"Delightful vegan restaurant on Crabtree Blvd in Raleigh" I'd heard of this for years and was happy to finally give it a try on a Saturday for lunch ~1:30pm. The restaurant is a bit set off from a strip mall, and has a small outdoor seating area. The inside has high ceilings and is airy, and is nicely decorated (I also enjoyed the "sci-fi themed" wallpaper in one restroom stall). We were greeted quickly and given a table right away. The specials on the wall sounded amazing-- it was hard to believe they were all vegan with burgers, bbq, "chicken", and more on there. We opted for simple-- the special cantaloupe soup for an appetizer and burgers (impossible) for lunch. Mine came with chips, and my girlfriend's came with mac and cheese. Food came out in maybe 15 minutes. The cantaloupe soup was AMAZING... perfect for a summer day... super refreshing and tasty. The cheeseburgers were good too-- well dressed with an aioli, if I remember right, as well as fresh lettuce, tomatoes, etc. I appreciated that I didn't have to pop a lactase, too, since all vegan! The chips I think were store-made and were absolutely tasty-- we got a lot too and snacked off them for the next few days. And my girlfriend liked the mac and cheese. Service was friendly throughout, and cups were refilled. And I felt the prices were reasonable for what we got. Overall, I'd DEFINITELY come back and am eager to try some of their fake meat dishes like the BBQ. read more

Great ambience, friendly staff, variety of options and some unique cocktails. Apps and drinks came out fast but a long gap before our main dishes came out and we had to ask for them. Cornmeal battered mushrooms- good portion size, delicious and a hit. Mess of collards- large portion, didnt see any bacon at all and the apple cider vinegar element was strong. Onions could have been chopped smaller. Meatloaf plate- very flavorful, the smoked local potatoes were a star too. It came with more collards Southern plate- this plate was a disappointing flop. Popcorn chkn (fried seitan) lacked salt and any flavor in the batter but the vessel had potential. Mashed potatoes were a little cold and also no flavor or salt. Coleslaw needed any flavor. Sauteed vegetables were plenty but again, zero salt or seasoning coming through. The hushpuppies had potential just needed to be a little smaller or a different shape to be balanced. Drinks: Flower and Flame- just a tad heavy handed on the smoke spritz G and Tea- this was delicious and I switched to this after tasting my wife's. Cardamom, mint and lemon make this refreshing! read more

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Every single time I go to The Fiction Kitchen I'm just blown away! The food is always so creative and delicious and I always leave inspired to cook more vegan food. Their new location is very nice and spacious and there's plenty of parking too! We got the Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread, Grilled Romaine, Hearts of Palm & Lion's Mane "Crabcakes", and Southern Style Plate with BBQ "pork". The cornbread was so moist and the crabcakes were flavorful. The grilled romaine was a revelation - I loved whatever creamy sauce it came with, the candied nuts, and the smokiness of the romaine. The BBQ "pork" was probably my least favorite thing, but don't get me wrong, it was still tasty. We asked for a little more BBQ sauce to go with it and our waitress got it for us right away. The drinks were also fantastic! I got the Autumn Flare which was coconut water, housemade falernum syrup, pineapple juice, and lemon. So refreshing and yummy! read more

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First time in an all vegan restaurant I believe. First it is a spacious restaurant with eclectic decor. Plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. The staff was amazing. Customer service 10/10. Our server explained every dish for me and swapped out something I really didn't like. Now to the food. We ordered the fried mushrooms as an appetizer, the bbq sandwich which comes with fries, the crab cakes with a chickpea and cucumber salad and the red curry dish with naan. The appetizer was ok. The sauce was good but the mushrooms were a bit greasy. I probably wouldn't order them again. The bbq sandwich was chef's kiss delicious. Would definitely order again. I didn't like the crab cakes. The outside wasn't crunchy enough and the inside was too mushy and lacked crab flavor. The salad was delicious. The red curry was pretty good. I would order again. Overall a lovely dining experience and great alternative to the same ol thing. I'll be baack! (In my Arnold voice) read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Crab cakes. Oh. The greens were goodt. - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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They are in a new location. There was plenty of parking. Went for Sunday brunch and the food did not disappoint. We were greeted and seated immediately. Our server was very friendly. We ordered the French toast with soysage (which was devoured immediately) and chicken, egg, and cheese biscuit. with home fries. The biscuit was dense and so delicious that we didn't use ketchup. The home fries were cooked perfectly. Definitely recommend! read more

