Nana’s Kitchen Moves to Phoenix With 4 Vegan Concepts

Nana's Kitchen, the Valley's favorite vegan soul food spot, has moved from Chandler to Phoenix. As of October 20, 2026, you can find them at 1714 W Van Buren St, just two blocks north of the Arizona State Capitol. 

After five years in Chandler, the move puts Nana's in a much more central spot and brings another fully vegan option to downtown.

Their cooking has earned them attention well beyond the vegan community, including a feature on AZPBS's "Check, Please!" I've eaten at Nana's a handful of times, mostly from their food truck, plus a few visits to the Chandler location, so I'm excited to have them closer to home. 

If you're craving Southern classics, the Nana's Soul platter is a great place to start, with BBQ ribs, baked beans, collard greens, and mac n cheez.

Nana's Kitchen Phoenix at a Glance

Nana's Kitchen has been serving vegan soul food since 2018, starting with their food truck before opening their Chandler restaurant in 2021.

Their new Phoenix location held its soft opening on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Here's what to know before you go:

• Address: 1714 W Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85007 (two blocks north of the Arizona State Capitol)
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Closed Mondays.
• Price range: $10 to $27 per meal 
• Parking: Free lot directly behind the building
• Menu: 100% vegan
• Dining options: Dine-in, takeout, and delivery through online ordering on their website, with DoorDash and Uber Eats coming soon.

The Story Behind Nana's Vegan

Nana's Kitchen is run by husband and wife Rob and Nequa Matthew. The restaurant is named after Nequa's grandmother, the original Nana, who passed away in 2025. They continue to honor her through every meal they serve.

"Nana is the heartbeat of everything we do," they shared. "Growing up, her kitchen was the ultimate gathering place, a space where everyone felt welcomed, loved, and well-fed. She taught us that soul food isn't just about the ingredients; it's about the love, heritage, and seasoning you pour into every dish."

When Rob and Nequa went plant-based, they didn't want to leave those family traditions behind. Nana's Kitchen was their way of honoring her legacy, recreating the nostalgic, Sunday-dinner flavors they grew up with in a way that's 100% plant-based and accessible to everyone.

Why Nana's Kitchen Moved to Phoenix

Moving from Chandler to Phoenix was a big step for Nana's Kitchen. "While Chandler was a wonderful home for us, we had a bigger vision for what the Nana's Kitchen experience could be," the owners shared. "Moving to [Phoenix] allowed us to bring our food closer to the central Phoenix community and gave us the footprint we needed to evolve from a single restaurant into a multi-concept, plant-based culinary destination."

What's New: Four Concepts Under One Roof

Nana's isn't just bringing vegan soul food to downtown Phoenix. The new location has four concepts under one roof. Alongside the classic Nana's Kitchen soul food menu, the Phoenix location introduces:

• Papa's Coffee: a full-service craft coffeehouse serving specialty espresso drinks
• The Garden: a plant-based breakfast and brunch spot with elevated morning classics and daytime favorites.
• Three17Sno: New Orleans-style gourmet sno-balls and sweet treats

The owners say they're most excited about "the energy and versatility of having all four concepts together." Guests can start the morning with a latte from Papa's Coffee, grab brunch from The Garden, come back for Nana's comfort food at dinner, and finish with a sno-ball from Three17Sno. "It feels less like a standard restaurant and more like a lively community gathering space," they shared.

A Dietitian's Take on the Menu

Eating out can absolutely fit into a healthy, balanced diet, and knowing what's on your plate makes it easier to enjoy a meal while still meeting your goals.

What sets Nana's apart from many vegan comfort food spots is that their "meats" are made from whole foods. The BBQ ribs are made from smoked jackfruit, while the crispy chik'n and Southern-style katfish are made in-house from whole oyster mushrooms, with no soy or gluten-based meat substitutes.

That's great news for some,  but it also means these dishes are lower in protein than you might expect. Jackfruit has about 1-2 grams of protein per 100 grams, and oyster mushrooms have about 3 grams. 

For comparison, the same amount of tofu has about 17 grams. Where these ingredients shine is fiber and nutrients. Oyster mushrooms are one of the richest food sources of ergothioneine, an antioxidant that researchers are studying for its role in brain health 

How to build a balanced plate at Nana's

• Lean on the sides for protein: baked beans add plant protein and fiber, which helps round out a jackfruit or mushroom entrée
• Get your greens: collard greens are a good source of calcium and vitamin K
• Enjoy the comfort food: mac n cheez and fried dishes are meant to be enjoyed, so pair them with greens and beans. 

Is Nana's Kitchen Worth the Trip?

Absolutely. Nana's Kitchen has been one of the Valley's go-to spots for vegan soul food since 2018, and the new Phoenix location makes it easier than ever to visit. With four concepts under one roof, you can stop by for a morning latte, weekend brunch, a comforting soul food dinner, or a sno-ball on a hot day.

Whether you've been vegan for years or you're just curious about plant-based eating, Nana's proves that comfort food and plant-based food can go hand in hand. I'll be back soon to try The Garden and Three17Sno, and I'll update this post when I do.

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