This was an excellent experience. Service (Sarah) was top notch. She helped one of my party who is on a very limited diet to find something and the Chef was very accommodating. We had the mushrooms as an appetizer and I could have eaten them as an entree with a salad and been done. But no, I had the chicken and waffles. The texture and taste, spot on. I am going back to have the barbecue. Wished I lived in Raleigh. read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Main dining room. - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

Had a wonderful dinner at Fiction Kitchen last night! A fully vegan restaurant with tons of gluten free and soy free options. It was a cute and hip little restaurant with tables, booths, and a bar. We ordered drinks - my husband got the Come Rye with Me and I had the Unbeetable with tequila. Delicious, innovative. We ordered a second round we loved our choices so much. For food, we shared the Lion's Mane Rangoon, Bao Buns with seitan, and the Lemongrass Grits with tofu. The Rangoon and Bao buns were absolutely amazing - I could have eaten an entire tray of the Bao buns. The Lemongrass Grits were delicious but pretty spicy - I like spicy food, but the spice level was a little too high for me. The grits were creamy a delicious. Will absolutely be back! As a pescatarian who doesn't eat dairy, this is like the perfect spot for me! I think meat eaters would also love it, the food is great and I'm excited to try more dishes in the future! read more

See all

[Coronavirus review] They were open for takeout only when I dropped by, but with no online ordering. They also had some daily specials that I didn't see online, so it was just as well I ordered in person. The special in question was a risotto with local mushrooms and grilled tempeh. I was offered the choice to get vegan or dairy parmesan; I chose the latter to give them the best chance to satisfy my tastebuds. It was a little over $20 for a not entirely full container of risotto, which surprised me. However, the flavor mix was there in spades, and with the nuts and tempeh there was a lot of substance to the dish. The location is a bit off of the downtown area, with some parking currently designated for pickup and a few other spaces designated as loading zones that open up in the evening. I would be happy to come back as it had a range of choices for a vegetarian place and I would like to try something different. read more

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

Fiction Kitchen was delicious! We had the watermelon chaat and the smoked potato side to start and they were both amazing. My companion had the BBQ plate with fried chicken; and I had the risotto. Both were quite tasty, although I think the plate was better. It's amazing how creamy my risotto was while still being vegan. If you do get to pick a dipping sauce, we recommend the Old Bay Mayo. read more

Came in just for dessert, which was amazing! We ordered the Tres Leches and the seasonal pie (PB Cheesecake), they were so good I took a third dessert to go! $5-6 a serving isn't bad for Vegan and a local small business. We parked around the back for $3/hr. I need to come back for dinner or brunch one day soon. read more

See all

It's been a while since I've been here and I'm glad I was finally able to get a reservation. Absolutely love the vibe inside. The staff is very accommodating and friendly, and the food superb ! We started with the Lion's Mane Rangoons and Spring Rolls. Both were done well and had really flavorful sauces that accompanied them. For main course we got the Peanut Noodles & the Risotto. The noodles were !! (Make sure you add the fried tofu). The risotto was cooked perfect and the added crab cake completed the dish. For dessert we had the blueberry dulce de leche cake and it didn't disappoint. If you want to try an amazing restaurant with an amazingly creative chef, Fiction Kitchen will not disappoint. read more

See all

Took my girlfriend and her daughter for dinner. My girlfriend leans vegetarian and I do not. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes. She had the sesame chicken and her daughter had the chicken and waffles. All were very good. To be honest, and the reason for four, not five stars is I didn't particularly enjoy the chicken substitute. I think it's a personal taste thing as both my girlfriend and her daughter thought theirs was really good. Apparently I'm just a carnivore..... We had the fried potatoes and corn bread small plates which were also good. The place is very casual and staff are very nice and helpful. Service was fast. There's parking (you have to pay) behind the restaurant. So, I highly recommend for a vegetarian place (which is what they are and what they advertise they are) - good for a date night - I don't remember seeing kids and might not be the best place for toddlers but I'd think pre teens and up would be good (as long as they are vegetarians or ok with that direction). One more thing - I had the best Manhattan I've had in a while here. It was well bourbon and I forgot to ask what it was. So the bartender gets high marks also!! We will return for sure since the girlfriend liked it so much. I'll just try something different next time! read more

