Former NYC Chinese vegan restaurant reborn in Englewood

Fat Choy, the well-received Chinese vegan restaurant in Manhattan that closed during the pandemic, has been reborn in Englewood.

"It's so exciting," said chef and owner Justin Lee, who has been commuting from New York City, first by public transportation, and now by hiring cars, to his new, 40-seat restaurant on East Palisade Avenue. "But eventually I want to go back to public transportation. One, because, it's way less expensive. And two, it's better for the environment." Adding, "I’m a weird environmental hippie I guess."

A weird environmental hippie who has worked with such notable New York City chefs as Jonathan Waxman, Andrew Carmellini and Scott Bryan, and then went on to wow critics and diners alike with his unique Chinese vegan eats at Fat Choy on the Lower East Side.

Fat Choy Version Two offers such unusual dishes as General Lee's cauliflower (a play on General Tso's cauliflower but, Lee said, "I'm such an egomaniac that I named it after myself"); kung pao tots and tofu (fried tater tots and tofu in a spicy peanut sauce); Lee's famous mushroom sloppy joes; and a made-with-potatoes-mushrooms-and-chickpeas burger that is proving to be a bestseller.

"We worked on variations of it, and finally nailed it," said Lee, who noted that it is "the least Chinese dish we have on the menu." The plant-based patty is deep-fried and served on an Orwashers bun. "I think it's the best bun."

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Besides being vegan and Chinese, the restaurant is also kosher (certified by the International Kosher Council). "Part of the team is observant and a big part of the community is observant. We wanted to make make them feel comfortable," Lee said. Adding: "Is it a kosher restaurant? Yes. It is only a kosher restaurant? No."

It is unequivocally a BYOB, serving "beautiful, delicious non-alcoholic drinks," Lee said, such as alcohol-free beers, Aperol spritz and margarita. "They have interesting textures and tastes. Of course you won't feel it like a cocktail, but you also won't feel it the next day as you would a cocktail."

Nor will you feel logy after dining at Fat Choy. "You feel good after you eat this food," he said. "You don’t feel tired, exhausted, wiped out."

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday.

Go: 52 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood; 201-408-4581, fatchoyworld.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fat Choy Version Two restaurant reborn in Englewood NJ