People are lining up outside of a tiny restaurant in New York City to get a taste of what chef David Chang is calling “the best veggie burger I’ve ever had.”

Superiority Burger, a six-seat vegetarian restaurant in the East Village, opened its doors in June 2015. Since then, customer response to their veggie burger has been extremely positive, causing this brand new burger joint to shine in insta-fame. If only the place had more than six tables!

Image: New York Post 

The restaurant’s owner and long-time veggie patty lover Brooks Headley told the New York Post that he wanted to give customers a burger made with grains and vegetables, but that also has the same umami flavor as meat. The result? Superiority’s patty is quinoa-based and crispy, with a slightly charred outside. It’s topped with tomato, Muenster cheese, honey mustard and iceberg lettuce. (Please note that this burger is vegetarian, not vegan, since the toppings include cheese and honey mustard.)

Image: New York Post 

The Superiority Burger quinoa veggie burger costs $6. With the Internet abuzz about this new dish, it’s clear I need to try it ASAP. I’m 99% vegan, so I would order the sandwich without cheese but still let myself have the honey mustard, which brings me to an issue that I’ve gotten asked about a lot recently. Is it a cop-out to fall just shy of full vegan? Are we frauds if we consider ourselves “plant-based eaters” instead of militant vegans? I say NO.

Image: New York Post 

Everyone needs to find the balance that works for them, and I think 99% vegan or even less is a great way to go. I never cook with meat or dairy, but if a burger comes with honey mustard at a restaurant, I will eat it. If I’m at a birthday party and the cake’s already been baked, I might have one piece. While it’s getting easier to eat vegan meals in America, becoming a full vegan is still not easier or cheaper than sticking with the mainstream meat-and-dairy culture, especially in the Midwest and the South. I live in NYC, which is bursting with full-vegan restaurants, and I can also afford to splurge from time to time on cool vegan packaged food from Whole Foods. Not everyone is so fortunate. Because of this, I think shaming meat eaters is not the correct approach to take if we want to affect real change. Instead, let’s focus on the joy of vegan food and its health benefits. I think more people will switch to vegan or vegetarian diets once they see how amazing the food can be!

Remember that even eating vegetarian one day a week makes a great impact for your health and the planet. Life isn’t about being perfect, and this blog isn’t about living as a perfect vegan, either. It’s about traveling, trying new dishes and experiences, and replacing old favorite foods with healthier and more sustainable options.

Top and bottom images: Brooklyn Magazine

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