Vegan
American
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
Vegan bakery and diner making a range of sweets like vegan donuts, croissants, cookies, cupcakes, scones, and brownies with gluten-free and sugar-free options. Serves vegan diner food. Est. 2010 as Champs Family Bakery on Ainslie St and moved here in 2014. Reported closed January 2023.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
-
Loading...
-
- Accepts credit cards
-
-
Last update on 29 Jan 2023 by tarayoon
Update business info -
Are you the owner?
Claim this business
-
-
290 Reviews
First Review by andreacarioca
Michael X. James
Points +952
Wow is this place good! - Edit
Sorry, I should have said, "Wow is this place GREAT!" Classic diner food and more. The french toast is about as legit french toast as you'll ever have. The biscuits are out of this world. Chili cheese fries are awesome. Desserts are amazing. Good portion sizes, not overpriced. Get the Chicken Biscuit sandwich and thank me later. The tuno is good too!
Read morePros: Food, Food , More Food
Cons: Service is a little spotty. , Street parking only, Not a large place
Guest
jencompgeek
Points +311
Amazing Diner Food! - Edit
Everything I've had at Champs has been fantastic. The breakfast options, from burritos to enchiladas with tofu scramble and soy sausage, are so delicious. Sandwiches are amazing too. Probably the best veggie reuben I've ever had. The icing on the cake for me, though, was vegan mozzarella sticks!!! They are as delicious as they sound! I would eat every meal here if I could afford it. Great service too!
Read moreI agree that the listing should probably be renamed to Champs Diner (or a separate listing added or something). I almost missed it because I wasn't looking to have a meal at a bakery.
Pros: amazing food
Cons: limited seating
Guest
MuK-UK
Points +262
Quintessential Vegan Diner! - Edit
Extensive vegan menu, with a fabulous brunch selection in a shiny American dineresque venue. There were enough gluten free options to keep my coeliac partner happy.
Read moreThe breakfast burrito was amazing and the cinnamon bun was so good I had another...
Looking forward to coming back again and again.
Pros: Huge brunch menu, Friendly helpful staff, Excellent food
Cons: Busy!
Guest
NoemiRayen
Points +35
Simply PERFECT! - Edit
Can't speak well enough of this place, the pancakes are just gorgeous, and the scramble tofu so yummy! Soya latte was great too, we went there twice and the waitress were just super nice all the time. Highly recomended! By the way, I guess it's called Champs Diner now, it's not a bakery.
Read morePros: Pancake, Place itself, Any sandwich
Guest
kwanza
Points +305
One of the best places I've ever eaten as a vegan - Edit
I can't speak highly enough of this place. Huge menu, all 100% vegan. Very good if you like mock-meat. Particularly strong on breakfast/brunch items (e.g. pancakes, huevos rancheros). The coffee is excellent and bottomless. I highly recommend the Cubano sandwich. The cheesecake was the best I've ever eaten - could not believe that it was completely dairy-free.
Read moreI didn't see any signage indicating that Champs is a vegan (or even a vegetarian) restaurant. My omnivorous friend (who lives in Brooklyn) has eaten there a couple of times before and only discovered when visiting with me that the chicken sub that he order last time didn't actually have any chicken in it.
Champs is a bit of a local institution - be prepared to have to wait for a table.
Pros: Excellent food, Huge menu, Desserts
Cons: Not the place to go for a fancy meal
Guest
Keith_Thode
Points +712
Amongst the best. - Edit
I went there twice last year. The menu is very extensive - breakfast and dinner. Lots of options. The people are very accommodating. The food was great. AND, DESSERTS!
Read moreI went there again this year. Still great.
Guest
davzanzibar
Points +64
Best Vegan Diner So Far - Edit
We recently moved to the NYC area from Dallas/Fort Worth and we were very excited to find a more budding vegan scene. We were very happy with the diner we used to frequent in DFW called Spiral. Until we reached Champs. Champs blew away everything we thought we knew about Vegan Diners. We started with the Bacon and Cheese Fries and were already in heaven before our entrees came. We ordered the Chick'n & Waffles and the Hot Cubano. I've been searching for a vegan replacement for a Cuban sandwich since going vegan and this is finally the perfect replacement. The chik'n & waffles was the perfect amount of savory and sweet. Needless to say this was worth the trip and we will be back many times again.
