Did eating less meat make it onto your new year’s resolution list again? It did for me, even though the pandemic sparked a revolution in my home kitchen and I’ve been able to find a good balance for the past two years. But the holidays tipped me over, of course, so here we are in January, getting back on track with a lot less drive-thru endorphin adventures and a lot more veggie grain bowls. They’re better than they sound.
If you, too, are a Las Vegas carnivore, you have to agree it’s much easier these days to consume less animal product and still find delicious food when dining out. Menus have changed and vegetable-focused restaurants have blossomed, and now, even if your drive-thru burger craving cannot be subdued by other means, you can get a veggie version at many fast-food favorites.
Or you can zip over to Plant Power, considered one of the leading 100% plant-based fast food chains, which opened its first location outside California in the fall on Craig Road just off U.S. 95.
Often referred to as a vegan McDonald’s—extra funny considering there’s a Mickey D’s just steps away from this northwest Vegas eatery—Plant Power originated in San Diego in 2016 and continues to expand, with a second local store coming soon to Rainbow Boulevard south of the Beltway. The menu centers on the classic burgers/fries/shakes experience, and the proprietary “beefy” patty is mostly non-GMO soy, leading to a different flavor from the Beyond and Impossible patties you might have tasted by now.
I’m a fan of the taste and texture of these new veggie burger alternatives, and I like Plant Power’s Iconic Burger ($8) a lot, because it replicates the experience lodged in my food-brain. I’m all about the first bite with all the toppings, and this one has (vegan) American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onion and a (vegan) “secret” sauce. The fries ($3) get the job done, too.
But I have different goals than you, and it must be noted that plant-based burgers won’t meet certain people’s requirements. The legendary (and overrated, imo) Big Mac at McDonald’s costs four bucks and offers 550 calories, 30 grams of fat, 80 milligrams cholesterol and 1,010 milligrams of sodium. Plant Power’s Big Zac, a behemoth of a burger by comparison, is $10 with 650 calories, 35 grams of fat, no cholesterol and 1,320 milligrams of sodium.
Plant Power’s website offers a nifty MyMenu interface with which you can sort through menu items depending on your food needs. If you’re sorting by flavor, please allow me: The Buffalo 66 fake chicken sandwich ($9) is spicy and satisfying, and the Holy Guacamole burger ($8), with guac, jalapeños, lettuce, tomato and chipotle sauce, is terrific with the black bean patty. You can sub any patty in any sandwich, and salads and “chicken” wings, tenders and nuggets round out the menu.
If you eat fast food, Plant Power is a worthy addition to the rotation, which is hopefully rotating a lot less, right? Happy new year!
PLANT POWER FAST FOOD 7090 W. Craig Road #120, 702-979-5951. Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
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