HipCityVeg Brings Vegan “Happy Meals” to DC

On July 24, Philadelphia-based vegan fast-casual restaurant HipCityVeg will open a second location in Washington, DC. The new location will debut a Golden Nugget Combo that includes vegan chicken nuggets made with organic grains and served with sweet potato fries, a 16-ounce beverage, and a choice of sriracha aioli, smoky BBQ mustard, buffalo, bleu cheese, or peppercorn ranch sauces for dipping. HipCityVeg plans to add the combo to its Chinatown location by the end of the year. The location will also feature a new DIY Banana Whip bar that offers banana soft serve made solely from frozen ripe bananas, along with toppings such as fresh strawberries, vegan marshmallows, graham crackers, brownie crumbles, chocolate chips, and homemade peanut sauce. HipCityVeg’s fast-food-inspired vegan menu also includes burgers, salads, and breakfast items such as the Philly Steak, Jerk Caesar Salad, and Southwest Breakfast Wrap. “We’re thrilled that the plant-based movement is really taking off,” HipCityVeg owner Nicole Marquis told VegNews. “Our core values are based on better eating and living for everyone. The demand for vegan fast-casual food has really allowed us to be creative and confident in our expansion.” HipCityVeg—which also operates five locations in Philadelphia, PA—is planning to open a third location in DC in 2020 followed by a significant expansion of 30 to 40 additional stores over the next four years.