Est. Dec 2020. An all-vegan direct-to-diner restaurant with a welcoming vibe. Offers pick-up & delivery in City Center. Offers comfort American- gastropub food. Menu is extensive & diversified, including sandwiches, pasta, starters & sides, soups and more. Highly recommended to try the egg rolls! Has a fun comical monster theme. Order directly from them to save money. Open Mon-Thu 4:00pm-10:00pm, Fri 4:00pm-11:00pm, Sat 11:00am-11:00pm. Closed Sun.
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1229 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19107
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Last update on 06 May 2024 by DescreetVegan
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Added by thatveganjawn on 04 Jan 2021
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152 Reviews
First Review by thatveganjawn
JustinPSBaird
Points +109
Go Harder - Edit
The food is top notch as are their themed cocktails. But, as a diehard horror fan, I expected a bit more from the ambiance. The music is lame and not horror at all. The majority of the decorations also fail to hit the mark. It is as though the wanted something horror related but tried too hard to thread that needle and make it family friendly. Had they leaned into the Universal Monsters they would've hit the mark entirely. Overall, great food and cocktails but the theme just doesn't hit like it should.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-04-18
Pros: Food is fabulous, Cocktails are delicious and well crafted
Cons: Doesn't go hard enough on the horror, Tries too hard to be hip
Guest
hitmonliz
Points +16
SO GOOD!!! - Edit
Amazing atmosphere, phenomenal staff, and possibly the best food I’ve ever had. Lots of great drink options too. Cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this restaurant.
Read morePros: Tons of options, Food was incredible, Amazing atmosphere and immaculate service
Guest
Somnara
Points +24
Such a cool vibe! - Edit
Do yourself a favor and check out this place. The Mac and cheese bites were amazing. I just wished there were more 😍. The only thing I didn’t like were the fried Oreos but I’m just not used to eating something that rich since being vegan. The drinks are really cool too!
Read morePros: Vegan
Cons: Parking
Guest
Cassmula
Points +220
AMAZING !!! - Edit
I love this cute restaurant. 100% vegan. Great mocktails and the food is beyond delicious. Everything I had was perfect.
Read morePros: Fun atmosphere , Plenty of options - great menu , Food is superb
Guest
Zuzubeat
Points +271
So good, I went twice in a week! - Edit
I was visiting Philly for a conference, and went to Monster Began, a new spot in town since my last visit. Wow- this place was great!
Read moreThe menu online makes it look like this is a dive bar, but inside, it is clearly more upscale with a fun 1950's monster vibe. The first night I ordered the Ceaser Salad, and garlic bread. The second night I had to try the special Cobb salad. Both nights I was able to sit solo & peacefully with a library book at a table and not feel rushed. Food was excellent! Drinks were tasty! This is my new favorite place in Philly!
Pros: Amazing food, Great vibes, Tasty drinks
Cons: Automatic gratuity added to every check.
Guest
CinnamonGoil
Points +200
Great Food ♡ - Edit
Absolutely loved our drinks! Got the Hellbound Heartthrob and my boyfriend got the Dead by Dawn (non-alcoholic). Had delicious buffalo wings that were crisp and hot. The ranch dip was creamy and perfect. I got the Clams & Linguine, and the dish was big enough to eat without an app but I’m glad I got to bring it to go😄they didn’t go light on the mushroom oysters either which I’m very thankful for because I love mushrooms! My boyfriend loved his Argento hoagie. The cutlet was crisp and delicious. They definitely gave you what you paid for! Worth the price. Can’t wait to go back.
Read moreP.S. if you aren’t a horror fan, then maybe don’t go and stop complaining? 🤷🏻♀️
Updated from previous review on 2025-02-23
Pros: Portions, All vegan, Tastes amazing
Cons: A little pricey, Hard to find a place to park on the weekends
Guest
mostzy
Points +249
valentines - Edit
been here before and wasn’t impressed but decided to come back for the four course valentines menu. the three entrees were absolutely delicious. the pesto bucatini is probably the best pasta i’ve had while out. dessert wasn’t my favorite as it tasted bitter. overall, the cobb salad, meatball, lamb kabob, pesto bucatini and the karloff jr. sandwich were awesome!
