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Durham, NC

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Pure Vegan Café

4.4 (75 reviews)
ModerateVegan

Order Pure Vegan Café Takeout or Delivery

Pure Vegan Café Photos

PURE VEGAN CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Pure Vegan Café

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Reviews With Photos

Burger with avocado, pico, jalapeños
Courtney W.

I ordered the rainbow and fries. The portion was more than fair, even generous. Flavoring is very tasty, texture good, and temperature was luke warm. I was very satisfied with my choices. Staff was very nice and friendly. Inside restaurant is trendy and clean. As with everything these days, I find the cost a little too extreme so I don't order from here but once a year as a treat while working. I do recommend giving it a try.

Avocado Toast
Shanelle Y.

I'm not vegan, but I decided to come here for lunch with a friend. The inside was spacious and nicely decorated. There were lots of plants and plenty of seating options. We ordered tea, samosas and avocado toast. The meal came out fairly quickly but we were waiting a while for the tea. By the time the tea came out we had finished the meal already. The samosas were crispy and delicious, and they seemed authentic. The avocado toast was good too, although it was pretty basic. Overall, the meal was pretty basic/standard but it was good, and the owner was friendly. I would be interested in coming back to try out some of their other items!

Kale Slaw
Robin A.

We stopped in for a quick early dinner on our way through town. They have a good mix of healthy and "junk" food options. My husband loved the Rainbow burger and fries. I ordered the Breakfast Burger and kale slaw. Everything was delicious. My only complaint was my husband's food and the slaw came but then three to-go orders were filled before my burger arrived so my husband was already done eating before my burger arrived. Nice size tables, but I find metal chairs cold.

the interior of the restaurant
Paul M.

I don't require vegan food, but I thought this would be an interesting place to try, and it turned out to be so! I have been to this space in a few of its prior owners' iterations. The new décor is quite welcoming and you get some nice sunshine in the late afternoon. The "Rainbow Burger" was delightfully spicy and included lots of fresh vegetables (well, onions, lettuce etc for a nice burger). The regular potato fries were dynamite! So crispy on the outside, and spiced a little bit. Any drink seems to take the final price up quite a bit. I'm glad to know of this place.

Uttapam
Lynn N.

Kind service, beautiful space, and delicious food. We had a satisfying Sunday brunch here. With so many options on the menu it took awhile to decide, but the friendly employee gave us a few suggestions. Much of the menu leans towards "comfort vegan", but don't ignore the fantastic Indian fusion options. Mine was delightfully spiced and completely satisfying. It's worth noting that you may need to check your expectations in terms of price and portions (though this is not a criticism, it's just a standard trade-off with higher quality food.)

Potato Fries (SF, NF)

The fries were perfectly crispy! We got the backyard and it was super delicious! They have many options to choose from! I definitely recommend! The staff is friendly and the location is clean and nice. It's downtown not terrible to park but I do not like downtown.

Americana burger (minus one bite) and sweet potato fries (plenty enough for sharing)
Mohamed N.

"Vegan burgers/ chicken/ bowls and more by Duke's West Campus" We came here for lunch on a Friday after getting a flier noting a 10% discount for Duke employees at this new place. It's bright, with high ceilings and big windows, and there were very few people around so service was fast. One orders at the counter and then food is brought to the table. I got the americana burger and sweet potato fries. One of my friends got the chipotle chik'n sandwich, and others got either avocado toast on English muffins or salad. I didn't try the drinks, but some of my friends did. Food came out moderately fast-- most of it was out in 10 minutes, though the burger took almost 20. The burger was quite good-- texture similar to beef, and flavor was good (not too "bean-y"). It was a messy eat because of all the mustard/ ketchup/ etc., as well as the juicy patty all being drippy. (Keep napkins handy!) It really felt like eating a beef burger (which was a positive to me). The sweet potato fries were EXCELLENT-- crisp and hot, and fried to perfection-- not over/ not under. My friends all liked their dishes a good deal. I asked about the Chik'n sandwich-- it "looked" like chicken, but my friend who was eating it hadn't had chicken in 20 years, so she couldn't comment if the taste was similar, but she said it was very good. The price was reasonable for the high quality, vegan ingredients, and proximity to campus-- $10 for the burger, $4 for the fries (easily enough to share). It's no McDonalds pricing, but it's no McDonalds product either. Service was attentive-- someone from the back came out to tell us briefly (but not intrusively) about the place and that she hoped we liked our dishes. Water was self-service, which was nice for quick refills as needed. I will say that the drinks were a little pricey-- $8.50 for most of them, and they are not giant in size. I didn't try them, but my friends who had them said they were quite good. Overall, we all were quite pleased and would happily go back.

