Inside Casa Diablo: The World’s Only Vegan Strip Club
Portland’s Casa Diablo fuses plant-based living and adult entertainment in a unique cultural experiment that’s sparked national attention.
Casa Diablo: Where Veganism Meets Adult Entertainment
In the heart of Portland, Oregon—a city that revels in its reputation for eccentricity—lies Casa Diablo, the world’s only vegan strip club. Famed for its explicit plant-based philosophy and its commitment to merging two of the city’s most celebrated subcultures, Casa Diablo is not just a nightclub or a restaurant; it is an ongoing social experiment, a cultural icon, and a lightning rod for controversy.
The Origins of a Vegan Strip Club
Casa Diablo was the unlikely brainchild of Johnny ”Diablo” Zukle, a passionate vegan and business visionary. His original venture—a vegan restaurant called Pirate’s Tavern—struggled to attract crowds in an industrial neighborhood dominated by blue-collar workers. The food, though inventive and compassionate, failed to entice its intended audience. As the 2008 recession loomed, Zukle decided to take a radical risk. He transformed his struggling eatery into something no one had seen before: a vegan strip club.
A stage was built, dancers were hired, and the menu stayed animal-free. This bold fusion quickly caught Portland’s attention, generating curiosity from both locals and national media. Zukle’s philosophy was simple: combine great entertainment with ethical, sustainable food, and challenge society’s notions of pleasure and morality without causing harm to animals. As Zukle is fond of saying, the club ”puts the meat on the pole, not the plate.”
”Keep Portland Weird”: A City and Its Subcultures
Casa Diablo’s meteoric success is rooted in Portland’s unique culture. The city is renowned as both the ”strip club capital” and one of the most vegan-friendly places in the United States. Its unofficial motto, “Keep Portland Weird,” is emblematic of the local embrace of experimentation, non-conformity, and progressive values. Portland boasts more nude bars and a higher density of vegan eateries per capita than almost anywhere else in America.
- Progressive Legislation: Oregon’s constitution provides robust protections for freedom of speech, which includes very liberal laws about adult entertainment and full nudity in public venues.
- Vegan Hotspot: As of 2022, Portland ranked as the second-best city for vegans in the U.S., thanks to its numerous plant-based restaurants and vibrant food scene.
- Vibrant Nightlife: Portland’s strip club scene is legendary, reflecting both its laissez-faire laws and the local appetite for the unconventional.
The Casa Diablo Experience: Ethics and Entertainment
Walking into Casa Diablo, visitors are greeted by an atmosphere where ethics and entertainment coalesce. The club’s mission is clear: deliver a guilt-free experience for patrons who want to enjoy nightlife without compromising their values. Here’s what sets Casa Diablo apart:
- 100% Vegan Menu: Every item on the menu is entirely plant-based, ranging from mushroom burgers to dairy-free mac and cheese, burritos, meatless sloppy joes, and creative vegan desserts. No animal-derived ingredients are used. The food often surprises even skeptical omnivores with its flavor and variety.
- Cruelty-Free Clothing: Performers are strictly prohibited from wearing animal products—no leather, silk, fur, or wool appears on the stage. Veganism applies to stage attire as much as the kitchen.
- Inclusive Community: Casa Diablo attracts more than just traditional strip-club clientele. Vegans, the vegan-curious, activists, and thrill-seekers find common ground here. The club even employs many vegan dancers and staff members.
- Unexpected Pairing: While some might see veganism and strip clubs as incompatible, Casa Diablo bridges the gap, providing a fun, judgment-free environment where anyone can experience plant-based living in an unorthodox context.
On the Menu: Vegan Cuisine with a Twist
Instead of the standard steak-and-burger fare one might expect at an adult club, Casa Diablo offers a diverse and inventive vegan menu. All dishes showcase the creativity and heart at the core of its mission:
- Mushroom Burgers: Hearty, satisfying, and rich, these burgers highlight the versatile flavor and texture of mushrooms.
- Vegan ”Sloppy Joes”: A plant-based reinterpretation of the classic comfort food, savoring all the nostalgia with none of the meat.
- Dairy-Free Mac & Cheese: Creamy, indulgent, and entirely animal-free.
- Vegan Burritos: Packed with beans, veggies, and zesty vegan cheese.
- Spring Rolls and More: A selection of appetizers and bites showcasing global vegan cuisine.
| Dish | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mushroom Burger | Juicy grilled mushrooms with vegan cheese and house-made sauce | Customer favorite |
| Meatless Sloppy Joe | Plant-based protein in spicy tomato sauce on a soft bun | Tastes like the original, cruelty-free |
| Mac & Cheese | Creamy cashew-based cheese sauce over elbow macaroni | Dairy-free comfort food |
| Burrito | Rice, beans, veggies, vegan cheese in a soft flour tortilla | Hearty and filling |
Performers and Staff: Empowerment and Principles
The club’s workforce embodies its values. Many of Casa Diablo’s dancers and bartenders are vegans themselves, reflecting a shared commitment that goes beyond the kitchen. The rules are strict regarding what can be worn on stage—no animal-based fabrics or accessories. This ethos fosters not only a cruelty-free environment, but also a sense of community among performers who appreciate the club’s mission.