Read moreGuest
JunkFoodVeganologist
Points +979
Excellent food with a unique vibe - Edit
Everything was delicious and well presented from the drinks to the food. Drinks were strong but tasty. Highly recommend the bruschetta, the whipped ricotta is amazing.
Read moreCame back for the Valentine's Day special and it was so worth it! The entire experience was delicious and drinks are always solid.
Updated from previous review on 2023-08-05
Pros: Unique vibe, Great food, Strong drinks
Guest
secretplanta
Points +69
Super fun spot with incredible menu - Edit
My husband and I came here for restaurant week and I am obsessed with the crab bisque they served. The ambiance is super cool and the staff is fun to talk to. The menu is really creative and I look forward to returning soon!
Read moreGuest
loveveganfood88
Points +20
Best vegan food I have ever had - Edit
We got several things off the menu, we absolutely adore the red sauce for the spaghetti meatballs and bolognese . We tried about six sandwiches all of which blew our minds how amazing they were! Reviewing all over New York City for many years tried many in Los Angeles, San Francisco etc
Read moreI saw that they won third place for best vegan restaurant in America from veg news so I knew I had to try it. Honestly I've been completely blown away. It's my new favorite restaurant and I will make the track from New York City often to eat here! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu especially the cheesesteak, the cutlet sandwich, the spaghetti and meatballs, bolognese!
Updated from previous review on 2025-02-09
Pros: Spaghetti meatballs, The cheesesteak, The bolognese
Cons: I wish they were closer to New York City
Guest
turtledovelet
Points +126
Food is meh - got takeout - Edit
I waited a few years to finally try monster vegan - I like vegan italian-ish food but don't care for the theme of the place. I finally got to try takeout when I was in the area. I was kind of disappointed, but not that much because there are enough kind of negative reviews about the food that I wasn't really surprised.
Read moreI found the pasta to be both too bland and too oniony - I guess the dominant flavor of everything is onion. Maybe it's a Philly thing to put too much onion in the "gravy"? I'm overwhelmed by the smell right now trying to eat my leftovers. The meatballs did not have the flavor that I prefer - I would have seasoned them differently.
The cheesesteak was better than the pasta but still pretty bland (not quite as bland as savory leaf cafe in Trenton but more in that vein), and it was small. The best part was that they were able to shave the seitan very thinly which can be a massive challenge. I opted not to try the "ribeye" because I'm not very adventurous about new mock meats and actually prefer less realistic meat substitutes. The cheese sauce was bland. The sandwich needed ketchup which they didn't offer.
Prices definitely not worth it for takeout. I had been hoping to find good vegan pasta but that wasn't the case.
I'll stick with Boardwalk Vegan for sandwiches.
Pros: Thinly sliced seitan
Cons: Tomato sauce is awful, Kitschy horror theme, Bland food for high prices
Guest
jimpatsfan
Points +56
What a treat - Edit
Great to find a vegan restaurant with good food and atmosphere. Every thing on the menu was amazing. The general tso sandwich is mouthwatering good.
Read moreGuest
kellyymaee
Points +120
The coolest of vibes 👻 - Edit
As a horror fan, I loved the theme/atmosphere of this restaurant—skull-shaped glasses at the bar, clips from horror movies playing on the TVs, spooky-punny cocktail names. 👏 We had the whipped ricotta appetizer, which was OK—not quite as flavorful as other vegan ricotta I’ve had. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs as my main dish, and it was hearty and delicious. Four stars instead of five because I wish the menu had been a bit broader. But overall, I would absolutely recommend Monster Vegan as an enjoyable Philly vegan dining experience!
