The Fiction Kitchen

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"Fiction Kitchen serves thoughtfully crafted vegetarian and vegan cuisine from a 100 percent vegetarian kitchen in downtown Raleigh. Lion’s mane mushroom dip (in the style of crab dip), the North Carolina peanut noodle bowl, and the crispy fried chicken and waffles (made with mock chicken) have helped make Fiction Kitchen one of the state’s most popular meatless restaurants." - Matt Lardie

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"A leader in vegan cuisine, the Fiction Kitchen owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern have garnered statewide and national attention for their commitment to community and their ability to transform Southern staples like chicken and waffles and Salisbury steak into delicious, meatless offerings. There are also more international offerings like chicken tinga tacos made with mock chicken, Lion’s Mane mushroom crab rangoon, and peanut-roasted tofu lettuce wraps." - Matt Lardie

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Best Restaurants in Raleigh, North Carolina | Eater Carolinas

"Skip the brunch bacon and succumb to innovative vegan and vegetarian delights. Aim for Southern fried fare with the fried “chicken” and waffle featuring fried mock chicken, flavored with marinade and herb seasoning, tossed atop a Belgian-style waffle and sweetened with agave. Or steer to the lighter side with an item like the Funday Quiche, whipped up vegan or vegetarian with seasonal vegetables baked in tofu or egg custard with homemade crust." - Katie Toussaint

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Raleigh’s plant‑based pioneer serves seasonal, Southern‑inflected vegan dishes that please omnivores, too. Frequently praised by local critics and readers’ polls, its new Gateway Plaza home keeps the mission fresh in 2025.

Things to Do in Raleigh (2025)

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22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

Raleigh’s plant‑based pioneer, now at Gateway Plaza, turns seasonal produce into memorable plates—think fried oyster mushrooms and vegan chicken and waffles. Praised by local media for thoughtful cooking and community ties.

Best Restaurants in Raleigh (2025)

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Rachele W.

Google

Love this place! Delicious local homemade vegan food and superb service with a great eclectic vibe. I ordered the specials - cashew cream of mushroom soup and Farmers Market pot pie. My husband ordered the Carolina BBQ sandwich and fries. We topped it off with the pumpkin cheesecake and tres leches. Everything was delicious. I can’t recommend this restaurant enough. Don’t miss out on the specials!

Stephanie G.

Google

Definitely recommend!!! Will return anytime I’m in Raleigh. Sat at the bar with bartender/server Betsy. She’s an absolute doll! Friendly, attentive, knows the menu & made excellent recommendations. It was cold out & she was ready with a hot tea selection before I could even ask! The restaurant (& restrooms) was very clean & comfortable. Ample parking & seating. Lots of little details in the decor. Unfortunately, I was a distracted by conversation & neglected to take a quick food pic, but it was AMAZING! The mushroom melt was perfectly warm & toasted with a melty (vegan) cheesy center. I opted for the creamy poblano soup of the day as my side & it did not disappoint. Just the right amount of spicy to complement the sandwich. Also took a slice of eggnog cheesecake to go, which was a good call. Perfect consistency & not overly sweet. Thank you for one of the best meals I’ve had in a while ☺️

David M

Google

Finally had a chance to dine here and we were not disappointed! This restaurant has a nice atmosphere, good service and thoughtfully prepared vegan dishes. The food presentation was very good. The risotto was delicious and tasted very fresh. The peanut noodle bowl was also very good but quite rich and I would have liked a bit more spice; I would ask for that next time. Overall it was a nice dining experience and I will be back.

Chuck W.

Google

Amazing Dinner! The NC style sandwich was out of this world. Pumpkin cheesecake is delicious. Service is on point. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and made our experience better. Stop thinking and get to Fiction Kitchen

Cyndi W.

Google

The Southern plate was amazing. Pulled bbq pork, tasted just like pork. I was really surprised to get a table. But we were willing to eat at 5pm. We sat at the bar and the mocktails with their unique delicious ingredients were out of this world.

James O.