Empowerment, body positivity, and ethical choice are at the core of Casa Diablo’s talent recruitment and retention. The club has, over the years, become a haven for vegan and vegetarian entertainers seeking a workplace that aligns with their ethics.
Controversy and Community Reactions
Casa Diablo’s unusual premise was bound to attract attention and, with it, controversy. The club’s inception triggered protests from conservative community members and anti-strip club activists. Rumors about unsavory behavior in the club’s vicinity fueled tension with its neighbors. In response, Casa Diablo’s dancers and supporters organized counter-protests, brandishing witty placards with slogans like “Bisexuality isn’t a sin” and “Spread your love and your legs.” The scene became emblematic of Portland’s culture wars.
Perhaps the most notorious rivalry is with The Acropolis, a legendary strip club and steakhouse next door owned by Bob Polizos. Their rivalry includes everything from competitive banter and fences built to ”annoy the neighbors” to disputes over reputation and customer conduct. While The Acropolis touts its $7 ribeye steaks, Casa Diablo asserts the superiority of its lap dances, with a chant of ”Vixens not veal, sizzle not steak!” echoing its philosophy.
- Competitive Spirit: Both establishments embrace competition, with staff and patrons sometimes moving between clubs.
- Public Protests: Neighbors have protested Casa Diablo, while dancers counter-protest with humor and defiance.
- Safety and Conduct: Both clubs have faced challenges regarding patron behavior, with each side attributing disturbances to the other’s clientele.
Casa Diablo’s Broader Impact
Beyond its sequined stage and hearty menu, Casa Diablo has had a transformative effect on perceptions of veganism and adult entertainment. By normalizing vegan food in a context often exempt from ethical scrutiny, it has made plant-based living more accessible to a diverse array of people. Tourists, foodies, and nightlife enthusiasts flock to Casa Diablo to experience its unique blend of ethics and excitement.
The club’s presence has also inspired debate and dialogue about the intersection of activism and leisure, as well as about the ways plant-based ideals can be woven into all aspects of life—even those that seem the least compatible.
An Expanding Vision: Casa Diablo 2 and Beyond
Casa Diablo’s success led Zukle to open a second location—Dusk ‘Til Dawn: Casa Diablo 2—just feet away from The Acropolis. The move reignited the rivalry and extended the vegan night-life experiment. New performers, loyal customers, and curious passersby ensure both clubs maintain a steady buzz.
Despite the controversy, Casa Diablo continues to thrive, evolving to meet the demands of Portland’s changing cultural landscape. Its ongoing battle with tradition is, in many ways, the strongest proof of the appeal of alternative lifestyles and the resilience of its founding vision.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Casa Diablo
Q: Is Casa Diablo truly 100% vegan?
A: Yes. From menu offerings to on-stage attire, only plant-based and cruelty-free products are permitted throughout the club.
Q: Who visits a vegan strip club?
A: Casa Diablo attracts a wide range of visitors, including vegans, curious omnivores, activists, Portland locals, and tourists drawn to its unique premise and atmosphere.
Q: Does the staff adhere to vegan principles?
A: Many staff and dancers are vegan or vegetarian, and everyone participates in maintaining the club’s cruelty-free standards, especially regarding food and clothing.
Q: Has Casa Diablo faced protests or backlash?
A: Certainly. The club has faced public protests and controversy since its inception, but has responded with humor, counter-protests, and a commitment to inclusivity.
Q: What kind of food can I expect at Casa Diablo?
A: The menu features inventive vegan fare such as mushroom burgers, plant-based sloppy joes, dairy-free mac & cheese, burritos, and more, all crafted to change perceptions of vegan dining.
Casa Diablo in Pop Culture and Media
Casa Diablo’s story has circulated far and wide, earning it national press coverage and visits from celebrities and media personalities. The club’s outlandish premise fueled skits in cult TV shows, news features, and viral social media moments. For many, it now stands as much as a symbol of Portland’s enduring oddity as it does an actual nightlife destination.
Conclusion: The Future of Ethical Nightlife?
Whether seen as a novelty, a provocation, or a genuine alternative, Casa Diablo continues to challenge notions of what a night out can mean. By merging the liberating aspects of adult entertainment with the compassionate principles of veganism, it embodies a radical hospitality—where everyone, regardless of background, can experience pleasure without compromise. As plant-based living and alternative culture become ever more mainstream, Casa Diablo may well foreshadow a new era in nightlife: one that is not only guilt-free, but boundary-free as well.
