Small veggie food shop with an extensive menu featuring soul food, mockmeat dishes, sandwiches, Asian dishes, pasta, desserts, and more. Fixed menu is a good deal with large portions. Fully vegan since Feb 2020. Quiet atmosphere but gets busy. Does not take reservations. Open Mon-Tue 12:00pm-9:00pm, Wed-Sun 12:00pm-10:00pm.
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140 West 4th St (at 6th Ave and MacDougal St., West Village, Manhattan), New York City, New York, USA, 10012
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Last update on 11 Mar 2025 by redbamboonyc
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155 Reviews
First Review by Poundie
tronna
Points +2332
Huge menu, friendly stuff. - Edit
It was cold inside, we needed to wear jackets. The Szechuan beef was extremely garlicky, maybe too much so.
Read moreGuest
Hnadine21
Points +48
Cozy vegan spot - Edit
Really amazing cozy vegan spot in the West Village! The menu is huge and has great options. I tried the creole soul chicken for the first time and loved it. And the oreo cheesecake was amazing! The server was super nice and service was fast.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-12-13
Guest
anachronismarie
Points +31
chill vibes, good food - Edit
noticed this cozy place walking past and came in on the spur of the moment. food came quickly, was fairly good and not too expensive. I had a mock chicken nugget sandwich (forgot the specific name—but that’s pretty much what it was) with sweet potato fries 😋 my mom had the “fish” (I tried some—it was surprisingly delicate, but rich). definitely recommend for casual eats.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-12-09
Guest
StéphaneG75
Points +109
A really good vegan place! - Edit
You can tell a great vegan place from how thought through as vegan creations from the beginning the food is. This is one of those places. Good food. Love the beef medallions and the bourbon chicken. Great service!
Read morePros: Food , Service , Price
Cons: Atmosphere , Chocolate cake (too rich), No coffee
Guest
BradleyB
Points +142
Unique options - Edit
I went for lunch and tried a Filipino special - Kare kare (a peanut broth stew with veggies and soy “oxtail”), fried rice and vegan fried egg, lumpia and a mango salsa. It was a little pricey but it was a lot of food. There are a lot of unique options on the menu.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-06-19
Guest
hwing
Points +2549
Really good curry with lots of fake meat options - Edit
2025-03-15: ORIGINAL POST
Read moreRestaurant opened several minutes after 12pm but super friendly staff and nice atmosphere inside once we were seated.
Ordered three dishes:
- Red curry tofu: very flavorful, nice textured tofu, but wished the eggplant was sautéed or cooked differently as it lacked flavor
- Spicy chicken with broccoli: my friend’s all-time favorite meal here
- Thai beef curry: really good curry
Very comprehensive vegan menu with a strong emphasis on fake meats
2025-11-16: UPDATED POST
Returned to Red Bamboo. Was able to grab a table for 3 as a walk-in after a short wait. Ordered the following:
- Garlic and Scallion Fried Rice (added tofu, mushrooms, and broccoli): Was underwhelmed by the flavor profile; felt more like a large quantity of a side dish
Updated from previous review on 2025-03-15
Guest
TimothyHaft
Points +100
Solid choice for Greenwich Village - Edit
I’ve been going to Red Bamboo for many years. Last night (9/22/25) was perhaps my 10th visit. Our waiter was outstanding! Really 5 star service. The Sampler Platter was the perfect appetizer for a party of 4. Yes it’s a lot of fried food, but the three sauces were tasty and we enjoyed the variety. Three of the four entrees were hits although one of my companions mentioned that the vegan ribs were a little dense. The one dish I cannot recommend is the Kare Kare, the special Filipino peanut stew which was not flavorful and was extremely “soupy”. Since I’ve never had the original perhaps that was the point, but from my perspective it needs to be reworked or dropped from the menu. To get to 5 stars perhaps slim down the menu a bit. Sometimes less is better.
Read morePros: tasty sauces, delicious appetizers , outstanding service
Cons: Kare Kare
Guest
Skye
Points +1606
Not as good as expected - Edit
We had visited years ago and remembered really enjoying it. Veggies were way undercooked! Super crunchy. The chops were different so not bad and the sauce was good. Sweet and sour chicken good but very little sauce and pretty soggy chicken.
Read moreThe collard green rolls were just ok.
Pros: The atmosphere, Staff
Cons: Read above
Guest
ALR14
Points +529
Yummy, interesting food - Edit
So good and interesting flavors. Highly recommend.
Read moreGuest
andrea.childress
Points +16
Fantastic food, chill vibes - Edit
Such an underrated place! The food was fantastic and the portions are huge. I forgot to take a photo, but I promise you’ll enjoy it
Read moreGuest
DerekKlein
Points +36
Eggplant Parmesan And Oreo Cheesecake Dessert - Edit
The Eggplant Parmesan was perfectly prepared with the best breading I have tasted. It seems like the same breading that makes their Vegetable Tempura, Popcorn Shrimp, . . . so good. The vegan NUMU mozzarella cheese did not disappoint. The sweet basil marinara sauce is fine but, for years, I have become accustomed to a less sweet non-basil marinara sauce at home so I can not rave about the basil sauce until it grows on me as I suspect it will. My guess is most people would prefer Red Bamboo's sweet basil sauce over the less sweet non-basil sauce that I am use to eating at home.
