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The Hungry Caterpillar

4.9 (66 reviews)
ModerateVegan, Desserts

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THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - The Hungry Caterpillar

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Reviews With Photos - The Hungry Caterpillar

Vegan BBQ sandwich with grape leaves
Linda G.

It's not the fanciest looking place - it is inside a doctor office complex. But the food is awesome! You grab a seat, scan the QR code, order and pay online, then they bring the food to your table. The sandwiches come with a side, and there are lots of choices! My friends and I each picked a different sandwich and a different side. All of us loved our fresh and healthy meals, and all of us took home half. So two meals for the price of one! Everything is reusable or compostable, no plastic in site! I love their thoughtfulness and their mission to bring healthy food to the community. We will definitely go back!

insider decor
Craig H.

Hidden in an unassuming medical shopping center, this vegan café is one of the best spots in Jacksonville. Ordering occurs on a tablet and sent to the kitchen. Staff called me by name to confirm sides for my order and hand walked my order to me when ready. All the staff were friendly and helpful. On this visit I tried the Bean Cheeseburger, Jax Philly Mushroom Cheesesteak, and Cashew Mac n Cheese. Each entree came with a side. All items were delicious and hearty portions! The creamy cashew Mac n Cheese was my favorite!

Jose G.

Food is amazingly delicious and ever so fresh. Owner and staff are friendly and professional. They can answer all of your vegan and/or menu item questions without hesitation. Chef specials change daily so one can always find a great dish to choose from besides their regular menu. My fav dessert are the chocolate chip cookies, grab one while you can when you visit. Always service with a smile! Upon ordering at the counter kiosk, simply relax and wait in their dining area for your food/beverages to be brought to your table. Plenty of parking in the shopping plaza lot. The cafe is conveniently located off Atlantic Blvd near Beach Blvd. Looking forward to my next visit to enjoy the Vegan Cafe dining experience!

Interior
Isaac A.

VCJ is a nice little water that's tucked inside medical plaza strip mall. They share space with a pain management office and Panama pharmacy. It was a unique setup, but was nice as they sat off to the side offering quick pick up meal service. The service is quick + pleasant. The staff were welcoming and were easily available to answer questions. The restaurant has a good mix of soups, sandwiches, & wraps. I tried the mac & cheese which was SO good and the mushroom cheesesteak that was on point! The food was plentiful and one entré could feed two people easily. They have a good variety of sugar free drinks and vegan desserts. They had a few merch items as well. They have an indoor eating area, but the tables were a bit small for two people. All in all a great place to eat, so stop by. Final note, they'll have a hanging banner outside their door. So if you drive by the plaza looking for the marquee, they don't have one yet.

Menu 1
Matt M.

Oh my gosh, love the Vegan and Vegetarian spots opening in the area. This is a solid choice if you have food allergies or just want delicious healthy food. First off, they have a small sign, so you need to keep a sharp eye out for the location. It shares space with a pharmacy and their sign is huge. Once you get there, you will understand what I mean. But you want to hear about the food: Rueben - ROCKSTAR status, immediate hall of famer. Delicious delicious delicious. Potato salad - a stellar side item. Slider (Special) - good but did not compare to the Reuben. Nice hint of hot with sweet chili sauce. Sesame Slaw - another stellar side, liked this better than the potato salad, but both are good. The food was very complex with hints of spices, pickled onions and just really attention to detail. The FLAVOR PROFILES really were well planned out and the tastes blended so well together. Just enough crunch, just enough sauce, just enough heat. I need to go back to get thru some more of the menu because I want to try: - Black Bean Cheese Burger - Toasted Avocado Sandwich - Plantain Jerk Sandwich Like I said good solid choice for VEGAN and VEGETARIAN food. Super friendly staff, lots of really good choices. Parking is a little iffy, so you may need to walk, not a lot, but you may not be able to park right out front.

eco friendly packaging and utensils
Denise D.