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Three of us came here on a Thursday night at one of ours request. The service was very good. The food is pretty good to be veggie based. Good selection of things to choose from. read more

Delicious experience here for dinner with some girlfriends. I had been wanting to try Fiction Kitchen for years but never got down there. Now they have a new location off of Crabtree Blvd which was lovely. We had reservations and were put in a big booth. Daily specials were written on a chalkboard. We missed them but our server read them to us. I ended up ordering the curry bowl with spice level of 2. It was absolutely fabulous and a good portion size. Friends ordered the peanut noodle bowl and the risotto and raved about them as well. Service was good and the chef even came out to ask how our meal was. I did not order a drink but they had a good beer/wine, cocktail selection. Also, if you are not vegan you can add protein to any meal. Loved that the menu was clearly labeled gluten free, nut free, soy free. read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Curry Bowl - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We were in the area visiting friends and I wanted to take my husband out for his birthday. We are vegan. Fiction Kitchen was recommended by local friends. The food was five star but service was a bit less than ideal. We had a reservation and watched someone without a reservation get seated first and we were then offered a table right by the kitchen. We were re-seated when we requested. Food took awhile to come out. But the food was good. The servings were huge! I think 3 of us could have split an entree. But we were glad to enjoy leftovers. The corn chowder was delightfully smoky. The popcorn chicken is soooo good. As is the grilled tofu. The table side cornbread - we inhaled it. One member of your party was disappointed with the panzanella salad but the risotto and dessert made up for it. We were so full we took the dessert home. A couple hours later, it was still amazing - the PB cheesecake and tres leches cake. As a non-drinker, I enjoyed the mocktail. It was vinegary and peachy - unique and tasty! I would return read more

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The food was delicious and fresh. I'm coming back as soon as possible! So many creative vegetarian options and even my meat eater friends left with full bellies. read more

From time to time, I venture new cuisines and tonight is vegan eats. We pulled up to the cutest cozy spot perfect for a date night or fancy little drink at the bar. Fiction Kitchen served up s scrumptious special with the most delicious bbq grilled oyster mushrooms, rice and brussel sprouts. My friends devoured their mac n cheese secret menu special. Shout out to the amazing staff that assisted in meal accommodations. read more

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Great experience! Food: ordered the cornbread, locavore salad and lions mane Rangoon the for the table, had the farmers market special (gnocchi) with added crispy fried tofu for myself and an order of tres leche for dessert. Everything and I mean everything was amazing! Great flavors! Healthy servings and cooked perfectly. Service: we had reservations and were seated immediately. Or drink order were taken upon being seated as well as starters which came out promptly. Our silverware was changed out after each use. Our server was very friendly and had great recommendations! Knew the menu forward and backward and was quick. Ambiance: the place is somewhat casual but with a funky flare. It has a cool chill vibe, great for groups and not too nosy. Parking is right outside restaurant which is convenient. read more

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Food was great. Service was okay. But when it came to the check, I checked the box for 22% tip. The pen provided was out of ink so it wasn't clear. I went over it again with a new pen. I checked my bank and they changed the tip to 50%. Now they are closed for the next 3 days so I can't clear this up. read more

Checked out this place recently with a few friends and it was amazing! As a vegetarian, I enjoy checking out different vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurants. There are so many options at this restaurant. Love the fresh ingredients. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich that is made with soy protein and marinated in a pepper vinegar base. The sandwich was better than I expected!! I am a saucy person and I was shocked that the sandwich had so much flavor without a bbq sauce. It exceeded my expectations. I also tried a bit of the peanut noodle bowl and that was very tasty too. The prices are affordable and parking is easy accessible. The staff are so friendly and attentive. Look forward to visiting this place again soon! read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Eastern NC Style BBQ Pulled Pork - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The service is excellent! The server was so nice, made small talk, and was attentive. It seemed like the workers here actually enjoyed working here. The food was remarkable and creative. I had the BBQ platter but with fried chicken, which was delicious. My husband got the fries which were perfectly done and not overly salty. The restaurant will move in 4-5 weeks to another location in the same complex. I definitely will return! The only barrier is that their hours are a bit restricted. read more