Google

We are always on the lookout for a restaurant that makes both my vegetarian wife and me (an omnivore) happy, and The Fiction Kitchen delivers in a big way. This full vegan restaurant serves up some of the most satisfying comfort food we've ever had. I'm a biscuits and gravy enthusiast, and their vegan version is phenomenal; it has the richness and flavor that could easily fool anyone into thinking they were eating the classic, homemade dish. I highly recommend bringing any guest here and letting the food speak for itself—don't even mention it's vegan. Just sit back and watch them enjoy and be wowed!

Robert B B.

Google

FIVE STARS for Fiction Kitchen, Raleigh's Gateway Plaza — Yes, outstanding vegan food that even non-vegans will love! We enjoyed ice-cold house-made root beer, refreshing (and freshly made) cantaloupe soup, plus a double smashburger with cheddar, fresh toppings, and house-cut pickle fries. Desserts were next-level — a rich dark-chocolate pudding cake with butterscotch topping and a perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie. A chocoholic's dream even casual dessert fans will love these. Generous portions, friendly service, casual vibe. Dine in, take-out, or delivery. Plenty of parking in Gateway Plaza off Capital Blvd. (See photos of food and lunch/dinner menus. I included photos of the restroom – very clean and cool wallpaper!).

Angelique

Google

Great food and atmosphere, and both the hostess and manager were wonderful and accommodating. Unfortunately, the bartender was pushy about an upcoming reservation and made us feel rushed out — even though we had already paid and were in the process of leaving with time still left. It put a damper on an otherwise great experience. Would return for everything else, but hope that interaction is handled better in the future.

Mike W.

Yelp

Great food. I have only been there once, but plan on going again soon. My favorite was the peanut noodle bowl. Delicious!

Priscilla R.

Yelp

Great experience! Food: ordered the cornbread, locavore salad and lions mane Rangoon the for the table, had the farmers market special (gnocchi) with added crispy fried tofu for myself and an order of tres leche for dessert. Everything and I mean everything was amazing! Great flavors! Healthy servings and cooked perfectly. Service: we had reservations and were seated immediately. Or drink order were taken upon being seated as well as starters which came out promptly. Our silverware was changed out after each use. Our server was very friendly and had great recommendations! Knew the menu forward and backward and was quick. Ambiance: the place is somewhat casual but with a funky flare. It has a cool chill vibe, great for groups and not too nosy. Parking is right outside restaurant which is convenient.

N O.

Yelp

This restaurant in its new (temporary?) location has much of the same wonderful food and solid service I remember. I was especially blown away by the risotto dish and by the Stalker mocktail. I also really enjoyed the gnocchi special, and the peanut butter pie was as delicious as ever. However, I noticed that the BBQ wasn't the same as I remembered -- it lacked the smoky, tangy quality I had loved before, and the sandwich option is remarkably small, with fries that don't seem homemade or special to me. I miss the taco option on the menu, the colorful, funky vibes and convenient placement of the old location downtown, and the old prices (I guess that's inflation). Service is still very good. The new location has easy parking and other interesting establishments nearby that may be interesting for folks to check out. I will definitely plan to return to this beloved restaurant someday for tasty vegan cuisine and drinks. I hear outdoor dining may be in the works, which sounds lovely.

Kim B.

Yelp

This is a ling overdue review. We are a family of vegetarians and foodies so we were excited to give this long standing reataurant a try. Keep in mind we have eaten at almost every vegan restaurant in NYC and have flown yo other places just to try the food. This is likely not a fair comparison to what the Triangle has to offer for the meatless community. The biggest turn off for us was we were a party of three adults and all apps and entrees were lukewarm to cool. Nothing is going to taste good cold. The food was just mediocre at best and so we have never gone back and I would not recommend. I don't know if the food was pre-prepped and then nuked but it surely wasn't piping hot when it arrived at the table. It is always exciting to go to a vegan restaurant to enjoy the creative possibilities with plant based food. Especially foods that go further than a beyond meat burger and fries. But you should STILL expect hot food, great flavor and a beautiful presentation when the dish is placed in front of you. This was NOT our experience. They had one opportunity and quite frankly they blew it IMO. Additionally it is not easy to get a table at this restaurant and it is super small. We sat outside for an hour before it opened. We did not know we had to have a reservation so we appreciated that they found a way to accomodate us. I hope it has improved, but every time someone suggest going here for dinner I say no because of this experience.

Justin F.

