Fort Worth, Texas (a.k.a. “Cowtown”) is a city known for its western heritage. Rodeos, Stockyards, Cattle Drives– sounds like a vegan nightmare, huh? So it’s quite a surprise to discover that Fort Worth is also the home of VegNews Magazine’s “Restaurant of the Year” for 2007.
The Spiral Diner is a 100% vegan diner and bakery that attracts vegetarians and omnivores alike with its expansive– and mostly organic– menu. What’s more, Spiral is committed to the environment. They use environmentally-friendly paper products and take-out containers, recycle as much as possible, and donate excess food to local shelters. Plus, their menu states, “Our goal is not to make tons of profit; it is to provide the community with tasty vegan food at a reasonable cost. Our goal is also to pay everyone working at Spiral a decent wage. We will never charge more than we absolutely have to in order to pay the bills.” But the most important part? Their food is darn tasty!
After a long day of shopping in Fort Worth last weekend, my mom, my aunt, my very-eager cousins, and I drove over to Spiral for a delicious vegan dinner. We started out with two appetizers– chips and salsa (the boys commandeered this appetizer!) and the hummus plate. I wasn’t a huge fan of the lemony hummus, but the lemon flavor was exactly the reason my mom loved it. To each’s own, I guess.
All three kids opted for the spaghetti and soy meatballs (and each kid ate ALL his/her meatballs!), and my aunt ordered (and savored) the pasta primavera. These little cuties also thoroughly enjoyed three thick, creamy soy chocolate milkshakes, topped with a generous squirt of Soyatoo.
My mom and I also split a chocolate milkshake. Well, actually, I ordered it. But Mommy Dearest took one sip, and that was the end of MY milkshake! She drank almost half of it!
My only complaint with the dinner was that they were out of seitan, so I couldn’t order the Parmigiana wrap I’d wanted. But I ended up with a great meal anyway– the Tofu Broccoli Bowl, with Spiral’s famous ranch, and soy meatballs subbed for the tofu.
And my mom ordered her favorite– the BLT sandwich, which comes toasted, with lettuce, tomato, vegan mayo, and bacon bits. Did you know that bacon bits (such as BacOs brand or Fronteir brand) are actually vegan?! It’s true! There’s also potato salad in the picture, but it’s not worth mentioning.
It was still light outside when we got home from Spiral, so I took the boys rollerblading. (Wow, they can really skate fast!) Our Spiral meals must’ve given us a lot of energy, because we stayed out blading for over an hour!
The Spiral Diner is an amazing place. In fact, so many people think this that there was enough demand for them to recently open a SECOND Spiral location– in Dallas! So if you’re ever in the Fort Worth OR Dallas area, be sure to hit up Spiral Diner. And don’t hesitate to take your omni friends/family along. My cousins, aunt, and mother can attest to the fact that omnivores love this place too!
Post categorized here: My Vegan Restaurant Posts.
Ruby Red Vegan says
Look at all that vegan goodness! This was just so much fun to read. It’s great to hear that vegan food made your little cousins so happy – so often kids are the ones with the most discriminating taste buds and they will just only eat certain things!
That’s it, I’m stopping at Spiral once the school year is over! (I actually figured out that it’s really close to the highway my dad uses to drive me home from college!!) And a road trip to Portland AND Seattle would be so amazing! Since Seattle’s supposed to be the coffee capital of the world, I’m pretty sure I’d love it. I second the vegan road trip idea! =) !!
The Real Evolution says
Bac-Os may be vegan but they are loaded with trans fat, preservatives, and food coloring. Try these organic ones: http://www.frontiercoop.com/dspCmnPrd.php?ct=spfavbac
Love your blog!
loveofoats says
Wow what a cool restaurant & I LOVE their motto! You don’t hear of too many restaurants preaching that way of thinking 🙂 Your meal looks delicious & looks like you had fun, too!
Alison Nicole says
Looks amazing!! I am lucky enough to live in Eugene where the vegan food choices are endless and delicious! But it’s always great to know a veg-friendly place in case I make it over to your neck of the woods!
Paulina says
I want to go to Spiral Diner now! I’ve been begging my dad to take me with him to Ft. Worth since he goes there often for work. Oh well…maybe one day I’ll get to go!
Jenny says
Thanks for the review! I can’t wait to go and visit there next Monday!
Heather says
Looks like you had a great time! I wish I had a place like that near my home.
Kumquat Peekapoo says
That sounds like a wonderful place! I’ve never been to Texas, but I might have to find an excuse to go so I can give Spiral a try!
Simple and Divine says
Your broccoli and meatball bowl is RIGHT up my ally girl! Ever since I was little I’ve ADOrED broccoli and it has a sweet comforting taste to me…My fave=par steamed! Simple and Perfect! and I loove putting steamed broccoli on my smartdeli tofu bologna sandwiches with nayonaise! (My friends think I’m WACKO for it)
I need to go to this diner asap! ALSO, Ive been meaning to ask your lovely self if you’ve been to Govinda’s on South Street yet??? I was hoping you could give me a review because I’m DYING to go! Loved the adorable post! Enjoy the rest of your evening love!
