Kona Grill is a people’s favorite when it comes to sushi and grilled delights in the US. First established in 1998, Kona Grill today has a fanbase of its own.
With time, the franchise expanded, and today there are 40 restaurants spread over 23 states. What’s more – there are even three international outlets under the agreement!
But the real question is- is Kona Grill vegan-approved? Well, to answer this question – yes! There are quite a few vegan options at Kona Grill that can satisfy your taste buds. From vegan sushi to vegan salads, you can find excellent vegan food here.
So why delay? Let’s jump right into the article and learn about the best vegan options at Kona Grill!
Table of Contents
What Is Kona Grill?
Kona Grill, founded in September 1998, is an upscale casual restaurant franchise. Kona Grill first welcomed customers at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Before Kona Grill came, a sushi concept known as Sushi on Shea was introduced here in Scottsdale in 1994. To diversify the menu and add more American options, Michael McDermott, the founder, established Kona Grill.
This new restaurant boasted a modern ambiance. From there, the journey has only been uphill. The franchise successfully expanded and made a name in the food industry.
Moreover, Kona Grill is not just sushi and modern American grill favorites. You can find healthy, low-calorie options. There is a good variety of salads. You can remove or add sauces and other items to customize your dish to perfection.
The restaurant claims to help its customers get the Kona Grill experience without compromising their dietary goals and needs. The menus even indicate the nut/seed, raw fish, or shellfish addition, keeping in mind concerns related to allergens.
Vegan Food at Kona Grill
Kona Grill thrives on its yummy delicacies. The menu is exceptionally impressive. From sushi to salad to American grilled food, everything on the menu is highly satisfactory. Most customers only have good reviews about their experience at Kona Grill.
The best part for us vegans? The vegan options are just as good and fulfilling. They give vegans the luxury of choosing from a wide range of vegan-friendly food.
The vegan options at Kona Grill usually vary from location to location. However, there are some staples that you can expect at every outlet. Okay, sorry to keep you waiting! Here’s a detailed list of all the delectable food you can have at Kona Grill.
Let’s dive right into it – we are already getting hungry!
Vegan Appetizers
The one worthwhile appetizer at Kona Grill happens to be edamame. Trust us, and you will thank us once you have them beautiful edamame! Be it sautéed or ‘angry’ edamame, they are both fantastic at Kona Grill.
Edamame is the perfect appetizer. It isn’t too filling or heavy, is healthy and yummy at the same time! It goes well for all kinds of food at Kona Grill.
Vegan Sushi
Let’s talk about the most attractive menu- sushi. Here is a list of vegan sushi available at Kona Grill:
- Cucumber Roll
- Avocado (It’d be better if you confirm that there are no added eggs since certain locations add eggs)
- Vegetarian Roll
Vegan Salad
Now, on to the healthier food options! You have amazing salads at Kona Grill. These salads guarantee good taste and health both at once. You will be left craving these excellent salad spreads! Let’s see the different vegan salads the restaurant offers:
- House Salad (Please instruct not to add any cheese)
- Oriental Salad
- Roasted Asparagus Salad
- Seaweed Salad
With the seaweed salad, you need to be a bit careful. Certain outlets add fish products to their seaweed salad. Thus, it might be tricky to get a vegan seaweed salad. However, it is worth a try!
If you wish to have a more wholesome meal, you can ask the staff to add tofu to your salad. It is usually not on the menu, but the staff isn’t averse to adding it. You’ll have to pay the extra bucks, though.
Vegan Salad Dressings
Let’s talk about salad dressings! Salad dressings can make or break the salad game. There are three vegan-friendly salad-dressing options offered at Kona Grill. These are:
- Oil & Vinegar
- Onion Soy
- Sweet Soy
Vegan Noodles
Who doesn’t love some good vegan noodles? Let us quickly go over the options you find at Kona Grill:
- Linguine & Marinara Sauce
- Pad Thai or Udon Noodles (ask the staff to substitute chicken with tofu and not to add any egg)
- Kona Stir-Fry (all you have to do is ask them to switch chicken with tofu)
Moreover, you can also request to get some stir-fried tofu with rice on the side. It would be a special request and can get a bit confusing. However, everything’s okay as long as you get to have a yummy meal at the regular price!
Vegan Sides
We are onto our favorite part: sides! There is a good variety of sides at Kona Grill:
- Seasonal Veggies (It depends on your location. For instance, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc.)
- Ciabatta Rolls
- Sweet Potato Fries
- White Rice
- Stir-Fried Bok Choi
- Edamame
- Regular Fries
With ciabatta rolls or kaiser rolls, you can get sautéed mushrooms, tofu, onions, and the likes to have an elaborate sandwich meal. Usually, Kona Grill doesn’t have vegan sandwich options like the one we mentioned. Only some outlets offer such sandwiches.
Vegan Desserts
There is only one blank spot on this entire list. There are no vegan desserts present at Kona Grill! Unfortunately, all the desserts contain eggs or dairy products. That is a bummer.
On the brighter side, you can get yourself a margarita to have the ‘faux’ dessert feel, at least!
How to Order Vegan Food at Kona Grill?
In today’s world, where veganism is being accepted as a lifestyle more and more, finding vegan options is not much difficult. Kona Grill is also up to date with the vegan trend. The only issue is that the menu can differ from one location to other.
However, you don’t need to worry! What are we here for? Here are some fantastic tips to help you get a vegan order, even if your Kona Grill is a bit behind in that department.
Check the Menu for the Vegan Items
The easiest way to place a vegan order at Kona Grill is to search the menu for vegan options smartly. Many times, vegan items are marked for you – you can expect a ‘V’ mark.
Check With the Kona Grill Staff
Sometimes restaurants do have vegan options, but they are not reflected or marked on the menu card. That might be the case at your Kona Grill too. So, make sure to check in with your server if they know about the available vegan options.
Check the Nutritional Information
Kona Grill is always discreet about its nutritional information and ingredients. If you want to see the ingredient list, request your server for the nutritional information.
You can examine the list to identify vegan items. Alternatively, the nutritional information may also be accessed through the official website of Kona Grill.
Ask for Modifications
If you are unable to pinpoint any vegan option on your menu card – don’t worry! You can request the staff to see if there is any room for modifications. These days, many places have plant-based meat replacements.
Look For Vegetarian Items
So, you have looked through the menu back and forth, and yet you couldn’t find a vegan option. Well, the last resort is to take a look at the vegetarian options. You can ask the servers to remove everything that is not vegan, like eggs and dairy.
Usually, the chefs have no issues and can easily modify vegetarian items.
Wrapping Up
That is about it! We hope by now you are all set to explore the vegan options at Kona Grill. Kona Grill is a household name for getting the most delicious sushi and American grilled delicacies. In the last two decades, the franchise has grown massively.
When it comes to vegan food, Kona Grill is not the one to disappoint. From vegan sushi to vegan salad and vegan noodles, you find it all! So if you were looking for a sign to try out some vegan delicacies at Kona Grill, this is it.
We hope our article helped you to make up your mind about Kona Grill. Go ahead, give it a try.