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Vegan goodness even non-vegans loved

5 Posted on 05 / 13 / 2012

Recently had takeout from Senbeb Cafe, an all-vegan restaurant adjacent to the Senbeb Natural Food Co-op, in NW Washington, DC, just inside the district line from Takoma Park, MD.
Extensive vegan menu posted on overhead board, with a very affordable special of the day for $13.00, that included the entree, three sides, and a choice of breads.
I visited with two non-vegan, non-vegetarian cousins, who lived nearby, yet had not been to the restaurant. They were a bit skeptical about my choice of eatery, yet since I offered to treat them to dinner, they went along with my choosing Senbeb.
It was my first visit to the restaurant as well, so I asked the counter person what she would recommend to show them just how amazingly good vegan food can be.
She recommended that day's special, the jerk chicken, with sides of seasoned rice, sauteed kale, and plaintains, with cornbread. They loved it, though my 80-year old cousin, a native southerner at heart who loves his greens, thought the kale could have used some "spicing up." He thought the "jerk tofu" was really chicken, and said so repeatedly.
His daughter said a bit of hot sauce and vinegar fixed her kale to her liking. She saw the mac and cheese I ordered as an extra side, and got her one, too. She thought it tasted as good as any mac and cheese she had ever had, saying it must be "regular cheese;" and said the same as her dad about the jerk "chicken." Both enjoyed the cornbread.
I had the vegan salmon croquettes - very moist and tasty, with sides of kale (yes, I added a touch of hot sauce since Tabasco sauce was not available), sweet potatoes, mac and cheese and cornbread.
All very satisfying, and highly recommended, even by the non-vegans.

Pros: excellent food, good value, convenient location
Cons: limited hours, small for dining in

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THE BEST VEG PLACE IN DC.

5 Posted on 04 / 08 / 2012

Wow! We've eaten at most every V place in the city except for the few food carts and this is possibly the best one going. In terms of atmosphere, it's nothing, but if food matters then Senbeb rocks. They are in a quite residential area in NW and have only 4-5 tables. Ordering is done at the counter and it seems like it's mostly a take out place. We ordered lunch which was so good we got 2 more entrees for take out. The menu is a quirky mix of soul and chinese and american - all of which is superb. In fact their chinese dishes are better than most of the veg chinese places we've been to and (according to my wife who is Taiwanese) as good as anything she's been served in Taiwan. We had the crispy tofu sandwich, chicken curry, black-eyed pea soup, southern fried chicken, beef and broccoli, kale, green beens, cole slaw, and raw pecan pie - all fantastic!! Parking is easy on the street. No website but they seemed busy. Yum Yum Yum - go check out and support Senbeb Cafe.

Pros: Vegan, Superb Food, Easy Parking
Cons: No Website, decor, not yet franchised