Read moreGuest
beccagh06
Points +47
Always delicious - Edit
I’ve gone here twice now and the food and atmosphere is fantastic. I tried the Caesar salad, clam linguine, Alfredo pasta, and garlic knots (all in 2 trips). The food was absolutely delicious, there’s a lot of options and fun drinks to try as well. I’d highly recommend this for a night out
Read morePros: Amazing pasta, Great atmosphere
Guest
SophiaTara
Points +204
Decent and Gut Busting - Edit
Not my favorite place in Philly, but it’s consistent. Everything is super heavy and I don’t totally get the combination of takeout style Italian food with fruity cocktails and monster movies. Seitan wings are very tough and thick, and the sauces don’t cover up their flat flavor. The pastas are good, but I don’t often eat pasta out unless it’s handmade. The sandwiches taste good but if the bread sits too long it gets quickly hard and stale. The sandwiches are smaller than you’d think for the price. Caesar salad is good but a little bitter. So much of the menu is deep fried 😵💫🫠
Read moreGuest
OperationChowhound
Points +8948
It was a graveyard smash...burger. - Edit
The Cheesesteak Eggrolls included Impossible beef and fried onions and were served with cheddar sauce and ketchup. It was an interesting fusion. The Double Smash Burger included two Impossible beef patties, cheddar cheese, crispy onion rings, special sauce, pickles, and lettuce on a brioche bun and served with fries. I liked it, but it was too much food. I would usually take home leftovers, but this didn't seem like it would be good later.
Read morePros: all vegan, ambience
Cons: pricey, 20% auto-gratuity, plastic straws, cramped seating
Guest
*HailSeitan*
Points +72
Pretty good food, great vibe - Edit
I had the cheesesteak, and I’ve had better but it was still good. Wife had the chicken parm sandwich and that was much better. Truffle fries were great. So many great options, and I’ll definitely be back. My only complaint was that they don’t carry Diet Coke, despite the fact that they have coke and a full bar.
Read moreThey now have Diet Coke, but they charge extra for refills. I had the Fulci sandwich with the vegan ribeye this time and it was phenomenal. Way better version of their cheesesteak.
Updated from previous review on 2023-11-06
Pros: Lots of options, Pretty good food, Great vibe
Cons: Extra charge for soda refills, Parking can be challenging
*HailSeitan*
I agree, the first time I went there they didn’t carry Coke products. They now have Diet Coke, but no free refills. A step forward, but still not all the way there. I asked for refills and my bill showed each refill was charged 😑
Read moreGuest
lmop
Points +170
Phenomenonal - Edit
This place is enough to make me want to move from Seattle to Philly. (Okay, there are a lot of other factors too.) The Bavarian pretzels were little clouds of salty buttery delight. The cheesesteak with RIBEYE (I'm still in thrilled shock over the existence of vegan ribeye) was like an orgasm for the mouth. I would eat this sandwich for every meal. I would marry this sandwich. I would leave my husband for this sandwich and he would leave me.
Read moreThe oreo beignet sundae was fabulous too, and I loved how my fruity mocktail was a reasonable size rather than like 4 sad ounces of a juice mix.
Updated from previous review on 2024-12-24
Pros: Incredible food, Wonderful decor, Super friendly staff
Cons: They've ruined me for every other cheesesteak
Guest
maliacow
Points +16
A Must-Go in Philly - Edit
The venue has character, the wait staff was attentive, kind and efficient, but most of all you should go to Monster Vegan because the food was incredible. We had deep fried mac & cheese - to DIE for! I had a cocktail, my friend had mocktail and both were expertly prepared and delicious. Our main courses were two different pastas and both were prepared well and very tasty. Everything we had was fantastic. I'd suggest bringing all your friends (vegan or vegan-skeptic) and don't tell them it's a vegan place - they will be amazed.
Read moreGuest
buzzz
Points +34
Premier Restaurant and bar - Edit
Great friendly service and a menu that is awesome. You definitely need to check this place out but be careful with the parking. Got a $36 dollar ticket for expired meter where there was not any meters to plug. Not real happy with that nonsense.
Read morePros: Great ambience, Awesome menu , Friendly staff
Cons: A freaking parking ticket , Lack of parking meters , Philly parking meter maids
*HailSeitan*
I feel your pain. For future reference, Philly has removed meters and now uses mobile parking app, using the zones posted on each street. For those without phones, there are centrally placed kiosks on each street. The parking authority there is very strict, unfortunately.