This place was an excellent find! First tip: make a reservation! Our party of three didn't, but the staff was awesome and found a way to fit us in (but don't bank on that). This is comfort food for vegans, vegetarians, and everyone else too! There may nit be meat served here, but you won't miss it. I ordered the Carolina BBQ plate and it was SO good - I am a meat eater, but if I didn't know this wasn't meat I would have just thought it was ultra lean. If you are a vegetarian who doesn't eat meat because of the taste or texture, probably not your best choice, but a great option for your meat eating friends. The star of the plate, though, was the hush puppies - I don't know what was so special about them exactly, but they were the best hush puppies I've ever had. One of the group had the special of the day - a watermelon poke bowl full of fresh summer flavors. The third of our party had the chicken and waffles - another meat eater who was pleasantly surprised by the mock chicken. And the cocktails... Beautiful and tasty! Definitely recommend! Overall, I would put this place on the top of my list to visit again next time I'm in Raleigh. There were many dishes I wanted to try, and the menu seems pretty seasonal, so there will probably be even more options to make the choice difficult next time! read more

See all

Checked out Fiction Kitchen while at the convention center for a conference. This is a very popular vegan restaurant and hours are only for dinner. This review is based on take out. I heard from a friend that reservation needed to be placed online to dine in. Since busy at the convention center, figured to just order take out. Ordering per the website was easy. There are also times of pick up but don't delay in placing the order because your set time to pick up can be delayed another 10-15 min. So upon pick up, indeed there were several people waiting. Definitely a popular place. There is parking on the street with payment kiosks along the street. Pick up your take out at your designated time per website order as readiness is timely. Indoor dining has a nice ambiance. No outdoor dining. Ordered the Spring Rolls, grilled Tempeh, and side waffle. The side waffle and syrup was perfect. Unfortunately, I was tempeh and tofu in the spring rolls were dredged with very strong spice/flavors that it made it oh so salty and not as appetizing as I hoped. The sauce for the spring rolls was the same sauce that the tofu in the spring rolls were dredged in so not worth dipping into unless you like the sauce and saltiness. The side waffle was great though. read more

See all

When the place we wanted to go was closed, turned to Yelp for help. Fiction Kitchen was a tasty choice! Great choice for a vegetarian. Interesting options. Enjoyed it , would definitely return when in town. read more

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

See all

It's amazing vegan food! My sister hosted a baby shower and we served their food and we were so happy with our meal and we aren't vegans! I would recommend this spot to anyone who enjoys good food. read more

There is no restaurant I have ever been to that compares to fiction kitchen. I've been a vegan for 7 years and I have tried at least 50 vegan restaurants in and out of the state, as well as countless non-vegan restaurants that offer vegan options. I lived in Asheville which is known for its vegan food. This is the best, full stop. I literally dream about the barbecue, the tres leches, the horchata, and so many others delicious things I've eaten at fiction kitchen. The service is amazing every single time. If you can only go to one restaurant in the triangle or even the state of NC, it has to be fiction kitchen! read more

As a visitor from out of state, this place and the staff made me feel welcomed. Smiles and hellos abound. The interior is bright and inviting. Interesting and beautiful art on the walls. For the food, I wish I could try it all! The descriptions on the menu made everything sound so good. In the end I landed on the peanut sauce noodle bowl and it did not disappoint. I need to learn the secret of that sauce so I can relocate it back home. Fitting in with the whole aesthetic, the plating was immaculate with vivid lips of color from the various ingredients. Fantastic meal. read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Peanut noodle bowl - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great food and service here! I tried the risotto and the peanut noodle bowl, and both were delicious. I would strongly recommend making a reservation! I came in the middle of the week and the restaurant was very busy. read more

Really delicious totally plant based food, and what you'd consider comfort food (think cheereeesey), too!

