777 N Arizona Ave Ste 7, Chandler, AZ 85225
Review Highlights
Know Before You Go
Nana’s Kitchen Restaurant Review
Have you ever tried vegan soul food? Well, I found a restaurant that you definitely want to check out.
Nana’s Kitchen is located in Chandler on Arizona Ave and about a mile south of Ray Rd.
The menu is entirely plant-based, which is a growing restaurant trend: bakeries, Mexican, Asian, etc. Given the diversity of the menu, I would not call it a soul food restaurant.
They have everything from southern food plates to “Buffalo Chik’n” wraps. I also observed a number of novelty items.
For example, “Twisted Corn on the Cobb,” “Banana Pudding Cake,” and cauliflower “Wangz.” I have both seen and tried cauliflower wings at a few restaurants.
However, Nana’s Kitchen offers at least three flavors, which I have not seen elsewhere. Cool.
For this visit, I tried two entrees and one appetizer: “Nana’s Soul,” “Best Crispy Chik’n Sandwich,” and “Hood Rolls.”
NANA’S SOUL (PLATE)
“Nana’s Soul” is a combo plate that includes your choice of BBQ fried cauliflower, fried chik’n or plant-based ribs, collard greens, mac & cheese, and “Bussin’ Baked Beans.”
I went with the plant-based ribs, which I discovered were made from jackfruit. If I recall, there was an upcharge for this item.
Everything on the plate was good. Did the plant-based ribs taste like real ribs?
Not quite. However, the flavor was there. The taste is difficult to describe, but similar to processed beef. The texture was similar to a really tender boneless beef rib.
If Hormel made a mystery meat boneless rib, it would probably taste good. But you would recognize that something was different about it.
The mac & cheese was good. I would describe the vegan “cheese” as more of a sauce because it had a runnier consistency than real cheese.
By the way, the “cheese” was made from potatoes.
The collard greens were certified legit.
The cornbread, definitely good. I would say it was probably one of the sweetest versions of cornbread I have tried.
The “bussin’ baked beans” were good. They prepare them with larger chunks of onion and bell pepper. Lifelong raw onion haters like myself can easily remove them if needed.
BEST CRISPY CHIK’N SANDWICH
The “Best Crispy Chik’n Sandwich” is served as a plate that includes a side of seasoned fries. The sandwich has lettuce, pickles, special sauce, and cabbage.
Collectively, the cabbage and special sauce equals coleslaw. Not sure if I have ever seen a sandwich with both lettuce and cabbage. Noted.
You will never complain that any of the food at Nana’s Kitchen was underseasoned. Look closely and you will see that even the burger bun and corn bread have seasoning on em’.
The sandwich was definitely a winner. I assume the patty was made from soy. It was very crispy.
Again, doesn’t beat real meat, but close enough to be enjoyable. Their seasoned fries were among the best.
HOOD ROLLS
At Nana’s Kitchen, “Hood Rolls” are on the menu. The item consists of mac & cheese, collard greens, and yams in a fried egg roll.
I ate every single one of them. But technically my palate does not compute sweet and savory merged into one dish. But since “Hood Rolls” are on the menu at Nana’s Kitchen, they must be sellin’.
They are served with a side of what to me tasted like a house-made barbecue sauce. It was extremely sweet and maybe a bit spicier than “spicy.”
For those who don’t like heat, it definitely had a noticeable kick.
Overall, the food at Nana’s Kitchen was Justin Leonard Approved. The presentation/plating was top notch.
Next, I’d like to try the cauliflower wing trio platter and maybe some of their vegan desserts. Peace.
