HIPCityVeg comes to NYC
HipCityVeg - the popular vegan, Latina, and woman-owned fast-food chain that originated in Philadelphia - recently opened a location in New York City. As per their motto “Eat Well, Feel Good,” the produce they use is organic, they source locally wherever possible, and all ingredients are 100% non GMO. Keeping sustainability at the forefront of their mission, menu items come in compostable packaging, and they compost food scraps from each location at the end of each day.
Origin Story
In 2012, Nicole Marquis founded HipCityVeg in Philadelphia, her hometown. Marquis’ aim was to create delicious vegan food using items that the general public already knew and loved, such as burgers, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes, in an effort to get people to eat healthier and be more compassionate towards animals and the environment. Her biggest motivation for pursuing a plant-based diet was seeing the amazing benefits it had on her own father. Marquis successfully convinced him to eat plant-based in 2009 and was amazed at the positive impacts it had on his health, no longer needing to take medication for his high blood pressure and diabetes. She knew she wanted to bring the benefits of plant-based food to more people, and the demand was there.
HipCityVeg currently has 5 locations in Philadelphia and have since expanded to 2 locations in Washington DC and the latest NYC location near Union Square on 28 E 12th Street which officially opened on October 13, 2021. HipCityVeg also has plans to open 2 small delivery only locations - one in Brooklyn and one in Queens.
What’s On the Menu
HipCityVeg’s menu features vegan twists on classic fast-casual fare. They offer a variety of burgers, cheesesteaks, and wraps (both made with Beyond Meat). One of the most popular items is the Crispy Hipcity Ranch sandwich featuring battered chick’n, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and peppercorn ranch. They have salads, wraps, nuggets, sweet potato fries, smoothies, and shakes made with organic soy ice cream. They also offer a full breakfast menu served all day long featuring breakfast sandwiches made with tempeh bac’n and Just Egg.
Taste Test
I stopped by their Union Square location and tried the Ziggy Burger with a side of sweet potato fries and 6 piece nuggets (free with a promotion they were offering at the time!). The Ziggy Burger has a grilled Beyond Meat patty, tempeh bac’n, provolone vegan cheese, special sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. The burger was juicy and the grilled exterior had a nice sear on it. The tempeh bac’n had a smoky flavor and the special sauce added a creamy, slightly sweet and sour tang. As a non-meat eater, the burger was satisfying and fulfilled that meaty craving.
Next, I tried the sweet potato fries with their signature Hipcitysauce. The fries were perfectly crispy and seasoned just with salt. The Hipcitysauce was somewhat sweet and tangy again, perhaps the same one in the burger, but I didn’t prefer it here. I’d rather just have ketchup with my fries.
Finally, the Golden Nuggets. I had high hopes given that the chick’n sandwich is one of their most popular items. The pieces were differently shaped, didn’t have that manufactured look to them, and the breading had a flavorful array of spices. Inside, the “meat” was juicy and had good flavor. This was probably my favorite item - would definitely recommend!
Final Recommendation
Overall, HipCityVeg was delicious and definitely satisfies the craving for typical fast food with a vegan flare. I would recommend it to both vegans and non-vegans alike. I love their brand and ethos to sustainably recreate classics while helping the planet. So if you’re in the Union Square area, definitely check it out. I know I’ll be trying the chicken sandwich and a shake next time I’m nearby.
