Veggie Heaven   

Veggie Heaven is a popular meat-free zone for University of Texas students who need only cross the street to enjoy a highly original blend of Taiwanese vegetarian and American vegan fixings, all blessed by the restaurants mysterious spiritual/culinary guide, the Supreme Enlightened Master Suma Ching Hai (whose picture is displayed prominently at the top of the menu). Regular customers consist of herbivores and omnivores alike; they come to enjoy offerings like the vegetable kebabs with bell pepper, protein nuggets, mushrooms, vegetarian sauce, and crunchy vegetables. Try something a bit tougher on sensitive tongues: the Lucky 7, with tofu balls stir-fried with spicy red sauce; the Fire Dragon Tofu; and the Spicy Yam are all pretty tangy without crossing over the line to scalding. Each dish comes with your choice of white or brown rice. Besides hungry students, this small, family-owned veggie venue is also very active in feeding the areas homeless. -- Barrett Brown