Imhotep’s Health & Living Foods

Haha !!! I found them my taste buds got to tingling and I could remember those amazing soy ribs like it was yesterday !! Stumbled upon an Ig page @veganschoice scrolled waited a few weeks finally called and ordered some food, got a delivery an BAM it was the great ppl from Imhoteps couldn’t believe it. I’ve found my favorite vegan restaurant and they are still in crown heights try there food you won’t be disappointed and u don’t have to be a vegan, ITS THAT GOOD. 5 choices only 10 buck and it’s all vegan tuh! Who can complain? Not me

This can’t be true??? The calling is here, come back???

This is the dope spot for all sorts of Jamaican and African roots. If you want to make your own roots tonic or teas, this is the spot. Not too many places left around here like this, b/​c THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH so please support this business !
They also sometimes make their own healthy vegetarian West Indian food as well.

I’ve been coming to this spot for only a couple months now, but I was becoming quite the fan. After stopping in this evening for a dinner plate & some veggie meatballs to eat for Christmas dinner with my omnivorous family, I was pretty bummed to realize they’re closing this month! The owner said it had been 26 years, and it was time to move on; but maybe she’d come back if the calling was there.
I’ll definitely miss the prepared foods, I usually got the 4 items for $ 8.50 plate. They also serve some of the tastiest veggie patties you’ll ever have. I thank the universe i was able to frequent this business, and I wish the owners the best in their future endeavors.

imhotep’s ital fare is great! very tasty vegan food for dirt cheap. for lunch i get 3 choices for $ 5. the $ 10 portion can feed a small army. some of the options include veggie fried rice, «duck» in sauce of delicious, collards (best i’ve ever had), kabocha squash, kale, tofu «ribs», BBQ, roti, and «fish» cakes.
cheap.
delicious.
mystery meat & dairy free.
YES.

you know this place? this place is sick. i recommend it to anyone looking to eat a little bit healthier without sacrificing taste. 9 bucks will set you up with an amount of healthy delicious vegan food that you most likely will not be able to finish. bring ya girl here and she will not finish all her food and she will probably let you finish it so make sure she gets different stuff from you. if you are a girl you can save some scrilla by just getting only like 3 sides that’s a buck you just saved i think. if theres any like wings or soy fish cakes there you get one of those too them joints is bomb. this review was written by a 31yo who likes to party alone.
ima go there right now catch me on instagram takin pics of food like a tween.
p. s. i’ve been vegan for ten years and i’m growing to like these places more than most nyc vegan spots, especially in brooklyn. never mistake high price for high quality

I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN BUT I LIKE VEGAN/​ITAL FOOD!!! When I have a taste for Ital food (as we call it in the Caribbean) I come here. Their food is delicious and flavorful. You have many choices to choose from from bbq ribs (tofu ribs) to stew tofu. They are friendly and their vegetables are always fresh and delicious. You can’t go wrong here for a delicious healthy meal.

If you eat meat, do not enter. I happen to be a fan of fake meat based vegetarian fare so this was right up my alley. The fake bbq was in a deep amber colored rich sauce and the «meat» chewy and tasteful. A surprise was how good the fake «duck» was, and the had a pumpkin side dish that was spiced to perfection. The fake chicken on a stick was awesome and well worth the one dollar. But the kicker is the overall energy you feel when inside. There was a bigger table all the way back past the kitchen for us since we brought our 7 month old. And the picture on the wall of Emperor Salassie lets you know the vibrations are pure. The also sell vegetarian fake meats from morning star and Tofurkey alonf with natural soaps and medicines. For $ 20 3 of us ate good and were stuffed for hours. Bless this place.

I absolutely love Imhotep’s, a local health food store (albeit small) with a wide selection of loose teas, herbs and frozen vegan foods. In the back, from a buffet-​style hot food case, they serve easily the BEST vegan soul food in all of Crown Heights/​Bed Stuy.
I’ve eaten there about ten or more times in the last year, at varying times of day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) and have yet to have anything that wasn’t scrumptious. While I wouldn’t exactly call vegan ribs and chicken «health food», it certainly is «comfort» food… and damn, if both those things aren’t DELICIOUS.
Some of their best dishes (IMO):
— The «ribs»
— The stewed pumpkin (it’s kabocha squash and is easily FAVORITE item they serve. It’s that insanely delicious and melt-​in-​your-​mouth.)
— The curry tofu (whatever mock chicken they used in there one day was so firm and realistically textured that I was actually convinced for several minutes that a huge mistake was made and it WAS real chicken.)
— Any sauteed greens or rice (they are cooked and flavored perfectly every time).
At $ 8 for a small plate — which is usually more food than I can eat — and $ 10 for a large, some might think it «pricey». But who wouldn’t be willing to pay a few extra dollars for incredibly tasty, cruelty-​free food that supports one of the neighborhood’s longest-​running businesses? I certainly am.
Other helpful observances:
— This is not a dine-​in place. They have two or three 2-​person tables and that’s it.
— The cooks and staff are INCREDIBLY nice. If you’re not sure what is in the case — there are no signs explaining the food — don’t be afraid to ask. :)
— The best times to get food when it’s fresh and lots of dishes are ready is between noon-​1pm. If you come earlier, there might not be much ready yet for «breakfast». If you come later, everything may be gone from the lunch service. As for dinner, 4:30−5pm seems to be the sweet spot. Sure, I’d love to have a full case of fresh food options whenever I’m hungry. But with a small staff, an assumedly pretty small clientele and a very specific product they are selling, it’s totally understandable.
— I hardly EVER look at their actual menu above the hot counter. I’m not even sure that it is relevant in any way. I know I’ve asked for something off it once or twice, and they didn’t have any, so I kind of stopped asking. Best to stick with what you see available in the case (though they have veggie pies in a warmer behind the counter).