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This is one of the best places for vegan offerings. Ingredients are top notch as are menu offerings. Service is great and fast. Prices are very fair. You can take your non-vegetarian friends here without complaint. read more

Food The Stalker drink with less sugar Food was super tasty Service Very friendly Ambiance Well lighted and clean read more

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I only wish we had more time to explore the menu! An all vegan place with amazing service from the moment we entered to when we left. The kindest staff and extensive menu. They walk you through the specials and really know the menu well. We got the following Crab rangoon: the thing Chinese takeout dreams are made of. So creamy, filling, and not too rich. Cornbread: Absolutely piping hot in the skillet and covered in butter. So much and even good the next day Mac and cheese: Not my favorite, but only because of the pimento cheese it has. I am not the biggest fan of pimento so cannot say it was outstanding. Sandwich: Meh, the low of the table. The meat did not have much flavor, I know that is the style, but did not even taste any flavor. The fries were really good as well. It's a good size and they have booths and tables and a more intimate side room as well. We went on a Sunday for an early dinner and they were packed. read more

Our friends recommended this place to us, and it lived up to the hype. I am not vegan and have never been a fan of vegan mac and cheese, but this one was great! I was shocked. The service was quick and extremely friendly, and the ambiance was good. The only reason this isn't five stars is that the pricing was a bit high. read more

We had a fantastic family dinner here. The BBQ pulled pork was a amazing! Even those who've had real BBQ raved about it being close to real thing. The desserts were equally impressive - the tres leches and egg nog cheesecake were pure indulgence. Can't wait to return soon! read more

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Came here hoping to eat, handwritten sing on door saying It's moving and closed until mid May but Yelp listing shows as open.

Lovely spot. As of today, it's still located on Dawson. Eventually they are moving! Keep on eye on their social. The menu has variety, but the sweet and salty is what won me over with the chicken and waffles. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The saltiness was spot on. The arugula was eaten although kinda odd on top, but hey, anything with a natural green is okay with me. I pushed it aside so my maple syrup didn't touch it. I ended up ordering their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake with candied walnuts. Super delightful and truly pumpkin. A hefty serving too! Loved the decor at the bar and my time spent talking with the bartender and local gals sitting with me. read more

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I made reservations and was actually on time. This is my very first time coming here, and open opening the door, I was not greeted. No one was at the counter, and I waited for about 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged me, which never happens anywhere. I was also surprised that no one immediately came to help me after I was seated. It was a little busy, it seemed with staff quickly moving around. I ordered the curry bowl. I was able to pick my level of heat (which was nice) with 1-5 being the levels and for me 3 was a good zone with being not too spicy, but just a kick of heat. I thought it looked tasty, but it was too sweet for my liking. I was hoping for more of the traditional flavors to come through and could use some other spices and salt. It was a very nice number of vegetables including broccoli, onions (very heavy), yellow squash. It was very good size bowl for the price as well and it included a side of rice. While not too quiet, the ambiance was a lively quiet with the gentle buzz of conversation, clinking glasses and silverware, but I felt it was missing warmth to make it truly inviting from the lack of background music. Overall, it was an okay experience. I'm very happy to know that my waitress was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. read more

For someone who has severe Gluten allergies it's hard to find establishments that have so many food options. The gluten free food at Fiction Kitchen is incredible, their seasonal offerings as well as their brunch to dinner menu...everything I've tasted has been amazing. read more

