Vegan
American
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
Catering
Vegan soul food restaurant with full bar and weekday happy hour. Menu offers choices like bbq tofu, southern fried tofu, mac n cheese, red beans and rice, corn bread, potato salad, gumbo, spaghetti with falafel, and burgers. Makes cakes and cookies. Holds cooking classes. Black-owned. Est. 2009. Reported closed October 2023.
196 Reviews
First Review by michelleg
LuluGrim
Points +150
Souley Scrumptious - Edit
I tried the sizzlin’ skillet mac ‘n cheese, the proud mary burger, dirty cajun fries, and a side of cornbread. Everything was so rich and scrumptious. Wish I had saved room for dessert.
Read moreGuest
MontañaGris
Points +25
Closed? - Edit
Says open on Google and this app but they are most definitely closed. The phone number listed is disconnected. Bummer, was really looking forward to trying this place.
Read moreZombiecynthia
Absolutely bummed to read this! 💔 From their website it looks like they recently launched a campaign to try to save this place!
Read moreMontañaGris
Oh noooo! I was hoping that it was a slow night and they closed early.
Read moreyoronisrael
Wow, thoroughly disappointed. I’m traveling in the area currently and was looking forward to eating there. I enjoyed the experience three years ago.
Read moreGuest
kkeegan5
Points +378
Over the top delicious! - Edit
We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Authentic taste! A wonderful variety of soul food choices.
Read morePros: Fresh, Authentic flavor, Great portion sizes
Cons: None
kkeegan5
We will probably come back for Sunday Brunch!
Read moreGuest
villain
Points +6979
Keeps getting better and better - Edit
This is the first vegan restaurant I ever went to in California, and I still keep coming back many years later. It seems like there have been some ups and downs with the food for some reason, but the last few times I've gone there, it keeps getting better and better. They were extremely well stocked with every type of cake: pecan, lemon, coconut, red velvet. Even sweet potato pies. And the service was fantastic.
Read moreWhen they recommend you menu items here, definitely try them. I never would've thought of ordering Dirty Cajun Fries because I "don't like jalapeño" (or so I thought), and they ended up being the best fries ever. The house made dirty sauce was so good that I'm still craving it the next day.
I love their chicken and waffles, too. Or if you're in the mood for a more savory entree, the Country Style Seitan Steak Plate gives a huge portion of food. Everything here is so great.
Updated from previous review on 2022-04-16
Guest
foon
Points +592
Can no longer recommend - Edit
I’ve been coming to Souley Vegan since their first year in business, and while it used to be phenomenal, the quality of the food has declined to where I can no longer recommend it to visitors.
Read more* Southern fried tofu used to have a marvelous fried chicken style crust around a seasoned slab of tofu; now is a dense burnt shell around a thin slice of plain tofu
* BBQ tofu used to be big chewy baked hunks; now is small uncooked cubes dunked in sauce (though the sauce is still good)
* Collards used to be unctuous slow cooked melty greens; now are undercooked and gritty
* Macaroni and cheese used to be the best you could buy, thick and toothsome and cheesy; now is a thin sauce overwhelmed by Cajun seasoning
villain
Dang, this isn't good to hear.. I was there last night and it happened to be the best experience I've had 😅 now I'm wishing I could've had it when it was even better..
Read morefoon
I do think it’s highly variable. We got this meal a little off peak hours (maybe 5pm), and it was clear that a lot of the food had just been sitting around under a heat lamp since lunch. Fries were completely limp and room temperature, for instance. So it’s probably better if you get it at a time when everything has to be made fresh. It’s just, used to be they’d always make everything fresh.
Read moreGuest
GanzAnd3rs
Points +701
Keine Bedienung - Edit
Ich stand mindestens 20 Minuten am Tresen und habe darauf gewartet, dass ich meine Bestellung aufgeben kann oder mir zumindest gesagt wird, dass es noch einen Moment dauert. Leider ist weder das eine noch das andere passiert. Beide Mitarbeiterinnen, die ich gesehen habe, haben mich und den anderen wartenden Gast angeschaut und dann ignoriert. Wir sind dann gemeinsam gegangen. Schade, denn ich hatte mich aufgrund der guten Bewertungen schon auf das Essen gefreut.
Read moreZwei Sterne, weil es ein rein veganes Restaurant ist.
Updated from previous review on 2023-07-19
Guest
SarahS88
Points +1847
A classic - Edit
Hadn’t been in a while and food is better than ever! Some of our favs are the Southern Fried Tofu and the potato salad!
Read moreUpdate - came from brunch, recommend coming early - was pretty quiet - we loved the French toast and will come back again soon!
Updated from previous review on 2023-01-23
Guest
badgerboy
Points +516
Absolute GOAT - Edit
Food that’ll blow your socks off served by an absolute joy of a team. A real community space and deservedly recognised as an Oakland institution.
Read moreGuest
Gopala108
Points +2594
Three item combo plate is quite alright - Edit
I love it here! On a recent visit I had the three item combination plate with:
Read moreBBQ tofu
Collard/Mustard greens
Vegan mac & cheese
It comes with cornbread or salad. I went with the cornbread. The portions are hearty, food is tasty, & is reasonably priced. Vegans or vegetarians will love it as well their omnivore friends.
I dined under paintings of great music legends Ella Fitzgerald & Muddy Waters. Many of the walls under decorated with candid family photos of the owner. Good vibe & will be back!
Pros: Three item combo plate is quite alright
Guest
livegreenwearblack
Points +313
Works for some people - not worth the wait - Edit
I visited Souley Vegan many times from 2010-2012 and found the service and food to be wildly inconsistent and not better more often than not. Souley keeps going - and the menu has evolved, so I decided to try a few of the new things on the menu for delivery.
Read moreFirst order of 2020:
- Seitan Shrimp Poboy - not bad but not worth repeating.
- Garlic Fries - cold and really oily. I heated them up and they didn't imporve.
- Creole Pop-ems - they were out and had to phone me to tell me.
Second order of 2020:
- Creole Popems - wow just horrible and no. It was a gloppy mess with under cooked breading and just gross. Don't do it.
- Seitan Chicken & Waffles (it says "waffles" but it's one waffle). The waffle reheated nicely and was pretty good - the seitan chicken was delicious. Overall not better than Timeless waffles or Butcher's Son seitan chicken.
2023 - ordered take out and it was not even worth reporting.
I'm still not all that excited by Souley Vegan - glad they are still finding the right audience to keep the business going.
Guest
TessaWhite
Points +867
Absolute Soul Food - Edit
Amazing flavors, loved everything.. if you don’t like spice be sure to ask what is best as most of the things have serious flavor in the warmer side 😂
Read moreGuest
BernadetteGates
Points +153
Delicious comfort food - Edit
Incredible food, friendly staff.
Read moreGuest
TaylorGoVegan
Points +820
Such great food! - Edit
I loved everything I had from here the 2 times I went.
Read moreGuest
EmmaLouise33
Points +309
Delicious - Edit
We really enjoyed our meal here. Lots of options and we were not hungry when we left. We ordered the combo option and the poppers. Both delicious 😋
Read morePros: Fast friendly service , Delicious
Guest
DalmatianLover
Points +41
2 stars because it’s all vegan - Edit
Some of the food was tasty the first time, though very oily (as one might expect). However, it was a to-go order and I didn't receive the biscuits and gravy I ordered. I ignored it thinking it was an honest mistake.
Read moreI decided to order a second time. They closed early that day and were kind enough to wait a little extra for me to pick up my food (I had no idea they were closing early because it only on the door of the restaurant). I again didn't receive the biscuits and gravy, they subbed subbed FLOC for fried okra and charged me ~$4.xx extra for the item (they informed me by an email that I didn't see until I got home from picking up the food), and they gave me cornbread instead of the salad I ordered.
I contacted them by Facebook messenger and never received a response regarding the extra charge, substitution, and 2 orders of biscuits and gravy that I never received. It has now been over a month and I still haven’t heard from them.
To the actual items:
- cornbread - I'm not sure (maybe I just don't like cornbread?)
- beignets were disappointing
- nachos- not a fan of their seitan with the nachos, but I'm rarely a fan of fake meat
- jalapeño poppers were the best item I ordered though very oily and salty
- FLOC - not a fan, sour, but I didn't think I'd like it (I was hoping for fried okra as ordered and eventually realized this is what I was eating)
- Mac and cheese - good the first time, but I think it made my stomach upset the serving time and it wasn't as tasty - kinda turned me off Mac and cheese
- mashed potatoes and gravy- I liked them both times, but more the first time.
- garlic fries - good, not great
- Southern fried tofu - good, not great, super oily
Pros: Lots of vegan options, fully vegan
Cons: Charges for items not provided, Changes orders without speaking to you, Does not respond to customer complaints
Guest
JakeFuller
Points +1178
Love me some southern soul food! - Edit
Very friendly staff offering a good range of options. I ended up with the seitan with collard greens and mashed potatoes. Of course, we weren’t stopping at just an entree. A few different items from kale salad to southern fried tofu and even lemon cake.
Read moreGuest
sparkleloveshine
Points +31
Great stop on our way home! - Edit
There were so many delicious looking items to choose from. I ended up getting the gator po' boy and my husband got the burger. I tried both and they were both amazing!
Read morePros: Kind staff, Delicious food
Guest
participlecartography
Points +55
Chicken and pancake - Edit
I recently came from a great restaurant that specializes in vegan chicken so I might be spoiled a bit. the vegan chicken here was too tough, and they were out of waffles for the chicken and waffles so they gave me pancakes. the pancakes and vegan butter were good tho.
Read moreGuest
Interstellarqueendom
Points +485
Nommmm - Edit
Pesto Mac n okra are life
Read morePros: Nom
Guest
andyjng
Points +4513
Louisiana Vegan Cookin' Does Exist! - Edit
If you're looking for Louisiana flavor and to support an animal-friendly establishment, then you'll enjoy its offerings.
Read moreComing here for dinner, you first order in the front and then seat yourselves until your food arrives. Apps consisted of 'Deez Ain't Gator Bites' and 'For Lovers of Calamari,' each with its own unique, creamy dipping sauces. I enjoyed the former much more since you can't go wrong with fried mushrooms, and the hearts of palm used in the 'calamari' were fine but not as crunchy and satisfying as the gator bites.
We also tried their Gumbo, Jambalaya, and a combination plate consisting of Fried Tofu, Mac n Cheese, Cornbread, and Yams. I wasn't a big fan of their gumbo as it was a bit watered down in my opinion, but the jambalaya proved to have epic flavors and was more filling overall. Neither plate really felt like they were $15 worth but still good to try. The combination plate's tofu and yams were my favorite of the bunch for sure, especially that tofu. It really reminded me of a filet o' fish texture.
The real winner for me was not even the food but the butter they used for the cornbread. I'm not sure if it was just store-bought vegan butter or house made, but whatever they used melted so nicely on the bread and it was excellent.
One note I have about the area - yes, it may feel a bit sketchy at night but I would not go as far and say that it's dangerous. A lot of people come through and I'd recommend folx practice safety by walking in groups and locking your vehicles, and removing all obvious items from view.
Pros: Great take on Louisiana cuisine
Cons: A bit noisy, Pricy
Guest
missmuffcake
Points +1161
Okay but could be better - Edit
I have been here multiple times since they first opened but I do not go a lot because I don't crave the food. The entrees are hit and miss but I have liked some of their sandwiches and apps. I think they use to much breading and it often lacks flavor or makes the food lose flavor.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Comfort food
Cons: Hit and miss, Service is not great
Guest
Vegan_Hiker_Foodie
Points +3050
So good and friendly staff! - Edit
We went a little early to beat the lunch crowd on a week day and there was a line around/after noon! Super friendly woman waited on us. Everything we had was tasty. I had to get the okra gumbo and it didn’t disappoint! A little spicy if you’re sensitive though. The seitan steak was legit and the mashed potatoes that came with it were heaven! Tried both the collard greens and the spinach…both of which were good but a little overly salty if I’m being honest. Really want to try more menu items one day. Oh and grab a mini sweet potato pie to go if you’re too full, because they are soooooo good! 🤤
Read moreGuest
gwennam
Points +469
A favorite - Edit
Who doesn’t love this place? The Cajun spaghetti is my favorite. The fried okra is delicious. The cakes are a perfect treat.
Read moreLots of seating, easy to pick up online orders and take down to JL square.
Only thing I haven’t loved is the artichoke dip, which was pickled and a little weird.
Guest
ScottCline
Points +2730
Loved it… - Edit
First time visit and there was so much good eats from which to choose! I had the bbq tofu and the Mac-n-cheez pesto skillet. Both were delicious. I will be back again.
Read morePros: 100% vegan , Friendly staff
Cons: Street parking
Guest
VegJeri
Points +68
Jambalaya! - Edit
Jambalaya was amazing—it made me so happy!!! Fried okra was delicious. Collards and mac and cheese were not so good, and artichoke dip was mediocre, but the other items more than made up for them.
Read morePros: Huge portion sizes, Jambalaya was heavenly
Cons: Some food was great, some not
Guest
silvia0804
Points +117
Such a cool spot!! - Edit
The unique food and taste is worth the trip
Read morePros: Good portion sizes, Great menu selection, Strong, bold flavors
Guest
Sjjk12
Points +1077
Delicious! Get the tasting combo platter - Edit
The food here is made well, I think your best bet is to buy a combo platter and a starter for 2 people… you will definitely have some to take home! There are some plates that are a hit or miss detailed below:
Read more- Fried tofu: great, nice thick batter and love the sauce that comes with it
-Mac n cheese: imo if you reframe this in your head as rigatoni Alfredo you’re good. To me this was not mac n cheese
-cornbread: fabulous with the butter
- BBQ tofu: not the best, a bit too chewy but the sauce is great!
-Black Olive Potato Salad: amazing
-Red beans and rice: great, very basic and delicious
Lastly we got jalapeño poppers as a starter, which were incredible, so I highly recommend those.
It’s a nice place, with a great vibe/decor, a full bar and a lot of tasty food to try.
Pros: Reasonably priced, Lots of food
Guest
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