Oh man, nothing but great things to say about this gem. It really is a gem and it really is kinda hidden, but that's cool with me First off, walking in I could smell the deliciousness. It's in the corner of an open-air type multi-business medical center. It has its own entrance but is not closed off. They have kiosks for easy ordering and the written menu on the wall. I asked about options for creamer and the guy behind the counter was really pleasant and went right away to hook up my coffee. Now one thing I don't remember is seeing options for the side item that comes with the meal. I was expecting chips or something but was pleasantly surprised to get potato salad. Now, in the black culture, if you miss on the potato salad, we have no problem letting it be known! And while this wasn't the traditional, southern potato salad (yellow, eggs, relish, paprika), it was actually good. It has that hint of vinegar like you'd find in a German potato salad, but it wasn't overpowering at all. I had the tacos. Lion's mane mushrooms and black beans were the hearty elements and the sauce (I think the menu said chipotle something) was good. The tortilla was soft, the presentation was nice and neat and it was all so fresh Oh, I also liked that everything was eco friendly, from the coffee cup and lid to the utensils. I ate half of my three tacos, a little of my potato salad and was satisfied until about 4 hours later, so I'd say it was filling just as much as it was tasty. I'm excited to go back and try something different

No Fried Fish Sandwich - Breaded eggplant/Pickled cucumber & Cubanelles/Sea lettuce/Greens/Tomato/Sprouted Bun/Tartar Sauce
N M.

Heart broken that Chef Matt's always deliciously fresh lunch options will be sunsetting this weekend. I'll miss trying & sending pics of unique healthy creations to my health conscious friends. I'm relieved he'll continue the journey reimagined with breakfast/brunch at least so I can still make it an intentional regular stop for myself & friends. I'm certain his hard work & always friendly interaction will continue his five star track record.

My daughter eating at the window bar!
Erica B.

We stopped here because my father was visiting from California and is a vegan and I have celiac disease. The food was AMAZING! Even our kids loved the vegan food. The chefs are great at what they do, they offer great service and were able to answer all of our questions! We highly recommend this restaurant if you want great gluten free or vegan food!

Peach Habanero Jackfruit Wrap
Franica A.

Found a gem in Jax! @vegancafejax Man it's hard to find vegan food with depth sometimes but they got it. Me and my sister in law stopped in for lunch after the thumbs up on Yelp reviews. Peach Habanero Jackfruit Wrap was a hit. Fresh and bomb My sister in law hit up the Caprese Grilled Cheese with homemade tomato soup. Not pictured: Mushroom Philly marinated in a Sweet Chili sauce for later .....First smell you get when you walk in . Appreciate your gracious service and ingenuity in the kitchen Chef! Amazing My food journey has shifted...I'm a more conscious foodie now....on the lookout for the foods full of flavor with none of the guilt. Lucked out today Update:Jax "Philly" Mushroom Cheesesteak makes you scream "Broooooooo" after the first bite. Genius edible creation

Mushroom Reuben and potato salad (excuse the poor picture quality)
Rhonda C.

They knocked it out of the park in terms of the quality and quantity of delicious food and their customer service. I was impressed it was inside a "strip mall" with an open inside area which also housed a pharmacy, some type of medical clinic and a nail place. All medical facilities need a place like this (I work in hospitals)! Healthy and tasty food! We were driving through Jacksonville to central Florida and as fairly new vegans we were concerned about eating on the road. What a treat to not only find vegan food but some of the best vegan food I have had! We got the Mac n Cheese (SO good), the jackfruit barbecue sandwich and the mushroom Reuben sandwich-sandwiches also had a side of amazing potato salad (I do not say this lightly as I am super picky about my potato salad but it was some of the best I have had from a restaurant). We share everything, we both took a bite of the Reuben, looked at each other, and said (at the same time) "that is the BEST Reuben I have ever had" (my fiancé is a Reuben connoisseur). We immediately went back and got another one! No sharing THIS sandwich, I need my own! The barbecue sandwich was good, a little sweeter tasting than I like, but still tasty-just overshadowed by the AMAZING Reuben. I also got the sweet orange and black tea and it was so good, I wish I had gotten two. A lot of their ingredients are made in house and it shows. I must say I am really bummed there is not a Vegan Cafe Charlotte! It would do so great here! If you are going to or through Jacksonville, check this place out-even if you are not vegan, I do not think you will be disappointed!

Plantain Jerk Sandwich, Chilled Lentil Salad, Mac N Cheese Bowl
Kristen F.

I love seeing all vegan restaurants pop up everywhere I turn! I travel for work so I also appreciate when they use delivery services. I ordered Vegan Cafe Jax through a delivery app and the presentation and packaging were awesome. They use fairly sustainable packaging with minimal plastic and my food came intact (also thanks to the driver). The plantain jerk sandwich was really good! It had great flavor and included super healthy ingredients. The downside to this one for me was the bun they chose. I feel like a small upgrade would really have brought this meal to life! The sauce that they used on the sandwich was very delicious and you can tell a great chef by the small additions they make to step up an entree. I also enjoyed the lentil salad (served cold) and would recommend it for a side. It looked simple but it was very tasty and a great pairing to the sandwich. The mac and cheese was a miss for me. Although the flavor was alright, the mac and cheese came dry. A little more sauce and moisture would've helped. This could've been a batch that just came out a little different or in part of my aforementioned food delivery, so I wasn't eating it for probably 30 min or so after it was prepared in my to go boxes. Definitely can't wait until I'm in town again to try what else they are cooking up!