Chik'n Waffle (GF, SF, NF) (Chik'n contains Gluten and Soy)
Crystal M.

This place was delicious! Came with my husband and parent-in-laws. We all enjoyed our vegan meal. It's super cute inside the restaurant and service was quick and kind. Must try vegan restaurant in North Carolina!

Tikki Burger w/Sweet Potato Fries, Deconstructed Samosa, Channa Masala, Jackfruit Biryani, Plain waffle, Mushroom Sukka, Sambar Idily

The food was amazing. We were in the area for my father's doctor's appointment and stopped in for an unexpected delicious meal. The staff friendly and helpful with suggestions. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. Highly recommend and will come back again for sure.

FOOD GONE! Delishhhh

My husband and I just turned vegan and trust me this is the BEST !! Vegan chicken wings were bomb! Loved their Americana and Chipotle chicken burgers! And you must have their strawberry lemonade with seamoss as a drink! We demolish the plates lol

Seating area
Glenn G.

We came on a Sunday morning as part of a local promotion that included free smoothies and discounted prices. If you're not familiar with this center, the restaurant is in the back and not facing the road. We enjoyed our smoothies, South of the Border meatless burger, and Chick'n and waffles. You order at the counter and they will bring your food to your table. My only minor complaint was they could have provided real maple syrup instead of the mostly corn oil "pancake" syrup. Good to have another vegan option in the area.

Breakfast Burger

The staff was incredible, understanding, and accommodating our situation for us needing to pack our food Togo. We ordered the Breakfast Burger, the Chick'n sandwich, two sides of the Mac n cheese and two pumpkin cupcakes. The food is phenomenal. I think I ate the breakfast burger in less than 5 minutes and the Mac n cheese is one of the best macs I've ever had! Will absolutely be back to try the rest of the menu and to be able to enjoy it sitting down!

Buffalo Chikn sandwich w Kale Mix Slaw

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1 year ago

Very friendly staff and great vegan food! I got the chipotle ch'kn sandwich which was tasty.

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2 years ago

A friend recommended this place, not a fan. The service is disappointing and the food is not good.

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Ask the Community - Pure Vegan Café

Banu Vegan - Powerhouse Bowl

Banu Vegan

4.9(46 reviews)
3.3 mi
•$

Wow. I was…read moreco-working in Durham and starving and really wanted a vegan option. This place did not disappoint. I got the OG chicken sandwich. Come through oyster mushrooms! Hands down the best I've ever had. Crispy and well seasoned, the aioli set it off and the veggies were fresh. I devoured it...hence why there's no pic. Got the chips and sofrito on the side. The vibe is very Ital inside. Think mudcloth, ankh symbols, and a table outside of crochet goods and loc jewelry. Red, black and green all day.It's a vibe. The storefront isn't much to look at, not gonna lie. It's tucked away between a gas station and an old auto body shop, but the best gifts come in unassuming packages. Humility and seasoning for the win. This place made me feel like I was in the middle of Crown Heights and I ain't mad at that. Not at all.

This place is definitely tucked away--I've driven by many times without noticing it until recently!…read moreThe food was good, though not quite amazing. I ordered the Powerhouse Bowl and Cajun fries. The bowl was flavorful and satisfying, but the fries were disappointing--bland and tasted like they had been refried from frozen. Our friend ordered the OG chicken sandwich, which she felt was lacking in seasoning and could've used more mushrooms. I tried a bite myself and actually found it pretty flavorful, especially with the pretzel bun, which was a nice touch. The restaurant was a bit warm when we arrived, but the staff was quick to adjust the air conditioning when we asked--much appreciated! Overall, I'd consider coming back to give it another shot, especially since we came in about an hour before closing. That might have impacted the food and experience a bit.

Photos
Banu Vegan - Inside

Inside

Banu Vegan - Collard Greens

Collard Greens

Banu Vegan - Storefront

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Storefront

The Refectory Cafe - Cheese platter

The Refectory Cafe

4.1(445 reviews)
2.4 mi
•$$

After my GI procedure at Duke, we stopped for lunch before heading home. Saw the great reviews and…read moreit was not far off our route home so chose this place. Glad we did. Food was great. My turkey melt was perfectly prepared and tasted great. My wife's pancakes and sides were very good as well. The coffee drinks were tasty and well prepared with that good deep espresso flare. Not wanting to overeat on a freshly purged system, we ordered a couple of cheesecakes to go. My wife's lemon ricotta, mine chocolate. Both very different, both very good. Probably the best home made tasting desserts we've had in our 2 yrs in the triangle. Will definitely return after the next trip to Duke med.

Solid brunch spot with great service and lots of GF options -- execution needs a tune-up (4)…read more Visited The Refectory Cafe on a busy Sunday morning. Parking was tight but doable in the lot. The space is charming inside and out; the shaded patio has a nice vibe, though foot traffic to the entrance passes by those tables. Ordering is walk-up, and food is delivered to the table. Menu is broad with clear gluten-free indicators (huge plus). Coffee was dark and delicious, and service throughout was genuinely warm, knowledgeable, and fast -- easily 5 stars for hospitality. Getting to-go boxes was effortless and we were offered refills often. Food was a mixed bag. My wife had the gluten-free smoked salmon toast with avocado. She wished the veggies and tomato were grilled; the GF bread itself was very good, but the greens/tomato ended up pushed aside. I had the smoked salmon Benedict. The salmon portion felt light, and the hollandaise leaned more toward mustard than citrus and was a bit thin. Breakfast potatoes and veggies were nicely cut and well-seasoned but undercooked; same for the bacon, which tasted more tough than crisp. (I reheated the potatoes/veg at home -- flavor was there once cooked through.) Prices felt reasonable, ingredients seemed thoughtfully sourced, and the team's earnestness shines. With a little tighter execution (fully cooked potatoes/veg, crisper bacon, brighter/thicker hollandaise, slightly more salmon, grilled tomatoes), this would be an easy 5. I'll definitely be back -- I gave it a 3.7 but rounded it up to 4 stars for the service, coffee, and GF-friendly menu options.

Photos
The Refectory Cafe - Indoors

Indoors

The Refectory Cafe - Fall Walnut Gnocchi

Fall Walnut Gnocchi

The Refectory Cafe - Cherry pie

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Cherry pie

KoKyu Na'Mean - Doenjang Steak Bowl (with Taku sauce)

KoKyu Na'Mean

4.7(833 reviews)
6.7 mi
•$$

This place was very easy to find and very easy to get to...super close to Southpointe. We got there…read moreearly on a Sunday afternoon. This was my first time but my friend's hundredth (her words!) There was plenty of parking. We were greeted upon entry and informed that we could choose where we sat and just to scan the table QR code when we were ready to order. We chose a high top and a server brought us water. The vibrant colors and decor gave off excellent vibes. I ordered the Karaage Bowl (on greens instead of rice AND all the sauces on the side) and a side order of seaweed salad. A server brought them to our table. It was not necessary for us to get up once we were seated. Everything was SO GOOD. Like, "I'm mad at myself for not coming here before" good. All of the sauces were amazing too. I ordered them on the side since I wasn't sure how I would like them all, but I think I'll leave them on next time. The "greens" were a mix of lettuce and cabbage. The side of seaweed salad for $2.50 seemed a little small when they brought it out but it was packed in there and was plenty. The server came around a couple of times to check on us and top off our water. We bussed our own trash. There was only one unisex bathroom that I saw. There seemed like a lot of takeout orders going out (it was a little separate from the dining area which was nice). There was also a lovely outdoor area that would be nice if it wasn't 100 degrees. I will definitely be back to try more menu items!

