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Caribbean style vegan cuisine. Menu features jerk un-chicken, curry vegetables, tofu cutlets, marinated kale salad, iris moss drinks, and more. Reggae music played in the background; has Wi-Fi. Open Mon-Thu 11:00am-8:00pm, Fri-Sat 12:00pm-8:00pm.
Categories: Vegan, Take-out, Caribbean, Southern American
26 Reviews
First Review by HoneydewBliss
Contributions +14
Great Restaurant - Edit
Great Restaurant, the food was great along with the customer service. Joi was very helpful and courteous and knowledgeable about the food and what's in the food. I'll definitely be back. I had the Collard greens and the Curry Un Goat along with the Mac and Uncheese and Sweet Potato Cornbread.
Contributions +11
pretty good - Edit
Jerk is super hot and not enough rice. Service kind of slow.
Contributions +38
Good food and environment - Edit
Amazing food and cool environment, however I believe the employee should all wear better hairnets
Contributions +21
My Favorite Spot - Edit
This is a Caribbean style vegan spot. I love the the people who work there and the owner. I always meet nice people while stopping by to pick up some food. I always get a rotti and three items and the hot sauce. The hot sauce isn't hot but extremely flavorful.
The veggies are always fresh and flavored perfectly. I try not to let myself get too hungry but if i do I go straight to Healthful Essence and get full. I met a lady in Healthful Essence that turned me on to Happy Cow. If you enjoy delicious food great service and some reggae music in the background this is for you.
Pros: Fresh Vegetables, Deliciously flavored, Great service
Cons: Not open 24hours a day
Contributions +87
A must! - Edit
Every time my husband and I are anywhere near Atlanta, we have to stop by this place. The staff is very nice and the food is so good! They have the best cornbread - ever! It is (I think) pumpkin cornbread - so moist and so delicious!
The only negative comment I could give would be that although there is an option to dine in (very limited seating), their computer always asks if you want to leave a tip. Most people get their food to-go, so it can be somewhat uncomfortable when you opt not to leave a tip. Even if you dined in, they don't wait on the tables so I'm not sure what anyone would really be tipping for. The food isn't expensive, but it isn't cheap either so asking for a tip seems like overkill.
Pros: Delicious, Best cornbread, Friendly staff
Cons: Always asks for a tip
Contributions +22
Great Vegan food - Edit
Great place with great food!
Contributions +18
Food is amazing - Edit
I haven't tried many vegan/vegetarian restaurants because there aren't many in Houston where I'm from. This has to be some of the best food I've had. The staff there allowed me to taste test the food and I settled on the Bok Choy, rice, and seasonal mix of veggies. That was awesome, but when I ate the samosas stuffed with lentils I KNEW I was coming back. Good good food.
Contributions +16
amazing! - Edit
Everything was delicious. Customer service was awesome and they give huge portions. Will definitely come back every time I'm in Atlanta. Waiting for them to open one in Savannah already!!
Contributions +11
Excellent Food & Service - Edit
Great things come in small packages and that is what this restaurant holds. A variety of vegan options including desserts. The Un-Meat choices are delicious. Staff is always pleasant and will offer a sample before you buy. A must try is the Curry Ungoat.
Pros: All vegan options
Contributions +102
delish - Edit
I wasn't attracted by the name but it was around the corner from my non vegan book club. I pulled into this hole in the wall and was greeted by lovely people who let me try samples and I ended up with the most delicious curried meat substitute and plantains . I had some eggplant that needed salt but overall it was amazing!!!
Pros: delicious, lots of options, Carry out or eat in
Contributions +32
Almost all has been said :-) - Edit
I agree 99% and won't bore you with what has been said already. In addition I liked that it was easy to reach from the subway.
Pros: Walking distance from subway., Counter stile buffet., Delicious raw chocolate cake.
Contributions +16
wonderful - Edit
Awesome. Great service
Contributions +20
Keep coming back! - Edit
We keep coming back to this place. Easy parking, great food and juices and friendly staff. The only complaint I have is that it always seems to be hot in there, but that doesn't play a big factor when it comes to coming back to a restaurant. :) Would definitely recommend!
