N’namdi Arinze’s journey from pop-ups to a permanent storefront is a story of roots, resilience, and redefining fast food in Black communities
Tucked into a modest 540-square-foot corner on Cascade Road, a new kind of flavor is sizzling — and no, it’s not chicken. It’s “wangs.” Vegan ones. Smothered in bold, soulful sauces and frying in a kitchen that’s about more than food. This is where N’namdi Arinze is building something lasting — one bite at a time.
He calls it Vegan Wangs. But don’t let the name fool you. What’s happening inside that small building is bigger than wings. It’s about community. Health. Legacy. And maybe, just maybe, rewriting what fast food means for the next generation of Atlanta.
From pop-up hustle to Cascade Road
For years, Vegan Wangs wasn’t a restaurant. It was a movement in motion — literally. Arinze and his sister ran deliveries, tested recipes in ghost kitchens, and set up shop at pop-up events across the city. If you knew, you knew.
Now, that movement has roots.
The small building they’ve planted in Southwest Atlanta is a far cry from the usual gleaming chain storefront. It’s compact. Tight. But it’s theirs. “This is where it starts,” Arinze said, glancing at the fryer like it’s a sacred instrument.
Three more: He still tests every batch. Still insists on clean ingredients — soy-free, non-GMO, and packed with flavor. Still refuses to sell anything he won’t eat himself.
Not just vegan — this is Atlanta vegan
Here’s the thing. Arinze’s wings don’t try to impersonate fast food. They tell a story.
A story of growing up in a Black household where food meant something. Where the sauce was more than seasoning — it was identity. Where meat was the norm, but community was the heart.
So how do you make a vegan chicken wing that honors that? Arinze says you start with intention.
The menu reads like comfort food, but it’s crafted for health and access:
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Soy-free, non-GMO wings tossed in flavors like Jerk BBQ and Lemon Pepper Wet
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Plant-based sandwiches with crunch and spice
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Salads with actual personality — not just sad lettuce in a bowl
There’s no compromise here. It’s soulful and good for you. Atlanta-style health food that doesn’t feel like homework.
Health meets heritage: why this location matters
The decision to open on Cascade Road wasn’t random. This is Southwest Atlanta — a part of the city that knows fried food, flavor, and family traditions. But it’s also a community battling health disparities that trace back generations.
Diabetes. Heart disease. Obesity. All more prevalent in Black communities, especially in the South.
Arinze isn’t trying to lecture. He’s trying to offer another option. “If I can get somebody to try one wing, just one, and they come back?” he said. “That’s a win.”
There’s power in location. It’s intentional.
He didn’t choose Midtown or Buckhead or anywhere trendy. He chose home. “It’s gotta start here,” he said. “If we don’t feed our own, who will?”
One fryer, big dreams
Arinze doesn’t plan to stop at one location. He’s thinking chain. But not the kind of chain that loses its soul along the way.
He imagines Vegan Wangs in other underserved neighborhoods. Maybe Birmingham. Maybe Memphis. Definitely more in Atlanta. But with the same core: authenticity.
What makes it work, he says, is control. He’s not backed by a Silicon Valley vegan venture fund. He’s not franchising to the highest bidder.
It’s him. His sister. Their sauce. Their story.
Let’s break it down with a quick snapshot of Vegan Wangs today:
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder | N’namdi Arinze |
| Opened | 2025 (brick-and-mortar) |
| Location | Cascade Road, Southwest Atlanta |
| Staff | Mostly family-run |
| Menu highlights | Soy-free wings, plant-based sandwiches |
| Business model origin | Ghost kitchens, pop-ups, deliveries |
| Expansion goal | Community-first restaurant chain |
They’re starting small — because they have to. But they’re dreaming big — because they believe they can.
More than food: it’s about staying rooted
There’s something deeply personal about what Arinze is doing.
His mission isn’t just “eat better.” It’s “feel seen.” Southwest Atlanta often gets left behind when it comes to wellness and food options. Arinze is flipping that script.
One paragraph.
He’s not just opening a restaurant — he’s preserving a culture.
He told WABE’s “Closer Look” that he wants kids growing up in his neighborhood to think of Vegan Wangs the way others think of Chick-fil-A or Zaxby’s. That’s the level he’s shooting for. But he’s not selling out to get there.
The walls inside his tiny restaurant are filled with family photos. His mom’s handwritten recipes are framed. There’s a playlist in the background that sounds like home.
