NayNay's Vegan

WINSTON-SALEM, NC

THE BEGINNING 

1996

Renee Molenda grew up in North Carolina and her parents became vegan in 1996 when she was just six years old.  Her mother always made savory minimally processed comfort foods and salads that looked like art installations, which Renee enjoyed, but Renee rejected the vegan diet outside the home until age 18 because she did not find great vegan food options elsewhere in her hometown of Winston-Salem.

Growing up, Renee always helped out with cooking and began to cook family meals around age 12.  As a child Renee didn't mind the vegan diet at home, but found that completely plant-based options elsewhere were inadequate and often underwhelming. But guests who dined with Renee's family were amazed by vegan meals equally as delightful as omnivorous ones. Guests often exclaimed that Renee's family should open a vegan restaurant.

LOS ANGELES, CA

The Journey 

2009

In 2009 Renee moved to Los Angeles to pursue her fist love of fashion and attended FIDM and received an AA degree in Fashion Design. During her studies at FIDM Renee worked at a popular, quirky, LA-based specialty grocery store where she learned how to emulate the addicting quality of many products found there.  She was given the nickname "NayNay" by her coworkers for whom she often threw dinner parties with the secret motive of proving vegan food tastes better than dirt. Instead, she heard the old familiar words her mother used to hear from guests. "This is awesome. You should start a restaurant."

After college Renee worked as a fashion designer for a few years and learned the detrimental environmental and social impact it has on the world so she decided it wasn't for her.  While thinking of ways to leave the industry she came up with the idea for catering vegan tacos. 

THEN CAME VEGAN TACOS

2016

Renee loves the street food culture in LA, but never found vegan tacos in the Koreatown and Hollywood neighborhoods where she lived in her early 20s so she would make vegan tacos at home that she and her friends enjoyed so she could save them a trip to the taco trucks.

Recognizing that there was a great demand for street food options for many vegan and plant-based eaters, and others wanting more healthy options, Renee knew she had to eventually do something about it. Thus NayNay's Tacos was born. Renee draws her inspiration from things like Carolina BBQ as well as the plant based foods she loved growing up.  NayNay created her own blend of taco seasoning especially tailored for making savory flavorful veggies and a cashew based crema that may have fooled a Mexican grandmother or two. Tacos from NayNay's are delicious premium plant-based tacos made for everyone.  Our menu is flavorful and 100% vegan, soy-free, and gluten free, but we can’t promise you you won’t become addicted.