Introduction to True Vegan
Four years after closing his acclaimed vegan kitchen, chef Rahein Jones is back in Delray Beach with an enduringly noble goal: to make vegan comfort food taste better than regular comfort food. This time, though, the plant-based food pioneer is bringing his approach to the highest-profile perch of his career — buzzy restaurant-row Atlantic Avenue.
True Vegan by Chef Rahein, which soft-opened Nov. 15 at 123 E. Atlantic Ave., a short block east of Old School Square, is a reboot of his fan-favorite eatery, The New Vegan, which shut in late 2021. It touts a refreshed, familiar menu of VFC (that’s vegan fried chicken for you carnivores) and a new roster of soft-serve ice cream, pasta fagioli soup and pizza flatbreads that Jones describes as “the menu everyone remembers, plus more of it.”
The Chef’s Vision
Jones, 49, tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel he felt “humbled” as 300 prebooked reservations streamed in and out of his modest 850-square-foot cafe over the weekend, swapping old memories with the chef. He has a new backer in business partner Billy Koorse, a Palm Beach County-based investor and customer-turned-friend who dined at Jones’ old restaurant “two, three times a week,” he says. Koorse and Jones linked up last year as the chef was scouting potential storefronts in Wellington.
The Menu
Jones’ True Vegan is small — 65 seats between its dining room and sidewalk patio — yet its recipes have a mighty reputation. His mushroom burger, a porcini-ground chickpea blend topped with lettuce, tomatoes and housemade sauce, won the Boca Burger Battle in the “Best Alternative Grill Master” category twice, in 2015 and 2016, and online hub HappyCow once ranked Jones’ last restaurant among its top-rated vegan eateries worldwide. Everything is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and non-GMO, but Jones is quick to insist the menu is approachable and never preachy about converting carnivores to a plant-based lifestyle.
The Story Behind the Chef
Jones is a true vegan now, but it wasn’t so long ago that he considered himself a new one. He became a vegan 12 years ago, he recalls, after an uncle’s friend visiting from New York “who looked 30 but was really 50” described his a “weird diet” that somehow excluded eggs and meat proteins. For Jones, that eye-opening moment — along with researching the health benefits of veganism and cattle industry abuses — caused a radical lifestyle change. Then came the 2013 opening of The New Vegan in Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove Arts District, where Jones cooked dishes as simple as they were delicious.
New Dishes and Favorites
True Vegan By Chef Rahein / Courtesy
Falafel pasta salad includes quinoa pasta, sundried tomatoes, spring mix greens and a chopped falafel patty. Other new vegan dishes include soft-serve ice cream ($10, chocolate or vanilla), protein bowls ($16) and wraps ($17.50) like the Mediterranean, a black turmeric patty with broccoli, scallions, diced tomatoes, peppers, garlic, red onion, lemon and house rice. There’s also an expanded menu of new soups ($10-$13) include split pea (dried split peas, vegetable broth, yellow onions, celery carrots, crispy mushroom patty crumble); and pastas ($19-$20), including mushroom bolognese and lasagna. That’s in addition to old New Vegan favorites like Vegan Fried Chicken ($13), a protein that’s actually made with jackfruit and cauliflower; a creamy tapioca-based mac ‘n’ cheese with quinoa pasta ($13); and a tuna melt on sourdough ($18) made with hearts of palm instead of fish.
Conclusion
True Vegan by Chef Rahein is now open, bringing plant-based cuisine to Delray’s Atlantic Avenue. With its refreshed menu and commitment to using only the freshest ingredients, this restaurant is sure to be a hit with both vegans and non-vegans alike. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic mushroom burger or something new like the Mediterranean wrap, True Vegan has something for everyone.
FAQs
Q: What is the address of True Vegan by Chef Rahein?
A: 123 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
Q: What are the hours of operation?
A: True Vegan is open until 2 a.m. on weekends
Q: Is the menu entirely vegan?
A: Yes, everything on the menu is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and non-GMO
Q: Can I make a reservation?
A: Yes, reservations can be made by calling 561-266-3399 or visiting True-Vegan.com
Q: Are there any plans for a breakfast menu?
A: Yes, a breakfast menu is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026 with “chickn ‘n’ waffles” and other dishes.
