Vegan News

New vegan restaurant in Dallas does a crispy spicy fried 'chickn' sandwich

Mmmm crispy.

Photo courtesy of Project Pollo

A buzzy and innovative new vegan restaurant concept that specializes in fried "chicken" sandwiches is coming to Dallas. Called Project Pollo, it's a growing young chain from San Antonio that will open its first location in Dallas at 6857 Greenville Ave.

According to founder Lucas Bradbury, the restaurant will open in late June, with plans for a second Dallas location in September.

Project Pollo started out in 2020 as a food cart but is growing rapidly, with four locations in its hometown San Antonio, and one in Austin which opened in December.

The menu centers on "chickenless sandwiches" such as the Spicy Project, featuring breaded fried chickn with spicy garlic Buffalo sauce and ranch, served with a pickled jalapeño.

The "pollo" is a proprietary soy-based chicken substitute which you can get fried or grilled. Other menu items include burgers, cheeseburgers, chickn nuggets, salads, a chickn Caesar wrap, loaded "papas" — fries topped with queso, jalapeno, and chickn tenders — and mac & cheese, made with vegan cashew-based cheese.

Breakfast options includes a chikn burrito, chikn & waffle, and a chikn biscuit.

Bradbury previously worked for a convenience-store chain managing concepts such as Dunkin and Which Wich, and was inspired to create the concept after encouraging his parents to adopt a plant-based diet for health reasons.

Not causing harm to animals is Project Pollo's primary motive, and they donate some proceeds towards animal groups, but he's also on a mission to make plant-based food more accessible to all, telling the San Antonio Current that they want everyone, no matter what their income bracket, to be able to afford to live a plant-based lifestyle.

He's also ambitious, with a goal of opening 25 locations in the next year, which he makes viable by choosing second-generation and offbeat sites such as the Greenville Avenue location. It's an odd building just south of Park Lane with limited parking that was, coincidentally, once home to the pioneering vegan restaurant Bliss Raw Cafe & Elixir Bar.

"Our concept is not about profits, it's about people and providing access to plant-based foods at an affordable price," Bradbury says.

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Coffee buzz

Nūr Coffee perks up Carrollton with premium drinks in a sleek space

The interior of Nūr in Carrollton showcases a minimalist design with soft neutral tones, natural light, and comfortable seating.

Photo courtesy of Nūr Coffee.

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A new coffee shop is bringing specialty drinks, fresh bites, and a bright, calming space to Carrollton. Called Nūr Coffee, the shop is now open at 2741 E. Belt Line Rd., Ste. 107, near the border of Addison.

Nūr is owned by an entrepreneurial team with a variety of backgrounds: Cedric Ogbuehi, a former NFL player; Onyi Odunukwe, CEO of Glo Tanning; and Lisa Nguyen, a longtime açai shop owner and wellness expert. They partnered with Jonah Gregory, owner of Viewfinder Coffee Roasters, to provide coffee training and expertise, as well as the coffee beans they use.

Nūr means "light" in Arabic, a name that reflects the shop's mission to "be a light in someone's day."

To bring that vision to life, the team turned to local interior designer Angela Chantell to create a bright, minimalist, welcoming space. The shop is filled with natural light and soft cream tones, with a mix of communal seating and individual tables that contribute to its airy feel.

“We wanted to create a peaceful, calming space where people don’t feel rushed,” Ogbuehi says.

$N\u016br Coffee$ Signature matcha with vanilla cold foam.Photo courtesy of Nūr Coffee

The coffee menu includes classics such as lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, pour-overs, and drip coffee, but the signature drinks are the stars. Favorites include:

Golden Muse: A vanilla latte with caramel drizzle, topped with vanilla cold foam.
Be Someone's Light Latte: Vanilla and cinnamon paired with an extra shot of espresso and topped with vanilla cold foam.
Blush Matcha: Ceremonial-grade matcha blended with mixed berries and topped with vanilla cold foam.
Daydream: Earl Grey tea and vanilla with steamed milk or vanilla cold foam.

Nūr also serves rotating seasonal drinks. Current offerings include a Blackberry Cobbler Matcha and a Lychee-Tini Matcha made with coconut water.

The food menu centers on savory and sweet English muffins, with options including avocado smash, creamy salmon, banana brûlée, and a Tokyo egg muffin. Local bakery partner Commissary supplies fresh cinnamon rolls and cookies, while the menu also includes a variety of açai bowls and fruit-and-nut wellness cups.

The shop plans to keep things fresh with monthly limited-edition drops featuring new drinks and food items.

A membership program for $59 a month affords unlimited daily coffee, a 10 percent discount on food, and a $2.50 surcharge for specialty drinks.

The owners already have ambitious plans for expansion. They say they hope to open two more locations, in Uptown Dallas and Hurst, by the end of the year, with a goal of five total locations by the end of 2027.

“For us, it’s about the way we make people feel," Ogbuehi says. "Hospitality is our number one priority, alongside the high-quality food and drinks we offer.”

Nūr is open daily from 7 am-7 pm.

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