Loved this food. I REALLY loved this food and this place. The west indian in me loves my west indian meals and to have a vegan/​vegetarian option is a blessing. I went in and observed all the natural goods they sell, such as herbs, dates, figs, teas, and grocery items that cater to the vegetarian/​vegan market. Then I went to the back to get food. This place takes card at 10 buck min but it is really easy to spend that here. They offer a small with 4 sides and 1 to 2 bucks more for an extra side. the small was 8.50. They had wheat currant rolls (I have a weakness for currant rolls!) and such wonderful options to eat plus drinks like peanut punch, sorrel, moss, protein shakes, etc. I could not decide on just four sides so I purchased a 5^th one and uploaded me and my friend’s plates for you to see. The black eye’s peas were amazing. My friend and I both had a «Scooby Moment» when we ate them and were grinning from ear to ear! I enjoyed the curry tofu and the the plantains (I am very picky about my sweet plantains!) And I was in love with the greens and the seasoning of each product on the plate. only one tofu «meat» i ate was a bit salty for me but the overall meal was great. I also saw they do sandwiches and roti to! We mentioned we would both be back to the girl who served us after we sat there to eat our meals. It is worth the trip! We will also be back with bigger bellies, wallets and arm strength to carry the things we will buy out of there! LOL! It is THAT good. I am already making up my mind of what I will eat next time I go. The food is not heavy unless you make your plate to be, and even then it is nothing like eating the regular way of eating comfort food or southern or west indian food and feeling like rocks in your tum-​tum. I love this place, the quality is great and if you do your homework on vegetarian/​vegan food you will know how to eat and how to spot quality. The only thing that leaves me wanting are desserts. I look for more desserts from them besides currant rolls, Which really isn’t a dessert to me IMHO. I don’t know if they will do that but If they do, I KNOW it will be worth it! Don’t listen to Mr. One Star over there. He wish he knew what he was talking about. Go to this place. You WONT be sorry!

Don’t let the ONLY 1-​star review scare you off from this place. That person obviously couldn’t taste the food all the way up their own ass. As long as you’re not some snooty, self-​indulgent twit who can say that food is full of poison AND «made with a lot of love» you’ll be alright.
EVERYTHING here is seasoned expertly and impressively, there are PLENTY of options that don’t contain any textured vegetable protein (you’d think such a hardened vegetarian would know TVP when they see it!) and plenty of fresh veggies that have never seen the inside of a freezer.
If you’re looking for a veggie Caribbean option, it really doesn’t get better in this area and price bracket. You get a ton of hot food that REALLY is made with a lot of love, is delicious, and is under $ 10. You’d have to been some kinda jaggaloon to complain!
«Everyone loves this place, but I didn’t like it. The ONLY explanation MUST be that they’re all new vegetarians or Mark Bittman fans.» What an a**hole!

I stopped here late on a Sunday so I think they were kind of done preparing food for the day. I ended up with the last of the rice, kale, soy protein dish and it was decent. However, the non-​chicken, chicken wings. YUM!!!
They are the reason why vegans/​vegetarians end up being overweight. But delicious!

My carnivore friend brought me here one night for dinner. He’s the best. He knows I’m vegan… just turned a few months ago… and that I’ve been trying to find new places to go when I’m not in the mood to cook. This spot is just awesome.
First of all, it’s not just a restaurant. It’s also a store that has quite a selection of vegan options. Total score. However, we came here for the food. And holy crap, I have no idea what I ate, but it was all good. Even he loved it! The portions were huge so we shared a plate. It’s also very affordable. And the best part? I don’t have to overlook any options because it’s ALL vegan! I do know that the pumpkin mash was outstanding… can’t wait to go back again.

The Food here is Great!!!
Sometimes I have to wait (mouth drooling) for the breakfast to be ready… but when it is. its the best…
Fried dumplins, scrambled tofu, okra!, porridge YUM!
my 2 year old eats the okra like its candy :) (i would not get that same response if i made it)
Get there at about 10 am on a saturday morning and be ready for some great vegan breakfast!

Imhotep’s deli is amazing! For a small amount of money you get a heaping plate of vegetarian food, the small will generally feed two people easily. It’s all very healthy but also deliciously spiced. The variety of food is also so colorful, largely thanks to the prominent use of pumpkin.
The store also has a great variety of health food products, especially herbs. Outside of the food coop this store has one of the biggest varieties of herbal teas I’ve seen in Brooklyn.
Esthetically it’s not very impressive, but the focus is on the flavors. Very much worth visiting.