Yelp

We had a fantastic family dinner here. The BBQ pulled pork was a amazing! Even those who've had real BBQ raved about it being close to real thing. The desserts were equally impressive - the tres leches and egg nog cheesecake were pure indulgence. Can't wait to return soon!

Audrey K.

Yelp

Let me start with the service. Our waiters were great .. What wasn't great was that they were out of 6 dishes when they only have a small menu to begin with. And one of them was the special that was on the chalkboard but instead of erasing it ( it's a chalkboard) they left it and after telling us about all the dishes that weren't available on the menu, I order the special, and that's not available either! The food is good, no doubt they make an effort to create tasty, vegan meals. But so very disappointed especially since my kids made reservations to take me for Mother's Day. They kept apologizing for picking it, even tho it's not their fault that half the menu was unavailable. So we basically ended up with whatever was available bc it's Mother's Day, and where else could we have gone.

Lydia A.

Yelp

I went a few years ago with my vegan brother and he was very pleased by the options and the taste so well that we had take out! The location was the original before moving to currently location. Am looking forward to visiting the new location!

Mia B.

Yelp

We'd previously ordered takeout from here and enjoyed it, so today we decided to go and sit down for a meal. Fiction Kitchen did not disappoint! We had the Lion's Mane Rangoon, Fried Mushrooms, Potato Chaat, Curry Bowl, Peanut Noodle Bowl, and Peanut Cheesecake for dessert. We dug in so fast that we forgot to take pics of everything except the noodles! Everything was delicious, but the noodles were truly 1 of the best dishes I've ever had! We sat at the bar, and the bartender was incredibly warm and friendly. Dining at Fiction Kitchen was a pleasure; we will definitely be back!

Aaron Z.

Yelp

Really happy to be back at this temporary location about 5 miles outside of town. Same menu same nice people same good food.

Allyson D.

Yelp

Lovely spot. As of today, it's still located on Dawson. Eventually they are moving! Keep on eye on their social. The menu has variety, but the sweet and salty is what won me over with the chicken and waffles. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The saltiness was spot on. The arugula was eaten although kinda odd on top, but hey, anything with a natural green is okay with me. I pushed it aside so my maple syrup didn't touch it. I ended up ordering their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake with candied walnuts. Super delightful and truly pumpkin. A hefty serving too! Loved the decor at the bar and my time spent talking with the bartender and local gals sitting with me.

Eddie M.

Yelp

My wife and I did the valentine's pre-fixe menu. Everything was delicious, and our server was so attentive and thorough when describing our options and walking us through the meal. The inside also had a mellow vibe that really tied an already great evening together. Awesome spot!!

Jessica M.

Yelp

Words cannot express how delicious this spot is. Fiction you have truly done it for the vegan lovers!!! This is one of the best restaurants I've tried in Raleigh. The food was so good that my bestie and I literally did not talk to each other during the entire meal. Cocktails are amazing! Get the Oaxacan Holiday summer cocktail, you won't regret it! The risotto is to die for, and so is the penne pasta! There were so many delicious flavors in one spoonful bite. With the risotto dish I ordered the fried tofu which is an additional cost, but it's a bang for your buck! The fried tofu tasted fluffy and light, and the batter was definitely fresh and homemade. Dessert.... I wouldn't get the Tres Leche if you're expecting your traditional leche cake. It was a bit on the drier side. It could've used more condensed milk. It tasted more like a biscuit or cornbread with milk. However the whip cream on top was phenomenal! Chocolate fudge cake was super chocolatey, I'm not a fan of all that but def recommend for chocolate lovers! Don't sleep on Fiction kitchen! Highly recommend

Elizabeth T.

Yelp

Fiction Kitchen was delicious! We had the watermelon chaat and the smoked potato side to start and they were both amazing. My companion had the BBQ plate with fried chicken; and I had the risotto. Both were quite tasty, although I think the plate was better. It's amazing how creamy my risotto was while still being vegan. If you do get to pick a dipping sauce, we recommend the Old Bay Mayo.

Carolina N.

Yelp

Excellent vegetarian/vegan restaurant! If you're a vegetarian who has no idea what "Chicken and Waffles" or "North Carolina Barbecue" or "Meatloaf" taste like, then check this restaurant out. Warm and friendly service!

Jessica C.

