Ginger Root Vegan: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Ginger Root Vegan is a Chinese vegan restaurant on First Avenue in Manhattan, and every dish on its menu reads vegan. The kitchen builds mains from tofu, seitan, soy protein, and vegetables, so a vegetarian never hunts for the one safe item. You’ll find it at 1164 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10065.

Dumplings come first. The Homemade Dim Sum section has a Crystal Dumpling at $13 and Steam Vegetable Dumplings at $14, filled with napa cabbage, carrot, shiitake, celery, and shallots. The Chao Style Dumpling at $15 packs jicama, dried tofu, corn, and peanut. The Taro & Pine Nut Dumpling runs $16. Shumai uses vegan chicken and vegan shrimp, the Bean Curd Skin Roll costs $15, and the Steam Vegan Char Siu Bun at $15 holds seitan in a barbecue pork style.

Starters get playful. A Vegan Lobster Roll at $14 is deep-fried soy protein and carrot with a tangy sauce. Crispy Vegan Chicken Nuggets cost $14 with plum sauce. Grilled seitan in teriyaki makes the Seitan Skewer at $16. Battered King Oyster Mushroom, $16, arrives tossed in spicy salt. A Spring Roll costs $9, and Edamame costs $11.

Mains start at $22, and most come with miso soup and rice. Order the General Tso Vegan Chicken at $26 for the classic. Black Pepper Vegan Beef at $26 puts sliced seitan over spinach. Mapo Tofu at $24 brings Sichuan heat with preserved radish, seitan, and shiitake. Mango Vegan Chicken, Basil Vegan Chicken, and Malaysian Curry Stew in coconut curry are each $25. Smoked Teriyaki Vegan Duck is $26. On a tighter budget, the Eggplant String Bean and the Tofu Teriyaki cost $22 each. Want something from the water? The Vegan Seafood at $29 sautés plant-based seafood with asparagus, snow peas, and cauliflower.

Dessert is a New York style cheesecake with blueberry at $15, a fudge brownie at $12, or a chocolate mousse cake at $15. The menu doesn’t spell out dessert ingredients. The restaurant calls itself vegan, so I rate it that way. If a strict vegan sits at your table, ask. Hot tea costs $5 a cup, with Wu Yi Oolong, Peach Ginger, Triple Green Jasmine, Moroccan Mint, Passion Fruit, Lemon, and Black on the list.

Lunch runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with its own menu. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Online ordering on the restaurant’s own site is for pickup. To sit down, call (646) 301-9817 and ask about seating.

I couldn’t confirm the kitchen setup. The menu is vegan, so cross-contact with animal products isn’t a concern. How the kitchen handles soy, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts goes unstated. Several dishes carry cashews, peanuts, almonds, or pine nuts, so tell the staff about any nut allergy when you order.

Plan on $22 or more for a main. Start with two dim sum plates, add a main each, and you have dinner for two. The place is a good bet for a lunch break, a pickup order on the way home, or a group that includes one vegan.