Romina says
Ahh I’m so jealous! Isn’t it crazy how somewhere that is called “cowtown” can have such amazing vegan food?
stonielove says
wow, so many vegan goodies! it’s awesome that you had a great time with your family!
~randi~ says
next time i’m in Dallas I will definitely try this place! Thanks for the recommendation
I love that your little cousins are getting introduced to good vegan food at a young age!
bean_mix says
awww your cousins are so cute!
I wish I had young cousins to Rollerblade with, but I’m the youngest in my whole family >.<
Your dinner made me crave broccoli sooo badly
Lizzy says
Ohh I just looked at their menu… I wish I could go there!!! We need more restaurants with a motto like theirs!
shellyfish says
I’d love to have a place like that near by! I just think it’s so neat that you could enjoy such a wonderful vegan meal with your family…not every family would have looked as enthusiastic! 🙂
Jennifer says
Spiral Diner sounds fantastic!
I love that your cousins are so open to vegan food.
And that chocolate milkshake looks bigger than the you! Wow, what a milkshake!
I’ll have to remember these places when I go visit my family in Houston.
Mihl says
Oh, please send some food!
Happy Herbivore! says
vegan chocolate milkshake? come to happy herbivore!!!!!!!
Jess - The Domestic Vegan says
That all looks fantastic! You seem like the greatest cousin! How cute of you guys to go rollerblading.
Alice (in Veganland) says
I am SO jealous. I could eat every single thing in this post right now!
I think your cousins think you’re cool and that’s why they love vegan food (well, and because it’s tasty!)
VegMomma says
That all looks so amazing! Too bad there aren’t more restaurants like that out there!!!
Sarah C. says
I hope you get to try the Parmigiana wrap in the future – it’s one of my faves (I live around the corner from FW Spiral – actually, I chose to live in FW over D BECAUSE of the Spiral!). I also love the taco salad and the tempeh jerk sandwich. Wow, do I love the Spiral!
ChocolateCoveredVegan says
Hey Sarah C.
The Parmigiana wrap is my absolute favorite! I was so sad that they didn’t have it. And what’s worse– they were also out of my 2nd favorite, the Jamaican Jerk sandwich! I have no idea why they were out of so much that night :o/
Oh well, it’s a good reason to go back soon, right?
Haha, it’s so funny that you chose to live in Ft. Worth because of Spiral!
Vegan_Noodle says
Ah, now I can sleep tonight with dreams of spiral diner… please ask them for me to open one up here in Houston!
jenna says
why aren’t there any cool places like that here?! I need to come to Dallas just eat your amazing food! Your cousins are too cute, by the way. I’m sure you are leading them with your positive vegan example to love animals, the earth and their bodies!!!
pleasantly plump vegan says
yr cousins are seriously adorable and REALLY cool!
Bianca says
Damn, I wish we had something like that. We don’t have a single 100% vegan eatery, not even a 100% vegetarian place…that ranch looks awesome and I totally wish I could drink that milkshake through the computer.
vegetalion says
!!! I want a vegan diner!!! lucky! it all looks amazing.
Vaishali says
What a delicious-looking spread!
poopiebitch says
My grandparents live in Fort Worth (well, White Settlement, but whatever) and we visit them pretty frequently. Next time we’re in the area I am going to DEMAND we go to Spiral Diner at least once – instead of the steakhouses they usually drag me to!
Sarah C. says
Hey Chocolate Covered Vegan,
I was there again last night (needed a mid-week treat after yoga class!) and they told me there was no jerk sandwich (bummer!) and that there was no seitan because of a supplier problem (no longer selling in bulk). They also said, however, that they’re going to start making it themselves, so they should have it back in stock as soon as they start that up.
Let’s hope it’s soon.
Peace by Pastries says
ah! i m sooooo jealous…i need to make a special trip to texas JUST to eat at the spiral diner!! i’m certain it would be well worth it:)
Billy says
The next time I’m stuck in Dallas-Forth Worth airport with a long layover, I’ll have to take a taxi to that restaurant!
Billy says
That’d be awesome. If I’m stuck in the airport again, we’ll meet up. 🙂
I used to have layovers there all the time, but I’ve been flying direct for a while now.
ChocolateCoveredVegan says
Sarah C,
Maybe I’ll have better luck trying the one in Dallas!
Veggie says
I wish I could go there too. The chocolate milkshakes, topped with Soyatoo look so scrumptious.
Bonnie says
Too bad it’s so far away, but that restaurant looks wonderful! I’ve never been to a entirely vegan restaurant and I would really like to some day. It looks like you all had such a great time there! The pictures are all adorable. The milkshake looks incredibly tasty. It makes me happy to read that not only you, but your entire family enjoyed the food there 😀
Jade C says
This place sounds awesome!! I wish they’d open up a place like that over here in the UK 🙁