Sustainable SouthSide Eats

Bethlehem’s Southside Arts District is a vibrant hub for creativity, not just on canvas or stage, but also on your plate. With a growing awareness of healthy eating and sustainability, vegetarian and vegan options are increasingly in demand. Luckily, this neighborhood boasts two exceptional restaurants catering to these preferences, each offering a unique experience.

Something for Everyone at Roasted

A shifting cultural landscape and growing awareness of healthy eating and environmental sustainability are influencing more people to seek out meatless dining options in the Lehigh Valley.

Despite the increasing demand, finding creative and high-effort vegetarian and vegan dishes can still be a challenge when dining out. Created by Derek Wallen and Shelli Adams, Roasted is the exception. No low-effort dishes are allowed and all dietary preferences are welcome.

Located on Fourth Street in Bethlehem, Roasted is a cozy space buzzing with chatter from the lunch rush. The coffee is always hot, and you will find an abundance of fresh, local, and scratch-made breakfasts and lunches with plenty of healthy vegetarian and vegan options.

A few of the most popular vegan dishes on the menu include the Cooper, a roasted medley of broccoli, potatoes, onion, walnuts, and brussels sprouts, and the Five Points Burger (pictured) a house made black bean burger topped with delicious veggie chili, caramelized onions, jalapeño, vegan cheddar, and vegan chipotle mayo.

Farm to Table in 15 Minutes

Fresh from the field and picked at peak ripeness, the vegetables grown at Mei Xiang’s Wonder Garden in Hellertown need to travel only 15 minutes before they are peeled, chopped, seasoned, roasted, or stir-fried into vibrant and comfortably portioned dishes at Wonder Kitchen, her small restaurant on the corner of Fourth and Adams in SouthSide Bethlehem.

Mei Xiang and her husband Yiting Hu purchased their 23-acre farmstead in Hellertown in 2018—about a year after they made the life-changing decision to move their family from Beijing to the United States. After certifying their land for organic farming, Mei and Yiting quite literally began growing their family’s new life from the ground up. The pair has invested their time, physical well-being, and passion into growing ginger and a variety of organic crops, which are all sold at their farm’s produce stand, purchased by local restaurants in the Lehigh Valley, or used to create the homestyle cuisine at Wonder Kitchen.

The menu at the restaurant is truly delightful, consisting of simple homestyle Chinese and Pan-Asian dishes that burst with the flavors of fresh ingredients from Mei’s farm, such as the crisp Kering potatoes (Indonesian-style potato chips served in a sweet and spicy sauce), Singapore Noodles (curried rice noodles stir-fried with veggies and meat/tofu) or Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice with veggies and a sunny side up egg). Nothing is left to waste, with food scraps from the kitchen being broken down into compost that enriches the soil at Wonder Garden.

Patrons enjoy a curious satisfaction in their souls when savoring the first bites of a meal from Wonder Kitchen; the flavors are enriched all the more by the fact that the people behind this petite and unassuming Asian bistro are making great strides to further sustainable farming in the Lehigh Valley. They are minimizing food waste and enhancing the quality of produce available to our communities. Suddenly, every mouthful becomes just that more delicious.

Both Roasted and Wonder Kitchen represent just a taste of the culinary delights awaiting you in the Southside Arts District. With a focus on fresh, local ingredients and a commitment to catering to diverse dietary needs, this vibrant neighborhood promises an unforgettable dining experience for everyone.

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