As a nonvegan who was told they need more veggies, Im so grateful to have found DRK. The food is delicious, their service makes you feel like family, and the cafe is charming. Everything you could want read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Smorgasboard (Vegan) - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The best lunch spot with great staff! Their food is very flavorful and packed with so many veggies and other great ingredients. I especially love their sunflower vegan mac and goddess potatoes. Their menu is rotating so you can never get tired of eating here either. The patio area is tucked away making it feel a little cooler and relaxing with the waterfall outside. Definitely give it a try! #SweepstakesEntry read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - 3 item plate - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I was so excited to try this place. The hummus was watered down to the point of having almost no flavor. It was served with maybe 8 chips max and a few pieces of carrots. My order was wrong, but thats fine. I thought maybe the other item is better. The wrap was warm on the outside but cold in the middle. The Mac and cheese was cold and didn't seem to be heated at all. Why call it Mac and cheese when its cold? Isn't that pasta salad? I only took a few bites and my stomach felt like a knot. When food isn't heated properly it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. I won't be back and I'm super bummed since I really wanted to like this place and support local vegan food. read more

Phenomenal. The samples really helped me decide I wanted to try literally everything so I got the smorgasbord lol amazing service, intentional ingredients, so much flavor! The mac and cheese was my favorite. I will definitely be back! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Anyone raised on punk rock vegan cooking a la How It All Vegan, this is THE place. As if I was on my most A-game of homestyle vegan eats. Could happily eat here every day of the year. Grandmas pasta salad, kale salad, apple walnut salad and elderberry blackberry iced tea. Perfection. DRK is the true meaning of elevated cuisine: When food inspires you enough to make you want to be a better human. Thank you, Leslie and Team! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Entrance - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I am not a vegan but appreciate good food and this place has it! Flavor, texture, and freshness reign supreme here. I appreciate that the dishes/options change daily, nothing tastes similar because they don't re-use seasonings or herbs on the individual daily dishes, and I can have a variety of experiences through both taste and texture on the same plate. I don't live in the Tempe area, or even the Phoenix metro area, but this is my favorite restaurant to go to on my every-other-month visits. I found this place thanks to the other reviews when wandering around Mill Ave. looking for a place to eat. Those reviews pulled me in, the quality and inventiveness have kept me coming back. The recommendation is for the smorgasbord - a little bit of everything made that day and an epic meal that could easily be two meals. Also, while ordering, take a little time to talk to the owner who is affable and always willing to engage in conversation. Great to be able to support this small local business creating intriguing, and colorful, dishes which taste great and appeal to the other senses as well. Job well done here! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Smorgasbord - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I've been wanting to come here for a while as I've been trying to hit all the vegan restaurants in the Valley and Desert Roots did not disappoint 10/10! My tastebuds were dancing all lunch long. The food is delicious, fresh, flavourful, and the combos are exciting! The menu is seasonal and ever-changing which is totally my vibe and hard to find in the Valley. Had the poblano beans and kimchi fried rice and they were just fantastic. Leslie is awesome and made us feel at home and their outdoor patio is great for a little work from home action. read more

Awesome place to grab creative, delicious, small-business healthy food. Glad I stopped. Cool concept with an ever-changing menu, the chef flows ingredients and spontaneity and the menu always changes. So delicious - secret courtyard entrance off Mill st. Thank you for the delicious, healthy, vegan, meal. Also had the house-made herbal iced tea and it was so fresh and delicious. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Beet, Basmati, air fried tofu, tahini rice, "rabbit food", and dressed up quinoa! - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

We had just gotten off the plane in AZ when we headed to our hotel and started to look for a restaurant. My dad used to work in this plaza so naturally we headed over to Desert Roots Kitchen! The interior and exterior of this place is beautiful! There are plants everywhere and beautiful colors. I really loved the design and decor as it was so nice. The lady and gentleman who took our order were so kind and answered any questions we may have had. I ordered vegan tacos with a side (in the photo) and it was SO GOOD!!! I loved the tacos and the crunch they had to them. Everyone else in our party is vegetarian except for my dad but he loved the food too! It was an awesome dining experience. read more

