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.
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Last update on 29 Jan 2023 by tarayoon
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290 Reviews
First Review by andreacarioca
Fmphy
Points +207
Get it on yer list ✏ - Edit
We went here twice, TWICE.
Read moreThe first time we went, we had the Philly Cheese Steak which was pretty good and the Buffalo Chik'n which was super good. The fries were nice but unfortunately a little cold on arrival. We also had a side of Buffalo Tempeh Wings, which were sooooo good, and pretty spicy so watch out, though if you're into Franks hot sauce, they're pretty much smothered in that.
The second time, I wanted breakfast, namely vegan pancakes with bacon which I have been dreaming about so I ordered the Pancake Slam. The pancakes were fantastic though unfortunately, the bacon was a little overdone. I had the seitan bacon, though apparently if you want it a little softer go for the tempeh bacon. Tofu scramble and hashbrowns with this were very good.
We also had the tater tots with bacon and cheese, delicious but could have done with a little more cheese, and we also had more buffalo tempeh wings 😂
All in all this place has a huge menu and is absolutely worth a visit. Be prepared to queue though, or at least pop your name down and head for a beer across the street at the Tradesman.
I only dropped a star 'cause of the overdone bacon and the chilly fries, other than that great, service was great too. Enjoy!
Pros: Tasty tasty food, big portions, cool vibes and nice staff
Cons: Be prepared to wait, but that's cool with me!, overdone bacon on the pancake slam, cold fries
Guest
Oliviafoti
Points +491
Amazing vegan eats - Edit
Great hangover grubby food with options for a healthier bite if needed. Loved it!! Will be back again :)
Read morePros: Vegan junk food, Great service
Guest
ajaureg1
Points +32
Favorite - Edit
This was top of my "to eat" list while on vacation. Everything was so delicious. Even my cheese obsessed sister loved the vegan cheesy options. The tots with chili cheese are a must.
Read morePros: good food, great options , awesome service
Cons: cramped , pricey , long wait
Guest
cammyschinner
Points +164
Dude this place is crazy! - Edit
This is ideal post-bar-hopping food. Do yourself a favor and get a milkshake, fries, and taternachos. The mozz sticks were awesomely cheesy but I was kinda iffy about it since it tasted like Daiya which, as we all know, is narsty. Buuutt... It worked.
Read moreOk but the frieeeeessss! are actually PERFECT. Literally THE MOST PERFECT FRIES.
Also A for it being a safe space for everyone, complete w gender neutral bathrooms (bc being vegan is an intersectional issue and they realize that!)
They are the champs of the vegan diner game.
Pros: dank af, filling, big portions
Cons: do I need to even say this? pricey., heavy food, not for light eaters
Guest
stacy100
Points +366
Loved this Place - Edit
I loved this place. I wish I lived closer to dine there more often. They do tend to be very popular, so expect to wait for a table, especially in the morning on the weekend.
Read moreGuest
VegForLittleGuys
Points +64
amazing - Edit
Visited Champs Diner today ! Had the best egg Benedict !!! Milkshakes are great ! Buffalo wings are pretty spicy . Even though I love "spicy" it was too spicy for me . So if you order make sure you tell them if you don't want it to spicy . Love everything there ! Thank you !
Read moreGuest
Nicoral
Points +30
LOVE THIS PLACE MORE THAN LIFE 😂😅 - Edit
The BEST selection of vegan food I've ever seen, and the milkshakes were TO DIE FOR!!! I almost wanted to get two shakes per meal. I travelled all the way to Brooklyn from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to eat here twice on my two free days in NYC. SO worth the trip.
Read morePros: amazing food, best shakes in the world, super friendly staff
Cons: not the healthiest food, but who cares!!! love it!
Guest
LauraLemon
Points +139
We need Champs Diners everywhere - Edit
No vegan place I've ever been to has had this wide a selection of vegan foods that you actually want to eat. I want to eat everything on the menu. Great for all meal options, breakfasts are filling and delicious, try the breakfast burrito or any of the pancakes or slams.
Read moreAny time I'm in New York you'll find me here more than a few times, loving the vibe and service, and working my way through the menu.
Pros: Amazing food selection, All meals covered, Price is decent
Cons: None
Guest
goddesslily
Points +30
it was ok - Edit
I had the mozzarella stick the mac and cheese. They were ok not amazing but ok. Then I had the philly cheese steak nope didn't like it i did enjoyed the pulled pork it was really good.