Yelp

To die for!! I can't believe this is my first time at the Fiction Kitchen; I've been wanting to go for a while and we finally made it. It was worth the wait. The Nashville hot chicken was delicious and I loved the dipping sauce. It was spicy and perfect. The mashed potatoes were creamy and wonderful. The vegetables were grilled to perfection. My husband had ordered the burrito special, but it was way too spicy for him. They were kind to offer him something else and he got the risotto, which was so yummy. We finished with a decadent dessert that had chocolate from Videri. The crust had coconut and the ice cream had caramel. I loved the flavor of everything! I can't wait to go back and try more menu items.

Rebecca O.

Yelp

It's amazing vegan food! My sister hosted a baby shower and we served their food and we were so happy with our meal and we aren't vegans! I would recommend this spot to anyone who enjoys good food.

Scott G.

Yelp

Great food and service here! I tried the risotto and the peanut noodle bowl, and both were delicious. I would strongly recommend making a reservation! I came in the middle of the week and the restaurant was very busy.

Larry W.

Yelp

The food here is Da Bomb!! If your vegan or plant based you'll love this place!! But even if you're a carnivore, I'm confident you'll like this place as well, just give it a try and you'll be very surprised. The menu is a one page menu and they work hard to come up with some very creative items to keep the menu fresh. The atmosphere is very casual and not too noisy and the seating inside is a little limited, which tends to fill up fast so make sure you make a reservation, I would recommend at least a week in advance. The customer service always friendly and helpful and do a great job keeping things moving our bellies full. As far as the food is concerned, we'll....I already said it was Da Bomb, but.....let's circle back around to it. My wife and I love coming here when we can, and we have tried several things on the menu but we have a few faves we'd like to share. For appetizers, we usually get the fried mushrooms or the rangoons. And for the main course, The Nashville HOT Chxn plate is at the top of our list. It comes with 2 drumsticks with Nashville BBQ sauce, hush puppies, roasted veggies, cole slaw and mashed taters. Yup...I said "mashed taters" And we usually will compliment our "southern" style dinner with a side of mac n cheez....deliciously dangerous and so yummy We highly recommend this place to any who lean towards the plant based or vegan side of eating. If you haven't yet, you've got to try this place!!

Liz S.

Yelp

Really delicious totally plant based food, and what you'd consider comfort food (think cheereeesey), too!

Jesse J.

Yelp

I wish I lived in Raleigh so I could eat here all the time. I'm not a vegan but this place proves that vegan food can be just as good, if not better than anything else you'll find. I ate my entire southern style plate, as well as parts of my kid's meatloaf and my wife's peanut noodle bowl. Everything was delicious. My only regret was having essentially eaten two dinners.

Jennifer M.

Yelp

We had a lovely meal and some excellent drinks to complete it. We are used to restaurants having a good signature drink, but we kept trying a couple of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They all brought different notes and flavors. The bartender was wonderful and knowledgeable. We will be back to try more cocktails with our meal. Highly recommend.

Onvara A.

Yelp

Many years later, Fiction Kitchen continues to be my favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the area! During my latest visit, we shared the Bao Buns which were filled with house-made seitan, veggies, and fresh herbs, the Ramen Broth Grits with peanut chili crisp tofu, and the Fried Chicken Plate. Everything was incredible as expected, by that peanut chili crisp tofu on top of the grits was just phenomenal. I love taking visitors here, even if they aren't vegan, because people are always blown away by the quality and deliciousness of the food. I'm already dreaming of my next visit! Make sure to check them out if you're looking for some tasty food next time you're in downtown Raleigh!

Justin G.

Yelp

For all my vegan homies, this is your spot. Great food & great folks. My old lady is super excited we've got a spot like Fic Kit so close to home!

Alisha L.

Yelp

This is some of the best food ever. It doesn't matter if you're vegan or not. I highly recommend!

Meg L.

Yelp

We showed up without a reservation and sat at the bar (there's a $20 cancellation fee if you don't show up to your reservation). The food here sounded pretty good. We tried a variety of dishes including the chicken and waffle, NC peanut bowl and the lettuce wrap. The "chicken" had a mushy texture and had hints of cinnamon flavor. The noodle bowl was not too bad but we also added the fried chicken to it- which I did not find appetizing. The lettuce wraps had a potent peanut flavor that was extremely salty. I think this was the most disappointing dish. The pickled vegetables and the salty/peanut flavors were so overpowering that I couldn't finish my bite.

