South Carolina in a Day: The Sprout, Good Life Café, & Lamb’s Bread Vegan Café

To be honest, I didn’t expect to find any vegan restaurants in all of South Carolina given it’s size and…well…it’s location. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find not one but three all-vegan eateries. Not only that, but a splendid variety too. Each one is completely different from the others. There’s a raw, juice bar next to a gym, a mostly raw full restaurant, and then a soul food restaurant. Awesome!

The Sprout – 100% vegan and mostly raw

627 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Ste B
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

I stopped in for breakfast and had one of their (many) green juices. Yums! I also had the Breakfast Bagel, though it wasn’t a bagel at all. Sprout’s breakfast bagel is a wrap that’s filled with tofu scramble, lettuce, carrots, onions, and beans. It was great!

There were some cool posters around and it looked like they give raw food classes and have big vegan dinners and such, every now and then. I also love that they’re attached to a gym. Having fresh juice before and after a workout just makes so much sense! And raw food snacks. Brilliant!

Good Life Café – 100% vegan and mostly raw

3681-D Leaphart Road
West Columbia, SC 29169

I loved this place!! To someone who isn’t familiar with the area the restaurant seemed kind of out in the middle of nowhere. But what a great place. The service was wonderful and there was an eclectic group of customers bustling in and out while I was there. There was great, positive energy. I just loved sitting there, people watching and eating delicious, healthy food! They also make great juices too! Actually, their website says it best:

From the moment you enter Good Life Café, you are encompassed with an inviting atmosphere, full of life and energy!  We are one of the only organic, raw, vegan restaurants in Columbia, SC.  Our executive chef, Sharon Wright, has been preparing natural, wholesome, nutritious and delicious meals, juices and smoothies for 20 years now!  The menu is merely a virtual world tour consisting of American, Italian, Indian, Thai and Mexican gourmet cuisines.

I started with their freshly pressed Watermelon Juice (so refreshing!!) and their Spring Rolls. The spring rolls were stuffed with kelp noodles, avocado, carrots, and cucumber. Fresh! Delicious! Wonderful!! The sauces perfectly complimented the rolls too. So good!

I also had the Eggplant Bacon Flax Wrap which contained dehydrated eggplant “bacon” with a cashew-based mayo, lettuce, sprouts, and tomato, with a side of Kale, Sweet Pea, and Carrot Salad. The wrap was really delicious and I loved the salad to pieces!!!

While I was here I overheard a couple talking about Dr. Bronner’s. Haha. I know, it’s random and cheesy but anything vegan-ey/healthy/eco-friendly brightens my day! Teehee! :)

Finally, I had dinner at Lamb’s Bread Vegan Cafe, which specializes in vegan soul food. They came highly recommended by a number of you. Thanks so much! :)

Lamb’s Bread Vegan Café – 100% vegan

2338 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29201

This style of ready-made, vegan soul food can also be found throughout Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and Georgia (so far – based on my travels). At this restaurant I had the Black Peppersteak, Cauliflower in Curry Sauce, and Collards. It was tasty!

Have you been to any of the soul food-style vegan restaurants throughout the west/mid-west?

Georgia is next! :)