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1 year ago

Excellent vegan food!! A bit pricey but nice size portions. The cafe was clean with lots of room. I will definitely go back!

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2 years ago

Omg so delicious!! The mushroom lentil curry shepherds pie thing is amazing !!! I had the Mac & cheese too !! Holy cow that was good

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4 years ago

The best vegan burger I've had! It was bursting with flavor - lentils and mushrooms goodness topped with a great sauce

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Ask the Community - The Hungry Caterpillar

Arepa Please

Arepa Please

4.6
(344 reviews)
2.5 mi
$$

Came back when I was in town for work and it's still just as good! The staff is always so friendly…read moreand the food always hits the spot. I got the pabellon arepa and taqueños to go and there was a very short wait (they make the arepas fresh!), but it was so good. I also enjoyed house made mango juice which was very refreshing on a hot summer day. Parking is a bit tight, but there's more parking within walking distance. All in all, a very authentic, local spot.

Enjoyed a lovely lunch with my bestie trying out their Arepas! It was a little after lunch rush but…read morestill had a good number of customers in the restaurant. The server was really friendly and recommended some great options for us. We ordered the following: 1) THE QUEEN - classic Venezuelan "chicken salad" with their home-made avocado mayo, cilantro and sliced avocados (also known as the Reina Pepiada). Fresh with a great balance of umami flavors! The cilantro green sauce was an amazing add-on with a little spicy kick! 2) PORKO LOCO - slow cooked pork marinated in red wine with queso blanco. Tender, moist, and very flavorful. Amazing! 3) CACHAPA - soft crispy pancake made with sweet corn and fried cheese in the middle. Flavor bomb of sweet and savory! 4) EMPANADA (BEEF) - tender, shredded beef with great flavor of savory. The dipping sauce was white, tangy, vinegary, creamy with a slight spiciness. Delicious! 5) SOURSOP JUICE - rare to find restaurants with this drink. Ate the actual fruits in my homeland in SE Asia. The juice was milky/creamy, sweet with an earthy taste. Great health benefits eating or drinking soursop -- antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, etc. Other notable item was the Passion Fruit Juice however, I did not try it. My bestie really liked it. Overall, wonderful experience at the restaurant of the food, service and great interior feeling creating a great ambiance. Definitely will visit again and try out more menu items.

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Inside
Inside
Arepa
Arepa
Interior design. Cute.

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Interior design. Cute.
Bellwether

Bellwether

4.3
(276 reviews)
2.1 mi
$$

Sad this place is closing. Enjoyed several meals and celebrations here throughout the years. Make…read moresure you stop by and show them some love before the end of March.

Was visiting a friend in JAX and we decided to go to the symphony. We needed a place to eat!…read moreBeforehand. We looked up a few places that had food both of us would like. I like more of American fusion and my friend likes vegan. We made a reservation considering the symphony was playing. When we arrived there were a few open tables so who knows if it mattered. Next was hostess getting us to the table. Sometimes I wonder if they like their jobs. I don't think it is too hard to walk someone to a table, help them sit down, smile a bit then do it again. You could be flipping burgers. But seriously just smile and fake it. Our server was nice yet he looked like he had been gaming all week and forgot to take a shower. I say this as a mom. If I'm going to fine dining, I'd like the staff to brush their hair. Boomers and Gen X appreciate well kept staff. I mean, you had to touch your greasy hair to get it out of your eyes then touch our plates. Plus we barely saw you. No refills. Now to the food. I forgot to take pics. My friend had a salad and I had the $20 chicken sandwich. We are foodies and prob could have cooked up same at home. When I eat out and dine at high rated places, I do have some expectations. It was subpar. And finally we had decaf and espresso after the meal. We know coffee. We've traveled the world. Her espresso was just off. I tried it and choked. And last the bathrooms. They were clean! However there was a line. Only one ladies, one men, one both. And it's in this weird narrow space. Prob not going back. Always love me a new adventure.

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Bellwether
Bellwether
Bellwether

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The Hungry Caterpillar - vegan - Updated July 2026

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