Read morePros: amazing food
Guest
Nikki1801
Points +963
American Diner - Edit
We loved this place- we only ate here once as we wanted to try as many places as possible, but will definitely come back next time we're in town!
Read moreWe tried to eat lunch here once to be turned away- an hours wait for a table! So we came back a couple days later, only had to wait 15/20 mins. I don't mind though, it's great to see vegan/veggie places doing so well!
The menu is interesting, the food is great, the portions are done perfectly.....that's all you need!
They also have baked goods on the counter- both morning fresh baked OR one or two days old for much cheaper. I love that they do this rather than throw away or give to staff, cookies were yummy!
Pros: atmosphere, great food
Cons: long wait times
Guest
Babette
Points +2107
Nice place - Edit
I really like the laid-back atmosphere at Champs and the menu is very tempting.
Read moreThe desserts look absolutely fabulous, and there are many to choose from.
Pros: friendly staff, nice vibe
Guest
adc1984
Points +72
The best - Edit
Amazing all vegan diner experience, just go on an empty stomach!
Read morePros: all vegan , diner, environment
Cons: you'll eat too much!
Guest
vegan_ryan
Points +3865
Great vegan diner food - Edit
Went here twice recently, and it was great. I had the biscuits and gravy (not the best I've ever had, but decent), and the 2nd time I had the French Toast Slam. This was amazing.
Read moreThey serve breakfast all day, with lunch/dinner items later on. I'd definitely go here again. Good prices, great food.
Also, they are finishing all of their dairy milk and becoming 100% vegan, so that's even better.
Pros: Vegan, Good food at cheap prices
Guest
SamiT
Points +39
love this place - Edit
If I lived nearby I would visit once a week I'm sure. They have the best tofu scramble I've ever had, I love their 'pulled pork' and the general atmosphere is great.
Read moreGuest
SonjaCPA
Points +5270
Vegan diner food - Edit
We arrived for brunch with another couple and they were still setting up, but were very cheery even though we were the first ones there. We grabbed a booth and perused the large menu. We couldn't decide what to get as it all sounded so good. Dirk went with the homemade seitan and tempeh burger with a side salad of kale and I got the Monte Cristo. Our friends got the country fried seitan sandwich and tofu benedict. The portions are generous and delicious. Definitely not the place to be if you wanna watch your calories. We all had excellent coffee too, both hot and iced. We were so full that we took dessert to go, a cheesecake brownie which was amazing. Be warned that they are cash only although there is an ATM inside. By the time we left, the entire place was packed, so get there early like we did. The place is a gem with old school diner feel and a great bakery display. On our list for our next visit to NYC.
Read morePros: vegan diner food, great bakery selection, friendly staff
Cons: cash only
Guest
pandora_13
Points +80
This is some serious vegan comfort food. - Edit
Champs is a cute little place with a vintage diner look and kitschy decor, serving up some serious vegan comfort food. During our recent visit we encountered friendly service, generous portions, and very reasonable prices. The menu contains a plethora of interesting and tasty-sounding items - so many that it was really difficult to choose!
Read moreFrom the appetizer menu, we tried the Buffalo Wings... and enjoyed them immensely. Roasted strips of tempeh were coated in a thick, tangy, spicy sauce, then served alongside celery sticks and a cool, creamy dipping sauce. The wings were so good, the sauce wasn't really necessary - but the sauce was so good, I wouldn't dream of leaving it off!
We also tried two sandwiches. The Tuna Melt was very good, though it didn't taste like tuna. It reminded me more of chicken salad than tuna; there was no sea-like flavor at all. The texture of the salad, however, was perfect. A thick layer was shmeared onto a nice marbled rye, then topped off with gooey cheeze and sliced tomato. It didn't satisfy my nagging tuna craving... but it was quite tasty overall.
Now, the Reuben... IT was AMAZING. Champs' is made with tender, juicy slices of seitan, again on that nice marbled rye. The sauerkraut had great texture, adding a welcome bit of crunch without making the bread soggy. Gooey cheeze and a generous slathering of Russian dressing pushed it well over the edge of awesomeness. I salivate just thinking about it. Winner!
Both sandwiches came with a simple side salad of mixed baby greens, lightly dressed with a bright vinaigrette. I also ordered a side of Oven-Roasted Fries. It was an enormous amount of food! But I really wanted to try the fries, and they were freakin' tasty. Next time I'll do them up with bacon & cheeze. Yeeeeah.
On the not-so-perfect side, I will say that service was a bit slow; it kind of took forever for our food to come out. I wouldn't go here unless I had ample time for a leisurely meal. It was also very hot in there. By the end of the meal we were swampy as hell. I recommend not going during a nasty heat wave.
The food, though, was fantastic, and our overall experience wasn't overshadowed by these things. I really look forward to going back again and sampling more of their menu! We'll just wait for cooler weather...
Pros: Large, interesting menu, Big portions at reasonable prices, The Reuben is Love
Cons: Their A/C wasn't meant for heat waves, Tiny and popular = always a wait, Cash only! with an on-premise ATM
Guest
slithers
Points +701
They are Champs! - Edit
Though "Champs" is apt, the name "family bakery" initially made me think it was primarily a bakery not a restaurant (so I almost didn't click name to learn more). Actually, this place is primarily a diner/restaurant which also has fresh baked goods. This place is amazing!
Read moreI went there on Sunday (June 23, 2013) with a few friends for brunch. I loved the character of this place, artsy kitsch, and the food was excellent. I got the breakfast enchilladas which I LOVED and also the Buenos Dias salad, which I had very little room to eat (but what I tried was great) due to the large portions. Both of my friends got the Drunken Cowgirl which they liked (and I tried - it was good). The menu really blew me away with so many options, including some "combo" dishes where you can get something sweet AND something savory (e.g., french toast and tofu scramble). Compared with the many other vegan brunches I've been to, this place had the most options (and included healthy options).
My friends tried the cream cheese brownies, which they said were excellent.
It is small, so you may have to wait if you're going at a popular time (e.g., Sunday brunch @ 10:30am, we waited 25 minutes to be seated).
Note: Their online menu is out of date as of today (some different options in person), but their website says new menu is coming soon: http://www.champsdiner.com/
Pros: delicious food, amazing menu (so many options!), good atmosphere (staff, decor)
Cons: small & popular = may have to wait
Guest
tab
Points +51
FANTASTIC - Edit
Everything on the menu is mouthwatering; I've yet to be disappointed. Make the trip!
Read moreGuest
Vegan Vagabond
Points +3542
My new favorite breakfast joint in NYC. - Edit
Awesome breakfast. That's all I can say. A large menu, great food, great people.
Read morePros: 100% Vegan, Large Menu, Tasty
Cons: Small, It's in Brooklyn.
Guest
Phil Papa
Points +40
One of the best breakfasts ever! - Edit
Had one of the best breakfasts ever at Champs. Went with my wife, 4yo old son and baby daughter (who slept through the entire meal) and we all LOVED our meal. I got the tofu scrambler with kale, tomatoes and a soysage and it was incredible. Son got french toast and cleaned his plate (which is something considering he is sometimes a picky eater). Staff was great and super friendly! We will definitely be going again.
Read morePros: Food, Staff
Guest
turtleveg
Points +1645
Huge portions - Edit
We came here for breakfast on a weekday and luckily didn't have to wait for a table. We loved our meals, including fresh juices, and will be back for more! The vegan tofu benedict was absolutely amazing! The Sag was good too, I wasn't too into the kaiser roll so I think next time I would order on a english muffing or bagel.
Read moreGuest
andreacarioca
Points +58
Best brunch in NYC - Edit
This is one of my favorite places in NYC! I have been there for brunch multiple times and every dish I ordered was exceptionally tasty, even better: the portions are large! I usually wait between 5-30 minutes (worse on sunny weekends) because they are really good! The people are super nice and the baked goods are perfect in taste and texture!
Read moreOne down side: they don't have decaf coffee
Pros: great food, cool place, nice servers
Cons: no decaf coffee, waiting
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 52807 times.