Souley Vegan

History

Tamearra Dyson, who became vegan at seventeen, started cooking for the public at a local farmers market in 2006 while working in healthcare and attending nursing school as a single mother. In 2009, she left her healthcare job and opened Souley Vegan in West Oakland, funding the venture entirely on her own with no investors—a policy the business has maintained ever since. Dyson's mission has been to educate the Black community about healthy eating.

Initially, 95% of her customers were white; by 2020, 60% were Black. During the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, when indoor dining was shut down across the San Francisco Bay Area, Souley Vegan saw a 70% decline in business. In July 2020, Dyson announced three new takeout and delivery locations in California: West Hollywood, San Francisco, and a second Oakland spot. The San Francisco and East Hollywood locations opened in August 2020, followed by the second Oakland location in September 2020.

In September 2021, she shared plans for a sister restaurant called The Back Porch, which would serve cocktails and upscale vegan Cajun food behind the flagship Oakland site. The Back Porch never opened, and the Oakland location closed in October 2023. A new Oakland location in Jack London Square, announced for April 2025, opened in July 2025. A soft opening also took place in Martinez, California.

Cuisine

Souley Vegan specializes in vegan soul food. As of 2020, entrees included seitan steaks with mashed potatoes, crispy seitan and waffles, and a Southern Staples Bowl featuring grits, jambalaya, and roasted zucchini étouffée. The Soul Food Platter comes with southern fried tofu, red beans and rice, and macaroni and cheese made from cashew cream.

Sandwiches are also on the menu. All sauces, proteins, and cheeses are made in-house, using natural ingredients with no additives. Produce is sourced from Acta Non Verba Farms, a local Black-owned farm.

In 2021, VegNews called Souley Vegan one of the premier vegan soul food restaurants in the country. The restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in 2016 and Check, Please! Bay Area.

Did You Know?

• Tamearra Dyson funded Souley Vegan's opening entirely herself, without any investors, and the business has remained self-funded ever since.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Souley Vegan's business dropped by 70%.
• The flagship Souley Vegan at 301 Broadway in East Oakland is located in the oldest building in Oakland, built in 1857.