Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

By Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media

That beautifully dressed pulled meat sandwich above? Vegan. It's jackfruit, not pork. And it's utterly delicious.

Yes, these are fine days to go vegan in New Jersey. Over the last three months, I hit 19 restaurants that identify as primarily vegan. Call it seitan's work — but I was genuinely impressed by the ambitions and creativity on display at many of the eateries.

To be considered for the list, I looked at the restaurants that were entirely meat, egg and dairy-free (I chose to remain agnostic on the question of whether or not they could serve honey). I skipped spots that are primarily juice bars, or that just have a limited vegan menu (though you can scroll to the end of this post for a list of recommended places that fall into those categories).

Trust me, carnivores: It's never been easier or more delicious to go meat-free, even if it's just for a day out of the week.

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19. Wildflower Vegan Fare, Millville

It feels like the 1960s never ended at Wildflower Vegan, set in a tiny artist's village in out-of-the-way Millville, with its hippie murals, earnest documentary screenings and live music. The food is mainly limited to salads, wraps and sandwiches with a rotating soup and a dinner special, and were a mixed bag when I visited — the Taco-Tastic burrito satisfied but the hot beet soup special was on the oily side. The menu changes frequently.

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Try: White bean potato kale burger, $9; gluten-free cupcakes, $3.75.

Where: 501 N High St, Millville, (856) 265- 7955. wildflowervegan.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

18. Killer Vegan, Union

Struggling downtown Union is not the most obvious place for a vegan restaurant, but Killer Vegan is not the most obvious vegan restaurant. The simply-decorated storefront bills itself as a vegan diner, with meat- and dairy-free versions of diner classics such as burgers, disco fries and tuna melts (albeit the latter with chickpea salad instead of fish). Like most diners, it gets the job done without a lot of flash. Cash only.

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Try: The Killer double vegan burger with sauteed onions, vegan cheese sauce and coconut bacon, $12.50; country-fried chicken panini with avocado and chipotle mayo, $11.

Where: 996 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, (908) 964-8600. kvegan.homestead.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

17. Blueberry Cafe, Newark

The chef sings along the reggae at this laidback cafe inspired by the teachings of holistic nutritionist Dr. Sebi, who believed in the healing power of herbs, nuts and certain fruits and vegetables. The smoothie and cold-press juice menu is extensive, but the daily menu is not, with tacos on Tuesdays (I tried the mashed walnut, which had a convincing texture but not too much taste), pasta (made from healthy grains like kamut) on Fridays, and soups, salads, wraps and specials. My favorite: the fried mushrooms topping the kamut.

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Try: Mashed walnut tacos with avocado and red onion, three for $10; fried mushrooms with kamut pasta, $14.

Where: 547 Central Ave., Newark, (973) 732-1711. iloveblueberrycafe.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media

16. Conscious Fork, Maplewood

There are plenty of opportunities for synergy with a vegan restaurant, but I'd wager golf simulation is not at the top of anyone's list. And yet at Maplewood's new Conscious Fork, you can chow down on one of the "karma bowls" (Tex-Mex, Indian, Mediterranean) and hope that translates into an under par. The Tex-Mex bowl, above, was filling and well-prepared but didn't wow; ditto the avocado and Daiya cheese melt. But the Coffee Buzz smoothie, with bananas, dates, coffee beans and rice milk, was a sweet treat.

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Try: Kim's Reuben, with hummus, avocado and pink sauerkraut, $8; Mediterranean bowl with hummus, falafel and quinoa tabbouleh with tahini sauce over greens, $9.

Where: 97 Baker St., Suite, 4, Maplewood, (973) 763-8030. consciousfork.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

15. Vegan Tree, Matawan

At Vegan Tree, there is a strong hand with the spice — and the salt. I liked the heat of the popular Kung Pao Fusion, with spicy soy protein, but the Philly cheese sub, made with marinated seitan, could have used more veggies as a counterpoint; it was too one-note.

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Try: Sriracha soy chicken burger, $9.95; Kung Pao Fusion, $9.95; summer roll with peanut sauce, $5.95.

