Former McDonald’s Employee Opens Vegan Restaurant in Harrisburg, PA

Sep 13

House of Vegans is the latest black-owned business to bring plant-based soul food to local communities, with a packed menu featuring baked mac & cheese, barbecue jackfruit, and chick’n drumsticks.

A former McDonald’s worker has opened a new vegan eatery in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The black-owned business House of Vegans is now serving delicious soul food including barbecue jackfruit, yams, baked mac and cheese, fried cauliflower, and Beyond Meat burgers.

“We are the first black-owned vegan restaurant in Harrisburg”, owners Laquana Barber and Stefan Hawkins told local news. “We are making history”.

Before becoming plant-based entrepreneurs, Hawkins was working full-time at McDonald’s, where his behind-the-scenes look at the industry was leading him to find meat less and less appetizing. Meanwhile Barber, a keen athlete, was trying more and more plant-based food after finding that it helped with her asthma, before going vegan three years ago.

Together, the pair have since thrived on their plant-based journey.

“American culture views that every meal has to have meat with it when it does not”, Hawkins told local news. “Since I’ve been vegan, it’s been the best part of my life.”

Now, the pair want to use House of Vegans to show just how delicious healthy, plant-based soul food can be.

House of Vegan’s popular Slap Burger. Credit: Facebook/House of Vegans

“Vegan isn’t a big word in the African American community”, Hawkins explains. “We want to educate the culture and the people. We can be vegan and still eat good and hearty.”

Already, the eatery is proving extremely popular. “Word definitely caught on”, Barber told a local news outlet after queues were forming down the street and around the corner.

You can find House of Vegans at 1426 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, and keep up-to-date with them via their Facebook page.

From award-winning restaurants to trendy food trucks, there are so many amazing black-owned businesses that are showcasing the best of plant-based food. Find your new favorite plant-based eatery by checking out our handy list of the best black-owned vegan restaurants in your state.

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