, so as previously mentioned, head over there closer to 1pm if you're on a lunch break! read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - 6 sides for $9: Lima beans, Sunshine tofu, Bbq tofu, Rasta pasta, chik'n & peppers & veggies. - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Go and expect four stars for vegan food, not a fine dining experience. Once you know that, you'll be fine. Especially if you're looking for vegan options. The food here is actually Rastafarian/Ital, but that just means that no animal products are used as the owner assured me. The food is served cafeteria-style from a steamer table. You can pick four options for $7 or 6 for $9. What a deal! After three trips so far, I would recommend the lima beans, the sunshine tofu, and the rasta pasta. I decided on my last visit that the barbecue tofu's a bit too sweet for me, so I'll have to figure out another choice on my next visit. This time I actually ate in for the first time and while not fancy at all, Shandal's has its own charms in a Rasta pasta sort of way. The ceiling's definitely the original tin version and the walls are unadorned, but for $7 I'm not going to complain. Oh, get the coconut drops for a treat at the end. In an area largely devoid of quick veggie/vegan option, Shandal's a great go-to spot with some nice, friendly folks behind the counter. read more

Very filling and flavorful meal! Couldn't decide so I got two plates! Will most definitely be back. My bf is very big on texture and he was impressed with the bbq tofu! Lo main and "chicken" was amazing one of my favs read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Looking for a vegetarian place where you'll want to eat everything you see? Here it is! Shandal's main ingredient in his food is love! He has the best smile! For the last two years, we have been coming here from NYC just to enjoy his tasty dishes! read more

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We stopped here on our way back from the city on a Saturday evening. I was excited to find a vegan place on our route, because these are few and far between. I'd seen Shandal's in HappyCow before, but was never close enough to actually go check it out. So, the stars finally aligned, and there we were. I read that parking could be a challenge, and that was no lie. We drove around the block but it was wall-to-wall parked cars. We ended up parking on Main Street, across from Mystique, which was just a short walk. The cafe has a caribbean feel as soon as you walk in. The bright walls and mural of Shandal's place on a palm-shaded beach take you straight to Antigua. Take a look up at the original tin ceilings - now that is a cool feature. As is typical of Ital places, it is buffet style, but nothing is labelled. They will tell you everything that is in there, and then you pick what you want. My boyfriend and I both got small plates, which gives you 4 items. A large would get you 6. Everything we had was incredibly flavorful and we left with very happy bellies. The cafe is small - there were two two-person tables in the entry way, and in the side room were longer tables which would accommodate a group. It seemed like they have a good take-out business. We will definitely eat there again next time we're in the area! read more

We came to visit from New York City. We loved the food and attention. Looking forward to come back. read more

Shandal’s Vegetarian Cafe - Vegetarian Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut