Vegan
American
Buffet
Fast food
Juice bar
Take-out

Southern soul food approach with a menu of veggies, proteins, desserts, and alcoholic drinks. Examples of food: mac and cheese, collards, green beans, chik'n, 'fish,' and tofu in the slow cooked and battered style of southern kitchen. Also manages a vegan food truck serving the Washington DC area - see website. Black-owned. Relocated from 9185 Central Ave. Open Mon-Sat 10:00am-9:00pm, Sun 10:00am-7:00pm.


Venue map for Elife
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55 Reviews

First Review by ahaus829

francia

Points +303

Vegan
16 Feb 2024

Cute homie place

Food was yummy but not amazing. Prices were fair and had lots of different options. All vegan great plus. Staff very friendly, specially Susi😄they let you taste anything you want before ordering it. Good selection of desserts too

Pros: Good prices, Seating space, Friendly

Cons: Smallish portions, Odd decor

mecarly1

Points +198

Vegan
18 Nov 2023

Back open in new building!

They’re back open in new building right next to old location. Half the space is good and the other half is vendors. I got Buffalo drumsticks, collard greens, and Mac and cheese. They also have sorbet in the freezer!

MontanyaCrosby

Points +32

Vegan
20 Aug 2023

Best Food Eva!!!

I love the fact that you can "try before you buy". You can sample anything to see if you like it. Everything I tasted was amazing. Highly recommend and will go back!

Updated from previous review on 2022-07-21

Dveg

Points +189

Vegan
03 Mar 2023

Stuffed and delighted!

Between three of us we tried as much as we could and everything had so much flavor! We were so happy to find a full on vegan place (grabbed desserts to go!). The variety is overwhelming, in a good way. I could eat there for days and not get bored. Salad bar looked so fresh. Incredible selection of to go options. I already want to go back. People were nice, too…it’s awesome to see success of a veg place open for 20 yrs. Kudos and thanks!!!

w33t

Points +30

Vegan
01 Dec 2022

Delicious sweets

Baked goods are my favorite. Definitely soul food though so go into it expecting very rich food.

ChristopherWahoff

Points +21

Vegan
12 Nov 2022

Excellent Vegan Food!

We had a great experience at Elife! Incredible buffet-style vegan soul food. Two varieties of vegan Mac and Cheese, vegan jerk chicken, vegan buffalo wings, and much more.

Pros: All vegan soul food, Abundant hot and cold options

Cons: Hard to reach with current construction

AzadDjan

Points +48

Vegan
24 Oct 2022

Everything is vegan and delicious.

Fully vegan and delicious food

Pros: Vegan

Cons: Nothing

Jedi_Blu1914

Points +16

Vegan
16 Oct 2022

Great Dinning experience

Will definitely revisit if I’m ever in the area. Was a pleasant surprise to find this gem as there aren’t many places that are solely dedicated to vegans. If you are on the fence don’t be.

Pros: Lots of vegan options, Knowledgeable staff, Allow you to taste test any of their products.

BrianBullock

Points +84

Vegan
07 Jul 2022

Delicious! And options are growing.

Loving that the options are growing. From desserts to entrees.

Pros: Will try new things and perfect.

TaylorChampagnr

Points +16

Vegan
07 May 2022

Bussin bussin

I loved all the food options.

Pros: Completely vegan. , 2 mac and cheese options , Hella cake options.

Cons: Restaurant vibes are lackluster

Jdionnec

Points +51

Vegan
06 Feb 2022

Amazing food

Love all the desert options

Nonstopnom

Points +22

Vegan
18 Dec 2021

Go to spot

I have had more than half of their menu over the years. The Desserts are always calling my name! Top 5 favs would have to be the original Mac, all flavors of drumettes, chickun sandwich, Philly steak and the chickun Florentine.

Pros: Fully vegan, Menu variety , Points for rewards

Cons: Can get very busy

Knoxland

Points +597

Vegan
27 Nov 2021

Cold Bar

Glad cold Bar is back and not all located in icebox. Been visiting for several years. Quality hot bar not same or depending on who prepared it day. Customer service on point.

Pros: Cold bar, Mist like to relocate, a positive if thought out, Fair prices

Cons: No organic or non GMO signs, Limited parking, construction

pambev

Points +332

Vegan
24 Apr 2021

Good food!

Love to get soul food sometimes so it is right place to stop by. Always enjoy food and I can’t ignore their desserts 🙃

RukiyaWare

Points +17

Mostly Veg
21 Feb 2021

First timer

I am new to vegan lifestyle. This was my first time visiting this restaurant and I was amazed by the amount of options available. This is a well established restaurant with delicious food.

Pros: Lots of vegan options , Food is tasty , I’ll be back tomorrow!

