David started talking about the next trip we needed to take to Bean Vegan Cuisine about halfway through our first visit.
One bite of their take on a vegan Big Mac, which they call the Good Burger, and he was already plotting ways to sneak in another visit before our time in Charlotte, North Carolina was done.
Bean Vegan Cuisine
Bean Vegan Cuisine offers Southern style comfort food that’s entirely plant-based. The restaurant is spacious and casual.
It’s decorated in all kinds of superhero paraphernalia – with art on the walls, figures lining shelves, and even a big cardboard cutout of Captain America patrolling the restaurant entrance.
(There’s a second location of Bean in Asheville.)
Drinks
In addition to soft drinks, Bean Vegan Cuisine offers wine and beer.
North Carolina is known for its breweries. So David and I ordered a local beer from Olde Mecklenburg Brewery called Capt Jack.
The mild beer went down easy and was the perfect compliment to the fried comfort food we were ordering.
(I tried to find the beer outside of North Carolina, but sadly, it doesn’t go further west than Asheville.)
Starters
On our first visit, we ordered battered and fried dill pickle chips. They were generously portioned and had a crisp exterior. On the side, creamy ranch dressing for dunking.
There was no way we could finish all of them, but they were surprisingly tasty later eaten cold out of the hotel refrigerator.
(Want to make fried pickles at home? Check out my recipe. They can be made in the air fryer or skillet.)
On our second visit, the fried buffalo cauliflower was a special. I always bake my buffalo cauliflower at home, and so having it fried felt like a real indulgence.
It had a crisp coating and a generous smothering of buffalo sauce. On the side, thick and creamy ranch dip.
Burgers & Sandwiches
Is there any other choice? Obviously I had to try Bean’s classic reuben with thinly sliced house made seitan, melted Daiya mozzarella, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing.
They don’t skimp on the toppings, and this reuben was all pleasure.
On the side, I ordered collard greens, and for me, they were the surprise standout of everything I had at Bean. The smoky and slow-cooked collard greens had an edge of sour sweetness.
(The owner was at Bean one of the days we were there, and he told me the secret ingredient. I have since made collard greens at home using his trick, and it’s magic. See my vegan collard greens recipe that was inspired by their collard greens here.)
On our second visit to Bean, I ordered the cowboy burger. It was piled high with seitan bacon, onion rings, melted Daiya cheddar, pickles, and barbecue sauce. This gargantuan burger was packed with flavor and bite.
On the side, I had grilled zucchini. Mild zucchini is always great on the grill, because it picks up smoky flavors beautifully.
The burger so nice, David had to order it twice. Like its Golden Arches nemesis, Bean’s good burger is topped with two burger patties, special sauce, lettuce, melted Daiya, pickles, and onions.
David is still talking about it.
The Market
In addition to all of the comfort food you can eat, Bean has a small 100% vegan market inside of their restaurant. They have products from national brands, as well as seitan and spreads from their restaurant for home use.
We enjoyed both visits to Bean Vegan Cuisine, and the service was exceptionally friendly across the board. If you want to sample Southern comfort food, make sure to include Bean in your Charlotte itinerary.
Tracey
Wow, 7 years!! Congratulations!! I’m so happy to have found you & your wonderful blog. You’re such an inspiration!!
Cadry
That’s so sweet of you to say, Tracey. Thank you! <3
Shell
Happy 7 year blogging anniversary! Can I join you next time you go to Bean? The food looks amazing!
Cadry
You, me, and Bean. It’s a date!
Nicole
Congrats on 7 years of awesomeness!! Everything at Bean looks delicious and that Good Burger, I’m not even sure how I would take a bite of it, it’s so huge! You guys are so cute in your video (as usual), loved it : )
Cadry
Thanks, Nicole! It’s hard to believe I’ve been blogging for 7 years. I had no idea when I wrote that first post that I’d still be doing it after all of these years. The burgers definitely weren’t dainty. Let’s just say this is not 1st date kind of food! 🙂
VeganLinda
Yay! So glad you liked Bean! They are so nice there and we take my meat loving in-laws there with no complaints at all. I heard they opened another location in Asheville, NC. I can’t wait to try it out. Eating collards in the south is what got me hooked on them. I don’t remember ever trying them before dating my Southern vegan now hubby. We always get the collards at Bean to balance out the fried goodness. 🙂
Cadry
That’s great that your in-laws are happy to go to Bean. I’m not surprised that their food could appeal to all types – except raw vegans maybe. 😉 I agree that they are exceptionally friendly. We were so impressed by how chatty and engaged the staff was during both of our visits. I’d only had collards a few times before I went vegan, and now they are one of my very favorite foods.
Bianca
Happy blogaversary, Cadry! Bean looks so awesome. That’s totally my kinda place. That cowboy burger and the pickle chips sound AMAZING!!
Cadry
Thanks for the anniversary wishes! Bean has your name all over it! You would love it.
Kris
Nom. Everything looks delicious.
Cadry
Looks don’t deceive! I think David will be angling for another work trip to Charlotte or Asheville just so that he can feed his Good Burger desires. 😉
Veganopoulous
I’d love to eat at a place like that. Congratulations on your seven years! One of my favourite posts from your blog is the Gardein tasting kitchen 🙂
Cadry
Oh, that’s so great to hear! It’s always interesting to know what people enjoy reading. If Gardein twisted my arm, I’d be more than happy to go back and re-live that day all over again. 😉
Susan
Congratulations on 7 years. 🙂 Here’s to many more!
Oh my gosh, I need to go to there and eat all of the food immediately! That looks so good.
Cadry
Thanks for the anniversary well wishes, Susan! The food at Bean was definitely comfort food in the best sense. 😀
Becky Striepe
Oh my gosh, I need to get to a Bean, ASAP! We are going to Asheville in the fall, so I’m making a point to get there then!
Cadry
Oh, yes, make it your business to go there. I’ll be interested to hear how the Asheville location compares!
Little Vegan Bear
Happy 7 years! The Bean sounds like a good place to celebrate. I especially like the sound of the fried pickles..mmmm 😀
Cadry
Thank you for your well wishes! It’s been a really fun ride. 😀
Jojo
Yay! Happy blogaversary! The Bean looks like an awesome spot, I would be all over those pickle chips and I think I’d need to try both the reuben and the good burger. So much yum!
Cadry
Yes, so much yum! Dill pickle chips are such a fun indulgence. They don’t sell vegan ones anywhere near me, and so it’s a treat to order them on vacation. Thanks for the blogging anniversary well wishes!
Laura VZ
I loved Bean, and it’s great that they have a market right there, too. The fried pickles have a different breading these tastes but omg they’re delicious!!
Cadry
Yay! I’m glad you loved it too. David seriously brings up their burger all the time – almost 2 years later. The only burger that has come close to winning his affections is the one at J. Selby’s. (Oh, my gosh. I can’t wait to get back there too.)