Vegan Hills

Recently a new vegan place opened up in Kaimuki.  On their menu is Why Not Chos (Mexican Nachos! Organic corn chips, chili beans, tomato, cilantro and avocado with creamy cashew sauce, jalapeno, original hot sauce and original sour cream.)  Vegan nachos?  Vegetarian nachos are one thing because I can still have CHEESE (yes, I am a cheese addict.)  But vegan nachos?  They don’t even have cheese!  How can they be nachos?  As all of you know, we will try any dish that comes across our path that even resemble nachos.  So we set a date and headed to try our first ever vegan nachos for the blog.  We went for brunch on a Saturday since they close at 3pm every day.  15 of the raddest of the rad nacho friends showed up.  They don’t serve alcohol and since it was Nacho Brunch, we brought our own champagne to enjoy. Everyone chose a partner to share since the owner said they were definitely large enough for two. When they came out, they were absolutely gorgeous.  They did not look different from all the regular nachos we eat and if anything looked better because you could see how fresh all the ingredients were.  I took a couple pictures and dove in.  OMG they tasted heavenly.  The chili beans were so flavorful and they tricked us with the not made from cream sour cream.  And that creamy cashew sauce should be on every nacho.  I loved the cilantro and avocado too.  Every bite tasted amazing.  Well done Vegan Hills, well done.  I am in no way converted but I will definitely be back to try some more of your crafty and healthy dishes.  Who knew that vegan could taste sooooooo good?

P.S. Joey tried this fruit cup with cream dish for dessert.  The cream was so good that everyone at the table had to try it.  

Why Not Chos $15 - Mexican Nachos! Organic corn chips, chili beans, tomato, cilantro, organic avocado with cream organic cashew sauce, jalapeno, original hot sauce

 

THE Matt Holm (5) – PRESENTATION: Glory.  Beautiful presentation, much impressed. RAD: Food came out so fast!  They put chili on the nachos!  And it's vegan?  Much yes! LAME: I needed more chips… which is crazy.  There were lots of chips but so much topping.  Much love.  TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: So much topping.  Glorious chili.  Guac was super super good. Bright pleasant environment, service was great.  Napkin quality was on point.  BYOFingB YASSS!

  

 

Michelle (4.5) – PRESENTATION: Very impressed.  Good amount of food, can be shared with 4 girls, feeds 2 very well.  RAD: Is it vegan?  VERY TASTY.  I love it.  LAME: Little spicy, I would skip the jalapenos. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4, would be nice to have some variety of veggies.  The best is the homemade "sour cream."  Calm atmosphere, clean place, minimalistic décor!

Brando & Julia (3.1415926535) – PRESENTATION: I'm impressed. I see some guac, beans, jalapenos, tomatoes, cashew sauce.  I am a sloppy meat eater so it is going to take a lot to win me over, but I am up for it.  RAD: Hot sauce, just spicy enough but not too much.  All ingredients are fresh, one could almost say, funky fresh.  Cashew sauce I thought that was sour cream, you got me vegans!  You got me! LAME: I should say lack of meat, but I won't belittle these. I knew what I was in for, and for nachos lacking meat and cheese, these are damn good.  I may start shopping at Whole Foods. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 3.5, usually it is the other way around, but these needed more chips. The toppings were great, just needed a little more foundation.  It was a delectable nacho pie.  Napkin quality, we are f$#%ing amazed.  This napkin made it all the way through. If I was homeless I might eve be able to wash myself with it later.

 

Joey (4) – PRESENTATION: Lots of bean chili. Lots of jalapenos, sauce and cheese sauce. RAD: Looks like a carnivore nacho to me LAME: Where's the beautiful dollop of sour cream (that's not sour cream) that I keep seeing on other plates TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, lots of chips for toppings. I had a few chip failures, more than I would have liked..Clean, friendly service, lots of smiles, great feeling atmosphere. .

 

Miss Stupendous (4) – PRESENTATION: Loved the presentation!  Good healthy scoop of guac and sour cream.  RAD: Homemade hot sauce was spicy!! Also, the peanut/cashew cheese sauce. LAME: Chips got soggy too fast. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: The chips matched up to the toppings.  Finished the end with forks.  I'm not vegan but this place could change me…but no meat!  The water delivery was amazing. 

 

Shananigans (4.25) – PRESENTATION: Wow! These are vegan?!?! They look amazing!!! RAD: They taste like yummy  LAME: I miss cheese but not really. What's happening!??!?  TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, every chip has deliciousness on it. Was weary but they are amazing!!! New friends, BYOB, so much flavor omg that coconut cream!  

 

Nacho Libra (4.5) – PRESENTATION: Very pretty.  Big ol' plate!  Definitely enough to share.  Super happy that these are served for brunch!  RAD: The nut "cheese" sauce is creamy and delicious!  The original hot sauce has quite the kick.  It's great!  Can't go wrong with guac! LAME: The parking sitch. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, enough cheese sauce for empty chips to scoop up!  Would totes eat these again!  Very accommodating!  Love BYOB, will have to remember that for next time.

Why Nacho (5) – PRESENTATION: Great presentation.  Looks fresh and delicious.  Big plate of nachos. RAD: The cheese sauce is really tasty. Can easily be share with 2-3 people. LAME: The chips on the bottom got soggy from the toppings.  I still ate them all though.  TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, toppings until the end.  No chip left untopped.  Very friendly and helpful staff. Great lil space.

 

Nacho Jack Daniels (5) – PRESENTATION: Amazing zing zing RAD: Vegan sour cream.  House salsa is gnarly good hot.  Chip stayed crunchy till very end.   LAME: No vegan cheese shreds. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: Perfect!  Didn't have to order because it was already on its way.

 

Katia (5) – PRESENTATION: Beautiful!  Nice Mountain! RAD: Vegan cheese!  We don't have to hurt animals to enjoy nachos. LAME: Nada. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4, delish toppings!  Love the cashew cream sauce. Awesome service, love the chairs and ambiance.

 

Tango Tango (4.5)

RATE: four and a half.  

Only knocked down for the chips.   

Would be five, besides.  

PRESENTATION: 

Wow!Vegan, really? 

These look like normal nachos.   

Bet they taste good, too. 

RAD: 

Not-chos have chili

That's better than the real stuff.   

Also love cashew sauce.  

LAME:  

There were enough chips

But they soon lost crunchiness.  

I prefer homemade.  

TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO:  

Bountiful toppings! 

Jalapeno! Cilantro!   

Get in my mouth now!   

ATMOSPHERE: 

Cheap lunch, no cocktails.  

I'll be coming back here soon.  

Vegan is tasty!

 

   

Traci (4.5) - PRESENTATION: It's huge and beautiful!  RAD: 3-4 different layers of spicy, cashew cream, IT's VEGEAN!  LAME: More water? or cerveza.  TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 1:3 toppings: vegan chili, cashew cream, guac, tomatoes, cilantro, hot sauce, jalapenos 

Laura (4+) - PRESENTATION: Gorgeous + great portion size.  RAD: The cashew cream is amazing! LAME: I don't have a margarita to wash it down.  There are no more crunchy ones.  TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 30/70 - I didn't know it was vegan!

 

 

N8 (4) - PRESENTATION: Nice look, a bit messy, but hey it's nachos.  RAD: Nice variety of ingredients and very spicy!  LAME: Little bit of sogginess & liquid on the bottom.  TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4.5, almost perfect.  Good variety with plenty to go around and mix & match.  Great fresh avocado.  I would have never known these were vegan unless I knew ahead of time.  Super tasty!