Read moreGuest
Magrm87
Points +241
THE BEST BEST BEST - Edit
Wow! Just Wow!!! I followed champs on Instagram and dreamt of going. I went to NY this month and one of my top things to do was to go to this place. I dragged my ovni friends along. We all had amazing food! The philli cheese steak sandwich was amazing! My ovni friend said it was one of the best he had tried and he is very picky with his meat - they were all very impressed. We had hotdogs and mac and cheese. All great! Can't wait to be back in NY and eat there again!
Read morePros: amazing food - all vegan , traditional dinner
Cons: far from the traditional touristic spots , not possible to book in advance
Guest
DrewRoss
Points +74
Best Vegan Restaurant on Earth!!! - Edit
As I lay dying, my last mental energy available will be devoted to eating at Champs in Brooklyn with my children. Their Reuben is unsurpassed, their shakes are divine, their breakfast satisfied a 15 year old vegan-food skeptic and the service is inscrutable. This is beyond comfort food, this is so damn comfy, I fell asleep and floated up to Nirvana and had *dream food*. I am looking for an arpatment on Meserole St, so I can be here more often. If time and space collapse, I'll let out a final gasp for Champs. You are certainly number one. You win at Vegan. Please franchise.
Read morePros: All vegan., Awesome Music/Staff (Hipsters)., Perfection.
Cons: Ruined me for all other Vegan spots., I am prone to overeating here., I will cry if it ever changes.
Guest
Ryan MTB
Points +477
Yummy - Edit
Great pancakes with choco chips, shakes, etc. Friendly efficient service, very clean too.
Read moreGuest
sambee
Points +135
best vegan food in New York - Edit
This is the place to be. I live on Long Island and drive over an hour and a half to come here every time, and it's more than worth it. The food is great. Many vegan restaurants have great food but a limited menu. That's definitely not the case with champs. There are so many different options it's overwhelming. You can find almost everything a normal diner would have on this menu. Depending what time you go, parking can sometimes be an issue, and there may be a bit of a wait for a table. Plus when you're done you can go right around the block to Dun-Well for some amazing donuts.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2016-06-26
Pros: amazing food, so many options, located near other vegan places
Cons: street parking, sometimes crowded
Guest
crturner25
Points +127
I will never have diner withdrawals again! - Edit
Champs is the most authentic vegan diner, but honestly better than any diner I ever went to pre vegan life! The food is unreal, but take it slow because they know how to fill you up!!!
Read moreI have been here on multiple occasions, mostly at dinner time. I mean who doesn't love breakfast for dinner! The menu has a variety of offerings from breakfast and dinner items on their evening menu, which makes it super hard to decide. But I personally am addicted to the tempeh wings (buffalo style) and the mozzarella sticks! Two fav appetizers but you really cannot go wrong.
The diner style interior makes for an awesome authentic experience and it is a fun place to take a non vegan friend and make them drool! ;)
Pros: Authentic , Amazing menu , Delicious vegan milkshakes
Cons: Beware -- food sits heavy! , Staff is not overly friendly , Pricey
Guest
GilShamgar
Points +152
My favorite place in NYC - Edit
Definitely my favorite place in the city. So many good options. Just amazing. Took me forever to choose what to eat because everything seems amazing, and the staff were really nice. Definitely coming back!
Read morePros: Great variety of vegan diner foods. , Great music playing in the background., The staff were really nice and helpful.
Guest
gray_gold
Points +54
The best junk food - Edit
I love going to Champs whenever I'm in the neighborhood. It's the best vegan junk food I have had. I haven't had anything there that I disliked.
Read morePros: Absolutely delicious, Good variety of foods, Cool style
Cons: Bad cell service
Guest
KMR607
Points +355
Recommend eating in - Edit
Diner take-out is always a little sad, not Champs' fault. Good, solid vegan diner food, as you'd expect, with mid-level ingredients. I recommend the poutine! And grateful for neighborhood delivery.
Read moreGuest
nemoimo
Points +135
Really fun diner experience - Edit
Had heard a lot about this prior to my trip to New York and really wasn't disappointed. Tofu scramble was the best I've tasted, and the pancakes were amazing. Really nice to have the american diner experience, as it's always nice to try veganised versions of local traditions when you visit a different country.
Read morePros: Brilliant tasting food, Great coffee
Cons: Popular, so busy
Guest
Walnuts
Points +87
King of Brunch - Edit
We came here last Saturday for the first time. There was no doubt, we just had to come again this week! So we did.
Read moreWhat a magnificent little brunch gem. My personal favorite are the pancakes with blueberries, chocolate chips, butter & maple syrup. True bliss. What can I say, just so well-done! Intensely tasteful, fresh blueberries, great texture pancakes.