Read moreGuest
gymvegano
Points +451
Delicious - Edit
Everything I have tried here has been awesome.
Read moreRecommended for anybody coming to Philly.
Pros: Flavors, Ambiance, Service
Guest
CocoCat
Points +315
Good Food, Cool Atmosphere! - Edit
The horror theme was so neat! Food was pretty darn good, too. The “chicken” cutlets were much more flavorful than I expected, but they skimped a bit on the “ribeye” on the cheesesteak. The wiz on the cheesesteak was amazing, and while the brussels sprouts on the General Tso’s were a little undercooked, they were super tasty with the sauce!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-11-18
Guest
beyglboy
Points +40
monster vegan, my beloved - Edit
if i leave philly at some point, i will forever mourn the loss of monster vegan. when it comes to vegan comfort food and horrifically good hoagies, their game is unmatched.
Read morenot to mention, naming almost every sandwich after a legendary horror film director will always get you extra credit from me.
Pros: the hoagies, the wings, everything else
Guest
PastaLana
Points +274
Frighteningly realistic veganized comfort food classics - Edit
When I went vegan, I knew I would never eat things like carbonara pasta and ribeye steak again (and with good riddance!).
Read moreSomehow Monster Vegan has managed to make both of those things, completely vegan, and absolutely scrumptiously. I had their Cacio e Uova which had all the salty, creamy, savory goodness of carbonara, even a magically pop-able vegan egg yolk that absolutely blew my mind, without any of the cruelty regular carbonara requires. It brought a literal tear to my eye because it made me realize that if everyone could just TRY this food, absolutely nobody could possibly miss meat or dairy.
My sister had the Lon Chaney sandwich with vegan rib eye which also blew my mind. I've had a lot of imitation meats, but NOTHING quite like this. I mean this was next-level steaky goodness.
As someone who lost their taste for cruelty, but not for the fatty, juiciness of a cheesesteak or a creamy pasta dish, Monster Vegan was a true delight. I mean, what a time to be alive!!!
Also, to address some of the other reviews, I'm pretty sure there truly is nothing "healthy" on the menu, but come on, the whole restaurant is themed like a movie night with your friends–nobody wants a salad.
Go enjoy some dirty vegan comfort food and watch some swamp monsters traipse across the walls. You won't be disappointed but you will be full! Besides, if you've been eating vegan, your cholesterol numbers are probably more than good enough for you to go enjoy an order of deep-fried non-dairy mac and cheese balls.
P.S. This is an IDEAL place to bring some omnivorous friends since the menu is extremely "familiar" and the taste is truly spot on (in a really mindblowing, kind of creepy way).
Pros: Completely vegan menu, Extremely delicious, comfort food classics, Fun vibe + non-alcoholic cocktails
Cons: No real dessert menu (but you'll be too full)
Loveiseternal77
What fantastic and spot on review! I am completely on board with your assessment that if vegan food can taste this good, humans can evolve past the use of animals for food without giving up great taste and enjoyment. Bless you and peace to all beings on the earth! ❤️
Read moreGuest
devonwithano
Points +7351
Good vegan bar but the food wasn't my favorite - Edit
I liked the ambiance, but the food was heavy. I would go back for drinks (and maybe snacks) only, but not for a full dining experience.
Read moreGuest
S-Mily
Points +26
Amazing food and great vibe - Edit
I thought I'd need to leave Philly without having tried their famous Cheesesteak, but thankfully I found Monster Vegan! Such a cute overall vibe with nice decorations; and both food and drinks were just delicious! The waitress was very nice and had good recommendations and everything was just fantastic. If you're in Philly, you should definitely check this place out!
Read moreGuest
ClarkScholz
Points +58
Awesome and Creative - Edit
I ordered the wings, and the Alfredo. Both were so good. I intended to eat half, but ended up eating the whole thing. Also, the interior of the bar is mister themed and entertaining! Also also drinks!!
Read moreGuest
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