Contributions +11
Great - Edit
It was my first time visiting there today and the food, staff, and atmosphere was great! I will definitely be back!
Contributions +219
Jerked Vegan - Edit
It's tough finding vegan island food in any city. There are none in DC where I reside for example. So when I make it to Atlanta I head to York Street in the Westend for the finest spiced grub in the city. Not only does this small, eclectic spot play reggae all day, but their culinary philosophy is based on optimal health. Irish moss, raw foods, smoothies and whole foods are the staple foods. Brown rice and peas for example, collards, curry veggies, lentils, black beans, egg plant and string beans are some of my favorites. Snacks include their seasoned popcorn and banana nut bread. Prices are very fare and portions are more than you can ingest.
Pros: Caribbean delight , healthy portions , whole foods
Cons: none
1 Response
AjJones 20 Jul 2017 - This is not true!!!! DC is FULL of vegan and vegetarian restaurants!!!! Full!!!!!!!!!!!! Full!!!!!!!!!!!!! Has been since I moved here 14 years ago. I don't know where this dude lives.
Contributions +14
Delicious Carribean Cuisine! - Edit
The food was extremely delicious! We had the un goat, rice with black beans, curry vegetables, casserole, samosas, and blueberry coconut cake (not all in one sitting!). It was all delicious and very filling. The service was great! Very friendly staff who work hard to provide excellent cuisine! If we ever come through Georgia again we will definitely stop here!
Pros: Vegan, Flavorful, Great service
Contributions +56
Real Carribbean Ital! Delicious! - Edit
I went here with a pretty large group (about 10 of us) and the restaurant was large enough to accommodate with no problems. Nice Carribbean-style decor, and casual counter service worked out just fine. The food was amazing! I had jerk "duck," BBQ tofu, greens, fried plantains. Next time I go I'll have to order the jerk "chicken". I had a taste from my friend's plate and it was divine. Homemade sorrel was wonderful too! Service was pleasant. They don't accept restaurant.com coupons, though.
Contributions +1492
Great food, friendly staff - Edit
Visited Healthful Essence Dec 1, 2009 while in Atlanta on business. Very helpful friendly staff gave me good directions to the location; about 3 blocks from West End MARTA stop. Close to public transportation.
Excellent food at very reasonable prices, all vegan, some raw.
Cooked - had the curried vegetables over rice with collard greens and un-fish cake. Curry hot and spicy like I like it.
Next day I had a raw sampler: Quinoa salad, with a kale salad and spinach salad on the side. Both excellent and well seasoned. Option for less spicy salad available.
Back in May 2015, as delicious as ever!
Desserts: sweet potato pie, cooked one day, raw the next. Both very good, though I highly recommend the raw one.
Appetizer: the nouri bites hit the spot and kept me revived during long meetings.
Highly recommend, and will return when in Atlanta.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday December 08, 2009
Pros: healthy, well seasoned food, good value, friendly staff
Cons: neighborhood in transition, closes early
Contributions +1817
Wonderful! - Edit
It's too bad this restaurant is on the other side of town from me...otherwise I'd go all the time. The curry veggies and un-goat were just the right amount of spicy. Everything was delicious! The staff was a little standoffish at first but that was probably because I don't know what I was doing. They warmed up. I shall return!
Contributions +61
Missing my Veggie Jerk Chicken & Curry Ungoat! - Edit
Great food with service to match. This was a regular spot for me when I was in Atlanta. Basically can't go wrong with anything on the menu - but there was no way I ever left tis restaurant without 2 portions of Jerk unchicken! I'd always struggled with soy chunks until I tasted the curry ungoat. Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!! Just down to earth real tasty cooking!!!!
Contributions +26
A trip to Healthful Essence is mandatory - Edit
Wonderfully prepared food, great energy, joyful music...visiting Healthful Essence a mandatory for me when visiting Atlanta. Brought the cookbook to make sure I don't go into withdrawals. The food reminds me of home, healthier since vegan. Who says we can't be culturally grounded and eat right. Highly recommend you fall in love with Healthful Edsence as we did.and don't forget the drinks and desserts.
Pros: Healthy ingredients, Fresh ans abundant, Tasty
Cons: None!!
Contributions +34
Sweet Potato Corn Bread!!! - Edit
I couldn't help but name this review after my favorite item there. It has been some years since I have gone being that I'm no longer in the Atlanta area, but I do miss this restaurant so much just for my sweet potato corn bread! lol This is a Caribbean vegan restaurant. Humbly-sized with tables in the back and tall tables and chairs in the front. Very chill. They have both raw and cooked selections. The raw items include breakfast on certain days I think. My favorite raw menu items were the avocado seaweed wrap and the spicy kale! Delicious! Of the cooked items they sell such items as curry chunks and rice and peas. I wasn't too crazy over the cooked items, though. Customer service was ALWAYS friendly!
Pros: sweet potato corn bread, 100% vegan, friendly staff
Cons: not a large selection
Contributions +17
Nice suprise - Edit
I visited Atlanta and was happy my family knew where this place was. It was great to sit and eat without playing twenty questions or worrying about getting sick. The food was great. Even to the meat eaters with me liked it. It was fun introducing them to food options they had not considered. I would/will definitly go there again.
Updated from previous review on Sunday January 20, 2013
Pros: great food, great hours, friendly staff
Cons: limited meal choice
Contributions +37
Great meal. Good price. - Edit
I'm a very frequent traveler who lives in California but whose work takes me to much of the U.S. and occasionally overseas. I use Happy Cow to find places to eat and have very good experiences. This one was no different. Healthful Essence is a good vegan restaurant - a bit offbeat as almost all of them are and some might be put off by the location, but shouldn't be. It's off the beaten path, but worth the trip. Healthful Essence offers a range of both cooked and raw vegan entrees and sides. I had the curry ungoat over rice and peas. I asked for collard greens but was told they had kale instead on this occasion. That suited me just fine. The curry was not overly soupy - which I appreciated. The rice was sticky and tasty, balancing the curry ungoat. The kale was freshly cooked, not at all overdone (a frequent problem with "greens" especially in the South) and very tasty. The portions were generous and for this 3 course meal, my cost was $12.95 - a very fair price, especially in Atlanta. Thanks Healthful Essence for a great meal, and thanks Happy Cow for another great recommendation.
Pros: Good food/portions, Fair Price, Friendly staff
Cons: Neighborhood
Contributions +14
Great Food!!!! - Edit
I just recently visited Healthful Essence and was totally amazed by how good the food was!!!!! I have been a vegetarian for 4yrs on and off. (More in then off) I just recently became a full vegan and was really confused on what to eat and not....Well, the young lady at the counter spoke w/me about eating & even suggested a cleanse. The food was fresh, tasty, & very had great flavors. The people were ultra nice and looked great! Can't wait to go back when I coke back home!!!!
Pros: Fresh & tasty food, Nice ppl
Cons: Hard to find
Contributions +29
Delicious vibrations in ATL! - Edit
I am so happy we got to visit Healthful Essence! The food was so tasty and healthy feeling. My guy and I shared a raw and cooked plate. We had the BBQ tofu, curried veggies and unfish cakes. Everything had amazing flavor, the unfish cakes were surprisingly delicious. Great for soaking up all the yummy sauciness. Could have eaten like 10 of those cakes. Also had a sample of the jerk unduck, yumminess! Enjoyed the raw veggie medley salad and daikon kimchi, definitely had a little kick to it. We enjoyed every last bite and drop. Flavors were spot on, food was fresh, we got to see how everything looked while we ordered. All of my questions were answered smartly. We finished off with one of their Irish Moss drinks. I've never had something like it! Sweet, thick and cinnamon-y... mmmmhmmm! I already want to go back and try their cheesecake and carob cookies. Raw pizzas and crackers looked great. If you live in ATL or are just passing through definitely check this place out. Affordable, quick, vegan, with tons of delicious options. In my opinion we need more places like this all over. I travel a lot and don't get to visit places like this too often. I am so thankful for the food & love Healthful Essence is providing!
Pros: Awesome Flavors, Great Selection of both raw and cooked, Cool vibes
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