Meatless burger taking Bay Area by storm

PALO ALTO, Calif. (KTVU) - Redwood City based Impossible Foods has announced a $75 million round of funding this weekend for its plant-based "Impossible Burger".

The burger looks like a burger and cooks like a burger.

But Vina Enoteca in Palo Alto isn't serving beef. It is the Impossible Burger- made from plants.

Rocco Scordella with the restaurant says, "We had some people flying over from Europe to come and try it, so yeah it's very popular."

So what's in it? Proteins from wheat, potato, and coconut as well as heme, found in soy that helps mimic a meaty texture. 

"It has that same craveability that somebody who really wants a burger from a cow gets. But it's entirely made out of plants which means it uses a fraction of the resources, it has far fewer compromises. It has no cholesterol, for example," COO of Impossible Foods David Lee says. 

And the taste? KTVU's Ann Rubin tried it and says, "The overall effect tastes like a burger. I would say the outside is crispy. Maybe the inside I can tell is not exactly a beef burger. But I don't know, it's pretty amazing".

It's now being served in 43 restaurants across the country. 

The company that makes it, Impossible Foods, announced this week it's raised $75 million in new funding from investors like Bill Gates. 

Up next- they are opening a new manufacturing facility in Oakland.

The Oakland plant will increase production by 250 times, and will open in the fall. 

A company called Beyond Meat is making a similar plant-based burger that's sold in Safeway, Whole Foods, and Kroger stores.

Impossible Foods says it is sticking to restaurants for now, including Vina Enoteca, Gotts, and Umami Burger.

The Impossible Burger will be available in 100 restaurants by the beginning of next year.