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    The Hungry Caterpillar

    4.9 (66 reviews)
    ModerateVegan, Desserts

    Order The Hungry Caterpillar Takeout or Delivery

    The Hungry Caterpillar Photos

    THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - The Hungry Caterpillar

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    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!

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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

    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!

    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!

    Menu
    Annie R.

    I tried their food at vegfest and wow-yummy!!! Definitely going to come in person. I had the chili mac and cheese and it was sooo good! The cherry chocolate cupcake was super moist and had a pitted cherry at the bottom!! Yumyumyummm

    Philly mushroom cheesesteak.

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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

    Sweet Theory Baking - Light, fluffy, and (・‿・)hhh-so-cinnamon-y!! Love that their cinnamon rolls are not dense compared to others. We highly ƪ(・‿・) recommend!

    Sweet Theory Baking

    4.6(525 reviews)
    3.5 miWestside
    $$

    We L(*‿*)VE stopping in at Sweet Theory when we are in the area…read more Whether you follow a strict vegan diet or not, the baked goods here are absolutely incredible! The Lemon and Carrot Pineapple Bars, and fluffy Cinnamon Rolls are our personal favorites--everything is consistently flavorful, fresh, and perfectly made! We stopped in around noon right before the downpour and it wasn't too crowded, plus parking was easy peasy. I can easily imagine them running out early, so definitely plan to get there on the early side! (Hours are 8:30-4 Tuesday thru Friday, 9-4 on Saturday and CLOSED Sunday and Monday). ヽ(*‿*)ノ Highly recommend stopping in if you want amazing baked goods and friendly vibes. #supportlocalJax @ SweetTheory-King St.

    Found this place by chance when I was looking for a bakery near Ascension St. Vincent's hospital to…read moreget some treats for the nursing staff at the hospital. They have good reviews on Yelp as well as Google. They have plenty of parking in the front of the store. I got a dozen of varieties of large donuts for about $40 ($3 each). I also tried their blue berry muffin which is fluffy and not too sweet. I did not know that the bakery is vegan and gluten free until reading some reviews! So, more power to them (wink wink)! The hospital staff enjoyed the doughnuts (based on their smiles and caring for my dad!) The people at the shop is also very nice and friendly! If you are looking for a vegan and gluten bakery, look no further!

    Photos
    Sweet Theory Baking - The sides of our cake

    The sides of our cake

    Sweet Theory Baking - Just a few goodies on this bright and early Saturday morning.  *:。゚ \ (・‿・) /゚*:。゚ Highly recommend Sweet Theory-King St. #JaxEats

    Just a few goodies on this bright and early Saturday morning. *:。゚ \ (・‿・) /゚*:。゚ Highly recommend Sweet Theory-King St. #JaxEats

    Sweet Theory Baking - Double-down on everything biscuit

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    Double-down on everything biscuit

    Bellwether

    Bellwether

    4.3(276 reviews)
    2.1 miLaVilla
    $$

    We recently had dinner at Bellwether. They're on the northwest corner of Laura & Forsyth, downtown…read more This was our second time there but the second time for both of us eating there as we dipped in previously for me to eat when my wife had eaten elsewhere beforehand. We started with the Korean Fried Broccoli and we both had mixed feelings about it. We liked the overall taste but we both expected the breading to be far more crispy than it was. Having never tried it before, that could very well be how it's meant to be but when we see "Korean Fried", we are thinking crispy. Again, it wasn't bad, just not what we expected. I ordered the Steak Frites for my entree, which I ordered medium rare. Let me start by saying that the cook on the steak was perfect and I REALLY liked the fries and the seasoning on them. However, I was really surprised by how tough the the steak was. I mean, really tough. I liked parts of it but found it hard to enjoy most of it. My wife ordered the Sheep Style Smash Burger. She thought it was a good smash burger and the "sheep sauce" was a nice take on 1000 Island. She liked the potato bun and she really liked her fries as well. So it seems her entree was more of a success than mine. It's worth noting that our server Maya was fantastic. She added a lot to our enjoyment of the evening. Our server the first time was awesome too and I liked my entee (short rib) a LOT more. So we'll stop in again to try some other things eventually.

    I stopped in for dinner during happy hour and ordered the shrimp po'boy with shoestring fries. The…read moresandwich was spot on -- fresh and warm, with Cajun-seasoned shrimp that were perfectly cooked. The bread was soft and slightly sweet, which paired beautifully with the blackened spiced shrimp. Fries were flavorful though a bit thicker than expected for "shoestring," but still enjoyable. I paired it with Pinot Noir (1/2 off for happy hour!) and wrapped up the evening with strawberry and cream macarons -- a sweet, refreshing finish. Service was casual and welcoming. My server was friendly and personable. It felt easygoing yet professional, exactly the kind of service you want for a laid-back evening. The ambiance is modern rustic -- think wood accents, darker tones, and even a pig ceiling accent that adds some charm. Happy hour prices make it a great entry point if you're curious to try the menu. Overall, I've been here several times, and the consistency keeps me coming back: quality food, warm service, and an atmosphere that's lively without being overwhelming. Highly recommend, especially for a casual dinner or happy hour.

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    Bellwether
    Bellwether
    Bellwether

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    The Hungry Caterpillar - vegan - Updated September 2026

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