I wish I lived in Raleigh so I could eat here all the time. I'm not a vegan but this place proves that vegan food can be just as good, if not better than anything else you'll find. I ate my entire southern style plate, as well as parts of my kid's meatloaf and my wife's peanut noodle bowl. Everything was delicious. My only regret was having essentially eaten two dinners. read more

When in Rome.... Had to start my #plantbasedfoodie trip with the local fare: Southern Style lunch plate. I love eating Southern soul food! It's so good here I went 3 consecutive nights! #vegan. #plantbasedfoodies read more

Food was great, better than expected. Only problem here is you do not cater to people who would rather not share a bathroom with the opposite sex, there are still those of us who do not believe in that practice and it's intimidating for us. read more

For all my vegan homies, this is your spot. Great food & great folks. My old lady is super excited we've got a spot like Fic Kit so close to home! read more

I have been waiting to eat here for a long time. It finally happened in April 2023. It was fantastic! I am a new vegetarian. I was a meat eater for my whole life, 65+ years. I was really, really, turned off by tofu, avocado, faux chicken, and basically most of what I had experienced so far in the vegetarian genre. However, EVERYTHING I had at FK was absolutely delicious. I started with the Locavore Salad. It had tofu in it, I was so very skeptical!!! Well, the salad was scrumptious! The tofu went down with no problem, along with the rest of the salad! I would definitely order it again :) Also on the table was faux pulled pork bbq. I love bbq and have missed it so much, but this was awesome! It filled that void! It put a smile on my face, too! The smoked potatoes were out of this world! I have never had them before. So tasty and delish! A kidney bean dish was next. It was very good, fresh kidney beans, not from a can! You can tell the difference! The winner for the evening for me was the meatloaf. If you like meatloaf, and I loved my Mum's meatloaf growing up, then you just have to try this!!! It tasted just like my Mum's! I could not tell it was fake beef!!! There is a bar with wine, beer, and spirits. I'm from New England, FK has Narragansett Lager! Perfect! The waitstaff were friendly and attentive. I could tell too, that the kitchen staff took pride in what they put out to the patrons. The plates, bowls, and dishes that were served to me were very nicely presented. The atmosphere in FK is funky and cool. People seemed genuinely happy and they were totally enjoying the food. Parking is on the street, but it was not difficult to find a spot. I was there on a Wednesday evening. Call ahead for a reservation if you plan to dine in. They have takeout, too. Wow, all that, and I just want to let you know that the prices for this delicious food were reasonable. read more

See all

We had a lovely meal and some excellent drinks to complete it. We are used to restaurants having a good signature drink, but we kept trying a couple of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They all brought different notes and flavors. The bartender was wonderful and knowledgeable. We will be back to try more cocktails with our meal. Highly recommend. read more

See all

There's nothing fictional about how good this place is. The lion's mane rangoons are a little nuts in the best way..so is the mock fried chicken. We're thinking of doing our thanksgiving food from here since they're having offerings for the holiday. Yumm! read more

This is some of the best food ever. It doesn't matter if you're vegan or not. I highly recommend!

Based on the reviews the food seems pretty consistent. Chicken and waffles is a great choice. The risotto was good but seemed a little bland. The cornbread was delicious! Mozzarella sticks (cashew) were breaded to perfection. You just have to remember that it's not like regular cheese. The cheese flavor will not stand out. A cheese lover may be disappointed but it's worth a try if you're vegan and you miss cheese sticks. Currently it's a pretty spacious location but they are still taking reservations. I'm grateful that I don't have to deal with downtown parking since they are no longer downtown. read more

See all

Great food. I have only been there once, but plan on going again soon. My favorite was the peanut noodle bowl. Delicious!