Words cannot express how delicious this spot is. Fiction you have truly done it for the vegan lovers!!! This is one of the best restaurants I've tried in Raleigh. The food was so good that my bestie and I literally did not talk to each other during the entire meal. Cocktails are amazing! Get the Oaxacan Holiday summer cocktail, you won't regret it! The risotto is to die for, and so is the penne pasta! There were so many delicious flavors in one spoonful bite. With the risotto dish I ordered the fried tofu which is an additional cost, but it's a bang for your buck! The fried tofu tasted fluffy and light, and the batter was definitely fresh and homemade. Dessert.... I wouldn't get the Tres Leche if you're expecting your traditional leche cake. It was a bit on the drier side. It could've used more condensed milk. It tasted more like a biscuit or cornbread with milk. However the whip cream on top was phenomenal! Chocolate fudge cake was super chocolatey, I'm not a fan of all that but def recommend for chocolate lovers! Don't sleep on Fiction kitchen! Highly recommend read more

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Genuinely one of the best meals I've ever had! We got the collard greens and smoked potato starters, and I got the crab cakes for main!! So delicious and the servier was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The restaurant was cute and clean! read more

What can I say - excellent service, thoughtfully constructed vegan dishes that me being non-vegan thoroughly enjoyed. This place's reputation as being the best vegan restaurant in Raleigh is well deserved - we loved it! Service was also casual and fun - awesome place! read more

We'd previously ordered takeout from here and enjoyed it, so today we decided to go and sit down for a meal. Fiction Kitchen did not disappoint! We had the Lion's Mane Rangoon, Fried Mushrooms, Potato Chaat, Curry Bowl, Peanut Noodle Bowl, and Peanut Cheesecake for dessert. We dug in so fast that we forgot to take pics of everything except the noodles! Everything was delicious, but the noodles were truly 1 of the best dishes I've ever had! We sat at the bar, and the bartender was incredibly warm and friendly. Dining at Fiction Kitchen was a pleasure; we will definitely be back! read more

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We showed up without a reservation and sat at the bar (there's a $20 cancellation fee if you don't show up to your reservation). The food here sounded pretty good. We tried a variety of dishes including the chicken and waffle, NC peanut bowl and the lettuce wrap. The "chicken" had a mushy texture and had hints of cinnamon flavor. The noodle bowl was not too bad but we also added the fried chicken to it- which I did not find appetizing. The lettuce wraps had a potent peanut flavor that was extremely salty. I think this was the most disappointing dish. The pickled vegetables and the salty/peanut flavors were so overpowering that I couldn't finish my bite. read more

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To die for!! I can't believe this is my first time at the Fiction Kitchen; I've been wanting to go for a while and we finally made it. It was worth the wait. The Nashville hot chicken was delicious and I loved the dipping sauce. It was spicy and perfect. The mashed potatoes were creamy and wonderful. The vegetables were grilled to perfection. My husband had ordered the burrito special, but it was way too spicy for him. They were kind to offer him something else and he got the risotto, which was so yummy. We finished with a decadent dessert that had chocolate from Videri. The crust had coconut and the ice cream had caramel. I loved the flavor of everything! I can't wait to go back and try more menu items. read more

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Outstanding food! The salad was among best I ever had. My husband's buffalo chicken wrap was very good - definitely would order again. Cream of coconut and turnip purée soup was perfectly blended and tasty. Chocolate truffle bar was heavenly! Wish we could eat here every day! read more

Service was prompt and friendly. Overpriced. Processed food. Not even tasty. Highly disappointing. read more

Really happy to be back at this temporary location about 5 miles outside of town. Same menu same nice people same good food. read more

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The food was delicious (I had the special with veggies and tofu), and the server was kind though served us the wrong food twice (I don't know wat was happening because it wasn't busy). I enjoy the location, as it's nice to grab a drink before (at one of the bars) and an ice cream after (at escazu). I'll be back soon! read more

