Natural Nutrients: Kind Food Kitchen is a new plant-based cafe with a focus on organic and locally sourced ingredients

Vegan — the trend that continues to grow each day. My Pinterest is full of vegan recipes and I can’t look at my Instagram feed without seeing posts of vegan food. Despite the popularity of the diet, I discovered Kansas City has very few vegan restaurants. But Kind Food KC, an all-vegan restaurant, just opened in Westwood, so I decided to see if this lifestyle was really worth it.

Originally created as a pop-up in the Iron District in North Kansas City before opening a permanent location at 2820 W 47th Ave. Westwood, Kansas, Kind Food follows a strict motto — be kind to yourself through healthy and delicious food while also showing kindness to the animals and planet. The restaurant accommodates special diets and places a focus on giving back to the planet.

Although I don’t follow any diet myself, many of my friends are vegan or vegetarian and will appreciate a restaurant accommodating to their diet. Kind Food gives customers an opportunity to take care of the planet by recycling and composting while enjoying a calm and modern dining experience. 

Kind Food KC is a colorful break from its surroundings — you move from concrete sidewalks full of cracks and racing street cars to a bright and cozy restaurant full of mismatched chairs, little plants in mason jars placed at each table and various abstract paintings of plants, animals and people. The off-white walls are decorated with wood planks and hanging plants that put a modern twist on a bohemian feel. 

The TV-menu behind the front counter displays a variety of meals from chips and salsa to a broccoli salad. I was pleasantly surprised at how many different meals they offered, considering the inability to use common ingredients like meat and eggs. As an added bonus, they had many gluten-free options that made the menu even more accessible to different diets. I debated over a few dishes including a gluten-free BLT wrap with spinach and a flour tortilla and a reuben sandwich, before finally settling for a Southwest Salad with chipotle dressing and guacamole. I didn’t order a drink but they did also offer kuyombucha and New Wave Soda. 

After ordering, I found a seat at one of the spaced-out tables in the dining room, which I appreciated because on top of eating earth-friendly foods, I was also not contributing to the spread of the coronavirus. There were also lots of seating options for different sized groups — perfect for families trying out a vegan diet. 

Bright red tomatoes, onions, corn and beans made the Southwest Salad a work of art topped off with a guacamole and chipotle dressing. Each ingredient worked together to create the perfect taste — a fresh, and somewhat sweet flavor with the ideal balanced texture between crunchy and chewy. The tomatoes were chopped just enough so that you wouldn’t get an overpowering bite of tomato and there was a fantastic lettuce to toppings ratio. The guacamole added a softness to the dish that evened out the crunch of the lettuce. The chipotle dressing also gave it a subtle kick of spice that spicy food lovers will drool over. 

After finishing my meal, there was a slight hesitation for what to do with the empty dishes, but luckily I spotted a trash station. Before dumping my waste, I noticed that there wasn’t a trash can at all — it was a compost and recycling bin, adding onto Kind Food’s environmentally friendly energy. Directions clarified where to dispose of each dish. The cup that my water was in was recyclable and my napkins were compostable.  

I left the restaurant pleasantly full and already texting my friends about a new location for our Friday night dinners. My meal cost $10.50 with a $2 tip, which I found fairly reasonable compared to nearby restaurants like Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop and Taco Republic. Calling all vegans, vegetarians and foodies: check out Kind Food the next time you want to eat out — and save the planet all at once.