Yesterday I ventured to the vegan soul food restaurant, Souley Vegan. It came highly recommended and ended up exceeded my expectations. It is not the closest to campus, as it is situated in Jack London Square in Oakland, but it is well worth the trip.

The decor is simple with a trendy black and white theme, which is highlighted by plants. There is ample seating snaking around the bar, which is fully stocked with a variety of vegan desserts. You order at the counter and the service is friendly and efficient.

I went for a late lunch and the restaurant was sleepy with only one other customer there. I ordered the combination plate that allows you to chose three items, which is perfect for the hungry customer. At only $13 dollars, the combination plate is the perfect meal for a student. It comes in a big enough portion to bring some home, and it lets you chose from a variety of options. I chose to have BBQ tofu, vegan mac and cheese and biscuits with gravy. On top of that, you get to chose whether you would like a side of cornbread or greens. After some deliberation, I ended up ordering the cornbread! The food was authentic and indistinguishable from the food’s nonvegan counterparts. As someone who is lactose intolerant, I have tried my fair share of vegan mac and cheese, but this is by far the best I’ve ever tasted. The cornbread was also especially delicious — it was moist and the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

I left feeling very full and very satisfied. I look forward to going back and trying Souley Vegan’s desserts! I would highly recommend Souley Vegan to vegans, nonvegans and really any UC Berkeley student looking to get out of Berkeley and indulge in truly heavenly comfort food!