Vegan soul food is now available in Sin City. Amber’s Smoked Vegan just opened on May 16, offering Las Vegas locals and tourists alike a plant-based taste of the South.
This new vegan restaurant has taken over a space previously dominated by meat-focused concepts, including 702 Wings and Billy D’s Soul Food Kitchen. Amber’s Smoked Vegan will be completely devoid of animal ingredients, though it promises to deliver the same taste and satisfaction as traditional southern style food.
Amber’s Smoked Vegan is a joint project between Amber Dunn and chef Robert Ferrara. A North Carolina native, Dunn grew up with southern cooking and had been dreaming of opening her own vegan eatery for years. Ferrara had already made a name for himself in the vegan community by bringing vegan options to a local fish and chips restaurant, Off the Hook Seafood, in 2017. In an interview with Vegans, Baby, the city’s first and only vegan lifestyle guide, Ferrara said, “After studying vegan cuisine and launching a vegan menu at Off The Hook, it inspired me to partner with Amber and open a fully-vegan restaurant.” He continued, “We took input from the Las Vegas Vegans [Facebook group], and they wanted southern-style soul food, so here we are.”
This new vegan eatery will offer an extensive menu of “downhome” comfort foods, including hush puppies, spicy smoked peanuts, fried green tomatoes, jambalaya, “chik n waffles,” po’ boys, and more. As an ode to Ferrara’s work with Off the Hook, the menu will also feature homemade vegan fish and chips, made in-house using deep-fried banana blossoms. On the sweet side, customers can expect southern classics such as sweet potato pie, deep-fried PB&J sandwiches, and deep-fried Oreos.
According to Vegans, Baby, Las Vegas is quickly becoming a new vegan dining destination. To highlight the budding vegan scene, founder Diana Edelman just launched the city’s first vegan food tour, which will begin on a bi-monthly basis on June 2.
Amber’s Smoked Vegan is currently in its soft opening phase, featuring a limited menu. The full menu is expected to be available later next week. For tickets and information on the Vegans, Baby Vegan Food Tour, visit the Vegans, Baby website.
Image Credit: Amber’s Smoked Vegan and Gardein
