Oklahoma is finally in a national top 10 list for a positive reason. Unfortunately for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s most overused catchphrase, much like the time he was named No. 6 most popular governor simply for the fact that he succeeded Mary Fallin, the distinction doesn’t apply to the whole state.
Tulsa debuted on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) annual list of Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Cities. Replacing Kansas City, Missouri, as the 10th most vegan-friendly city in the country, T-Town actually made history as the first city in Oklahoma to even make the list.
“From delicious BBQ tofu to spicy jackfruit tacos and fluffy egg-free pancakes, Tulsa proves that the vegan revolution has arrived in Oklahoma,” said Tracy Reiman, PETA executive vice president, in a statement. “The number of American vegans grew by 600 percent in just three years, and the cities on PETA’s list are meeting the skyrocketing demand for animal-friendly fare.”
Tulsa’s placement is attributed to the various local spots that offer vegan options like Chimera in Brady Arts District, Roppongi Ramen, Lone Wolf Banh Mi, The Local Bison, Elote Café & Catering and Bakeshop Tulsa.
Some not-surprisingly more vegan-friendly cities on the list include D.C., Detroit and New York City, with San Francisco taking the top placement. Along with Tulsa, this is also the first year Dallas and Orlando have made the list.
While other cities in the state are doing a little better at offering vegan or vegetarian options than in the past, they still don’t seem too poised to make the list anytime soon. Maybe Tulsa’s placement will mobilize more people to make their cities vegan-friendly. Then again, Oklahoma has an official state steak, an official state meal with several meat and animal products and milk as our state beverage.
