Vegan
Delivery
Take-out
Southern American
Offers a small menu of comfort foods like the daily plate with soymeats and greens, plus sandwiches, dairy-free desserts, and smoothies. Simple space. Black-owned. Open Tue-Sat 12:00pm-8:00pm, Sun 1:00pm-6:00pm.
29 Reviews
First Review by philadread
Karmel13
Points +40
Local Comfort Food Favorite - Edit
I truly don’t know how they make the food taste so rich and delicious. Love the wings, bbq chick’n, plantains, collard greens- all of it. Their baked goods are without a doubt, the best vegan baked goods I’ve ever had. I would rank them among the best of any baked goods I’ve ever had – vegan or not. The blueberry coffee cake is my favorite, but all of their desserts are fabulous. I’ve eaten in a couple times, but usually I do take out. I usually just order a lot of extra food and break it into meals and freeze it.
Read morePros: Cakes, Soul food
Loveiseternal77
My absolute favorite restaurant. Such a gem!
Read moreGuest
theknightwhosaysne
Points +126
great takeout soul food - Edit
We dined in here after a hike at the Wissahickon. You order at the counter and they bring it out. Very casual for dining, would be best to do takeout, there's even a small park around the corner (Wick House?) with some tables. Jerk drumsticks were the highlight! All the soy chikn we tried were great-- esp enjoyed the BBQ. Lots of gluten free options which they said were marked Wheat but they changed recipe to not include soy sauce recently!! Reminds me of an actual barbecue with baked bean flavor. Cabbage was great and tasted like turmeric curry. Great plantains! Also enjoyed the collards and okra. Water quality was great, looks like they also sell large purified water jugs. Enjoyed a decadent oatmeal raisin pecan cookie after! Friendly service, and nice to see Black owners and clientele. Only real con was having to eat in plastic. I decided to bring the containers home to not waste them.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-08-06
Pros: flavor, selection, location
Cons: all plastic dishes & utensils, bare dining space
Loveiseternal77
My absolute favorite restaurant of all time! Glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Read moreGuest
PaulCaracciolo
Points +303
Outstanding - Edit
I went with the jerk drumsticks and loved the texture, taste/seasoning. The sides were a nice compliment as well. Really thankful for HappyCow or I likely would not have discovered this place.
Read morePros: Food, Wait time (very short), Price
Guest
Keyz2026
Points +4007
Vegan Philly - Edit
The customer service was great. The atmosphere was relaxing 😌. The food was delicious 😋.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-04-08
Pros: Food, Atmosphere , Customer service
Guest
Elizak
Points +63
Delicious food for a good price - Edit
We got the combo platter (2 entrees and 2 sides) for 17 bucks, and it was a good size for lunch for two people. (We got jerk chicken, chicken and gravy, plantains, and collared greens- all yummy, the collared greens were the best part.) We also got a slice of cookies n cream cake to share, and it was sooo good.
Read moreDefinitely a simple establishment, but the food came out quickly, there are lots of plants, and fun music in the background- it was a very pleasant, quick lunch!
Updated from previous review on 2024-02-02
Pros: Nice staff, Good price, Delicious food
Cons: They use single use plastic Tupperware + utensils
Guest
The_Inked_Bird
Points +359
Taste of the gods - Edit
The jerk chicken is insanely good and so were the plantains. I've missed good collards since going vegan and these were so good!
Read moreGuest
nanitree
Points +1122
Tasty comfort food - Edit
The Nile Café is a great place to go for tasty comfort food. We’ve only done takeout here due to the pandemic and I have enjoyed pretty much everything we’ve ordered. I will say that I am not a spicy food person, so the drumstick option was a little too hot for me. Everything else is delicious and I recommend eating at The Nile Café!
Read moreGuest
jakoobi
Points +40
omg pls go here besties - Edit
it's so good bro like the fish stew and collard greens is my fav thing and omg just so yummy
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-12-17
Pros: vegan restaurant, big yum, hell yeah
Guest
ShirleyRitter
Points +22
Chikn n Gravy - Edit
I travel for work and rely on happy cow for vegan option. The Nile Cafe located across from a big church in Germantown did not disappoint. I had chikn n gravy with okra corn and tomatoes along with a side of cabbage. So delicious!
Read morePros: Vegan menu, Good prices, Friendly
Cons: Signage a little hard to see in window
Guest
yup
Points +112
So amazing - Edit
I don't normally like okra in any other application than fried okra, but their okra corn tomato was excellent. Their collards were excellent as well (I'm from the south so I have high standards for collards). All of the veg meats i tried were amazing (jerk chicken, bbq chicken, ginger chicken). Had to take dessert back with me because i was stuffed, but I'm glad i did!
Read morePros: Veg meats done well, Collards, other veg sides, The dessert!
Guest
FalafelFiend
Points +83
Absolutely delicious - Edit
Great food, fast service. I'll be thinking about this meal until I can go back and have it again. Reasonably priced, too.
Read moreGuest
lime.skyblue
Points +536
Beautiful Space + Soul Food Made With Care. - Edit
The Nile Café is a beautiful shop & eatery about a 20 minute drive outside of Philadelphia's city center. The staff workers at the shop and eatery are so kind, and every time I ate a meal here, I sensed the intention and care that the chefs placed into their cooking.
