Before Veganism Was Cool, This Oakland Trailblazer Built a Following
A decade in, Souley Vegan is stronger than ever
Souley Vegan sits near the Oakland waterfront and has a comfortable, lived-in feel to it: The vinyl seats have a crack or two, and the walls display photographs of friends and family. The menu behind the register has stayed true to the restaurant’s roots, and is full of Southern classics: po’ boy sandwiches, tender garlicky collard greens, crunchy cornmeal-crusted okra, hearty gumbo, golden “chick’n” and waffles.
It would be easy to miss that there’s no meat or dairy on the menu, but self-taught chef Tamearra Dyson doesn’t need either one to create her satisfying, Louisiana-influenced vegan soul food. Her restaurant, Souley Vegan, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and Dyson’s food has created a following for the restaurant, with local celebrities and sports stars regularly stopping by.