Where: 952 Route 34, Matawan, (732) 970-6129. vegantreematawan.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

14. Loving Hut, Ledgewood

Loving Hut wears its principles on its sleeve, with tons of vegan-friendly pamphlets, books ("The World Peace Diet") and even bags of vegan dog food ("kinder kibble") for sale. Part of an international chain, the Ledgewood location is rather spartan, and the menu is split between passable Asian specialities made with soy protein in various forms and vegan versions of all-American fare, which is where Loving Hut stands out. In the Noble Philly Sub, grilled and nicely seasoned brown soy protein (much more appealing than it sounds) stands in for sliced beefsteak with a homemade vegan cheese sauce and grilled red peppers.

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Try: Noble Philly sub with grilled soy protein, red peppers and onion, vegan cheese and vegan chipotle mayo $10.95; tofu cheesecake, $6.50.

Where: 538 State Route 10, Ledgewood, (973) 598-9888. lovinghut.us/ledgewood

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

13. Green and Grains

The Atlantic City-area vegan chain Greens and Grains is growing quickly, with its latest outpost in the hip Galloway local food hall called The Exchange, the one I visited. It has the standard veggie burgers and "chk'n" wraps and sandwiches, but the juices, smoothies and particularly the grains menu are more worth your time, especially the flavorful and filling coconut curried lentils with sweet potatoes over quinoa.

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Try: Coconut curry lentils with sweet potatoes over quinoa, above, $9.50; Buffalo Chk'n and kale Caesar wrap, $8.

Where: 80 W. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, (609) 277-7060; 1600 New Road, Northfield, (609) 380-4337; 7801 Ventnor Ave., Margate, (609) 246-6881. (Menu differs slightly by location.) greensandgrainsnj.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

12. Living on the Veg, Beach Haven

I hit the tiny but cheerily decorated Living on the Veg in the middle of a cold downpour at the tail end of a long day of vegan eating. One bite of the avocado and tempeh bacon melt, above, and my faith in soy was restored — a great mix of textures and tons of flavor, with perfectly ripe avocado and a respectable vegan cheese sauce. There is a deft hand with seasonings at work, from the Buffalo tempeh, available in wraps and burritos, and the sides, including the potato salad and eggless salad. Cash only.

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Try: Avocado and tempeh bacon melt, $10; Chuckwich, barbecue seitan with coleslaw, cucumber, red onion and romaine on ciabatta, $12.

Where: 2613 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven, (609) 492-4066.

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

11. Ocean Organics, Toms River, Seaside Park, Jackson

The Ocean Organics mini-chain with three locations (I visited the Jackson one) has a small menu but packs a punch, with one of the most creative dishes I encountered, barbecued pulled jackfruit (a meaty South Asian fruit whose Bengali name translates to "tree mutton") piled on a sprouted wheat bun with pineapple, avocado and lettuce. The organic chic cafes also serve up a bold line of juices (the Flaming Lip includes pineapple, cucumber, cilantro and jalapeno) plus smoothies and more-than-plausible vegan soft-serve ice cream.

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Try: Ranchero skillet with chickpea scramble, black bean hash, avocado, cashew cheese and polenta, $10; BBQ pulled jackfruit sandwich, $8; chocolate soft-serve made with coconut milk, $5.

Where: 570 Fischer Blvd., Toms River, (732) 597-0800. 1411 NW Central Ave., Seaside Park, (646) 476-0952 . 21 South Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, (646) 476-0952. oceanorganicscafe.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

10. Sweet Green Cafe, Ramsey

One of the newest vegan players in New Jersey, Sweet Green Cafe in Ramsey is off to a promising start. Didn't miss the real mozz at all in the eggplant parm sandwich, perfectly pressed in crusty bread. The breaded and fried slab of tofu in the tofu Francese had great texture, although the dish needed more lemon. Also on the small menu: great falafel and yummy grilled oyster mushrooms.

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Try: Grilled oyster mushrooms with shallots, garlic and rosemary, $8; eggplant parmigiana sandwich, $14; portobello mushroom burrito with caramelized onions and guacamole, $14.

