Press

Treasured vegan restaurant Counter Culture reopens as food trailer in Central Austin

Culture Map Austin

Vegan Austinites has gotten one of their most treasured eateries back. 2022 CultureMap Tastemaker winner Counter Culture has reopened as a food trailer in the back patio of Tweedy’s Bar in Central Austin.The new trailer will serve all of their classic appetizers, vegan bowls, burritos, sandwiches, and more every day of the week. They still offer takeout and delivery.

sandwich
— Amber Heckler

Counter Culture comes back in food truck form near UT campuss

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Vegan restaurant Counter Culture reopened as a food truck in May. The truck is located in the back patio of Tweedy’s Bar at 2908 Fruth St., Austin, near The University of Texas campus.The restaurant was previously located in a brick-and-mortar space at 2337 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, for 11 years until it shuttered at the end of 2022. A new colorful cocktail bar called Lovebirds took over the space May 7.

Various served meals, top view

Meet Sue Davis

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We recently connected with Sue Davis and have shared our conversation...

Photo of Sue Davis
— Canvas Rebel

austin best vegan restaurant award

Over-the-Counter Remedies

Bitter Sweet

While so many of us are redoubling efforts to support small businesses in this particularly fraught moment in time, some of those small businesses are actually doing the same. Literally starting from the ground up, sourcing from local farmers is part of the puzzle that those in the dining room don’t see, but when it goes missing, it’s obvious when the bigger picture doesn’t look right. An essential, core element of the community, Counter Culture is weathering the storm of the pandemic without ever losing sight of that crucial aspect, among many others.

sandwich
— Hannah

6 Best Vegan Comfort Dishes

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A hearty, earthy dish, Counter Culture’s Pumpkin Curry Quinoa is a blissful bowl of warmth, infused with rich antioxidants. The kick of the curry pulls out the subtle sweetness of the pumpkin, creating a unique and rich flavor. The creamy sauce is served over a mix of roasted sweet potatoes and kale on a bed of perfectly fluffy filling of quinoa and topped with toasted papitas for a slight crunch. Plus, this healthy meal is gluten, soy, and oil free.

— Abby Johnson

Where to Get the Best Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Austin

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Texas may seem like the most intimidating place a vegan or vegetarian could find themselves in. Not only do barbecue and steak rank supreme in the Lone Star State, but the UT Longhorn logo seems to further mock the plant-based from every possible corner. However, we are lucky enough in Austin to have a great selection of sanctuaries for those who are meat and dairy-free to get their nosh on—from pizza to soul food to Mexican, and everything in between.

— Molly Moltzen and Kelly Stocker

Woody Harrelson Had Vegan Brunch at Counter Culture, and More A.M. Intel

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Vegan actor Woody Harrelson brunched at vegan comfort food restaurant Counter Culture on Sunday. According to the restaurant, he and his table ate the biscuit bowl (which comes with vegetables, biscuits, tofu scramble, and gravy), grits, beans, mushrooms, and greens.

Happy people
— Nadia Chaudhury

All the healthiest restaurants in Austin right now

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There’s a reason Counter Culture on East Cesar Chavez St. has been named the best place for vegan comfort food in Austin — that's because it is. Their daily ‘cheeze’ specials rival any gourmet cheese board, and their daily pizza specials are so creative you might need to try them all. And the real bonus here is that since it’s all plant-based, you leave feeling like a million bucks (even if you ate a burger and cheezecake).

Meals on the table
— Nickie Harris

18 Exceptional Veggie Burgers in Austin

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The burger at the vegan restaurant is mixed with beets, mushrooms, and walnuts, and comes with special cashew cheeze (not to be confused with cheese). Bonus: it's gluten-free, too. Look out for other burger specials made with falafels and more.

Beef burger
— Nadia Chaudhury

Counter Culture: Vegan Comfort Food

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Austin has always been known for its delicious and diverse food. Although there is no shortage of tasty food, finding restaurants that are also vegan is a little more tricky, even in a city as progressive and food-centered as Austin.

Counter Culture restaurant
— Miranda Barrera

Counter Culture

austin chronicle

What began as a food truck in 2009 has blossomed into an adorable East Austin restaurant with a dedicated following. Counter Culture offers vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, oil-free, and raw alternatives to many beloved comfort foods. Local, organic produce is used whenever possible, and healthy food, not just animal-free food, is a priority.

Sandwiches on a blue table
— Austin Chronicle

Best Vegan / Vegetarian Cafe

austin chronicle

In an ever-upscaling and -homogenizing Eastside, Counter Culture maintains a certain Austin charm. Did you know that CC founder/owner/chef Sue Davis is also a noted local vinyl DJ? DJ Sue Purr's curatorial expertise in sound – selecting, sorting, juxtaposing, blending, and contextualizing – is similar to what she brings to her restaurant menu's flavor palette. Apparently, that palette hits our readers' palate like music to the mouth. In song, she specializes in Sixties garage, Seventies power-pop, and Eighties punk. In food she makes magic with elements like jackfruit, cashew cream, cashew cheeze, chickpea chorizo, beatballs, and (in the words of one band whose music we bet she's spun before): Seitan! Seitan! Seitan!

Devaki Knowles
— Austin Chronicle

After 12 years in East Austin, Counter Culture plans next moves

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Sue Davis has spent more than a decade cooking up homemade vegan food and promoting sustainable practices. Sue Davis has been running Counter Culture on East Cesar Chavez Street for more than a decade now. And in that time, she’s seen quite a bit of change. When she moved in, her quaint, all-vegan restaurant was an anomaly in Austin. Many customers didn’t know what the word “vegan” meant. Her neighbors were a carwash and an abandoned building.

The outside of Counter Culture on East Cesar Chavez
— London Gibson

Meet Sue of Counter Culture, one of the best Vegan comfort food restaurants in central east austin!

park bench

As Sue puts it, it's just a small Vegan restaurant, everything is made from scratch. We try to support a lot of local farms and other businesses, We try to make Comfort Food that, maybe, people are craving. The customers, basically, really love the food. A lot of the staff have been with her for a long time. They are very passionate about the food. We try to support other local small businesses, so we can all flourish, and have a community that we want to see, that represents us.


— Austin Chronicle