My experience at Fiction Kitchen was truly exceptional. This 100% vegan restaurant offers a diverse menu covering Asian, Indian, Southern, and traditional American cuisines. From appetizers to dessert, and even the wine and alcohol selection, every aspect of the dining experience was impressive and vegan! I'm plant based (vegetarian for 15 years, vegan for 3) but my fiancé isn't and he also loved the food here! It is a great choice for vegans and non-vegans alike. I look forward to my next visit to explore more of what Fiction Kitchen has to offer. Highly recommended! read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This restaurant in its new (temporary?) location has much of the same wonderful food and solid service I remember. I was especially blown away by the risotto dish and by the Stalker mocktail. I also really enjoyed the gnocchi special, and the peanut butter pie was as delicious as ever. However, I noticed that the BBQ wasn't the same as I remembered -- it lacked the smoky, tangy quality I had loved before, and the sandwich option is remarkably small, with fries that don't seem homemade or special to me. I miss the taco option on the menu, the colorful, funky vibes and convenient placement of the old location downtown, and the old prices (I guess that's inflation). Service is still very good. The new location has easy parking and other interesting establishments nearby that may be interesting for folks to check out. I will definitely plan to return to this beloved restaurant someday for tasty vegan cuisine and drinks. I hear outdoor dining may be in the works, which sounds lovely. read more

The food here is Da Bomb!! If your vegan or plant based you'll love this place!! But even if you're a carnivore, I'm confident you'll like this place as well, just give it a try and you'll be very surprised. The menu is a one page menu and they work hard to come up with some very creative items to keep the menu fresh. The atmosphere is very casual and not too noisy and the seating inside is a little limited, which tends to fill up fast so make sure you make a reservation, I would recommend at least a week in advance. The customer service always friendly and helpful and do a great job keeping things moving our bellies full. As far as the food is concerned, we'll....I already said it was Da Bomb, but.....let's circle back around to it. My wife and I love coming here when we can, and we have tried several things on the menu but we have a few faves we'd like to share. For appetizers, we usually get the fried mushrooms or the rangoons. And for the main course, The Nashville HOT Chxn plate is at the top of our list. It comes with 2 drumsticks with Nashville BBQ sauce, hush puppies, roasted veggies, cole slaw and mashed taters. Yup...I said "mashed taters" And we usually will compliment our "southern" style dinner with a side of mac n cheez....deliciously dangerous and so yummy We highly recommend this place to any who lean towards the plant based or vegan side of eating. If you haven't yet, you've got to try this place!! read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Front of restaurant - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is a ling overdue review. We are a family of vegetarians and foodies so we were excited to give this long standing reataurant a try. Keep in mind we have eaten at almost every vegan restaurant in NYC and have flown yo other places just to try the food. This is likely not a fair comparison to what the Triangle has to offer for the meatless community. The biggest turn off for us was we were a party of three adults and all apps and entrees were lukewarm to cool. Nothing is going to taste good cold. The food was just mediocre at best and so we have never gone back and I would not recommend. I don't know if the food was pre-prepped and then nuked but it surely wasn't piping hot when it arrived at the table. It is always exciting to go to a vegan restaurant to enjoy the creative possibilities with plant based food. Especially foods that go further than a beyond meat burger and fries. But you should STILL expect hot food, great flavor and a beautiful presentation when the dish is placed in front of you. This was NOT our experience. They had one opportunity and quite frankly they blew it IMO. Additionally it is not easy to get a table at this restaurant and it is super small. We sat outside for an hour before it opened. We did not know we had to have a reservation so we appreciated that they found a way to accomodate us. I hope it has improved, but every time someone suggest going here for dinner I say no because of this experience. read more

Excellent vegetarian/vegan restaurant! If you're a vegetarian who has no idea what "Chicken and Waffles" or "North Carolina Barbecue" or "Meatloaf" taste like, then check this restaurant out. Warm and friendly service! read more

Generally good food. Nothing blew me away but I liked most of the 6+ items I ordered. The "pickled French fries" were a swing and a miss. A strikeout, really. They were pretty terrible. Service left a lot to be desired. It took between 15-20 minutes after paying for them to get me my two take out desserts. Was expecting much more. read more

I went a few years ago with my vegan brother and he was very pleased by the options and the taste so well that we had take out! The location was the original before moving to currently location. Am looking forward to visiting the new location! read more