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African fusion est. 2017 with a mostly gluten free menu. There are two separate weekday and weekend menus, dishes include rice and quinoa bowls, soups and burgers, wraps, toast and more. Black owned. Open Mon-Thu 10:00am-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 10:00am-10:00pm, Sun 10:00am-9:00pm. Kitchen closes half hour before restaurant.
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Abbott Square Market, 725 Front St Ste 2, Santa Cruz, California, USA, 95060
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 25 Aug 2025 by akindele_bankole@yaho
Update business info -
Added by Rebeli on 02 Jul 2017
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103 Reviews
First Review by VeganGeo
Catel16
Points +146
Hidden Gem - Edit
Variety of items on the menu. Everything we had was delicious. It’s located in a food court/hall.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-09-12
Pros: Good size portions , Friendly staff , Fast service
Guest
MFOPhotography
Points +202
Great first time dining experience ! - Edit
It was our first time visiting Abbott Square Market as we were planning to visit the Santa Cruz Museum of Art which was conveniently right next door ! A very boisterous and lively crowd but fun with the music and cool vibe . We ordered the peanut stew , vegan steak wrap and a side of the plantains . Very good flavors with the spicy sriracha sauce .. nicely flavored with a hint of heat . All of the food was filling and I’m looking forward to trying more of the items on the menu in the future !
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-09-05
Pros: Fun vibe , Fast service , Hearty food
RisBurton
I added this to my favorites and will visit the next time we go to NorCal.
Read moreGuest
yehadut
Points +2143
It'll do - Edit
I got the obe West African stew. It tasted good but was a half cup of liquid, felt like I was drinking a sauce. It came with salad and rice so I tried to fill up on that but that part didn't taste like much.
Read moreI also ordered the savory crepe with tofu scramble and sausage. It tasted pretty good but had the feel of eating street food. It was not will balanced flavors, more things put together and covered in very bold sauce. It'll do.
It's a food court so I'm rating it on a curve.
Guest
SuEats
Points +28
Love this place - Edit
I have been frequenting Veg on the Edge for the past two years. I love their One Egasi (Peanut butter and sweet potato stew) and also their Spicy Suya mushroom bowl. I love getting the sriracha plantains on the side too. The owner is so sweet and the service is usually pretty fast. Love the abundance of vegan Ethiopian dishes that leave you feeling satiated but not overwhelmed. So healthy too!
Read moreGuest
Liwiwi
Points +68
Really good vegan food, which is hard to find(especially in santa cruz ) - Edit
The obe egusi has been a favorite comfort food for years. I am writing this review over a year since l've had it last, as I moved away, and I am craving it & missing it. Flavorful & comforting & hearty & fresh.
Read moreThe owner was so kind when I would order from here regularly as well. Everyone has always packed my orders with care & I feel like the food is made with care as well. I miss this food a lot & think of it often! Definitely try it you want vegan & gf options for comforting healthy food.
Pros: Fresh & good flavor, All vegan , Gluten free options
Guest
hannahsf
Points +705
Good food! - Edit
This is a restaurant in a larger food hall, with nice outdoor seating. I had the beyond meat quesadilla and plantains. My friend had the tofu bowl. Both were delicious. Unfortunately we came later in the evening so they were out of a lot of options I would have otherwise tried.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-05-11
Guest
smrossi
Points +11
Flavorful and friendly - Edit
Veg on the Edge has been a vegan go-to for me for years. I’m not ashamed to say their mushroom suya bowl has appeared in several of my dreams — it’s THAT good. The staff is small and it’s so nice to recognize a friendly face every time I visit. The owner of the restaurant knows how to make genuine connections with everyone who comes in. Located in a cute food court attached to a museum in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz with lots of seating and, often, a bustling live music scene. Cannot recommend it enough.
Read moreOne note: given the small staff and emphasis on fresh, made-to-order dishes, it can sometimes take a few extra minutes to get your food. No worries, because there’s so much to see while you wait! See their trademark disclosure: “this is not a fast food establishment.”
