Counter Culture

“It started in the summer of 2009 — a food trailer, a dream, and a deep belief that plant-based food made with care and kindness could find a home in Texas. By 2012, that belief had grown into a brick-and-mortar in East Austin. That space became more than a restaurant: friendships formed, couples fell in love, and the community gathered for celebrations and good times.

In January of 2023, I made the hardest decision of my career. I closed the doors. Not because it wasn't working, but because I knew I had to build something for the community in a purpose-built space. I needed to own the ground beneath it. I needed a space that was truly mine, where I could build the restaurant of my dreams without compromise.

In October of 2024, I purchased a mid-1960s building in the Windsor Park neighborhood of Central Northeast Austin. Working with the design team at Weiss Architects and the crew at Haven's Construction, we're transforming it into a mid-century diner where you can meet friends, celebrate occasions, host meetups, go on a first date, grab a drink, read your favorite book — or walk in alone and leave knowing your neighbor's name. We hope to open mid-summer 2026.

For over 20 years, I've dedicated myself to plant-based food, made from scratch, at a price that doesn't ask anyone to choose between eating well and paying rent. I've watched good food and genuine kindness change the trajectory of someone's entire day. That's not an accident — it's the whole point.

At the heart of it all is a deep love for animals — every kind, everywhere. Counter Culture exists, in part, because I believe the way we treat the most vulnerable among us — humans or other animals — says everything about who we are. A plate of food can be an act of compassion. That idea has guided every dish we've ever made.

Counter Culture is built on a simple belief: kindness is not a nicety, it's a foundation. That shows up in every ingredient we source, every local partnership we build, every effort we make to reduce waste and treat the people who work here and eat here with equal dignity.