Vegan News

Vegan-friendly new Plano restaurant goes beyond the usual burgers

You can customize your wrap with regular chicken or the healthier plant-based version.

Photo courtesy of BVG

A new mom-and-pop restaurant is opening in Plano with a menu that features burgers and chicken sandwiches side by side with vegan versions of the same.

Called Beyond Veggies Grill, it's opening on January 7 at 1885 Dallas Pkwy. #300, at the corner of Park Boulevard, in the space next to Torchy's Tacos.

Beyond Veggies comes from Nate and Cici Hanson, who wanted to bring a fast, healthy option to Plano with both regular meat and plant-based meat, for lunch and dinner.

The location was most recently home to 24 Hot Chicken & Waffles, a restaurant that Nate opened with another partner; it closed in 2019, but the original location is still open in Studio City, California.

At Beyond Veggies or "BVG," flexitarian is the name of the game, says Cici.

"You can choose veggies and sauces and we serve beef, chicken, and our specialty plant-based proteins, so we have a choice for everyone in any group," she says.

Their menu features customizable bowls, wraps, tacos, or salads. It includes a chicken sandwich, burger, vegan chicken tenders, vegan chicken sandwich, a Beyond burger, tacos, fries, or queso & chips.

They also serves six craft beers on tap, with a daily happy hour from 4-7 pm with $1.50 beers.

The Hansons were inspired by the revolution involving new plant based proteins from companies like Impossible and Beyond, that make for a convincing substitute of meat.

They incorporated the products into their meals, and saw major benefits.

"We were floored when we tried Beyond plant-based meat," Cici says. "It was just as good as the real deal in terms of taste, but we also loved the increase in energy and ease on our digestive systems that we experienced."

She says they haven't totally given up beef and chicken nor gone "all out vegan," but are instead doing what many people are doing: cutting back on animal products and diversifying with plant protein.

"It makes dining out feel healthier and fun with all the varieties to try," she says.

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good meat, let's eat

Popular Indonesian mobile kitchen Angel Touch debuts restaurant in Plano

Facebook/Angel Touch Kitchen

Mie ayam, a beloved Indonesian street dish featuring egg noodles, chicken mushroom topping, and greens.

A longtime mobile eatery specializing in halal Indonesian cuisine is now cooking inside new permanent Plano digs: Angel Touch Kitchen will officially open its doors on October 29 at 280 Legacy Dr. Ste. 300, at the corner of Legacy Drive and Chase Oaks Boulevard.

Though it's the restaurant's first permanent home, Plano diners might find the food and brand familiar. Indonesian-born chef and entrepreneur Yenni Haryanti has been operating Angel Touch as a catering and mobile kitchen since 2014. Her frequent appearances at festivals, corporate events, and parties throughout Dallas-Fort Worth have attracted a large following.

In 2021, Angel Touch opened a semi-permanent spot inside a Carrollton food court where, "after years without an Indonesian restaurant in DFW, the response was overwhelming," Haryanti told Voyage Dallas. "We sold out in hours and customers traveled long distances for our food."

Last summer, Haryanti announced plans for a permanent Plano restaurant. Social media followers were treated to peeks at what it takes to maintain a mobile diner and prepare for a restaurant opening, as the business posted photos of hood vent cleanings and inspection preparations and shared thoughts on the experience: "Running a small food business comes with a lot of behind-the-scenes work — long hours, cleaning, prepping, maintaining equipment, and making sure everything is done the right way. We’re tired, but grateful to keep doing what we love."

Angel Touch Kitchen settles into permanent space after more than a decade on the road. Photo courtesy Angel Touch Kitchen/Instagram

Angel Touch Kitchen held its soft opening October 19-25, serving dishes such as its in-demand beef rendang — a rich, slow-cooked Indonesian-Malaysian dry curry — and ayam goreng kuning — an Indonesian twist on fried chicken.

“Our beef rendang sold out two days in a row, so we’re making a fresh batch,” the kitchen posted at 3 am on Facebook a couple days into the soft opening. “We give it a little extra time to make every bite tender and full of flavor.”

Other menu items include:

Ayam woku: Chicken with fresh herbs, spices, and citrus.
Ayam semur: Sweet-and-savory braised chicken.
Terong cabe ijo: Eggplant stir-fried with spicy green chile.
Acar kuning: Cooked yellow vegetable pickle, often served as a side.
Kentang balado: Fried or roasted potatoes tossed in a spicy, savory red chile sauce.
Capcay: Vegetable stir-fry.

Entrees with a side run $14-$18.

Drinks and sweets, with items priced $7-$8, include es cendol (an icy drink with jelly strands) and es campur (various sweet toppings over shaved ice), and the dark sticky rice or porridge ketan hitam.

Beginning October 29, Angel Touch Kitchen will be open 12-2 pm and 5-8:30 pm Thursday-Friday and 12-8:30 pm Saturday-Sunday. The restaurant is closed Monday-Wednesday.

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