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I loved the area in downtown Tempe on Mill Ave. There was plenty of parking in back. The courtyard is adorable and the people are great The food looked delicious, but was buffet style but with a fresh style price. I'll check back and see if I can catch them on a better day maybe. I bought a delicious homemade chocolate made with coconut oil. Nice to get such a yummy clean treat! I will be back for more of those for sure! read more

Comforting food great ambiance will go again Vegan Mac and cheese was flavorful and a bit spicy which I love read more

food is AMAZING!!! The menu changes daily so you mau be walking into a mystery. However, the mystery will always taste delicious and leave you wanting more. Highly recommend any Mac of the day and personally I'm a huge fan of any kale, slaw, quinoa & CUCUMBER salad. Every bite is a new flavor and I have become a constant regular. Highly recommend to anyone who is wanting to expand their palette and try a healthy bite of life. Also the staff, service, ambiance and atmosphere is rad! 10/10!! read more

Amazing food. Full of flavor and super friendly staff. Definitely would recommend!! We split a wrap and 2 sides each so we could try a little of everything. Black beans, dill salad, kale salad & green quinoa. Wrap was curry quinoa, sweet potatoes and other yummy stuff. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Black beans, dill salad, kale salad & green quinoa. Wrap was curry quinoa, sweet potatoes and other yummy stuff. - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food, service, price and atmosphere are excellent. Even the other customers are happy and fun to be around. I will come back here again someday. read more

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Had lunch here after getting off a plane from Baltimore. Everything was delicious! I was surprised that the penne and rice were cold but it still was really good, especially the pasta sauce. Will probably eat here again before we leave to go back to the cold east coast. read more

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First time trying this place out. Wanted to give a local small business a chance. I ordered the Mini Big Box which to be honest, I was expecting more food than what I got. It came on one paper plate plus one wrap. $25. That's a bit steep for a plate of food. I also added on 1 vegan treat but they failed to put that in the bag. They must have had someone new filling in today bc pickup didn't go smooth. I placed an order online for the Mini Big Box $25 and a Vegan Treat $2.95. I had my daughter go pick it up. I provided her the receipt so she wouldn't have any issues. When she arrives, she says she's picking up an online order for Beth. The guy was very confused and didn't seem to understand. Once he figured out it was for a mini big box, he said that customers don't usually pick them up until Thursday. (Today is Wednesday) She showed him the online image where it says pickup Tue-Thur between 12-3pm. If I'm placing an order on Wednesday I want to pickup on Wednesday. He said something about the lady with the computer isn't here today. Lol read more

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Great service and great food! Had a lentil wrap and a beautiful salad made with local greens, walnuts and flowers and the beet couscous (which was my favorite!) read more

Really cute spot with local vibes. The owner was in the shop when I visited and gave me a good run-down of all the options. They have a menu that changes every day, and it seems like they have a lot of fun playing with new recipes and ingredients. I got the half-wrap, half-salad combo, and both were good -- especially the wrap, which was full of rice and nuts and ... other stuff that I can't quite remember. It had a great cheesy sauce, too. Hope to come back again someday! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - wrap of the day and salad - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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This counter-serve plant-based restaurant in downtown Tempe packs a lot of flavor in a small space. The menu changes every day (check Instagram), but is usually full of interesting options including wraps, pasta salads, rice dishes, hummus (usually multiple types), green salads and other vegan options. You order based on how many items you want. I normally get half a wrap and one or two sides, depending on what's available. Most recently, I got a half herb lentil wrap that included rice and lettuce, along with a side of peanut curry rigatoni. You can try items before deciding, which is good because some of the items are very spicy. Whatever you get will be healthy, tasty and vegan! I love how fresh everything they serve is. I've never had a bad meal. However, they have limited hours (just breakfast and lunch), and typically they are only open during weekdays. It can be hard to get to if you don't work or live in Tempe. They are experimenting with being open on Saturdays now though! They also sell frozen pupusas from my favorite vegan pupusa vendor La PupuSarita. And, there's free one-hour parking at the Hayden Square parking garage just west of Mill (behind the restaurant). The service is always friendly and helpful. The only downside is that there is no indoor seating. The dining patio is shaded and has misters on during the summer, but it's best to get the food to-go during the summer heat. read more