Staff is fast and friendly. Decor is really nice and funny. Ambiance is all in all just welcoming.
There is quite the wait though, we had to wait for about an hour. However, totally worth it!
Pros: Amazing food, Plenty brunch options, Welcoming ambiance
Cons: Waiting time
Guest
Soph.ev
Points +32
Best Vegan Diner Food - Edit
I go to Champs very often with my boyfriend. To the point where the waiters know us. My boyfriend isn't vegan and he loves Champs. I strongly recommend the seitan asada fries and the tempeh wings!
Read moreGuest
buckwisdom
Points +40
Best brunch in Brooklyn! - Edit
I love the tofu scramble sooooo much, always our first stop in Brooklyn!
Read morePros: Delicious food!
Guest
CatEyez
Points +16
Food like a Champ! - Edit
I visited today with my two sons and a friend. I'm the only vegan at the table but had adventurous foodies with me who were willing to try vegan food. I also have to add that I'm a super picky eater so I was a bit skeptical on how the food would taste. I had pancakes with tempeh sausage n bacon with tofu scramble n potatoes.... can I say delish! My family also loved their meals which included hash browns, cowgirl chili, cookie dough pancakes and waffles. All incredible! If we didn't know it was a vegan spot, we would think it's regular food!
Read moreThe staff is super friendly and attentive. I read reviews where it's cash only but they did accept our credit card.
We will definitely return as I have a few other food items I'm looking forward to trying. Btw....as others have stated, the food is not only delicious but super filling. Love at first bite.
Pros: Delicious food, good value, Friendly staff, Nice vibe
Cons: Small space
Guest
DavidFournier
Points +231
Great for breakfast and lunch! - Edit
After landing at JFK around 11:00am, the first thing we did was to head out to Champs Diner because that's the first thing vegans should do after landing at JFK. Why? Well, just go, see for yourself, order some of their amazing food, eat it and realize there is no other vegan diners in Earth like Champs Diner. Are we stop to Champs on our way back to JFK airport, you bet!
Read morePros: Great food, Near JFK airport, Tons of options
Cons: I wish they had a second location in Manhattan
Guest
Raesock
Points +673
Everything was great! - Edit
Came for dinner on a Saturday night. The wait was about 30 minutes, not bad at all. The food was so great! I had a cookie dough milkshake to start that was perfect, and we shared the carne asada cheese fries. My husband picked that, and I wasn't sure I would like it because I don't usually like a lot of fake meat on something, but it was so good! The asada strips were a great size and texture, and the sauce was yummy. I got the big bowl of mac and cheese for dinner, and honestly couldn't hardly eat any of it! I was so full! We took it to go and split it for dinner another night, it was that huge! I really liked it too. My husband got The Grinder and said it was just ok. If we went again, we would probably split the fries, and then split an entree. The portions were huge! Would love to come here again and haw more off the menu.
Read moreThe only thing I didn't like, the tables are REALLY close together (we heard every detail of the awkward first date next to us!). Also, the table we had was so small. They put two water classes, a carafe and silver ware and we barely had room for our plates. But I know, this is Brooklyn so they aren't working with a ton of space.
Updated from previous review on 2016-12-10
Pros: portions, milkshakes
Cons: small tables, so close together
Guest
Kittybiscuit
Points +8047
Pancakes! - Edit
I've been here threes times during our stay in NYC and always for breakfast. I had the biscuits and gravy the first day and whilst it was tasty, I preferred the waffle and pancakes that I had on subsequent visits. The servings are large!
Read moreGuest
Carlyjeg
Points +162
best shakes - Edit
The shakes here are out of this world... make me think it's dairy but of course it can't be. So creamy! Also the tatertachos (tater tot nachos) are incredible. The breakfast burritos are also killer!!
Read moreGuest
NaliniT
Points +48
The best - Edit
Seriously, the food here is incredible. Over the course of several visits on my trip I had the Hangover Hash Browns (lovely, albeit an absolutely huge serving that would have fed me for days!), the Mac & Cheese, French Toast, the Reuben, the Cubano and the Country-Fried Seitan. All were amazing and I'd be hard pushed to pick my favourite dish. Gets busy, so I'd recommend making an early morning visit here (I ordered several of the sandwiches to go which kept me fed as I wandered around NY) and if you are on your own, you may get asked to sit at the counter. Staff are lovely and keep the bottomless coffee flowing! p.s. They take cards (or at least did when I was there) :)
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2016-11-11
Pros: Excellent Food
Cons: Gets very busy
Guest
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