Read moreFor dessert, I had a slice of their vegan Oreo Cheesecake, and it was 95% as good as the best chocolate cheesecakes I use to have before I turned vegan. It seemed like the largest slice of cake I ever had at a restaurant, so I had to take most of it home to finish it off the next day.
Guest
ChristopherBradshaw
Points +26
A New York Institution - Edit
I’ve been to Red Bamboo many times. Big portions of wonderful comfort food. Today I stopped by for lunch and indulged in a vegan pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and fries. So yummy.
Read moreGuest
hnn1
Points +494
Actually delicious! - Edit
I saw some mixed reviews about this place so I picked my appetizer and entree based on the good reviews I saw and these dishes did not disappoint. I got the jerk-spiced seitan as the app which had a lovely flavor. The seitan was very soft and not chewy. I then got the coconut chicken, which was so tasty and the texture of the “meat” and breading was perfect👍. I got this HUGE slice of peanut butter bomb cake for dessert, so yum. I was also recommended the ginger juice with lemon and pineapple which was also a good addition to the experience.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-04-07
Guest
Tom1973
Points +698
Very large vegan menu - Edit
The menu here is very varied. You'll find something for everyone.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-04-06
Guest
rtnc68
Points +983
Fantastic - Edit
NYC classic vegan comfort food.
Read moreExtensive menu options.
Ameisherry
Meow 🐱
Read moreGuest
RebeccaSullivan
Points +6434
Delicious Food - Edit
Came here once or twice many years ago, but returned this past weekend when learning that they were struggling financially. They are currently taking reservations but they usually don’t. We got here around 4:45 and were in and out in an hour. Food came out insanely quickly. Other than my water have lipstick stains on it (🤮) the experience was great. Place is tiny but when food comes out fast you can be in and out quickly. The menu is extensive. We ordered the sample platter, sweet and sour chicken, and ribs. The sample platter was great and we enjoyed everything. The sweet and sour chicken had a great flavor but we both expected the chicken to have a bit of a crunchier bite but it was very soft. The ribs were a little thick for our liking but the flavor of everything was really good. We grabbed a tiramisu and death by chocolate slice for the train ride home.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-03-25
Guest
Shane Rice
Points +30
Michael Jordan… - Edit
Sign said it was the “Michael Jordan of vegan food”…and was really great. Menu is EXPANSIVE, service is friendly, bathroom is clean (if small), and the food was hot and delicious.
Read morePros: No wait , Good service , Great food
Guest
muzzest
Points +623
DELICIOUS - Edit
Chicken satay with the peanut sauce was heavenly. Also absolutely loved the death by chocolate slice of chocolate cake. The dining room is cozy but does not feel too crowded or loud. Staff are awesome. Can’t wait to come back to try everything on the menu!
Read morePros: Fair price, Delicious , Great atmosphere
Guest
Emlette
Points +106
One of my favs - Edit
This place is sooo good. Truly endless options. I love their soy cutlets. The fried rice. A welcoming and peaceful atmosphere.
Read morePros: Fried rice, Soy cutlets
Guest
red_head_dude
Points +55
One of the favourite veg restaurant - Edit
I visit it every time I visit New York. I've tried almost all the dishes. I recommend it for dinner. The atmosphere here is very pleasant.
Read moreGuest
Profasmith
Points +182
Flavorful, Fun, & Fantastic - Edit
One of the best comfort food restaurants in the city - made-from-scratch options ranging from sandwiches and burgers to bowls, Italian and Chinese dishes. Recommend their “chck’n dishes,” especially their wings! There is something for everyone! Save room for dessert!
Read morePros: Excellent comfort food, Amazing Service, Warm Ambiance
Cons: None! No cons.
Guest
Yumtum
Points +292
Loved this place for decades! - Edit
Best comfort food ever; love the “chicken” parm, roti, and milk shakes
Read morePros: Nice folks, Excellent food, Big portions
Guest
Jenster
Points +1216
Excellent food - Edit
So many choices on the menu. We went for the ribs and the salmon teriyaki. Both very good sizes and very tasty. Friendly and attentive service, and excellent price. Perfect for my first meal out in NYC!
Read moreGuest
xHoneyx
Points +35
So yummy - Edit
Omg . Second time I’m here Best vegan ever
Read morePros: Staff, Food
Guest
DEdoc
Points +458
Extensive menu - Edit
Indoor seating, huge variety of food choices including dessert. I had an eggplant hero, came with sauce on the side. Eggplant was too greasy for me but the rest of my family very much enjoyed their choices. Thai beef curry, sweet n sour chicken. Friendly staff.
Read moreGuest
daleaucoin
Points +62
Fake Meat Fix - Edit
I hadn't been in years and went recently with a friend. I had the ribs which were pretty tasty but dry and chewy. The mashed potatoes and gravy was tiny and disappointing. I find most of their "meats" to be a bit on the tough side. I do however like how big their menu is and the food is always fresh.
Read morePros: big menu, good variety
Cons: can be loud and crowded, noisy chairs
Guest
chels2ocean
Points +1675
Huge menu, probably hit or miss - Edit
Came here for the first time with a group. Really nice staff. I tried the BBQ buffalo wings and the vegetable tempura. The wings were good, the sauce use is very tasty, but I do wish the seitan or soy meat that they use was a little less tough. The tempura wasn't bad but not what I expected, it's not a light airy batter. I probably wouldn't order the tempura again. Every one else seemed happy with what they ordered. It's a huge menu so lots of things to try next time, and they have desserts from vegan treats which is a plus!
Read moreGuest
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