Cutting back on meat is attractive to a guy like me. The main problem to this novel idea is overcoming the convenience of what is available and the perception of vegan options being insipid or unfilling. Well, I just experienced a meal, in the form of a Maple wrap and soup, that was down right flavorful, substantial, and whatever the opposite of guilt inducing is. Hat's off to whatever you've got going on there! I only wish there were more options like this along my daily path. read more

Hands down garlic veggies basmati rice is the best item I've had from any Tempe vegan spot. If you're vegan or not this place will definitely satisfy you. I forgot how good this place is. Service is phenomenal they are so nice and the atmosphere is peaceful and not loud and chaotic like most restaurants. No Loud annoying music either! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - garlic veggies basmati rice - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Fresh Food, Bold Flavors, and Vegan! You often don't hear those words associated with vegan food, or at least I don't usually find myself saying them. I will be the first to eat my words, as long as it comes with a side of fresh ginger lemon beet hummus from Desert Roots Kitchen! I have been here twice now, and each time was a sock to my palate...in a good way. I got a plate with balsamic sunflower couscous with spicy chipotle roasted corn,yellow squash and carrots on top. Double dill bowtie pasta with peas that would make you swear you were eating an anything but vegan creamy pesto sauce, a dollop of beet hummus, and a heaping helping of double carrot curry heirloom bean salad. Don't judge, it was one of the most unanticipated amazing things I have eaten! It doesn't look or taste anything like you are imagining. It was culinary artistry. The menu is different every day. Come with an open mind and empty stomach. You may just leave rethinking your life choices. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Today's menu. It changes every day! - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This was one of the best lunches I've had in a really long time! I don't usually seek out vegan restaurants, but I will be a regular at this great spot whenever I'm in town! The flavors were incredible, and the service was fantastic! I enjoyed sesame peanut lentils, strawberry coconut kale salad, and 1/2 a pineapple habanero red bean burrito. Amazing!! read more

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This place is run by the sweetest people. The food is great too. Their philosophy is that they change the menu every day and don't use recipes, so you never know what will be on offer for the day until you get there. We ordered the breakfast burrito and sides of pasta salad and quinoa with vegetables. Everything was flavorful (well, we did add a lot more hot sauce to the breakfast burrito) and we felt so healthy. It was really nice to sit on the shaded patio and have an easy morning with friends. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Breakfast burrito with 2 sides - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Traveling with work, it's always a challenge to find healthy food, so finding Desert Roots Kitchen in Temple, Arizona was a real gift. Walking in, I​ was greeted as if I was an old friend, not just another random customer. The menu is different each day, so while the options were limited, the freshness and quality were exceptional. I had a simple pasta with a small salad, yet the flavors were full and fun. Fittingly, as with the food, the vibe of the cafe was organic as well, an outdoor patio lush with plants. Oh and the coffee! So, so good (and not charbucks) I feel healthier already! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This place has some of the most fresh & flavorful options around. They have wraps, hummus, rice, and pasta dishes. They stick to fresh and local ingredients. Every time I eat here I feel ultra healthy, like I'm in that Seth Rogen meme. The prices are cheap and the portions are hearty. The menu changes daily and they are pretty good with keeping their Facebook page updated with the menu, but sometimes they forget. I suggest calling ahead with any questions and/or to get the daily menu. They do have desserts sometimes, but I have not yet had the pleasure of trying them. The employees are friendly and helpful. It's a small cafe, but the patio seating is prime for warmer months. I suggest carry out during winter, unless cold is your thing. It's tucked in the plaza off Mill and 4th. If you've been to the Escape Room, it's right next door to that. read more