Three words. Ribs. Ribs. Ribs.
Although vegan, it was better than some actual meat ribs I’ve had in my life, and I’ve lived in Texas and Atlanta! Also suggest the collard greens, chick peas, pumpkin mash, and beans. Fish (monkfish imitation) was ok, but I probably won’t get it next time.
Great price for a decent amount of food and the service was friendly (it’s a small sit in area and we were the only ones eating at one of the few tables on the slow Tuesday night).
Great healthy place to start your night out if you want to head to Franklin Park and balance out your health-​conscious choice with a few drinks and a shameful late-​night stroll past Dutch Boy Burger.

Their chicken «drumsticks» are the best fake meat I’ve had, and I’m a big fan of fake meat. They are thick and juicy and you have to bite in and tug to get a chunk off. And super tasty, like good greasy fried chicken. The rest of the other food was also delicious, solid West Indian Ital food, which I eat a lot of.
If you don’t want the arrangements they have on the menu, talk to them, they are quite accomidating.

Imhotep’s is the best takeout Caribbean food you can get on this stretch of Crown Heights between Atlantic Avenue and Eastern Parkway.
This is both a health food store and a vegan restaurant[1]. This review is for the restaurant only, which is located on the back of the store. Get your food to go, or you grab one of the two tables that are in front of the restaurant counter[2].
The food comes in two sizes: Small (four choices, $ 7.50) or Large (five choices, $ 9). The small size was enough for me to split it between two meals[3].
The boneless back ribs in soy sauce are absolutely fantastic. Who knew that vegetarian meat substitute could taste so good? The meat is very tender and packed with flavor. And the thick, brown sauce so good that I wanted to lick the plate! Instead of doing that, I suggest you get a fry bake ($ 1) and use it to mop the sauce up as if it were bread. Plump and fluffy and slightly sweet, this is one of the lightest bakes I’ve ever had.
Chicken with curry and soy sauce, was also very good. The chicken meat was tender and juicy, and the sauce leans more towards the curry than the soy sauce.
Of the vegetable dishes I tried I would recommend both the spinach with okra, and the collard greens. Both dishes are very flavorful, albeit of completely different consistencies: spinach and okra are more creamy; collard greens nice and crunchy.
The brown rice is also a great side dish, with each single rice grain nicely separated and perfectly cooked.
So, if every dish is so good, why not 5 stars, then? Well, unfortunately the fish is not as good as I was hoping, and it’s the only option I didn’t like that much. The batter in my escovietched fish was a soggy, and the fish didn’t have a very discernible taste. The best part of this dish were the sweet ribbons of sauteed onions.
A solid 4.5 stars. The quality of every dish I tried is well above your average takeout place (fish aside).
Open until 10pm 7 day a week.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — –
[1] Imhotep’s is the oldest vegetarian/​vegan restaurant in Brooklyn, owned and operated in the same location in Crown Heights for over twenty years
[2] If you decide to stay keep in mind that the restaurant area has a very welcoming atmosphere, but it is also very bare.
[3] Food keeps very well, being as tasty the day after as it was the day I bought it.

After my last visit, I decided to get the small plate. I almost didn’t go for it because I was worried that I might be still hungry after. However, the ‘small’ plate is still pretty hefty. I almost didn’t finish it — but in the end I did. I must have been really hungry the last time I came here!
It’s still all good and vegan!

I’m updating this review. While the food is still tasty, the customer service could definitely be improved upon. And, there’s no option smaller than the $ 7.50 dinner, unless you want to get a side of something, but then you only get 1 kind.
Down the street at D’Ital Shak, they’re much more friendly, small dinners are $ 7, and the food is tasty too. Plus they have some vegan baked goods like rolls and pastries. The bread pudding is delicious.
End of update.
— — — — — — — -
I was suspicious because the curries looked like they had been sitting around all day, and they probably had been. None the less, having recently moved to Crown Heights and being vegan, I don’t have many options for take-​out in the ‘hood. I was craving Indian, but Bombay Masala looked a little pricey so finally decided to give this place a shot.
It is DELICIOUS.
Many dishes were already gone by the time I got there, so I got chick peas, the fake ribs, and green beans. I could’ve gotten another selection on my $ 7.50 small dinner plate, but the portions were huge, and I decided 3 was enough.
This is vegan COMFORT FOOD. It’s not healthy — the stuff is heavily drenched in sauces, salt, and sugar (even if they are organic). However, the flavors will explode in your mouth. Like others mentioned, the soy ribs were particularly outstanding.
I’m so glad to have a cheap vegan take-​out place in my neighborhood. Even though it’s not that healthy, I’m grateful for the option. For healthier places, there are a few juice bars on the same street. One of them, Punch Line, says it’ll have raw foods soon!
Pros: cheap, tasty, independently owned business run by really nice people!
Cons: don’t come here for the décor or to trim your waistline