Had been wanting to try this spot for years. While I think the vegetables could have used more spices and the corn bread could have been less sweet, it was an all around good meal. The Martinez I ordered was perfect and the hush puppies were great. Everyone was really nice and service was fast. Really cute atmosphere, I'll definitely be back in the future. read more

See all

Vegetarian restaurant that might change some meat-lover minds. Meals that create rather than imitate

This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Triangle! Somehow I visited the Fiction Kitchen 2 years in a row for my birthday and I loved it both times. In my latest visit, I have Daily Soup and Eastern NC Style BBQ Pulled "Pork" with homemade Corn Bread. The soup had green mustard which made it a bit spicy, and it was perfect for the cold rainy day! Bits of cranberry and chickpeas went very well with the soup. Love it! The BBQ! If I didn't remember I was at a vegetarian restaurant, I would thought it was regular pork BBQ. The texture and flavor both are incredibly similar to real BBQ, and it's hard to believe the "pork" is made out of soy and gluten-based protein. My mom who tried this BBQ for the first time was surprised at how good and real it tasted! The sautéed greens and potato salad that came out with BBQ were also delicious. I love how kale tastes in your sautéed greens. Don't taste any bitterness! Cornbread was, as always, yummy. My mom couldn't stop talking about how delicious the cornbread was. The only downsides of the Fiction Kitchen is how crowded it gets during dinner time. But the food is still worth the wait! read more

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

See all

These folks know how to make a good chicken and waffles! Whats even more impressive there's no dairy, yet they work hard to make sure there is plenty of flavor! So many people are afraid to try new and "alternative" food choices. This is a place I feel confident bringing carnivores that will enjoy the food! The selection for vegan desserts aren't only nut based, which is quite a relief seeing that many dairy alternatives these days are laced with nuts. Top 8 allergens should generally be avoided so the nut craze / trend is quite dangerous. Extremely eclectic type of interior design. Very Instagram worthy. Do not be surprised if you have to wait 20 - 30 minutes since this is a very well respected vegan / vegetarian establishment. It is well worth the wait! Repeat customer for life! read more

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

The food here is great, and i absolutely loved our server. She was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious. Although i normally don't eat vegan food, this was very good. The ambience was great, with lovely decorations and a lively atmosphere. I also love the booths, they're very comfy. read more

INCREDIBLE! We sat at the bar because we couldn't get a table reservation and had a great experience. The staff was all super friendly and welcoming. We got an appetizer and two meals to share/split. First, we ordered the vegan charcuterie. It's such a rare find so had to try it and it was probably one of my favorite appetizers I've ever had. Even the bread was incredible. For meals we ordered the Southern entre and the risotto. Again, both were incredible and so flavorful. I am vegan, but I think even a nonvegan would've loved all of the meals we had. Wish we had room for dessert, but I guess we'll just have to go back! Would be great with family, friends, or for a cute date! 10/10 recommend and will definitely be coming again. read more

See all

I wouldn't be able to tell you if the food was good or not because we were turned away from an empty restaurant claiming that there was no tables available. read more

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

Folks who work here are probably the same people who would dine here at a classic veg*n institution - a blend of hipster, tatted, independent and/or empowered. That says something, but not sure what, except it may be hard to identify who's working and who's dining! There's a bar area for drinking and eating, and two waiting areas- one inside and one outside. Don't be surprised if you have to wait! They are a popular joint, with exceptional ingredients jammed into brunch or dinner deliciousness (lunch, too, I suppose). There's a focus on local ingredients, and you can taste the freshness in the salads and fruit. For vegans, you will be so tempted to dive in and consume carbs like they're going out of style. Admittedly, I loaded up when brunching- vegan grits and gluten free vegan pancakes. Dang- the South can deliver for vegans too! Yes! It's good they're not closer to my home base, cause I'd be one fattened up consumer! The desserts are fun and tasty- I think the chocolate ganache tart may be the most popular with a caramel sauce and coconut almond crust. It's a slice of chocolate gluten-free heaven! The chicken and waffles are classic for any vegan who misses that stuff. The entrees are not mind blowing in how novel they are, but that there is such a diverse selection of items makes for a delicious eclectic menu that will make your tastebuds tingle! Tacos, curry, salad- it's up to you. The menu and staff are informative for those who don't eat or eschew soy or gluten. There are not a whole bunch of options for raw foodies, but you can manage. In a nutshell, this place is deserving of the hype. The food is prepared so well, you'll be looking forward to your next visit! read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Videri ganache tart to go - gluten, soy, egg and dairy free - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

