The August 30 closure of pan-Asian favorite Bok Choy might have been a bummer for San Antonio’s vegan community, but here’s some news that might take away some of the sting. San Marcos favorite Binge Kitchen is opening a second location in the Alamo City.

The new eatery will be located at 449 McCarty Rd. near the San Antonio Airport and North Star Mall. Owners Yarnisha Lyons and Balazs Lovasz say they are aiming for an October opening, pending final permit approvals.

The couple first opened the concept as San Marcos’ first vegan food truck in 2017. After the birth of their daughter, the couple decided the trailer was no longer practical and transitioned Binge into a brick-and-mortar in 2018.

Binge’s specialty is soul food. In addition to fried chick’n and cornbread, it offers a huge selection of sides, including greens, mashed potatoes, mac ’n’ cheese, baked beans, and rice and gravy.

The eatery also serves sandwiches, burgers made with the popular Beyond patty, and globally inspired rice bowls like Chinese orange chick’n, Indian lentil Madras curry, and a vegan version of pörkölt, a rich Hungarian stew traditionally made with beef or pork.

All of the food is made-to-order and mostly from scratch. By serving tasty comfort food, the pair hopes to encourage more locals to switch to a vegan lifestyle, both for the health of the diner and the planet.

That extends to the dinnerware, which is 100 percent compostable. The flatware and cups are made from cornstarch and the plates are made from fallen palm leaves.

Though entirely vegan restaurants are still a rarity in the Alamo City, Binge joins an increasing number of restaurants offering cruelty-free takes on traditional fare. Locals can also find plant-based classics at Sweet Yams, The Cove, and 5 Points Local.