JP S.

Yelp

It's been a while since I've been here and I'm glad I was finally able to get a reservation. Absolutely love the vibe inside. The staff is very accommodating and friendly, and the food superb ! We started with the Lion's Mane Rangoons and Spring Rolls. Both were done well and had really flavorful sauces that accompanied them. For main course we got the Peanut Noodles & the Risotto. The noodles were !! (Make sure you add the fried tofu). The risotto was cooked perfect and the added crab cake completed the dish. For dessert we had the blueberry dulce de leche cake and it didn't disappoint. If you want to try an amazing restaurant with an amazingly creative chef, Fiction Kitchen will not disappoint.

Alex A.

Yelp

Creative plant-forward food with cozy decor and warm service. The crab cakes were thoughtful (mushroom) and the risotto was was flavorful (I liked the parmesan especially). I went alone, but this would be great for groups and dates, especially with their sharing menu. Drinks are affordable ($12/$13)!

Jackie M.

Yelp

When the place we wanted to go was closed, turned to Yelp for help. Fiction Kitchen was a tasty choice! Great choice for a vegetarian. Interesting options. Enjoyed it , would definitely return when in town.

Nancy T.

Yelp

This was an excellent experience. Service (Sarah) was top notch. She helped one of my party who is on a very limited diet to find something and the Chef was very accommodating. We had the mushrooms as an appetizer and I could have eaten them as an entree with a salad and been done. But no, I had the chicken and waffles. The texture and taste, spot on. I am going back to have the barbecue. Wished I lived in Raleigh.

Scee J.

Yelp

Based on the reviews the food seems pretty consistent. Chicken and waffles is a great choice. The risotto was good but seemed a little bland. The cornbread was delicious! Mozzarella sticks (cashew) were breaded to perfection. You just have to remember that it's not like regular cheese. The cheese flavor will not stand out. A cheese lover may be disappointed but it's worth a try if you're vegan and you miss cheese sticks. Currently it's a pretty spacious location but they are still taking reservations. I'm grateful that I don't have to deal with downtown parking since they are no longer downtown.

Rhona G.

Yelp

Checked out Fiction Kitchen while at the convention center for a conference. This is a very popular vegan restaurant and hours are only for dinner. This review is based on take out. I heard from a friend that reservation needed to be placed online to dine in. Since busy at the convention center, figured to just order take out. Ordering per the website was easy. There are also times of pick up but don't delay in placing the order because your set time to pick up can be delayed another 10-15 min. So upon pick up, indeed there were several people waiting. Definitely a popular place. There is parking on the street with payment kiosks along the street. Pick up your take out at your designated time per website order as readiness is timely. Indoor dining has a nice ambiance. No outdoor dining. Ordered the Spring Rolls, grilled Tempeh, and side waffle. The side waffle and syrup was perfect. Unfortunately, I was tempeh and tofu in the spring rolls were dredged with very strong spice/flavors that it made it oh so salty and not as appetizing as I hoped. The sauce for the spring rolls was the same sauce that the tofu in the spring rolls were dredged in so not worth dipping into unless you like the sauce and saltiness. The side waffle was great though.

The J.

Yelp

There's nothing fictional about how good this place is. The lion's mane rangoons are a little nuts in the best way..so is the mock fried chicken. We're thinking of doing our thanksgiving food from here since they're having offerings for the holiday. Yumm!

Naima B.

Yelp

The Fiction Kitchen is a reliable restaurant for vegan and gluten free meals. Sometimes it is difficult to notice that there is a difference between the vegan alterations and the traditional versions. There are many good options for delicious and filling foods, from soul food to Asian recipes. I would suggest that the walls have some sort of echo reduction installed because it can be too loud in the dining area, and it is easy to hear the discussions of others.

Sushi S.

Yelp

The food here is great, and i absolutely loved our server. She was very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious. Although i normally don't eat vegan food, this was very good. The ambience was great, with lovely decorations and a lively atmosphere. I also love the booths, they're very comfy.

Jodi G.

Yelp

Vegetarian restaurant that might change some meat-lover minds. Meals that create rather than imitate

Erinn P.

