Senior editor Astgik Khatchatryan welcomes the influx of Impossible Foods products in O.C. restaurants.
Fake meat that actually tastes like meat? What is this sorcery?
Bean burgers have their place, sure. But long have I suffered in search of a burger that replicates the flavor and feel of actual ground beef. Is it healthy? I don’t know, and I don’t care. I can have a Whopper once in a while without sacrificing my morals. Huzzah!
At this point, my vegan-ish husband and I (a pescatarian) have moved beyond Beyond Meat—the other en vogue alternative—sampling dozens of Impossible burgers across Orange County. We’ve had standouts at all-vegan joints such as Fountain Valley’s The Brave Bean; with an oceanfront view at Crystal Cove Shake Shack; for a whopping (sorry) $6 at Burger King; any-way-we-want-it at The Counter; and finely crafted at Hopdoddy in Newport Beach and Tustin—our favorite rendition so far.
We’ve also grilled ’em up at home, now that the product is available on Gelson’s grocery shelves. But nothing delights me more than seeing Impossible meat on a menu prepared in a totally unexpected way. The Impossible taco salad at Mendocino Farms is a must. Habana in Irvine and Costa Mesa has a few cool takes, too, including an Impossible picadillo reminiscent of a Cuban-style hash.
One of the most pleasant surprises has been its appearance at Disneyland. Try the “kefta” and hummus pita at Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and tell me you’re not a convert.
Find more burgers and other clean eats here.
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