Where: 25 N. Spruce St, Ramsey, (201) 661-8905. facebook.com/pg/sweetgreencafenj/

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

9. Mundo Vegan, Montclair

Mundo Vegan's lasagna, made with cashew and tofu ricotta, a tangy marinara and gluten-free noodles, was just as good as the "real" thing, but would you pay $22 for the real thing? The prices were the only downers at this bright storefront smack in the middle of Montclair's Church Street. The extensive dessert menu is mostly soy-free and all gluten-free.

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Try: Lasagna made with cashew and tofu ricotta, $22; chorizo picadillo made with seasoned pea protein crumbles, potatoes, tomatoes and olives, $18.

Where: 20 Church St., Montclair, (973) 744-5503. mundovegannj.com

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8. Veggie Heaven, Teaneck

Veggie Heaven threw down the vegan gauntlet long before it was trendy, serving up an astounding variety of Chinese specialities made with animal protein substitutes such as wheat gluten, soy and tempeh (the chicken in particular has the texture of the real thing). In recent years, the menu has expanded to include vegan sushi, Indian, Thai, Caribbean and Italian. Generally, the closer you hew to the Chinese menu, the happier you'll be, although the Thai Bang Bang chicken and beef with peanut sauce is craveworthy. Some of the dishes taste a bit repetitive, but with so many options, you wouldn't live long enough to exhaust the menu. (Note: There are also Veggie Heavens in Montclair and Denville with very similar menus, but all three are independently owned. This review is of the Teaneck outpost only.)

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Try: Bang Bang chicken and beef, stir-fried soy protein with onions, red peppers, asparagus in a spicy Thai sauce topped with cashews, $14.95; crispy stuffed tofu in a black bean sauce, $10.95.

Where: 473 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, (201) 836-0887, veggieheaventeaneck.com You can also check out the Veggie Heavens in Montclair (631 Valley Road, 973-783-1088, veggieheavenmontclair.com) and Denville (57 Bloomfield Ave., 973-586-7800, veggieheavennj.com).

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7. Kaya's Kitchen, Belmar

Kaya's Kitchen offer solid vegan fare during the day, mostly salads, sandwiches, veggie burgers, pizza and apps (the barbecue seitan ribs, yum), but at night it spreads its wings, with veggie-heavy curries, jambalaya and potato and spinach pierogies with a garlic gravy. Check out the South of the Border menu, where ground seasoned tempeh is a great stand-in for beef in the tacos and the nicely spiced enchiladas.

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Try: Enchiladas Locos, ground seasoned tempeh, vegan sour cream and cheese baked with chipotle sauce, $17; seitan barbecue ribs, $8.

Where: 1000 Main St., Belmar, (732) 280-1141. kayaskitchenbelmar.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

6. Heart Beet Kitchen, Westmont

Not every vegan restaurant leads with the veg, but the charming, farmhouse-inspired Heart Beet Kitchen largely eschews protein substitutes and puts vegetables in the center of the plate, such as the zucchini noodles topped by eggplant meatballs, above, or the spicy Buffalo cauliflower sandwich on a credible gluten-free bun. In fact, the entire cafe is gluten-free, and that doesn't put a damper on the small but excellent collection of vegan desserts, including a terrific chocolate chip dough bar made with almond butter. And if fermentation turns you on, there's kombucha on draft.

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Try: Eggplant meatballs with zucchini noodles and marinara, $12; Buffalo cauliflower sandwich with red onion and ranch sauce on a gluten-free roll, $12; cookie dough bars, $4.50.

Where: 29 Haddon Ave., Westmont, (856) 240-1106. heartbeetnj.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

5. Positivitea, Verona

Verona's Positivitea recently underwent renovations but the menu remains mostly the same, including the bean patty burger, above, which is nicely charred — the Mexicali version, above, with grilled onions, avocado and spicy miso mayo was packed with flavor. The Thai peanut bowl comes with grilled seitan, eggplant and greens over rice noodles with an addictive peanut sauce. One caveat: The service is friendly but markedly slow.

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Try: Cauliflower wings, $9; the Big Bean double burger with cheese, lettuce, onions, pickle, special sauce and miso mayo, $9; Thai peanut bowl, above, $10.

