Street Beet
Not familiar with this Detroit vegan comfort food hot spot? Well let me introduce you!
Street Beet started as a pop-up a few years ago, sprouting hour-long waits across Detroit. I’m really not one for waiting in lines, so it wasn’t until Street Beet opened a full-scale eatery inside Third Street Bar in the Cass Corridor area that I ventured a visit.
I had read all about the cult-like following for Taco Hell, their vegan take on classic Taco Bell eats. And now, it seemed this fast food model had expanded into even more delicious territory like KFC vegan spoofs. The fam and I ordered our take-out online the day before, thus assuring a no-wait scenario. (And can I just give a quick shout out to all the restaurants that have this option? The busy, planner in me is so very thankful!) We felt it our duty to try a little bit of everything, given it was our maiden order. Here’s a snapshot of what we ordered, what we liked, and what we can’t wait to have again.
Nachos Hell Grande: This dish has all the makings of a bad ass entrée, but sadly it was a bit soggy by the time we got it home and dug in. We have high hopes for a freshly dished up version of these supreme nachos. Also worth mentioning: this dish, along with several others, are gluten free (or can easily be made GF).
Supreme Crunchywrap: This is our go to Taco Bell order, so it was a no brainer to try Street Beet’s take. Travel time didn’t help the crunchiness, but good overall flavor. The walnut meat was a bit salty for our taste, but nothing that a dip in sour cream couldn’t help. Extra lettuce and pico will be part of our next order too.
Cheezy Potato Thriller: The mere $5 price had us a bit worried about its serving size (other mains were $9-12). We were picturing a dollar menu sized, two bite tease, so we were pleasantly surprised that this hand-held was full size and full of flavor. The soft texture and fried potato bites were reminiscent of our once beloved Seven Layer Burrito from Taco Bell (which btw is easily veganized: minus cheese and sour cream, plus potatoes and pico). We’d just love to see this Potato Thriller with some Mexican rice to boost the flavor profile even more.
Hot Fake Chicken Sando: Our clear favorite! This sammie traveled much better than other eats, making it a take-out star. The giant breaded patty lathered with a hot and sassy sauce was a mouthful…and we loved every bite! It paired perfectly with the creamy coleslaw (sold separately). Its fake chicken sibling sandos – parmie and BBQ – are tops on the list for our next order.
Fake Chicken Caesar Wrap: I personally have a soft spot for anything Caesar and any kind of wrap, so color me thrilled to have this dynamic duo in one delicious option. This hulking hand-held did not disappoint. Full of fried chicken and a creamy, mild Caesar dressing, we enjoyed every bite. Even when we knew we should stop, we persevered and finished this tasty behemoth.
In the name of menu thoroughness, we also ordered fries two ways: Reggo and Nacho. (Our commitment knows no bounds, but our bellies do!) These perfectly greasy thin cut fries were near perfection, both regular and nacho seasoned. We devoured and can only imagine what a fresh batch (sans 30 min travel time to our house) would taste like! Definitely a no-sauce-needed situation, but we did try with Street Beet’s creamy ranch (smooth and pleasant) and nacho cheese (mild with a cumin-forward vibe).
We are raring to go back to Street Beet and dine-in. And we will be bringing some hungry (and perhaps gluten-free) friends along with!