Yelp

This place was an excellent find! First tip: make a reservation! Our party of three didn't, but the staff was awesome and found a way to fit us in (but don't bank on that). This is comfort food for vegans, vegetarians, and everyone else too! There may nit be meat served here, but you won't miss it. I ordered the Carolina BBQ plate and it was SO good - I am a meat eater, but if I didn't know this wasn't meat I would have just thought it was ultra lean. If you are a vegetarian who doesn't eat meat because of the taste or texture, probably not your best choice, but a great option for your meat eating friends. The star of the plate, though, was the hush puppies - I don't know what was so special about them exactly, but they were the best hush puppies I've ever had. One of the group had the special of the day - a watermelon poke bowl full of fresh summer flavors. The third of our party had the chicken and waffles - another meat eater who was pleasantly surprised by the mock chicken. And the cocktails... Beautiful and tasty! Definitely recommend! Overall, I would put this place on the top of my list to visit again next time I'm in Raleigh. There were many dishes I wanted to try, and the menu seems pretty seasonal, so there will probably be even more options to make the choice difficult next time!

Dina J.

Yelp

The best place for vegan food, even if you're not vegan or plant-based--you're in for a treat! I love this place. The food is incredible, and the service is awesome. Chef Caroline and her team are outstanding. I highly recommend it--10 out of 10!

Maggie R.

Yelp

Had a wonderful dinner at Fiction Kitchen last night! A fully vegan restaurant with tons of gluten free and soy free options. It was a cute and hip little restaurant with tables, booths, and a bar. We ordered drinks - my husband got the Come Rye with Me and I had the Unbeetable with tequila. Delicious, innovative. We ordered a second round we loved our choices so much. For food, we shared the Lion's Mane Rangoon, Bao Buns with seitan, and the Lemongrass Grits with tofu. The Rangoon and Bao buns were absolutely amazing - I could have eaten an entire tray of the Bao buns. The Lemongrass Grits were delicious but pretty spicy - I like spicy food, but the spice level was a little too high for me. The grits were creamy a delicious. Will absolutely be back! As a pescatarian who doesn't eat dairy, this is like the perfect spot for me! I think meat eaters would also love it, the food is great and I'm excited to try more dishes in the future!

John O.

Yelp

Took my girlfriend and her daughter for dinner. My girlfriend leans vegetarian and I do not. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes. She had the sesame chicken and her daughter had the chicken and waffles. All were very good. To be honest, and the reason for four, not five stars is I didn't particularly enjoy the chicken substitute. I think it's a personal taste thing as both my girlfriend and her daughter thought theirs was really good. Apparently I'm just a carnivore..... We had the fried potatoes and corn bread small plates which were also good. The place is very casual and staff are very nice and helpful. Service was fast. There's parking (you have to pay) behind the restaurant. So, I highly recommend for a vegetarian place (which is what they are and what they advertise they are) - good for a date night - I don't remember seeing kids and might not be the best place for toddlers but I'd think pre teens and up would be good (as long as they are vegetarians or ok with that direction). One more thing - I had the best Manhattan I've had in a while here. It was well bourbon and I forgot to ask what it was. So the bartender gets high marks also!! We will return for sure since the girlfriend liked it so much. I'll just try something different next time!

Josh G.

Yelp

Food and service were incredible - fried mushrooms were divine!! Local Bev's were a nice treat as well.

Shawna S.

