Written by Cassidy Leighty

Photos by Macy Abernathy

At first glance, being a vegan or choosing to eat a plant-based diet in Springfield Missouri sounds like a difficult feat. Although it might be surprising, the vegan population in Springfield has grown exponentially in recent years, and the community has responded to this change. Plant-based eaters can now find a vegan option at many restaurants in Springfield, and grocery stores (even Walmart) are starting to accommodate vegans with fully plant-based sections in their stores. Amy Bennett is the owner of the recently opened vegan fast food joint, Bosky’s Vegan Grill. Bosky’s is now one of the very few restaurants in town that provides a fully vegan menu.  

When Bennett started her plant-based journey three years ago, Springfield was still relatively limited in vegan options. Let alone vegan junk food! In Bennett's words, “sometimes I just missed a greasy meal.” She noticed that Springfield was missing a junk food option for vegans and people looking to try plant-based foods, so she decided it was time to open Bosky’s. Bosky’s opened on May 9 of this year and is conveniently located in downtown Springfield, right on Walnut street.

Bosky’s menu offers a wide variety of vegan comfort foods. Menu items range from vegan chicken sandwiches, fish sliders, and a burger featuring locally made Jake’s vegan patty with toppings such as vegan cheddar, pickles, onions, and thousand island dressing that will make your mouth water just thinking about it! Bosky’s also offers seasonal menu items such as a chili dog to warm you up during colder months. Sides at Bosky’s include thick-cut curly fries, potato salad, sweet potato fries, or a side salad, and finish your meal off with a Stubborn Soda and a no-bake cookie. 

Meatless Monday is a phrase that Bosky’s has adopted to normalize people having one day a week where they avoid eating meat. As Bennett points out, “We see you out there on Taco Tuesday, Thirsty Thursday, and Sunday Funday… Why not Meatless Monday?” The purpose of Meatless Monday is to encourage people to reduce their meat consumption for just one day, which in turn has positive impacts on the environment. If you are wanting to start celebrating Meatless Mondays, Bosky’s is here for you!

Since opening Bosky’s, Bennett has been overwhelmed with the support from the community. Vegans and non-vegans alike are excited by the new restaurant and inventive menu that Bosky’s offers. Bennett says, “people are excited to come try something new and we're so glad to see them come back for more. Many have said they keep coming back to make their way through the menu to try everything.” In fact, one of Bennett’s favorite parts about owning a restaurant is connecting with the customers and showing people that vegan food can be delicious.

Bosky’s has some exciting changes planned for the future. They recently did a pop-up pre-order breakfast featuring vegan breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and “chicken” and pancakes. They plan to introduce new, limited time menu items such as the pop-up breakfast often, so follow their Instagram @boskysvegangrill to keep up with exciting updates. Additionally, Bennett spilled that their next location will have a drive-thru. Stay tuned!

In addition to ordering in-house, Bosky’s also offers online orders and pickup, and they deliver through Grubhub. Bosky’s Vegan Grill is that perfect spot for when you’re craving fast food but want to support a local business instead of a big fast food chain. Check out their website to view the entire menu, and be sure to visit Bosky’s for Meatless Monday or the next time you’re downtown.