Read moreNile Cafe specializes in soul food, which is the name for food that is traditionally prepared and eaten by the African American community in the Southern United States.
I usually made my own platter of food: brown rice, pepper steak / chicken with gravy, and collard greens.
The next time I visit Philly (Philadelphia), I know I'll return to The Nile Cafe for another meal.
Guest
ElyseFranco
Points +48
Serious comfort food - Edit
I’ve never had soul food but I imagine this is what it would taste like! Super flavorful, 11/10, will order again
Read morePros: Lots of choices, Some gluten free items
Cons: None!
Guest
Shaggy
Points +192
Great place - Edit
I've been here a few times, and it's always a great experience. If I lived near by, I'd be back all the time.
Read moreThere's usually some interesting community event going on inside.
The building has these large front and back doors that they keep open if the weather is nice. So that gives it this really pleasant airy atmosphere
Anyway, they have really great food. And they have vegan pistachio ice cream!
Pros: Pistachio ice cream, Good food
Guest
SuzT
Points +937
Delicious! - Edit
Jerk chicken and collards were amazing! Definitely a go to spot for comfort food.
Read moreGuest
HaleyJordan
Points +47
SO good!!!! - Edit
The jerk chicken was incredible and the succotash was so good!!
Read moreGuest
MichaelSavegan
Points +2239
Really nice - Edit
Had a great meal of Chik’n wings, rice and collards.
Read moreSort of a community center for a lot of activities. Order at a window and they bring the food out to you.
Friendly Jamaican vibe.
Pros: Great food
Guest
dweebnature
Points +33
Full of flavor, amazing vegan options. - Edit
Had never tried this place, was so happy to find that all their options are vegan! Tried the ginger chicken with brown rice and collard greens, they were delicious! Amazing use of flavor, nothing too overwhelming. Also had amazing cake that I’m begging my friends to get me for my birthday lol
Read morePros: All vegan!! , Amazing flavor, Friendly service
Cons: A bit warm inside (no big deal)
Guest
HappyOtter
Points +297
Amazing spices and chill atmosphere - Edit
Simple order at the counter menu, and the lunch plates are excellent. Good spices, lovely texture, and a variety of flavours and sides.
Read moreThere's a small shop and filtered water refill station inside as well.
Guest
Ghetto_Vegan
Points +26
Best cake - Edit
Best vegan vanilla cake I've ever had. Vanilla buttercream icing on top and in between two moist layers of cake, sheer perfection.
Read moreGuest
Linda♡
Points +171
Flavorful Vegan Food - Edit
They have a variety of food on their menu including sandwiches and desserts, all vegan. I called in to order a combo of 1 entree and 2 sides. What I got was BBQ chicken with cabbage and okra tomato corn. Because the menu didn't use alternative spellings like chic'n, I asked whether it was vegan and it was. The food was ready for pick up when I arrived, and I paid with a credit card. All three dishes were flavorful. I would have liked it more if the spice was stronger, but it was still good. Chicken, made of soy, was chewy.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan entrees, sides, and desserts
Guest
Livenow!
Points +29
Glad to find this gem! - Edit
Sought this place out because I was nearby for an appointment. SO glad I did. I got a double entree, sides, and a piece of cake to go. Their food is delicious and the portions are generous. I wish they weren't 2 hrs from home, but, I'll be sure to stop by next time I'm in the area!!
Read morePros: Great tasting soul food, Friendly, quick staff, Inexpensive
Guest
k1alligood
Points +48
Delicious food in a casual atmosphere - Edit
The food was great, though for some reason the lemon chicken reminded me of Chinese takeout! Really good meal with large portions. Dessert was also excellent (mocha chocolate cake).
Read moreGuest
LocdVegan
Points +97
Conscious soul food - Edit
Tasty traditional soul food with a vegan twist. Their duck is my favorite!
Read morePros: Comfort food
Guest
devondevon2
Points +11
Great!! - Edit
The pepper steak and lemon chicken are both awesome! The regular sized platters are always so filling and the service and entertainment are top notch!
Read morePros: - Lots of options to try - Great customer service
Guest
ciarakehoe
Points +33
Yum - Edit
I ate here after quite a workout, and I was hungry! Everything was vegan, delicious, and they have a bunch of vegan ice "cream" that you can eat in or take home in larger qualities.
Read moreGuest
s144799
Points +140
Veg only restaurant, but food not great - Edit
I went to the Nile Cafe sometime in Fall 2012. Things may have changed since then as they were reopening after closed for a while when I went.
Read moreThe food wasn't great. Everything is vegan at the restaurant. They have ice cream and possibly other veg desserts (I don't remember exactly). I remember a couple good items, but the rest I threw out because it wasn't edible. There are other great veg restaurants in the area, as the Philadelphia area is one of the best veg places in the country or even the world. Veg food can be just as good as non-veg, but this restaurant doesn't display this.
The staff seemed very nice, however. Also, the Nile Cafe mainly sells water to put into a water cooler.
Pros: Friendly staff, All veg
Cons: Food not great
Guest
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