Yelp

I have been waiting to eat here for a long time. It finally happened in April 2023. It was fantastic! I am a new vegetarian. I was a meat eater for my whole life, 65+ years. I was really, really, turned off by tofu, avocado, faux chicken, and basically most of what I had experienced so far in the vegetarian genre. However, EVERYTHING I had at FK was absolutely delicious. I started with the Locavore Salad. It had tofu in it, I was so very skeptical!!! Well, the salad was scrumptious! The tofu went down with no problem, along with the rest of the salad! I would definitely order it again :) Also on the table was faux pulled pork bbq. I love bbq and have missed it so much, but this was awesome! It filled that void! It put a smile on my face, too! The smoked potatoes were out of this world! I have never had them before. So tasty and delish! A kidney bean dish was next. It was very good, fresh kidney beans, not from a can! You can tell the difference! The winner for the evening for me was the meatloaf. If you like meatloaf, and I loved my Mum's meatloaf growing up, then you just have to try this!!! It tasted just like my Mum's! I could not tell it was fake beef!!! There is a bar with wine, beer, and spirits. I'm from New England, FK has Narragansett Lager! Perfect! The waitstaff were friendly and attentive. I could tell too, that the kitchen staff took pride in what they put out to the patrons. The plates, bowls, and dishes that were served to me were very nicely presented. The atmosphere in FK is funky and cool. People seemed genuinely happy and they were totally enjoying the food. Parking is on the street, but it was not difficult to find a spot. I was there on a Wednesday evening. Call ahead for a reservation if you plan to dine in. They have takeout, too. Wow, all that, and I just want to let you know that the prices for this delicious food were reasonable.

Joel C.

Yelp

When in Rome.... Had to start my #plantbasedfoodie trip with the local fare: Southern Style lunch plate. I love eating Southern soul food! It's so good here I went 3 consecutive nights! #vegan. #plantbasedfoodies

marissa B.

Yelp

Another disappointing restaurant in Raleigh. It was hot as hell, like the AC was not on. No explanation was given as if it was normal to be visibly sweating while dining. Most of the food was edible, and one appetizer was not. It was the lions main Rangoon, the wonton was hard as a rock; overcooked or stale. Tres' leches cake was dry. We were a table of 5, and only 1 person liked their plate, which was an ordinary salad. Not impressed. We were excited to finally try Fiction Kitchen and love vegan restaurants. Considering the length of time it's been in business and lack of competition, I'm dumbfounded why the food isn't spectacular. Will not go back.

Helaine T.

Yelp

Absolutely, hands down, the BEST vegan meatloaf I have ever had! I'm so tired of the same old selections everywhere...One thing for sure, If I wasn't in a vegan restaurant, I would've for sure sent it back because I would be certain that they served me meat by accident! I got the impossible meatloaf with veggies and a side of mashed potatoes, all delish! I also got soup, but I'm too full to eat it tonight, so it'll be lunch tomorrow... If it's anything like my dinner, I can't wait! Thanks for an all around great experience Fiction Kitchen!

John B.

Yelp

[Coronavirus review] They were open for takeout only when I dropped by, but with no online ordering. They also had some daily specials that I didn't see online, so it was just as well I ordered in person. The special in question was a risotto with local mushrooms and grilled tempeh. I was offered the choice to get vegan or dairy parmesan; I chose the latter to give them the best chance to satisfy my tastebuds. It was a little over $20 for a not entirely full container of risotto, which surprised me. However, the flavor mix was there in spades, and with the nuts and tempeh there was a lot of substance to the dish. The location is a bit off of the downtown area, with some parking currently designated for pickup and a few other spaces designated as loading zones that open up in the evening. I would be happy to come back as it had a range of choices for a vegetarian place and I would like to try something different.

Sarah M.

Yelp

Came in just for dessert, which was amazing! We ordered the Tres Leches and the seasonal pie (PB Cheesecake), they were so good I took a third dessert to go! $5-6 a serving isn't bad for Vegan and a local small business. We parked around the back for $3/hr. I need to come back for dinner or brunch one day soon.

Jon S.

Yelp

As a visitor from out of state, this place and the staff made me feel welcomed. Smiles and hellos abound. The interior is bright and inviting. Interesting and beautiful art on the walls. For the food, I wish I could try it all! The descriptions on the menu made everything sound so good. In the end I landed on the peanut sauce noodle bowl and it did not disappoint. I need to learn the secret of that sauce so I can relocate it back home. Fitting in with the whole aesthetic, the plating was immaculate with vivid lips of color from the various ingredients. Fantastic meal.

Megan P.

Yelp

Got the vegan pot pie, which was on special for the evening, it was delicious! I'm from out of town but this will def be a place to return when I come back to visit.

Robbie F.

Yelp

The dishes at Fiction Kitchen are all well thought out, with unique flavor combinations . The food is always consistently fresh and delicious. So many vegetarian and vegan options!!! The servers always seem happy to be there, and are really good at their jobs. Love the funky decor. I hope they're able to hold onto everything that makes this place special when they relocate to a bigger space.

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