In the spring of 2012, after a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $8,000, Rachel and Leigh Kade opened Frisch Compassionate Eatery. They found the perfect location in the old Rico’s spot, a charming, historic building in the heart of Salt Lake City. Cheery, colorful walls covered in local art and kooky vintage accents make you feel right at home, and so do Rachel and Leigh. They are warm and fun to chat with while they prepare your food.

Frisch Compassionate Eatery has found their niche, offering healthy, plant-based comfort food in a friendly atmosphere. Everything on the menu is lovingly prepared with fresh (local when possible) ingredients. Tasty specials pop up daily based on what is fresh and what Rachel feels like cooking. For being open less than a year, they have a dedicated following from their dynamic social media presence, evident from their notable Kickstarter campaign. Facebook and Twitter are constantly flooded with gorgeous photos of daily specials, luring you back time and time again.

Raising two vegan kids of their own, the Kades understand the need for good veggie options. They serve tasty childhood classics on their kids menu, like the PB&J Wrap ($4.00) as well as their creamy, cheesy signature Mac-N-Cheez ($4.00). And I don’t know what kid wouldn’t love a Dillo ($2.50), Cakewalk Baking Company’s version of a Hostess Twinkie: light, moist vanilla cake stuffed with a dense, sweet, creamy filling.

Lunchy favorites like wraps and salads make up most of the menu. One standout item is the Technicolor Tempeh Kale Salad ($8.00). This meal-sized salad is bursting with vibrant kale and veggie goodness. The addition of crisp, smoked tamari almonds and tender, “meaty” tempeh mixed with greens and lightly covered with a bright, citrusy dressing is my ideal salad/meal––crunchy, filling and light. Kale is the ultimate salad base: The curly leaves cradle the ingredients and hold the dressing, so each bite explodes with sweetness and umami. You will leave feeling satisfied––you don’t need grease if you have Frisch.

The “Fancy Boy” ($8.00) wrap is fantastic. Their Spicy Chik’n is made from Soy Curls, an all-natural meat replacement made from whole soybeans. They have a meaty texture and soak up any flavor paired with them, a lot like chicken. They’re dressed with a spicy, peppery sauce that creates a zesty and satisfying addition to sandwiches.

This is really the kind of sandwich you can sink your teeth into. Wrapped in a respectably bready tortilla from Rico’s and served over fresh greens and veggies with chipotle mayonnaise, the Fancy Boy is a unique taste I crave. The cool dressing mingling with the heat of the Spicy Chik’n is spot-on––it’s so delectable it tastes “bad for you.” It’s like the really amazing fast food sandwich I’ve never had.

The Spicy Mac-N-Cheez ($8.00) will exceed your expectations with tender al dente penne swimming in a rich, velvety cheese sauce made from nutritional yeast, tofu and soy sour cream—a clever combination that results in delicious creaminess. It’s an inviting dish, with flavors reminiscent of childhood, but a whole lot spicier. Another of my favorite comfort foods, Nachos ($7.00), are on the menu as well.

Organic tortilla chips are a delicious vehicle for hearty, seasoned black beans and rice, covered in the cheese sauce and served with guacamole and salsa. The medley of Mexican food staples like beans/rice/cheese sauce is always pleasing, and my husband and I relished each bite. It’s an ideal appetizer to share, or a meal on its own. For an additional $1.50, you can add the Spicy Chik’n to either dish. Trust me, do this.

All good meals come to an end, and the Chia Pudding is a wonderful way to do that. Served chilled and super fruity, it’s a delightful version of tapioca pudding. The chia seeds are almost like tapioca balls, slippery and totally fun to eat in drinks and desserts. And they’re uber healthy, being high in fiber, omega 3s and vitamins.

More important than health food voodoo, the pudding is luscious. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more decadent, see if they have any house-made cupcakes or what treats Cakewalk Baking Company has dropped off.

A recent addition to the menu that makes me incredibly happy is brunch on Saturdays. They have come up with a few tasty dishes, but the star of the menu is the Herbed Biscuits with Savory Navy Bean Sausage Gravy ($6.00). The biscuits are filled with herbs, moist on the inside, but crisply browned enough to stand up to the well-seasoned, peppery gravy.

It is everything you want in biscuits and gravy—savory and heavy on the carbs! The portions are huge, especially when you order them with Yukon Gold Cottage Potatoes for an additional $3.00. My husband and I split an order to go and there was plenty of food! Coffee from Millcreek Coffee Roasters accompanies the brunch menu, and they even have the choice of almond or soy milk for creamer.

Driven by a straightforward concept of vegan comfort food as satisfying and healthy, Frisch Compassionate Eatery has staying power. Thanks to the ardor of the Kade family for compassionate, yummy food, I think Frisch will be around for a long time and will likely become a favorite of vegans and everyone who wants to eat better food.