We sampled Delaware vegan versions of Big Mac, cheesesteaks & more

Who said you can’t have Buffalo wings, a cheesesteak or a Big Mac while sticking to a vegan diet?

Delaware has some posh restaurants around the state that offer plant-based alternatives to meaty items many people adore.

I traveled to all three counties in Delaware to eat lunch, sampling vegan dishes at seven restaurants to see who had some of the best.

Here’s what I found:

Dari Kabab & Gyro, Smyrna

Falafel platter, under $14

Fans of chickpeas often love falafel.

Dari Kabab & Gyro dishes the Middle Eastern-style non-meatballs with pita, hummus and baba ghanoush, an eggplant-based dip.

I’ve never had falafel or the dips before and I liked them, but the falafel were a little hard. I wasn’t a fan of the hummus, though I have nothing to compare it to. The baba ghanoush was better and sweeter than I expected. Many people are gaga over falafel, but my experience wasn’t very memorable. 2 stars

1078 310 N. Main St., Smyrna, darikababgyro.com or (302) 389-6209

Grandpa Mac, Rehoboth Beach

Regular Vegan Mac & Uncheese, $11

Grandpa Mac is owned by Hari and Orion Cameron. Hari will appear on Netflix’s “Snack vs. Chef” starting Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Mac and cheese is one of those versatile items people eat as a standalone meal, or as a side dish. Grandpa Mac knows this and is dedicated to delivering a mac attack for both vegans and non-vegans alike.

Netflix, Food Network will shine: Foodie spotlight on 2 Rehoboth Beach chefs in November

I sunk my teeth into the Regular Vegan Mac & Uncheese. It’s made with fresh, soft elbow noodles the size of mini PVC pipes. The noodles are covered in an “uncheese” sauce that’s veggie based and includes carrots, potatoes and Tabasco sauce. The dish is also topped with vegan mozzarella, breadcrumbs and almonds.

This sturdy bowl of mac has some bite to it as the Tabasco makes its presence known. The uncheese sauce is creamy, savory and good. The crunchy texture of the breadcrumbs and almonds added a nice twist to this staple dish. 4.0 stars

18756 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, grandpamac.com or (302) 313-4751

Home Grown Café, Newark

California Gardenator Burger, $15.50

You might think Oprah owns Home Grown Café, because their menu has something for everyone. This isn’t a vegan-only restaurant, but there are some fun options for folks interested in having a plant-based adventure.

This is true for some of their burgers. The California Gardenator Burger is what I chose. It’s made of a bean patty, mushrooms, avocado, mixed sprouts, lettuce, crispy onions and tomato.

This burger had a chipotle flavor I enjoyed. You can taste the beans, but it’s not a bad thing. And this one is a biggie. I’m not sure if it was as heavy as the Big MCK (see below), since I ate them on different days. But it’s up there. 4 stars

Drop Squad Kitchen, Wilmington

Classic cheesesteak, $14

Every item at this restaurant is plant-based and made with love.

Drop Squad Kitchen offers everything from vegan ribs to cheesesteaks. I chose their classic cheesesteak, which is made with “ribeye steak” made from wheat protein and served on a soft, toasted roll.

The ribeye was shredded into chunks and tasted a little greasy (but not smothered in it) like a traditional cheesesteak, which I didn’t mind. The sandwich was topped off with onions and housemade yellow vegan cheese that added a splash of flavor to this already delicious treat. 4 stars

Believe It … It’s Vegan

Orange Cauliflower Chik’n, $28.99

Last month Smyrna welcomed a new vegan restaurant into the fold. Believe It … It’s Vegan is owned by Jenesis Prioleau-Golden, a chef who was a contestant on season 9 of “MasterChef” on FOX.

The restaurant has a lot of scrumptious-looking food on the menu. This includes its N’awlins Po’ Boy and Philly Jawn cheesesteaks, all the way to its Get Lit Chik’n Buffalo strips.

I sampled their Orange Cauliflower Chik’n. It featured breaded cauliflower that was lightly fried and smothered with mango and pineapple Caribbean jerk sauce. The dish is served with jasmine rice and topped off with blue decorative flowers.

The breading on this cauliflower was light and tasted similar to a spring roll. The orange sauce had a little kick to it and complemented the cauliflower and rice. But don’t expect it to be very sweet like orange chicken from a Chinese restaurant.

While it would’ve been nice to have a sweeter sauce, the truth is this version was healthier and I didn’t leave the restaurant feeling sleepy or regretful. 4.5 stars

1 N. Main St., Smyrna, believeititsvegan.com or (302) 508-5047

Go Vegan Philly, Wilmington

Philadelphia International, $11

Named after the City of Brotherly Love’s airport, the Philadelphia International Buffalo wings landed safely in my belly.

These crunchy bites are made with a cauliflower base that’s triple battered in flour, then deep fried. Although the cauliflower is drenched in flour, I was surprised the final result is a soft, crunchy coating that doesn’t taste heavy. You can dip your wings in vegan sauce choices such as BBQ, Sweet Thai Chili, Buffalo, Go Vegan, Mango-Habanero and Teriyaki. I ate my wings with a side of Buffalo sauce that’s oat-milk based.

After I dipped my wings into the tangy orange sauce, I swore I was eating wings from Grotto Pizza. The main difference is I didn’t feel as heavy afterwards. 4.5 stars

607 N. Lincoln St., Wilmington, goveganphilly.org,(302) 543-4431 or (302) 543-4126.

Daily Veg, Pike Creek

Big MCK, $11.99

One of McDonalds’ most famous burgers has received a vegan makeover here on a sesame seed bun. Daily Veg’s spin on the Big Mac, dubbed the “Big MCK,” smells and tastes just like the carnivore’s counterpart that inspired it.

This burger has the main fixings you’d find on the OG version like onions, lettuce, pickles, cheese (made with peas) and special sauce.

It features two Beyond Burgers made with peas and mung beans. The special sauce involves an egg-free mayo from Follow Your Heart Vegenaise made with avocado oil.

Big MCK is a well-stacked burger served with a thick, paddle-sized toothpick that keeps it from falling apart.

This vegan restaurant gets the highest rating because they transformed one of the most iconic burgers in the world into a plant-based masterpiece. 5 stars

5335b Limestone Road, Wilmington; dailyveg.com or (302) 635-7047