Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Angel Village Cafe in Kanab, Utah has been dishing up delicious plant-based meals to thousands of staff, volunteers, and visitors for more than 40 years.
Angel Village Cafe was unofficially founded in 1984, when plant-based foods were not so popular or understood. At that time, in a rural ranching town like Kanab, meatless cuisine was often met with suspicion.
Best Friends co-founder Cyrus Mejia had just become a vegan, so he was skilled in turning out tasty, meat-free dishes. As a result, he was asked to start making lunch for the Sanctuary so that employees were guaranteed a healthy, hearty meal to stay nourished while working hard. Within a short time, Angel Village Cafe was in operation to provide nourishment for anyone who visited.
Angel Village Cafe became not just a place to eat, but a communal space for those wanting to create a better future. As Cyrus likes to say, "There are three important reasons for eating a totally plant-based diet. It’s good for the animals. It’s good for the earth. It’s good for your health.”
One of Cyrus’ goals was to cook as many different meals as possible, and he got an unexpected ally when the owner of a local grocery store pulled him aside. Customers had been asking the owner about plant-based products after being told by their doctors that they need to cut down on eating meat. Since the store was already ordering tofu and tempeh in bulk for the Sanctuary, Cyrus was happy to return the favor and started teaching vegan cooking classes.
Soon, a regular group of local folks were learning about vegan cooking, which in turn inspired Cyrus to create new recipes to serve at the Sanctuary.
Today, the Sanctuary selects menus from a repertoire of hundreds of recipes. Some of the most popular dishes include savory Chimichurri Enchiladas, jackfruit BBQ, decadent Moussaka, and comforting dishes like Veggie Pot Pie and Lasagna. Tastes of the world can be found in dishes like Thai Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Asian Lettuce Wraps, and Ratatouille. The cafe also offers crowd pleasers like Taco Tuesday and Build Your Own Veggie Burgers, served with all the usual accoutrements, including non-dairy cheese and condiments.
Soups are a specialty at Angel Village Cafe, with such favorites as Corn Chowder or Minestrone, often served with classic, crusty French bread or rustic wheat rolls baked on the premises. Scratch-made cookies, brownies, cobblers, and pastries are a sweet way to end a delicious meal, along with a cup of hot coffee or tea.
Providing an all-you-can-eat buffet for just $5, the cafe keeps prices low to thank volunteers, support the Sanctuary, and show how tasty plant-based meals can be—inspiring guests to try vegan cooking at home.
Angel Village Cafe has earned glowing reviews — 4.7 stars on Yelp, 4.5 on TripAdvisor, and a perfect 5 on Happy Cow — for its flavorful food, friendly service, and welcoming atmosphere. The cafe also supplies Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile in Kanab and has won Utah’s Best of State awards for Health Foods (2024) and Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant (2025).
Next time you find yourself in Kanab, Utah, make sure to stop by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Angel Village Cafe for delicious, award-winning food at a great price.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab helps animals find forever homes — and their cafe shows how fun plant-based eating can be. Tasty, colorful meals let guests try vegan options without sacrificing flavor, all while supporting a sanctuary full of happy tails.