Updated from previous review on 2026-03-20
Guest
LaxSwamy
Points +103
Delicious and filling - Edit
Loved the loaded cassava fries with mango habanero and vegan mayo!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-18
Guest
VeganJosi🦓
Points +511
Good food and great vibes! - Edit
Had the beyond meat steak wrap and a West-African pumpkin seed stew. The wrap was super satisfying and hearty, can definitely recommend! The stew was like scrambled tofu, turned into a hot stew. Not overwhelming, but I loved the fresh ingredients - the salad was a good addition.
Read morePros: Fast service, Lovely staff, Good portion size
Guest
nicolas_me_
Points +60
Super tasty and super friendly - Edit
We had the Shiitake Mushroom "Suya" Wrap which was slightly spicy (like described) but super Tasty. Super friendly service!
Read moreGuest
VeganMusicMan
Points +410
Good burgers and tacos - Edit
I was really hungry, so I had their Suya Burger, Suya Taco, Beyond Stak Taco, and Plantains.
Read moreI’ll lead with what I really enjoyed, the burger and tacos were super tasty and just great. I’ll come and order those again. The plantains were a little disappointing, I would’ve liked them to be cooked longer and served hot, they were OK, but I won’t order them again.
The two people working there are absolutely awesome, super helpful, kind, and generous with their time. All in all I will be eating there again on this trip… Probably today😄
Guest
joanna240
Points +401
Best vegan restaurant in Santa Cruz - Edit
For vegans in Santa Cruz, this is the only option. Fortunately, it's a good one, with an array of different choices. I ordered the tofu bowl and my husband got one of the burgers, both tasty with generous portions.
Read moreThe spacious outdoor seating area behind the food court is a pleasant place to hang out -- and we did wait about 20 minutes for our order, as it seemed as though only one person was working there -- handling food prep and customers. Although the food court has fast food vibes, there's nothing rushed about Veg on the Edge, and their food reflects that level of care.
Guest
Amyladedada1
Points +980
Cool little spot - Edit
Perfect place for a quick bite to eat. Everything was delicious and fresh.
Read moreGuest
B-Rad56
Points +191
Delicious - Edit
Completely vegan with so many different options to choose from order on the screen and made within 1520 minutes well worth the wait
Read morePros: Fresh ingredients, Made to perfection, Served hot
Cons: Food court, but nice one, Simple setting but casual is nice, A little hard to find
Guest
alienvegan
Points +5150
A bit bland - Edit
Seemingly the only vegan restaurant in Santa Cruz. I found the bowl to be quite bland, most rice and not much flavor besides the pumpkin seed sauce drizzled on top.
Read moreGuest
leac1980
Points +361
Great quick vegan food - Edit
I was looking at getting a burrito but the owner recommended the pumpkin stew with a side of rice and kale salad with pumpkin sauce I added tofu. I also added cassava fries. The food was amazing so glad I went with his recommendation.
Read morePros: Amazing customer service , Quality and flavors of the food, Quick service
Guest
hazeleyedvegan
Points +107
Absolutely Fantastic - Edit
I’m sorry I didn’t go here the first chance I got! The food was amazing!!! The perfect blend of incredible flavor and healthy! And everything was gorgeous to boot. I highly recommend!!!
Read morePros: Flavor, Healthy , Beautiful Plating
Guest
LauraLene
Points +166
Nice food and nice spot - Edit
I've been to this vegan place today.
Read moreI had the Tofu bowl and my partner had 2 Tacos and the plantains.
I highly recommend the plantains. They're more on the spicy side but so good.
Unfortunately, they had no other sides in stock anymore.
But tbh. The bowl was full and I wasn't able to finish it.
Pros: Nice surrounding area , Good tasty food , Generous portion size
Cons: Had to or
Guest
JulianaCasati
Points +5837
Must try the plantain! - Edit
I'm so glad I ordered the peppered plantain as a side for the shiitake mushroom suya wrap. It was absolutely delicious! The sauce was just a bit spicy, the perfect amount to still feel the sweet taste of the plantain. Loved it! The wrap itself was a bit bland in comparison, good but nothing special. For dessert, I got a chocolate chip cookie and it was great!
Read moreGuest
suelavelle
Points +191
Wholesome Delicious Food - Edit
I LOVE Veg on the Edge! I can always count on a satisfying warm meal here. I often have the peanut stew which comes with brown rice and greens and sometimes I add some tofu. It is such comforting food. Seasoned just right and in the right proportion. Made with fresh ingredients right there. And the service is always prompt. And right there in the Abbot Square food court where you can get a drink and sit and listen to live music and people watch. So nice to have a vegan restaurant like this in Santa Cruz. Wish we had more!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-02-07
Pros: Wholesome vegan food for the soul, Great service, Great location and reasonable prices
Cons: Food court can be loud at times, none, none
Guest
chubbybunny34
Points +102
Suya Burger & sweet potato fries - Edit
I tried the Suya Burger and a side of sweet potato fries. The burger was packed with flavors. It comes with vegan cheese, vegan mayo, beyond plant-based meat, sliced tomato, and kale lettuce. It's also topped with shiitake mushrooms that are sauteed in a special Nigerian sauce called Suya, which I believe is a spicy peanut sauce (cayenne and other spices). It was my first time trying this unique sauce, and I really enjoyed it. I love trying new foods from different cultures. I also love that this restaurant is a black owned business. The man working there was very nice and the food was ready in a timely manner. The sweet potato fries came in a mountain size, and they were hot and crispy, served with a side of ketchup.
Read morePros: Black owned business , Entirely vegan veg menu , Fresh ingredients
Guest
AfterSeeingOkjaTwice
Points +571
Nice spot - Edit
Really enjoyed the plantains.
Read moreGuest
aanunez
Points +81
Disappointing flavors - Edit
The only great thing was the plantains, everything else was just lacking flavor other than salty. I'd give it another try if things change, but it was ruff.
Read moreGuest
veganmagick
Points +273
Not your average Veg spot - Edit
Delicious, nutritious, fast and friendly. I love the shiitake bowl with a side of plantains right on top. Filling and makes me feel good😄
Read moreGuest
villain
Points +9431
Perfect plantains - Edit
The plantains here are so good, the sauce they're in is amazing. I loved the suya burger, too. The guy working there was friendly and the restaurant is located in a convenient area. There's a ton of seating inside and outside
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-10-06
Forman
Interesting that I was looking at this place. Now I really want to go there.
Read morevillain
You should go! It's in a food court but a very chill spot.
Read moreGuest
Chloe(Artemis)
Points +1633
Inside a food court - Edit
This place is located inside a food court. And nearby is a parking garage with reasonable rates and electric car chargers.
Read moreThe restaurant has a place for you to place a contactless order through a touchscreen. It was really easy to put comments on it too like "no cilantro".
I chose to go with the African peanut stew. It came out very quickly and was delicious! The tofu had a perfect texture and flavor on the side. That may be the best tofu I have ever eaten.
The stew is smokey and tastes like a lot of paprika. It is not spicy hot, but it has a very spiced flavor. It's delicious and I highly recommend it. It came with a side of brown rice and salad as well and that was very good.
My eyes are always bigger than my stomach. I thought it wasn't going to be enough food, but halfway through it I was feeling very full.
I highly recommend eating here. The drink selection is small, but it is a food court so you can find something to drink very close by.
Pros: Easy to order, Very fast, Perfect portion
Cons: Small drink selection
Guest
NathanielLegg
Points +3313
Amazing! - Edit
This little restaurant located in the food market downtown had some absolutely amazing vegan food! We tried the peanut soup, plantains, and suya mushroom burger. The staff were very friendly and the vibe was great. We sat near the restaurant, but you could easily sit outside or in any location within the market. The market had live music, which was so fun.
Read moreThe food was delicious and full of so many different flavors. We loved everything about eating here!
Pros: Amazing flavors , Delicious food , Cool vibe
Guest
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