From seitan to soy to enoki mushrooms, here are Philly's best vegan bets when you want a crispy deep-fried sandwich.
The Fried Chick'un Sandwich from Nourish features fried enoki mushrooms, creating a crispy yet tender base that pulls apart like the real deal.You don’t need to eat meat to find a crispy fried chicken sandwich in Philadelphia. Across the city, vegan versions come in all sorts of forms, from Nashville-style, dripping with hot sauce, to classic buttermilk, layered with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a tangy pickle crunch. And the “chicken” itself is equally diverse.
“I manufacture seitan so that’s what we use, but some of the best fried chicken-style sandwiches I’ve ever had were made out of mushrooms and even tofu,” says Mark Mebus, cofounder of, the seitan supplier for many restaurants in the area. “There are a lot of factors, but the components with the biggest impact are the crispiness of the protein and the spices going into it.
“In the end, it comes down to creating something that fools your brain into thinking you’re eating chicken,” says Khyber Pass Pub chef Mark McKinney. Of course, chefs do have favorites. “That belly feeling of a fried chicken sandwich — my vote would always go to seitan to replicate that,” says Matthew Rafferty, owner of Algorithm Restaurants.Launched last fall, Algorithm’s vegan food truck quickly grew a following for its signature Nashville Hot, featuring a thick, surprisingly tender cutlet made from Blackbird Foods seitan.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cozy up at these 90-plus Philadelphia area spots offering heated outdoor diningHere's where to find heated outdoor dining in Philly.
Read more »
The 12 best places for non-alcoholic cocktails in PhiladelphiaWhere to find the most sophisticated and elegant zero-proof drinks in Philly.
Read more »
Doulas can help during abortions, but say they can’t get into Philly-area clinics'Most clinics where abortions are done don’t allow us in,' one doula said. “If I can’t be in there, how can I help?”
Read more »
The best restaurants for dogs in PhillyMany restaurants with al fresco dining also offer pet-friendly service.
Read more »
NFL hopeful from Philly convicted in case tied to Georgia man’s shooting deathThe charges against Ahkil Crumpton – a former all-state and all-Catholic wide receiver for West Catholic High School who went on to play at the University of Georgia – stemmed from a 2021 slaying.
Read more »
Philly's mayoral candidates meet in first — and only — debatePhiladelphia mayoral candidates Cherelle Parker, a Democrat and Republican David Oh met for their first and only debate before the November election on…
Read more »