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I was back and forth today on what I wanted to eat. In doing a "healthy lunch" search on here, I came across this place which I had bookmarked some time ago. I called ahead of time after looking for a menu online. The lady who answered was very bubbly and willing to let me know, everyday is special here. By that she meant there aren't specials persay but a daily wrap item with a number of side choices available. She read me the whole list of things they had and I couldn't help but to check it out. It has been awhile since I have visited Mill Ave. I was aware there have been many changes to what is available there but I must have missed the "No Free Parking" for anyone, no matter what. I am beginning to realize it is unfair to drop stars for the business due to a decision made by the city. Okay, so I pay my $2 for what I know will take less than 20 minutes. Parking lot off of 3rd st & Ash. The location is hidden a bit in the court area, it does provide signage if you're paying attention and quite honestly, had I had the time I would have sat on their quaint little patio to enjoy my food. The gent was very friendly, explained the whole run down and chatted as he prepped my wrap for me. Double dill chickpea wrap with a side of tomato lentil curry. It was difficult to decide on my side... the Southwest Tapatio Pintos sounded really good as did the Pineapple Jalapeno Rice Pilaf. However, if you've read any other reviews, I LOVE curry! With that said, there is not enough curry in the world to satisfy my curry needs. And so, tomato curry lentils... add some broccoli, shredded carrot, green onion, lentils, tomato and not enough curry (for me). The curry is there don't get me wrong, but I would douse it all over, in and on top. The double dill chickpea wrap, I wasn't sure what that even meant. Whole chickpeas, likely for some substance and a rice hummus like filling? Zucchini, maybe a dash of cayenne, identifiable dill (thank goodness) and crispy crunchy romaine. Gone, in seconds! I feel like I had a pretty healthy bite to eat today. Oddly enough, it's the one time I may say there wasn't enough salt. That isn't to say the flavor was lacking because it wasn't by any means. It just means they likely use an appropriate amount of salt and let the flavors do the talking. Easier to put it in than it is to take it out, I always say so the salt part is really neither here nor there. Some of the sides are the same as yesterday, which he said everything is made fresh, probably not necessarily daily, depending on their business from the previous day. I am totally good with a next day side although I did notice on their instagram posted menu from yesterdat. I like the thought that this minimizes waste. Rather than tossing tons of food daily, you get a few options that assist the undecisive customer and in the meantime prevent tons of wasted food. So, kudos to them! My guess is that since the menu is ever changing and if you don't have Facebook or Instagram, it's best to call ahead to find out what they have for the day. read more

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I was a bit skeptical about Desert Roots Kitchen before going in solely because it's a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, however I decided to give it a try because I learned they have something new everyday. To my surprise, the food served here was delicious! On the day I went in, they were offering a wrap, vegan soup, coffee hummus, and a few other options. When I told them that I had never been in before, I was offered a few samples. I really liked them all but ended up getting a half wrap, teriyaki rice pilaf, and the potato salad. For a plate of three items, it was $10+tax. The wrap and sides were all really filling and flavorful. All the veggies were super crisp and everything tasted fresh & healthy. I wasn't able to finish three items so I'd only get a half wrap with one side (or any two items) next time. It seemed a bit on the expensive side, but overall a good choice for lunch. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Three Item Lunch. - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Leslie makes everything from scratch and the menu changes daily. I had a quinoa salad with pickled veggies and a lentil and zaatar dip with fresh vegetables. I also picked up 3 heart shaped truffles- the orange blossom was the best by far. I felt so happy and yummy eating the fresh food here. read more

This place is amazing!! So fresh and flavorful!! Highly recommend!! So, I'm in town for work and due to my work schedule can only make it on Saturday! This Saturday, I walked in a little after 2:30 (they close at 3:00) and had the warmest welcome and let me mention it was a warm welcome even before they knew I was a take away order! Leslie and a man (didn't catch his name) waited on me and were so extremely friendly!! Excellent customer service! Now, for the food-so, so good!! Everything is super fresh and so much flavor! I opted for the cheesy peas and the bbq dill sides with a lentil wrap! It was all good, but the bbq dill pinto bean salad was amazing!!!! Smoky, dill, a little heat!! So, so, so good!! This place is definitely a must try!!!! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Loved this little restaurant tucked in the back of some buildings on Mill Avenue. They make their dishes fresh every day so the menu changes daily. They also have amazing desserts. We got an oatmeal cookie which was soft and chewy and very filling. There are several side dishes to choose from like lentil, mac & cheese, and others which can be made into wraps. There is no seating inside, however there is a fun little patio in the front with lots of trees and a small water feature so it doesn't get too warm. The owner was super sweet and friendly! read more

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Clean, fresh and delicious. I absolutely love this place. They change the menu daily and there's always amazing options.