Where: 550 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, (973) 239-2020. iampositivitea.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

4. Papa Ganache, Matawan

Of all the vegan food I tried, there was none I eyed with more suspicion than the quiche, above, at Papa Ganache. No eggs, no cheese, and gluten-free to boot? But the rustic slab, with creamy tofu filling in for the fat, plus roasted potatoes, was seriously impressive. The sweetly-decorated cafe specializes in vegan and gluten-free sweets (props for the cookie-dough brownie and creme brulee cupcakes) but stop by for the small but delicious lunch menu and take-out meals.

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Try: Quiche, eggplant parmigiana stromboli.

Where: 106 Main St., Matawan, (732) 217-1750. papaganache.com

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

3. Good Karma Cafe, Red Bank

There is a definite hippie vibe to the tiny Good Karma Cafe, but the food is ambitious and spans the globe, touching down in Argentina, Korea, Vietnam, Mexico and the American South. I dug the biscuits and gravy breakfast, above, with vegan sausage topping the remarkably fluffy yet moist biscuits. The Reuben, with marinated tempeh, loaded with sauerkraut and dripping with Thousand Island and spicy mustard, didn't taste like the original, but it still tasted darn good. The cafe also serves up juice, smoothies and desserts.

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Vicki Hyman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Try: Southern-style biscuits and gravy, $10; tempeh Reuben, above, $12; coconut-crusted tempeh in a Thai coconut sauce with mango and pineapple chutney, $16.

Where: 17 E. Front St., Red Bank, (732) 450-8344. goodkarmacafenj.com

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2. Seed to Sprout, Fair Haven and Avon-by-the-Sea

With three cafes at the Shore, Seed to Sprout is the whole package — satisfying and delicious food beautifully presented in a farmhouse modern setting, plus cooking classes and prepared foods and other provisions. Did we mention Friday night wheat-free pizza night? During the day, the focus is on sandwiches, juices and smoothies — the lemon pepper red lentil soup, above, pairs perfectly with the bacon cheddar melt, made with marinated tempeh and coconut bacon with caramelized onion — but at dinner (Thursdays and Fridays only) there is a curated menu of seasonal plates and the aforementioned pizza, made with a spelt crust, cashew ricotta and parmesan and farm-fresh toppings. They recently opened a bakery in Wanamassa for their cupcakes, spelt cookies and breads and custom cakes (yes, even wedding cakes), plus coffee drinks and a few savory items. (This review is of the Fair Haven outpost.)

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Try: Pink lemonaid made from lemon, apple, ginger and beet juices, $7; cinnamon bun millet-flax French toast, $12; bacon cheddar melt, $9.50.

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1. Veganized, New Brunswick

There is good for vegan. There is good. And then there is Veganized. Lots of vegan restaurants have credible vegan versions of mac and cheese, but Veganized's Mackin Cheez, made with sweet potato cashew cream and dolloped with smoked shitakes, is better than many dairy versions I've tried. (And I have tried many.) Many vegan standards here are embellished with thoughtful touches or showcase unexpected combinations — the crusted oyster mushroom sandwich, above, with curry mayo found perfect harmony with grilled broccolini and butternut squash. The menu is thoroughly modern but approachable, and the second-story dining room is cozy and convivial. Parking isn't great — it's downtown New Brunswick — but it's worth the hunt.

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Try: Crusted curry sandwich, $12; Mackin cheez, $16; lentil mushroom burger with smoked eggplant, $16.

Where: 9 Spring St., New Brunswick, (732) 342-7412. veganizedfoods.com

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Vegan all weekend long

If you're interested in veganism, head to Asbury Park Aug. 20 for a vegan pop-up festival at Convention Hall featuring nearly four dozen vegan vendors. Tickets are $5 through 3 p.m. Aug. 19 and $20 after that. And mark your calendars for the New Jersey Veg Fest, which is coming to Meadowlands Expo Center Oct. 7-8. Tickets are $25, $40 for a two-day fast, and admission for kids 12 and under is free.