I visited this restaurant for the first time on a Saturday night. We had reservations so we didn't have to wait. The restaurant is small and it was packed with people. It is also very loud, so nor the best place to catch up with others. We started with the cornbread. I didn't care for it, but the others in our party did. I ordered the greens and rice with tofu. I really liked how the tofu was flavored, but did not like the sauce on the rice and greens. The service was very friendly. I would go back and try something else. read more

Love this place! It's my favorite for date night. The chicken and waffles are phenomenal -- the play of sweet and savory is something I haven't managed to perfect at home, and the waffle is so perfectly fluffy and just the right amount of sugar. Anything with the fried chicken is worth trying; at brunch, I also love the chicken biscuits with jam. Skip the homefries, though, read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Chicken and waffles! - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Went here on November 19, 2021, for dinner. I had an 8:30pm reservation, bit arrived 30 minutes early and was able to be seated, had a wonderful waitress (Emily), who recommended several food and drink options. I ended up selecting the Thanksgiving "feast," which included lentil loaf, pea protein "turkey," mashed potatoes, dressing, a muffin, cranberry sauce, and mini square potatoes, which were also decent (would have been great had the chef seasoned all items better ). In addition, I had a hearts of palm and spinach dip that was tasty, yet slack on pita chips, although a waitress brought me more without an extra charge (shout out to you my Good person) . The Moroccan mint tea with Agave was delicious, as was the kombucha! I will definitely be back for a 3-Peat when In Raleigh again. read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Thanksgiving Feast! - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Amazing vegan restaurant!!!! I'm truly impressed The best so far I came across. I'm so happy for coming here. Kudos to the owners read more

See all

Another disappointing restaurant in Raleigh. It was hot as hell, like the AC was not on. No explanation was given as if it was normal to be visibly sweating while dining. Most of the food was edible, and one appetizer was not. It was the lions main Rangoon, the wonton was hard as a rock; overcooked or stale. Tres' leches cake was dry. We were a table of 5, and only 1 person liked their plate, which was an ordinary salad. Not impressed. We were excited to finally try Fiction Kitchen and love vegan restaurants. Considering the length of time it's been in business and lack of competition, I'm dumbfounded why the food isn't spectacular. Will not go back. read more

I'm back again!!! Okay this isn't my first visit to Fiction Kitchen (X3) and without fail they've exceeded all expectations. Okay first, things first... this small culinary vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free gem is located just outside of the business district of downtown Raleigh, N.C. You can't miss this small treasure because it's donned with a prism lime green and yellow colors that shout "over here!" You'd have to be completely blind for it not to capture your attention. Also there are typically people standing outside the door waiting to get in and seated to indulge in their delicious entrees. As you enter this intimate space there's two communal tables front on both sides and group/single booth seating to the left and bar seating to the right. They have a pretty good stocked bar with spirits to aid in creating vegetarian cocktails. The decor is eclectic but not distracting. The space is clean and well maintained, with pleasant and polite staff. In my first to visits I've had the Tinga Tacos, which could be best describe as a taste bud organism. The flavors are fresh and robust, balance seasoning that's sure to delight. It's two local corn tortillas filled with bulgogi seitan, topped with local cabbage, cilantro and radishes served with black beans with chipotle buttermilk and cilantro. We also ordered the Fried Chicken and Waffles which is a marinated, herbed seasoned dredged and fried mock chicken (2), with Belgian style waffles topped with spinach and agave. This is a must "go to" spot to eat whether you're vegetarian/vegan or not. The food and service will not disappoint, as a matter of fact it will be the very reason you return... it's great for kids, families and groups. read more

See all

This place is fabulous! I took my meat-loving husband here for the first time. He was a bit dubious but ended up really enjoying his meal. I loved my vegan charcuterie tray and fried "chicken". I can't wait to go back! read more

The Fiction Kitchen - Delicious vegan charcuterie tray - Vegan Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina