Est. Dec 2020. An all-vegan direct-to-diner restaurant with a welcoming vibe. Offers pick-up & delivery in City Center. Offers comfort American- gastropub food. Menu is extensive & diversified, including sandwiches, pasta, starters & sides, soups and more. Highly recommended to try the egg rolls! Has a fun comical monster theme. Order directly from them to save money. Open Mon-Thu 4:00pm-10:00pm, Fri 4:00pm-11:00pm, Sat 11:00am-11:00pm. Closed Sun.
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1229 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19107
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Last update on 06 May 2024 by DescreetVegan
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Added by thatveganjawn on 04 Jan 2021
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141 Reviews
First Review by thatveganjawn
beccagh06
Points +16
Always delicious - Edit
I’ve gone here twice now and the food and atmosphere is fantastic. I tried the Caesar salad, clam linguine, Alfredo pasta, and garlic knots (all in 2 trips). The food was absolutely delicious, there’s a lot of options and fun drinks to try as well. I’d highly recommend this for a night out
Read morePros: Amazing pasta, Great atmosphere
Guest
SophiaTara
Points +204
Decent and Gut Busting - Edit
Not my favorite place in Philly, but it’s consistent. Everything is super heavy and I don’t totally get the combination of takeout style Italian food with fruity cocktails and monster movies. Seitan wings are very tough and thick, and the sauces don’t cover up their flat flavor. The pastas are good, but I don’t often eat pasta out unless it’s handmade. The sandwiches taste good but if the bread sits too long it gets quickly hard and stale. The sandwiches are smaller than you’d think for the price. Caesar salad is good but a little bitter. So much of the menu is deep fried 😵💫🫠
Read moreGuest
OperationChowhound
Points +8208
It was a graveyard smash...burger. - Edit
The Cheesesteak Eggrolls included Impossible beef and fried onions and were served with cheddar sauce and ketchup. It was an interesting fusion. The Double Smash Burger included two Impossible beef patties, cheddar cheese, crispy onion rings, special sauce, pickles, and lettuce on a brioche bun and served with fries. I liked it, but it was too much food. I would usually take home leftovers, but this didn't seem like it would be good later.
Read morePros: all vegan, ambience
Cons: pricey, 20% auto-gratuity, plastic straws, cramped seating
Guest
*HailSeitan*
Points +68
Pretty good food, great vibe - Edit
I had the cheesesteak, and I’ve had better but it was still good. Wife had the chicken parm sandwich and that was much better. Truffle fries were great. So many great options, and I’ll definitely be back. My only complaint was that they don’t carry Diet Coke, despite the fact that they have coke and a full bar.
Read moreThey now have Diet Coke, but they charge extra for refills. I had the Fulci sandwich with the vegan ribeye this time and it was phenomenal. Way better version of their cheesesteak.
Updated from previous review on 2023-11-06
Pros: Lots of options, Pretty good food, Great vibe
Cons: Extra charge for soda refills, Parking can be challenging
*HailSeitan*
I agree, the first time I went there they didn’t carry Coke products. They now have Diet Coke, but no free refills. A step forward, but still not all the way there. I asked for refills and my bill showed each refill was charged 😑
Read moreGuest
lmop
Points +170
Phenomenonal - Edit
This place is enough to make me want to move from Seattle to Philly. (Okay, there are a lot of other factors too.) The Bavarian pretzels were little clouds of salty buttery delight. The cheesesteak with RIBEYE (I'm still in thrilled shock over the existence of vegan ribeye) was like an orgasm for the mouth. I would eat this sandwich for every meal. I would marry this sandwich. I would leave my husband for this sandwich and he would leave me.
Read moreThe oreo beignet sundae was fabulous too, and I loved how my fruity mocktail was a reasonable size rather than like 4 sad ounces of a juice mix.
Updated from previous review on 2024-12-24
Pros: Incredible food, Wonderful decor, Super friendly staff
Cons: They've ruined me for every other cheesesteak
Guest
maliacow
Points +16
A Must-Go in Philly - Edit
The venue has character, the wait staff was attentive, kind and efficient, but most of all you should go to Monster Vegan because the food was incredible. We had deep fried mac & cheese - to DIE for! I had a cocktail, my friend had mocktail and both were expertly prepared and delicious. Our main courses were two different pastas and both were prepared well and very tasty. Everything we had was fantastic. I'd suggest bringing all your friends (vegan or vegan-skeptic) and don't tell them it's a vegan place - they will be amazed.
Read moreGuest
buzzz
Points +24
Premier Restaurant and bar - Edit
Great friendly service and a menu that is awesome. You definitely need to check this place out but be careful with the parking. Got a $36 dollar ticket for expired meter where there was not any meters to plug. Not real happy with that nonsense.
Read morePros: Great ambience, Awesome menu , Friendly staff
Cons: A freaking parking ticket , Lack of parking meters , Philly parking meter maids
*HailSeitan*
I feel your pain. For future reference, Philly has removed meters and now uses mobile parking app, using the zones posted on each street. For those without phones, there are centrally placed kiosks on each street. The parking authority there is very strict, unfortunately.
Read moreGuest
gymvegano
Points +431
Delicious - Edit
Everything I have tried here has been awesome.
Read moreRecommended for anybody coming to Philly.
Pros: Flavors, Ambiance, Service
Guest
CocoCat
Points +301
Good Food, Cool Atmosphere! - Edit
The horror theme was so neat! Food was pretty darn good, too. The “chicken” cutlets were much more flavorful than I expected, but they skimped a bit on the “ribeye” on the cheesesteak. The wiz on the cheesesteak was amazing, and while the brussels sprouts on the General Tso’s were a little undercooked, they were super tasty with the sauce!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-11-18
Guest
beyglboy
Points +40
monster vegan, my beloved - Edit
if i leave philly at some point, i will forever mourn the loss of monster vegan. when it comes to vegan comfort food and horrifically good hoagies, their game is unmatched.
Read morenot to mention, naming almost every sandwich after a legendary horror film director will always get you extra credit from me.
Pros: the hoagies, the wings, everything else
Guest
PastaLana
Points +263
Frighteningly realistic veganized comfort food classics - Edit
When I went vegan, I knew I would never eat things like carbonara pasta and ribeye steak again (and with good riddance!).
Read moreSomehow Monster Vegan has managed to make both of those things, completely vegan, and absolutely scrumptiously. I had their Cacio e Uova which had all the salty, creamy, savory goodness of carbonara, even a magically pop-able vegan egg yolk that absolutely blew my mind, without any of the cruelty regular carbonara requires. It brought a literal tear to my eye because it made me realize that if everyone could just TRY this food, absolutely nobody could possibly miss meat or dairy.
My sister had the Lon Chaney sandwich with vegan rib eye which also blew my mind. I've had a lot of imitation meats, but NOTHING quite like this. I mean this was next-level steaky goodness.
As someone who lost their taste for cruelty, but not for the fatty, juiciness of a cheesesteak or a creamy pasta dish, Monster Vegan was a true delight. I mean, what a time to be alive!!!
Also, to address some of the other reviews, I'm pretty sure there truly is nothing "healthy" on the menu, but come on, the whole restaurant is themed like a movie night with your friends–nobody wants a salad.
Go enjoy some dirty vegan comfort food and watch some swamp monsters traipse across the walls. You won't be disappointed but you will be full! Besides, if you've been eating vegan, your cholesterol numbers are probably more than good enough for you to go enjoy an order of deep-fried non-dairy mac and cheese balls.
P.S. This is an IDEAL place to bring some omnivorous friends since the menu is extremely "familiar" and the taste is truly spot on (in a really mindblowing, kind of creepy way).
Pros: Completely vegan menu, Extremely delicious, comfort food classics, Fun vibe + non-alcoholic cocktails
Cons: No real dessert menu (but you'll be too full)
Loveiseternal77
What fantastic and spot on review! I am completely on board with your assessment that if vegan food can taste this good, humans can evolve past the use of animals for food without giving up great taste and enjoyment. Bless you and peace to all beings on the earth! ❤️
Read moreGuest
devonwithano
Points +6938
Good vegan bar but the food wasn't my favorite - Edit
I liked the ambiance, but the food was heavy. I would go back for drinks (and maybe snacks) only, but not for a full dining experience.
Read moreGuest
S-Mily
Points +26
Amazing food and great vibe - Edit
I thought I'd need to leave Philly without having tried their famous Cheesesteak, but thankfully I found Monster Vegan! Such a cute overall vibe with nice decorations; and both food and drinks were just delicious! The waitress was very nice and had good recommendations and everything was just fantastic. If you're in Philly, you should definitely check this place out!