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But wait, there's more

Here's a list of other vegan and all-but-vegan restaurants in the state, plus a few restaurants geared toward omnivores that also have a vegan menu or a handful of vegan offerings:

Cookman Creamery, 711 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, (732) 361-5215. cookmancreamery.com There are 12 dairy-free flavors of ice cream and sorbet, most with a coconut cream or almond base. And they're daring, too: Try the Mexican hot chocolate, the blue lavender or the lemon ginger cookie almond.

Crust & Crumble, 633 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, (732) 776-7767. crustandcrumble.com This gourmet pizzeria has a separate vegan menu featuring seitan buffalo bites, vegan chicken parm, pizza with vegan sausage (even with gluten-free crusts) and more.

The Juice Theory, 87 Brighton Ave., Long Branch, (732) 455-5444. , 87 Brighton Ave., Long Branch, (732) 455-5444. thejuicetheory.com This juice bar also offers vegan salads, sandwiches and a daily soup, including the ubiquitous avocado toast (here with tehina) and smoky Caesar with coconut bacon.

Mad Batter, 19 Jackson St., Cape May, (609) 884- 5970. madbatter.com This Cape May favorite is happy to sub out cheese for vegan cheddar, mozzarella and sour cream in some of its dishes, including a veggie Wellington, a white bean ravioli and loaded fries.

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Mesob, 515 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973) 655-9000. mesobrestaurant.com This Ethiopian restaurant's delicious meat-free stews, served on spongy injera, are all vegan, although you can also get meat, chicken and fish here. The misir wet (spicy red lentils) and ye'shimbra asa (chickpea biscuits in a spicy sauce) are standouts.

Naked Lunch, 1631 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, (856) 685-5760. momsorganicmarket.com/nakedlunch Most of the hearty bowls are vegan at this small outpost inside MOM's Organic Market. The Jammed Yam, a sweet potato with pineapple-quinoa stuffing, black beans and avocado, looks yummy.

Nefista Vegan Kofte, 656 Anderson Ave., Cliffside Park, (201) 774-4080; 1279 Main Ave., Clifton, (973) 928-1303. , 656 Anderson Ave., Cliffside Park, (201) 774-4080; 1279 Main Ave., Clifton, (973) 928-1303. nefista.com/en This Turkish chain recently opened two locations in New Jersey, and its main offering is vegan kofte — a surprisingly delicious bulgur wheat spread with veggies and pomegranate sauce wrapped in lavash or on a platter. The kofte is vegan, but the tasty-looking baklava on offer is not.

Roots Cafe, 408G Paulding Ave, Northvale, (201) 956-5213. , 408G Paulding Ave, Northvale, (201) 956-5213. rawrootscafe.com You won't find any processed food at this small cafe that supplements its juice menu with veg-, seed- and nut-focused entrees. The meatballs, for example, are made from sweet potatoes, flax seed and almonds.

Sapthagiri, 804 Newark Ave., Jersey City, (201) 268-7115. Easy to find vegetarian Indian; not so easy to find vegan. But Sapthagiri offers plenty of ghee-free goodness, including samosas, dosas, curries and biryani.

Subia's Organic Health Market and Vegan Cafe, 506 Jersey Ave., Jersey City, (201) 432-7639. subiasorganiccafe.com This cafe has a large menu ranging from vegan sausage and peppers to a smoked tofu sandwich to BBQ seitan riblets.

Twisted Tree Cafe, 609 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park, (732) 775-2633. twistedtreecafe.com Cheese and fish are on the menu at this mostly vegan cafe specializing in sandwiches, wraps, baked goods and smoothies, but they're the exception, not the rule.

Vital, 387 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973) 655-9500. vitaldining.com Vegans can get their Jamaican fix here with jerk portabello, curried cauliflower and cassava dumplings.

Zest, 16 Little Falls Road, Fairfield, (973) 439-9378. zesteats.com This little cafe is almost entirely vegan, but they will serve up chicken and eggs on request. Don't miss the terrific baked goods, particularly the chickpea cacao bars and sweet potato bars.

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What did we miss?

While we tried to be comprehensive, vegan restaurants can sometimes be hard to find — so let us know if we missed any of your favorites in the comments section.

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook.