Simply Pure is a raw vegan restaurant in the awesome Downtown Container Park. I was starved for vegetables, and did they ever make me a giant salad. The Asian salad is field greens, cabbage, marinated mushrooms, avocado, sesame seeds and seaweed. I felt ten times better after eating it.

Owner and chef Stacey Dougan was on the premises, so I corralled her into an impromptu interview. Originally from Detroit, she owned a restaurant called Everlasting Life in Atlanta before moving out west. She founded Simply Pure in December 2013, when the Container Park opened.

“The response has been tremendous,” Dougan said. “We work on developing the flavors, and making sure that people who are not vegan don’t miss anything.” Guests are about half local and half out of town visitors, she said.

“Vegas is on the upswing as far as healthy options,” she said. “That’s the direction people are going.”

Hallelujah! On my previous trip to Vegas, about 12 years ago, the closest to vegan I could find was a Subway vegetable sandwich. But now with Simply Pure and few other newish veg places, I ate really, really well in Vegas.

The Container Park is a mini mall made of shipping containers. Shop here for local art, gifts and knickknacks. Kids can play in a fun playground featuring…yes, containers!  And don’t miss Stacey’s coconut-based chocolate cheesecake or other delicious vegan treats.