DawnGraves

Points +42

Herbivore
19 Feb 2021

Great service

I love the burrito bowl, desserts, seamoss drinks.

HalimaAli

Points +95

Vegan
25 Feb 2020

Vegan soul food

My go to spot for my sweet cravings!

mcdiehl

Points +212

Vegan
15 Feb 2020

Fantastic, super pleasant surprise

I didn’t know what to expect, but this place was fantastic. Really high variety of comfort and delicious food, all vegan.

Pros: Great tasting dishes, Lots of vegan options

Bubblescubed

Points +22

Raw
29 Jan 2020

So good you’ll want to come back!

I’ve been coming here since 2008. Sooo good! The mac-n-cheese is made 2 different ways and I love them both. The mock meats are so good that I had to check twice that they were really vegan! Whenever I go, I get 4 large tubs of take home. One of spinach quiche (tasty hot or cold), one of mock tuna (tastes amazing wrapped in steamed collard leaves), one of chopped chicken, one of mock chicken salad (both of which we like to eat on salad or spread into romaine leaves)
Their chicken patties taste like KFC! The kale salad is bold and fresh! The drumsticks! Wow! BBQ, hotwing flavor (wish they had vegan blue cheese), or maple glazed. Their taco/burrito bar is better than chipotle because they have vegan sour cream.
I am always greeted with a smile and the customer service is quick and friendly.
Even fresh vegan desserts are offered all the time.
My only wish is that they ordered more gluten free vegan cakes and maybe offered a gluten free mac-n-cheese. They will make you a gluten free vegan mac-n-cheese if you order in advance.
They also do catering! We had a big tray of ELife gf vegan mac-n-cheese for our wedding a few years ago!

vecanter

Points +540

Vegan
05 Jan 2020

Delicious Vegan Food

This place has so many wonderful vegan options. They have all kinds of classic comfort foods but veganized. They have a variety of mock meats, vegan mac n cheese, and veggies. They also sell sweets and popcorn if you're looking for a treat. The prices here are quite good for a vegan restaurant, about 13 dollars for an entree and 2 sides. The food here is all delicious and very affordable. They have some of the most realistic mock meats I've ever tried. Very delicious food and great service!

Pros: Everything is vegan, Good prices, Tasty food

Cheche

Points +44

Vegan
05 Jan 2020

Great food

All vegan soul food place . Long line and not clearly marked store front. I had bbq main dish corn bread, Mac and cheese and broccoli. All delicious!

Pros: All tastes amazing , Affordable , Large portions

AdrianaGoram

Points +1446

Vegan
08 Aug 2019

BEST MAC&CHEESE EVER

I’m not kidding, you have to try their mac&cheese, I’m drooling while writing this. Their drumsticks are bomb also!

Pros: TASTY AF, Staff cool af, Cheap af

mkusafr

Points +77

Vegan
22 Jul 2019

Yes for Vegan Food to Go

I am so thankful for vegan plant based quick foods. Great place to stop in for fast prepared food on the run.

Pros: Hot and cold bar of foods that fit my WOE!, Lots of sweets, Coolers with juices and premades

Cons: Quick food quality - may sit for a while, Confusing menu/ordering

DFlex

Points +24

Vegan
19 Jun 2019

Wasn’t Impressed

I visited this restaurant 2-3 years ago. Compared to other vegan restaurants that I’ve visited, both in the States and overseas, the food was below average. The food appeared to have been maintained in a warmer for long periods of time. I wasn’t a fan, but I will visit again and will update my review if there is a change.

The cookies were good.

Pros: Deserts (cookies)

Cons: Vegan food

Mangia_Athena

Points +66

Vegan
08 Jun 2019

So yummy!

This place is delicious and so much more than just a vegan restaurant. From supporting small businesses, to providing cooking demonstrations, all the way to a vegan marketplace! Our dinner was awesome but we look forward to coming back to events here!

Pros: Lots of options., Vegan desserts, Fresh juices

Dveganpost

Points +645

Vegan
03 Jun 2019

Vegan Soul

💯Vegan‼️ Great vegan soul food and bowls. Has a hot bar with lots of options and cold bar with different things like garlic kale, couscous and potato salads. Has popcorn and lots of vegan desserts and pressed juices and smoothies. Also has delicious vegan corn bread.

Pros: Lots of vegan options , Vegan soul food , Hot and cold bar and juices

thefitpizzagirl

Points +62

Vegan
16 Feb 2019

Best Mac and Cheese

I got the curry chicken with rice, cabbage, and mac and cheese with a double chocolate cake. Honestly everything was absolutely amazing but I was really shocked by the Mac and cheese. The cake was two servings but I made it one lol

Pros: The food is amazing, Dessert options and taste

Cons: Pricey




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