Read moreGuest
ClarkScholz
Points +52
Awesome and Creative - Edit
I ordered the wings, and the Alfredo. Both were so good. I intended to eat half, but ended up eating the whole thing. Also, the interior of the bar is mister themed and entertaining! Also also drinks!!
Read moreGuest
AllyKnight
Points +280
Dangerously Delicious! - Edit
I came in with low expectations, but wow, I was blown away! SO freaking good! Must come back!
Read moreGuest
XOXO
Points +1852
Everything was great - Edit
Great slower fast food options here. I’m not into drinks but they seemed to have plenty of options.
Read moreGuest
tsworth
Points +155
Expensive and poor quality - Edit
I went here recently and ordered the Philly sandwich and it was expensive and barely edible. I also ordered a cocktail that was mediocre at best and expensive. A highly disappointing experience. Can’t imagine ever returning.
Read morePros: The vibe was cool
Cons: Food was terrible, Cocktail was mediocre
Guest
Amyladedada1
Points +682
Great spot! - Edit
Great spot! Can’t wait to go again
Read moreGuest
amyladedada
Points +28
Good vibes - Edit
Good food good vibes. We didn’t have a reservation but were about to get right in. Every seat seemed like a good seat for monster vibes.
Read moreThe food was quick and delicious!
Guest
ranjeetrajan
Points +85
Great Ambiance, Drinks and Food - Edit
Monster themed restaurant. Good food/drinks and great service!
Read moreGuest
talakoala
Points +954
Fantastic - Edit
The space is beautiful, the staff was friendly and the food was insanely good. Loved it
Read moreGuest
Gopala108
Points +3865
Junk Food Vegan with Monster Memorabilia and Monster Film(s) in Phila - Edit
Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches and stay with my Dragula–Rob Zombie
Read moreI went to Monster Vegan during a recent trip to Philly. Getting a vegan version of the iconic Philly Cheesesteak was a must & did just that ordering a cheesesteak with shaved seitan, housemade vegan cheese whiz, and fried onions on a baguette. I added lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli for $1.50. All in all it was quite decent.
Longtime vegan Rob Zombie would love it here. Black and white horror films showed on the tele along with heaps of Monster memorabilia including the Werewolf, Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and many more. Tattooed staff was friendly and provided efficient service. It had a hipster vibe.
I found it to be junk food vegan so if that is your thing and you love monster memorabilia come here. Pro tip: Check out certain nights where they show full monster films.
Room for improvement:
I would bump it to four or five stars if there were more tasty/healthy vegetable options on the menu. I am vegan now 25 years before plant based eating was hip and trendy. I am glad that the movement is becoming more popular and it is here to stay. Add some vegetable forward dishes on the menu that are healthy and would be coming back here sooner than later next time I am in Philly.
Pros: monster memorabilia, all vegan, friendly staff
Cons: vegan junk food, not enough healthy vegetable dishes on the menu
Guest
suzagord
Points +640
Tasty and decadent - Edit
I was very happy with the The Cheese Plate (serves two to three as an appetizer but I enjoyed it as a main course): A selection of three vegan cheeses paired with
Read morered grapes, apple, fig jam, kalamata olives, candied pecans, whole-grain mustard, baguette
Ladybug
“Chesire
” Aged Cheddar
Ladybug
“Goblin
” Smoked Gouda
Monster Vegan Boursin
Pros: Adorable skull and monster theme
Cons: A little too loud
Guest
lessdoug
Points +417
Very good food and atmosphere - Edit
Always good food and drinks. They have unique tables and chairs and not all have back support fyi. Can be a little bread heavy with the sandwiches and pasta.
Read moreGuest
KevinCharney
Points +46
Hearty delicious vegan food! - Edit
Very filling and delicious. Love the vibe here!
Read moreGuest
NkatekoMdaka
Points +218
Great food! Lovely space - Edit
I got the Philly cheesesteak, this was my first time trying a Philly cheesesteak in my life so I absolutely had to do it the right way! The service was awesome, we had takeout so we didn’t sit in for long. It was so easy to find and the food looked and tasted really good!
Read morePros: Food , Ambience , Service
Guest
ashaprovocateur
Points +186
Monster yum! - Edit
100% vegan shop. I had the Petit Lasagna and it may be my second fav after Pure Vida in LA! Oh and I love the endless reels of horror film scenes rotating on screens throughout.
Read moreGuest
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