Loved the guys who opened this place as a food truck, then a small store off rt 55 and finally…read morehere. Unfortunately the new owners deleted the famous delicious bah mi sandwich that made their fame. They have "burnt ends" with corn chips. Nope. Good bye Kokyu. Farewell.

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KoKyu Na'Mean - Hibiscus lemonade

Hibiscus lemonade

KoKyu Na'Mean - So good

So good

KoKyu Na'Mean - Spicy Tofu Bowl

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Spicy Tofu Bowl

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar - Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar. Open Thursday - Monday from 4:30-9PM for dinner and drinks.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar

4.4(165 reviews)
2.4 mi

There are various types of crimes, right? Crimes of passion. Crimes against humanity. And then…read morethere is this crime: A restaurant that is universally loved and acclaimed that has been a mainstay in Durham since 2019 (and survived the pandemic when others didn't) has to close their doors because the landlords are a bunch of greedy succubi that decided to double the restaurant rent from - not increase it, not negotiate it - but double it from $21 to $42 because this is Durham and Durham is blowing up. Now keep in mind, this isn't some cozy French bistro that seats three. This is a 4000 square foot establishment that probably seats about 70-80 people, I'm guessing. I spent the better part of three hours there the other night - I'm visiting from San Diego - and got to know Marquee (that is how you spell his name, OK?), Anthony, Christine (that may or may not be how you spell her name, OK?), and the owner, Lisa, and have never felt more saddened by, nor felt the love among them, so powerfully in just about any restaurant I've ever been to. This is truly a family affair. On a bittersweet note, they are still open until next Saturday, September 27 and you would be truly remiss not to stop by. And if you do, you'd be - how should I say this? - a loser if you don't try their buttermilk cheddar biscuits which are rhapsodic. The braised pork belly was inspired, too, served with their Carolina barbecue sauce and a wonderfully tangy purple and green slaw. I am truly fortunate to have caught them before things went south and feel honored to have not just met, but got to know, however slightly, the team behind Plum. Kudos, guys. And if the property landlords are reading this: You're homewreckers, have put people out work, robbed Durham of an extraordinary restaurant and are basically a bunch of assholes.

I came to visit Durham for the first time in a long time And was pleasantly surprised to see all…read morethe new and exciting restaurants. A friend suggested we try this place. We made a reservation and were seated upon arrival. Our host was Anthony, I think his name was, with a keen interest for ginkgo trees. He was very attentive, friendly and extremely helpful. He took her order and had some good suggestions. I was craving shrimp and grits which was probably the most unique shrimp and grits. I've had ever. Very distinct flavor and still very rich and familiar. The shrimp were large and juicy as well as remained crunchy overall cooked very well. We also had the summer tomato and burata salad which was really refreshing and delicious. My friend ordered the mac and cheese which is a hefty serving size. Definitely a shareable side or a main for one person. Our host came to check on us frequently, our Waters never went empty. Other hosts were also helping check in on us which was nice. The restaurant itself is large. Booth tables available, which made for a cozy environment. We ended the night with some brownie a la mode, which was the perfect dessert to have on a hot summer day. Overall the experience was amazing, great food and incredibly nice people. Definitely Miss miss the southern hospitality of Durham. Definitely recommend a try here at plum Southern kitchen & bar.

Photos
Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar - Big bar, small plates.

Big bar, small plates.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar - Monday night special. Honey-smoked ham, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato succotash, southern cheese grits.

Monday night special. Honey-smoked ham, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato succotash, southern cheese grits.

Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar - Beef stroganoff with a mushroom cream sauce, pickled onion, & mustard seed.

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Beef stroganoff with a mushroom cream sauce, pickled onion, & mustard seed.

Pure Vegan Café - vegan - Updated October 2026

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