Cora at Roseburg Square

209 Local Eats

In the Spring of 2024, a new fusion restaurant “Cora” took over the space of Modesto’s “Divine Swine” in Roseburg Square. With it came new menu items (along with the original Divine Swine menu), several of which are vegan.

Cora is family-owned and operated by a lineage that includes Filipino, Spanish, Italian, Scandinavian, and American. This is reflected in their menu, which lists 4 vegan options on their standard menu and 1 for weekend brunch. Cora’s current vegan selections are:

Quinoa Salad (GF)
Bossa Mossa Empanadas, Crispy Tofu Bites (GF)
Decadent Chocolate Mousse (GF)
Vegan Breakfast Graze (available at weekend brunch)

(The Tofu Bahn Mi sandwich might be vegan with modifications—confirm with your server!)

On weekends, Cora is open for Brunch from 8 to 2 pm, but if it’s not too busy, they can also accommodate orders from their standard menu. I stopped in on a Saturday, so I ordered the ‘Vegan Graze’ as my main, and ‘Bossa Mossa Empanadas’ and the ‘Crispy Tofu Bites’ on the side, and to take home. The ‘Vegan Graze’ is a tofu scramble seasoned with nutritional yeast, garlic, and green onion. The scramble is served with perfectly salted and crispy breakfast potatoes and a side of sliced tomato and cucumber dressed with roasted garlic olive oil. The scramble is tasty, though next time, I’ll ask for it to be cooked a bit longer for a less soft texture. The ‘Bossa Mossa Empanadas’ are vegan but are served with Cora’s ‘Sante Fe Sauce,’ which is dairy-based. Ask to swap for their ‘Jalapeño Salsa’ instead. The Empanadas are crispy dough stuffed with roasted sweet potato, carrot, Yukon gold potatoes, onion, garlic, and cilantro. They’re savory and filling with diced veggies. I would elevate them further with a variance in texture by either mashing or smashing one of the potato varieties for the filling. Regardless, these are a hit, and I could eat them for lunch daily. My favorite of the lot is, of course, the ‘Crispy Tofu Bites’. I am a tofu fanatic, and these saucy cubes are no exception. The tofu is cubed, breaded with seasoned rice flour, fried til crispy, tossed in a black garlic barbecue sauce, and topped with “everything but the bagel” seasoning and jalapeños. I love seeing tofu as a stand-alone dish in restaurants! I have a feeling tofu is the base of their chocolate mousse, and am so looking forward to trying that on my next stop in.

Cora reads like a hot spot for a date with family or friends, as there is something for everyone. It’s also a great place to order a few things and share, especially if you’re like me and want to try one of all the vegan options! Some of Cora’s menu is available on DoorDash, including the starred empanadas and tofu. Whether dining in or out, Cora’s vegan fusion menu is delicious and stand-out in Modesto.

Which would you try first?