Chili Mustard and Onions
Chili Mustard and Onions (CMO) has earned the title of Yelp’s highest-rated vegan restaurant in Michigan, so naturally we made our way to this downtown Detroit eatery STAT! For you curious minds, this take-out only vegan eatery gets its name from toppings that accompany a Detroit-style coney dog. (And yes of course, you can find that on their menu!)
Admittedly, we were more than intrigued by their no website, no dine-in, seemingly no frills approach to vegan offerings. But their Yelp crown and the buzz around Detroit was more than enough reason for us to trek downtown to enjoy some warm comfort food on a particularly chilly, snowy day. We had a hunch that what their storefront lacked in decor and aesthetic, was more than made up for in authentic vegan eats.
We lucked into a Quornucopia pop-up, CMO’s limited time engagement with the Quorn company, which bolstered their regular menu with some additional chik’un special features. Being the consummate over-orderer that I am, I picked up an array of delicious-sounding eats for the fam. Here are the deets:
Big Mock: We’ve never missed a Big Mac less! This killer sammie is built just like the McDonald’s favorite, but without all the pesky meat and dairy. If you are looking for a Big Mac attack, this is a must try.
Gyro: So authentic tasting that I didn’t really like it. And oddly enough, that’s a huge compliment to the chef! I’ve never liked the spice and sauce of gyros and this vegan wrap delivers every last bit of that genuine flavor. While not for me, go team Gyro!
OMFG Chik’un Sandwich (Quornucopia special): This fried Quorn cutlet with lettuce and mayo proved to be a bit too peppery for our liking. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we totally ate it (we aren’t ones to let vegan eats go to waste), but we would skip this one next time.
Chik’un Parm Sub: A monster sub stuffed with a deep-fried cutlet, tons of house-made marinara, and cheeses on a sesame bun. Our stomachs were a wee bit smaller than our eyes, so we actually had it as leftovers. It did not disappoint as a brilliant, second-day reheat. We loved the sauce, but would definitely order with extra cheese next time!
We can’t write a review and not talk about the waffle fries! They were, to put it succinctly perfectly fried and perfectly enjoyable. We tried naked, as well as with both the cumin-forward house chili and the vegan cheeze sauce. Responsibly, we stopped short of ordering the Southwest Detroit Nachos (waffle fries topped with cheeze sauce, cilantro lime sour cream, pico, chives, and blacked chik’un strips). Our 35+ minute drive home spelled certain sogginess for this crazy good sounding side. That said, we are seriously considering ordering a deconstructed version next time, for at-home assembly and enjoyment!
If you looking for authentic tasting vegan takeout in Detroit, CMO is waiting for you!