Celebrate: there's a great vegetarian breakfast and lunch spot on Mill Avenue, Desert Roots Kitchen, and it offers up a rotating menu of tasty veg-friendly items with local ingredients for peeps who love eating healthily. The cafe, which has been open for about the past 5 months, is hidden in the plaza off of 5th St. and features a great case of vegetarian dishes, such as pasta salad, pumpkin pudding and dolmas. The spot also serves coffee and breakfast items and a changing daily special, which I got when I went there recently--the pinto bean wrap, with brown rice and peppers. The joint is order-at-the-counter, and there's a little patio outside where you can nosh. Getting my food was super-quick, and the staff was very friendly. Most meals cost only around $10, and you can build your own meal with a variety of sides, an option I loved since everything looked so good. My pasta salad was really tasty, and the wrap packed a protein punch and was really filling. While the spot doesn't currently serve dinner, the manager I talked to said she anticipated dinner hours in the near-future. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - A pinto bean and brown rice wrap. - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Being a Vegetarian for a long time, my husband and I are always looking for a great place to eat and were so lucky to find this jewell! After walking mill avenue and not finding anything exciting, we came across Desert Roots Kitchen. This is a top notch vegan restaurant. I asked as I entered for a menu, which they said we don't have one our selection changes daily!. The choices were fantastic and the owner wonderful!. After we received our food, they came out to make sure that everything was going well. Be aware that this restaurant is tucked away, so look closely for it...you will not be disappointed. read more

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This place is truly a diamond in the rough. I couldn't rate this place anything less than five stars based on the service alone. The food is amazing to say the least and the prices are perfect. Even with a tip at 20% it is still a steal for what it is worth. The energy there is definitely in the food which leaves you with a positive vibe. I couldn't see more about this place other that GO! The tea is awesome btw... read more

Very much a hole in the wall vegan spot! You need to walk between the buildings to find the restaurant, but definitely worth the scavenger hunt. Their menu changes daily and is displayed in an open refrigerated area. The macaroni I got that day was AMAZING! Plus the red chime hummus was spicy and garlic filled (my two favorites). They also had a few desert items. Wish I lived closer, because I would visit more often. read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Great vegan food and staff very knowledgeable about and food allergies/ sensativaties. I really enjoyed the Thai slaw it was sooooo good. I enjoyed the lentil salad as well and can't wait to go another time as their menu changes daily. I love veggies and eating healthy this place definitely combines the two. It's tucked away slightly on the south side and the 414 building to make it easier to find if it's your first time. Enjoy read more

Had a delicious lunch today with my plant based Meetup group. This was a lovely first stop on our plant based journey. Everyone enjoyed everything they ordered. The owners are super welcoming, knowledgeable and helpful. They also offer gluten free options as well. The setting of the shaded patio is very cozy and pretty surrounded by bougainvillea and the sounds of a nearby water feature. The menu changes daily so there is always something new to try. Highly recommend! read more

Desert Roots Kitchen - Entry - Vegan Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I had the three item lunch: lentil soup, kale salad, and Barbecue Mac. It was great. Soup was flavorful and well balanced. The kale had a creamy dressing that was remarkable. The Mac was good as well. Hummingbirds fed off of the bougainvillea as I ate. Good food, kind and welcoming staff. read more

Small Shop run by great people, authentic menu changes daily. Perfect for laid back "earthy" people. If you are high strung corporate individual, it might not meet your expectations. None the less. It is AMAZING. I brought out of town family in for seating of 6 the minute they opened. like all restaurants, they had a staffing challenge, people, employees have issues right? well the owner jumped in , made us comfortable, took service to the next level. My VEGAN family from out of state was impressed. and So AM I. heartily recommend this restaurant read more