JaJaJa (hahaha - in Spanish) in West Village . . . A Vegan Dream!

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since I touched down in New York! Y’all this was one of the best trips I’ve taken . . . and well, was the first trip I’d been on since the “panasonic”!

I think it’s pretty hard not to fall in love with New York! I mean, the people, the culture, the architecture, the FOOD! There’s so much good food to choose from! But this was also the first time I’ve traveled as a vegan - I’ve been vegan for a year now - so of course, I had to carefully navigate my way through my food options.

Once my work was complete for the day last Friday, it was time to go and celebrate with good food and drinks! I’d just witnessed a design dream of mine come to reality, so we were due for some viittles and libations! And thanks to a new friend who was looking out for my vegan needs, we went to JaJaJa Mexicana in the West Village.

Y’all . . .

The Food

. . . the food was AMAZING! I started off with the mushroom quesadillas. But, because I underestimated how hungry I really was after all of that walking - and well, the first cocktail - I ordered the Chorizo Burrito. The “chorizo” was made from seitan, and the burrito was FILLED with beans, rice, and other vegetables, then topped with sauces to mimic the colors of la bandera Mexicana (Mexican Flag)! So GOOD!

Our Drinks

When my cousin and I ordered our drinks, we weren’t expecting the explosion of flavor we were about to encounter! Whitney got the Pomegranate y Jalapeño - made with Cazadores blanco tequila, jalapeño infused curacao, lemon - and I got the Oaxacan Old Fashioned - Cazadores reposado, mezcal, agave, chocolate bitters . . .

Both were absolutely AH-mazing! The Pomegranate y Jalapeño was the perfect sweet and spicy mix! It had a little bite to it! But the Oaxacan Old Fashioned? Make sure you’ve got nothing to do for about 2hrs after consuming one. It was STRONG - in the best way possible! I’m not a tequila person by any means . . . especially after my 20s! But THIS cocktail might just change that!

Traveling as a vegan can always present its challenges . . . like who wants their food options reduced to brussels sprouts and potatoes whenever we go out to eat?!

But being in a city like New York and having a growing amount of vegan restaurants pop up definitely makes restaurant and bar hopping as a plant-based papi or mami something to look forward to; plus, you’ll get to walk off everything you ate as you walk from place to place . . . or you can just call an Uber!

Overall, Jajaja gets a 40/10 - and I WILL be going back!

We plan to be back in New York within a month, so I can’t wait to take you along on more traveling, vegan foodie journeys then! There’s one place in particular, Aunts & Uncles, where I can’t wait to eat! I only had their sorrel tea and espresso. But if their food is anything like their beverages, I already know I’m going to LOVE it there!

What are some of you favorite vegan spots in New York or in your hometown? Now that outside is kinda open, and #patioseason is in full swing, I’d like to share recommendations! Let me know in the comments below (I didn’t mean to rhyme)!