Photo: Justin Phillips

When chef Toriano Gordon poked his head out of the kitchen of his Oakland restaurant, Vegan Mob, an hour before it began its first day on Saturday morning in Oakland, a line of customers was already stretched around his building.

Within six hours, Gordon’s kitchen completed 900 orders and soon ran out of food. As Gordon turned away disappointed customers, he had a pair of realizations — Vegan Mob was going to be a hit and re-opening on Sunday was not possible since his supplies had been exhausted.

With the extra off days under its belt, Vegan Mob opens again today in the former Kwik Way Drive-In, a familiar restaurant space within walking distance of the Grand Lake Theater.

“I ordered about 20 times as much as I normally need for food and we still didn’t make it,” Gordon said with a laugh about Vegan Mob’s first day of operations.

Photo: Toriano Gordon

Vegan Mob has a compact menu of plant-based barbecue, soul food and Creole food. It’s one of few Bay Area restaurants run by people like Gordon — a black man who lives in the area and grew up in San Francisco’s Fillmore neighborhood.

One of Vegan Mob’s more expensive items is a combination barbecue plate made with plant-based brisket, ribs and shrimp for $20. Just about everything else — gumbo made with vegan shrimp; Impossible burgers; a sausage link sandwich made with plant-based meat and vegan nacho cheese — costs between $10 and $15.

Photo: Toriano Gordon

Vegan Mob’s bright green building, a color that skews toward neon and has been a part of the brand’s logo since its inception, has multiple walk-up windows where guests can order and pick up food. On opening day there were tables with seating for eight to 12 people. A nearby DJ booth played hip hop throughout the event.

The atmosphere was more lively block party than a traditional restaurant opening, likely because Gordon has deep roots in the local Bay Area hip hop scene, having been a rapper over the last decade.

Growing up in a family where his grandfather on his stepfather’s side owned Rue Lepic and Nob Hill Cafe in San Francisco, and his grandmother from Texas showed him the ropes in the kitchen, Gordon said he has always had an urge to join the restaurant industry. But food really became his passion about two years ago when a rough bout with the flu spurred him to change his diet.

Photo: Toriano Gordon

Since this is his firstrestaurant, Gordon said he relied on guidance from industry veterans and friends like Evan Kidera of Senor Sisig and GW Chew of Oakland’s Veg Hub.

Gordon said Vegan Mob is a byproduct of his community and that it represents the future of vegan dining in Oakland.

“I’ve been blessed, really, to have so many people come and support me. I heard from so many people Saturday telling me just how important the restaurant was to them,” Gordon said. “I just wanted to give back to the community that did so much for me. Now I can teach them about vegan food. Like I said, it’s a blessing.”

Vegan Mob. Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 500 Lake Park Ave. Oakland. www.sfveganmob.com

Photo: Justin Phillips

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips