The best vegan restaurants in London
Once upon a time, being vegan was about as fashionable as wearing socks with sandals – and vegan restaurants in London, where there were any, reflected the downbeat approach. Now, of course, both are right on-trend, and it’s looking like meat-free eating will endure. Veganism has grown exponentially in the past few years, and more than half a million people in the UK are now vegan, a rise of 360 per cent in 10 years. The result: a refreshing slew of meat and dairy substitutes and more excitingly, restaurants are now more available than ever. Chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi have brought zingy fresh ingredients, spices and recipes to the table and expanded our palates, while food bloggers such as the Hemsley sisters have championed meaty but meat-free alternatives such as tempeh and seitan. Heck, there's even a vegan Magnum; Greggs launched a vegan sausage roll; THIS products became a household name, and Beyond Meat signed a multi-year partnership with McDonald’s, KFC and Taco Bell. There's even a glossy vegan cookbook from Phaidon to leave lying on your sustainably sourced coffee table.
When it comes to eating out, we salute pioneers such as Mildred's in Soho – open more than 30 years, which scooped vegetarian food away from the clumpy brown plate-breaking efforts of the 1960s – and neighbourhood joints such as Finsbury Park's Jai Krishna, which has served southern Indian dishes to generations of herbivores, alongside Michelin-starred Gauthier in Soho, who made the same waves as NYC’s Eleven Madison Park, when it announced it would transform its meat-clad fine dining menu fully vegan.
But now, a new species of vegan and vegetarian eateries have arrived – less earnest, shinier, and with far more pizzazz. These are some of the best vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in London (in no particular order).
What’s the difference between a plant-based and vegan diet?
While a plant-based and vegan diet is similar, the two are not interchangeable. Those on a vegan diet eliminate all animal products, including meat, dairy and even honey. By contrast, those on a plant-based diet can choose to eat animal products but their focus is on consuming whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and seeds.
How many vegan restaurants are there in London?
In 2022, London was crowned the most vegan-friendly city in the world with a whopping 400 vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants across the capital – so it’s safe to say you’re spoiled for choice around here.
What are vegan-friendly restaurants?
This is when the restaurant caters to vegans while also serving meat- or dairy-based dishes, whether through an entirely separate menu or a simple ‘VG’ mark on the menu.
Are there any Michelin-star vegan restaurants in London?
Veganism may not scream Michelin-worthy, but surprisingly, many establishments across the capital have been rewarded with the prestigious title. With a total of 74 Michelin-star restaurants in London, the ones that have garnered a cult following with vegans (for good reason) are Pied à Terre, Pollen Street Social and Gauthier – we suggest placing these at the top of your foodie list.
Purely plant-based restaurants
1. Mallow, Borough Market
Surrounded by steakhouses, butchers and slow-roasted pork sandwich stalls, the team behind Soho’s Mildreds has opened Borough Market’s first plant-based restaurant on Cathedral Street. Named after a plant that is not only entirely edible, but flowers in the summer too, Mallow’s team serves up low-waste, seasonal dishes that are a reflection of its roots (and also happen to look pretty lovely, too). Indian influences, Middle Eastern ingredients and Japanese cooking come together under the umbrella of colour and creativity, with a typical London brunch menu (warming porridge, full English, pancakes) at weekends and fun twists on classic cocktails (coriander and thyme-infused bloody marys). Mallow’s location informs the menu, too, such as the tongue-tingling market Martini, made using Sapling vodka – which plants a tree every time a bottle is sold – and the heartwarming spiced thali, made using vegetables hand-picked in the market. From its suppliers to its small plates, Mallow champions a conscious way of cooking, and has reframed our understanding of what it means to ‘eat out to help out’: even the surplus food at Mallow is redistributed to charities and food banks in the local area via Plan Zheroes.
Address: Mallow, 1 Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE
Website: mallowlondon.com
2. Itadaki Zen, King’s Cross
Itadaki Zen is a sociable, student-saturated neighbourhood restaurant with a friendly atmosphere. As Europe’s first vegan Japanese restaurant, it opened in King’s Cross 12 years ago and has become a go-to for low-key, effortless, healthy meals – particularly for Central Saint Martin’s undergrads around the corner, who get 10 per cent off their bill. Beloved for its simple decor and its intimate tables-for-two (pushed together for groups celebrating over sake), it’s also exceptionally good value for money – a bowl of ramen for £9; most tapas under a fiver. In recent years, the menu has become leaner, and the focus on tapas-style sharing plates has provided even the most seasoned vegan veterans to experiment with surprising substitutes and impressive textures such as bite-sized ‘calamari’ made with chewy king oyster mushrooms. The hero ingredient across the board, though, is tempura, which is magicked into the crispy, greaseless batter and soft sushi rolls. Flavours are the right side of subtle so as not to compete with each other for attention when you’re rotating your chopsticks (or chirirenge spoon) between fleshy, slightly smoky miso aubergine and fragrant Japanese curry, and roku- and yuzu-based cocktails are served long in tankards that will last the whole meal, distracted as you’ll be by the food. Don’t pass up on the passion fruit mochi ice cream (made with coconut): you’ll be invited to let it sit for three minutes, supposedly to let it soften – but we think the wait also makes it that much sweeter.
Address: Itadaki Zen, 139 King's Cross Road, London WC1X 9BJ
Website: itadakizen-uk.com
3. Holy Carrot, Notting Hill
After two years in their lovely spot in Kensington, restaurateur Irina Linovich is taking her vegan delights to a new space in Notting Hill, opening in 2024. The new menu is yet to be announced, but we hope it’s as indulgent as the previous incarnation, which included everything from purple potato croquettes served in pools of homemade basil mayo to a hearts of palm ‘crab’ burger served with triple-cooked chips. The Kensington menu was all about the savoury courses: the unconventional crispy maki was a favourite, served warm and with crispy, deep-fried tempura and spicy mayonnaise, closely followed by the ‘sexy tofu’, a deliciously rich, sticky plate of glazed tofu with aubergine and red pepper that makes the case for tofu as a principal role rather than a supporting act. There’s a pop-up Kensington supper club every Tuesday until the new site opens, so check the website for details.
Address: New address in Notting Hill tbc
Website: holycarrot.co.uk
4. En Root, Clapham
Riffing off Gujarati recipes such as family-sized thalis and spiced dosas, En Root’s plant-based menu delivers huge portions and big flavours at enviable prices. It’s wholesome, earthy comfort food that makes you feel better from the inside out. Everything is cooked using seasonal, local ingredients (many of which are sourced from nearby Nour Cash and Carry, a neighbourhood staple) by cousins Nish and Harshil Modasia, who own and run the restaurant. Drop in for lunch at Clapham Park Road and spot their food trucks at festivals and events around the UK. Fans of Rainforest Creation’s rainbow wraps at Herne Hill market and Plant Hub will enjoy En Root’s nutrition-first approach – it’s all about a healthy planet and a healthy body, promoting mindful eating that goes hand-in-hand. Put some fire in your belly by drizzling everything in the in-house Raja Bonnet sauce, and make the most of the masala dosa on the menu: few places offer one as crispy, hot and generously filled.
Address: En Root, 5 Ascot Parade, Clapham Park Road, London SW4 7EY; other sites in Peckham and Brixton
Website: enrootldn.co.uk5. Black Cat, Hackney
Among all the oat milk lattes and vats of mac and non-dairy cheese and the Instagram-breaking burgers, it’s sometimes easy to forget what’s actually behind veganism. Black Cat is a great reminder. This longstanding independent café is proud to be vocal about the grassroots and ethics of it without being preachy. And don’t think that means that only hardcore vegans will be welcomed – far from it, as Black Cat is keen to show non-vegans how accessible and enjoyable food without animal products can be. It’s a move that appears to be working, as you’ll notice from the constant stream of locals giving the place a refreshingly community-focused atmosphere. The menu includes regular dishes (the chickpea flour pancake with roasted vegetables is a big winner here, and the curry – with changing pulses and seasonal produce – is reliably tasty) plus daily specials, alongside sandwiches, salads, soups, sweet treats and hearty brunch options. Everything is affordably priced, portions are generous, and the food is fresh in this friendly, passionate vegan café.
Address: Black Cat, 76a Clarence Road, London E5 8HB
Website: blackcatcafe.co.uk
6. Unity Diner
For vegans (and non-vegans) who want some classic hearty comfort food, this Spitalfields diner is just the ticket. There’s award-winning beer battered to fish and chips, mock chicken burgers stuffed with a hash brown and all the sauces and ‘Dirty’ loaded fries topped with plant-based kebab. But most unusually, they have a menu of ultra-realistic 3D-printed steaks, which sound bonkers but easily scratch the itch for a juicy sirloin. And it’s not just the food here that is good, the ethos is all about doing good, too, with sustainable practices and packaging throughout. They’re so committed to helping protect our furry friends that they even opened their own animal sanctuary – sadly, it’s in the Midlands, not in London, so you’ll have to head to Spitalfields City Farm afterwards if you want to get your friendly farm fix.
Address: Unity Diner, 60 Wentworth Street, London E1 7AL
Website: unitydiner.co.uk
FLORO AZQUETA7. Pipoca, Brixton
Brixton’s first zero-waste store is also home to a vegan, gluten-free crêpe house, so head to Myatt’s Field to bulk-buy items such as pasta, rice, grains, olive oil, nut butter and plastic-free shampoo bars, then refuel with ‘gorgonzola’ galettes, rice croquettes and cassava soup. You can eat in or take away – Slade Gardens is just around the corner and makes for a decent picnic spot.
Address: Pipoca, 224 Brixton Road, Myatt’s Field South London SW9 6AH
Website: instagram.com8. Eat of Eden, Brixton
The menu at Eat of Eden, on the fringes of Brixton market, is heavily influenced by the Caribbean Ital lifestyle, which includes a plant-based diet thought to enhance energy and health. Many dishes are built on grains, beans or pulses – satisfying, protein-rich ingredients that act as a filling foundation for barbecued seitan, caramelised mushroom and leafy callaloo. Eating with carnivores? Three generous sharing platters give diners the option to try new things, helping non-vegans dip a toe in the plant-based diet, and there are sea moss, spirulina and sorell drinks for those on a hardcore health kick.
Address: Eat of Eden, Unit 4, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8PR
Website: eatofeden.co.uk
9. Gauthier, Soho
When Michelin-starred French chef Alexis Gauthier went vegan a few years back, it raised a few eyebrows in the industry. When, in 2019, he announced that Gauthier Soho would be going fully vegan within the next couple of years, it caused a lot of fuss and seemed to delight and irk people in equal measure. In truth, the move wasn’t entirely surprising, given Gauthier’s long-standing interest in creating innovative vegetable-focused menus. His seven-course vegan tasting menu, Petit Dîner, has become something of a hit with diners of all dietary persuasions. With the headline-grabbing Salsify, a dish made with samphire, charcoal, nori and juniper hollandaise and other similarly creative wonders, such as shiitake caviar with tapioca, this is vegan fine dining at possibly its very finest.
Address: Gauthier Soho, 21 Romilly Street, London W1D 5AF
Website: gauthiersoho.co.uk10. King CookDaily
Chef King Senathit, or King CookDaily, was one of the founding fathers of London’s oh-so-cool vegan scene when he opened his incredibly popular plant-based Southeast Asian-inspired takeaway in Box Park in Shoreditch in 2015 (it closed in 2018). Since then, he has opened and closed a restaurant in a railway arch in London Fields, moved back into Box Park, and now he’s settled down the road on Hanbury Street off Brick Lane, and the food and vibe is as fresh as ever. The menu has thankfully stayed relatively consistent – bowls of steaming fragrant veg, tofu, rice and noodles. Our favourite has to be KCD Pad Thai with vegan fish sauce, and tofu scrambled egg, but the Infamous Thai green curry or the High-Grade bowl with homemade sweet and sour barbecue sauce always make a winning lunchtime treat.
Address: King CookDaily, 10 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR
Website: instagram.com
11. Purezza, Camden
Some of you may have fond memories of Market, the Modern British restaurant that was really the only place in Camden worth bothering about, until it closed a couple of years ago. Well, the space is now a vegan pizzeria, Purezza, which began life in Brighton and is now a busy, busy place indeed. We’ve had vegan pizzas before and been unimpressed, but these are really rather good – and Purezza’s Parmigiana Party creation (plant-based mozzarella, aubergine and crumbly vegan sausage, pepped up with nutritional yeast) cleaned up at the 2018 National Pizza Awards. Sourdough bases are flumpy-soft-and-crisp (using type-2 wholegrain flour and left to prove for two days) and proper Neapolitan-style even down to the hefty, white-T-shirted pizza guy on shovel duty, who would pass muster in Naple’s Centro Storico. As well as the Parmigiana one, try the Black Truffle pizza, a woody, snuffling whumpf of truffle, vegan mozzarella and wild mushrooms, or the white-base Nduja pizza, with chilli and yellow tomatoes and more of that vegan mozzarella. Dough balls are a hit, too, and the mac’n’cheese was convincingly gloopy. Vegan cheese is a hotly debated subject, and the cashew-based cheese here has proper flavour and density – as well as appearing on pizzas and mac, there’s a New York cheesecake with a real creaminess to it.
Address: Purezza, 43 Parkway, London NW1 7PN
Website: purezza.co.uk
Instagram.com/thegreeneyedguys12. Temple of Seitan, Camden
Vegan fast food. The flipside to all that clean-eating vitality, and much needed, just to show that vegan food can be as bad-ass and unhealthy and greasy as meat-based takeaways. Up until now the options were generally hummus in pitta bread, falafel, or chips. But vegan fast food is really speeding up right now, and Temple of Seitan riffs on the idea of fried chicken using seitan, or wheat meat. You can make seitan easily enough or buy it in jars from natural-food shops, and it looks like an exhibit in a medical museum. But it's a very adaptable source of protein, a dough made using wheat gluten, and can be shaped and flavoured to resemble everything from steaks and ribs to bacon and chicken wings. The idea of former KFC alumni Rebecca McGuinness, the Temple of Seitan began life as a Brick Lane food stall and graduated to a joint just off Mare Street. It's a classic takeaway, with food listed behind the counter, cans of Karma cola at the front, and chips with everything. Fillet burgers, ‘wings’ and popcorn bites are popular, in satisfyingly crispy batter, with BBQ sauce for dipping. But the stand-out dish is actually the mac 'n' cheese, creamy and messy and every bit as tasty as the dairy version, with lardons of crispy seitan instead of bacon. It's best eaten out of a paper bag on a table outside while enjoying the sights, flashing lights and sounds of alfresco downtown London. The Blade Runner 2049 future may be one with seitan doner legs slowly rotating in over-lit kebab shops.
Address: Temple of Seitan, 43 Parkway, London NW1 7PN, United Kingdom; Temple of Seitan, 10 Morning Lane, London E9 6NA
Website: templeofseitan.co.uk13. Facing Heaven
Previously known as Mao Chow, the fun Chinese eatery Facing Heaven in Hackney may be small, but the flavours here are mighty. The Sichuan-inspired menu has all the greats on it, given a vegan hip makeover. There’s saucy spanked cucumber, green chilli and cumin pan-fried dumplings with fermented hot sauce, sesame toast with seaweed paste and curry sauce, black pepper congee, ‘Find the Chicken’ fried wings, a Tiger Skin Pepper Cheeseburger and ‘Salt and Pepper B33F’, a stir fry like no other. It’s exciting and delicious. Just save space for the chilli oil sundae with soy sauce caramel for pudding which takes sweet and salty to a whole other level.
Address: Facing Heaven, 1a Bayford Street, London E8 3SE
Website: facing-heaven.com
Press14. The Vurger Co, Shoreditch
The plant-based burger can be a difficult thing to get right. Memories of soggy festival beanburgers run deep. Clagginess is to be avoided at all costs. Vurger may sound like something the Vogons out of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy chomped on, but it’s a shiny new addition to Shoreditch’s vegan scene. It’s owned by Rachel Hugh and Neil Potts, who discovered the new American wave of vegan restaurants on a wellness-seeking road trip around California, then set themselves the task of trying every plant-based burger in London, New York and LA, talking to the founders of Dirt Candy NYC, GBK and Vanilla Black along the way. After popping up around town and various festivals, Vurger became the first crowd-funded vegan restaurant in London, in a new-build opposite the Rich Mix. It's a bright café space, all white-painted brick walls, neon scrawl, wooden tables, and a menu that avoids any faux meat but draws out flavour, chomp and crunch from pure vegetables. Of all the burger options, the New York Melt (Beyond Meat patty, vegan cheese, gherkin, tomatoes and a secret sauce) is the most familiar, but we preferred the Auburger (aubergine, with fermented tang from gherkins and tempeh). The mac 'n' cheese, meanwhile, has a comforting gloop to it. Land here for brunch, too, and go bun-free if you like, turning your burger into a salad bowl and perhaps even rewarding yourself for dodging that carby bun by chugging down a not-at-all-indulgent (ahem) Biscoff (vegan-friendly biscuits) shake.
Address: The Vurger Co, Unit 9, Avant Garde Building, Cygnet Street, Richmix Square, E1 6LD
Website: thevurgerco.com
15. WAVE, Hackney
Hackney isn’t exactly short on vegan places to eat, but fully plant-based café WAVE (We Are Vegan Everything) carries off the look with more style than most, with its Bali-styled interior and seriously pretty food. The menu focuses on giving simple staples a gentle twist: toasties with tomato and vegan cheese or sausage rolls with mushroom and wheat; tofu scramble on a toasted breakfast muffin; mac and ‘cheeze’ with coconut bacon; apple crumble pancakes; and unapologetically extravagant freakshakes that look like they’ll snap your table in half. And do not leave without grabbing something from the daily selection of freshly made cakes at the counter. WAVE has become something of a destination spot, and after even a quick visit, it’s not hard to see why.
Address: WAVE, 11 Dispensary Lane, Mare Street, London E8 1FT; WAVE, 1A Evering Road, Stoke Newington, N16 7QA
Other location: Stoke Newington
Website: weareveganeverything.com16. Cafe Van Gogh, Stockwell
‘A café with a conscience’ has sadly become a rather tired phrase, partly due to some venues over-emphasising their conscientious achievements in the first place. But there are some that really, genuinely do care. Cafe Van Gough is one such place. It’s operated as a not-for-profit social enterprise, and staff work with three charities to run training programmes and offer jobs to people with various challenges. CVG also puts serious emphasis on sustainability: all takeaway containers and coffee cups are compostable, and all food waste is composted. Oh, and as a rather huge bonus, the food – entirely vegan – is absolutely cracking. The menu changes every couple of months or so, but you can reliably expect hearty, wholesome dishes with a home-cooked feel (given a professional twist) and packed full of vegetables: butternut squash mac ’n’ cheeze with crispy onions and jalapeños if you’re after comfort food or Swiss chard and white bean ribollita (Tuscan soup), served with chilli-buttered pumpkin and garlic flatbread, for something a little more continental. There are also burgers, Sunday roasts, Saturday brunch bits (French toast or aubergine and red pepper shakshuka with crispy tofu) and some sweet choices along the lines of apple, berry and ginger crumble or cashew chocolate fondant. Look out for daily specials, too, and you can accompany whatever you end up devouring with wine or beer – both vegan-friendly, of course. Inside, Cafe Van Gogh is a gently bohemian and effortlessly welcoming space, with a kooky spiral staircase running through the middle of the ground floor, leading to the charming upstairs section. But wherever you sit, you’ll be leaving with a big smile, a full stomach and an urge to return as soon as possible – which you definitely should.
Address: Café Van Gogh, 88 Brixton Road, London SW9 6BE
Website: cafevangogh.co.uk
17. The Gate, Islington
This linchpin of London’s meat-free scene celebrated its 34th year in 2023, suggesting that it must be doing something right. And indeed it is – lots of things, in fact. The Gate’s appeal lies in its pitch-perfect targeting, which leans towards ‘upmarket’, but without straying into haute cuisine or fine dining. For example, there’s aubergine schnitzel if you want to feel a little fancy. The menu is made up of traditional dishes with a high-end twist and cooked exquisitely – homemade gnocchi with smoked artichoke hearts on a creamy cep sauce or nutty Wellington with parsnips, pumpkin and chestnuts. All branches of The Gate are bright, airy, modern and utterly enjoyable to be in, but the Islington original is still our favourite, as the atmosphere is always buzzy. Keep doing your thing, Gate, and we’ll keep on lapping it up.
Address: The Gate Islington, 370 St John Street, London EC1V 4NN; The Gate Hammersmith, 51 Queen Caroline Street, London W6 9QL
Website: thegaterestaurants.com
18. Plants by DE, Mayfair
Self-taught chef Ella Mills (née Woodward) has long been in the advance guard of the clean-eating movement, and her protein balls have bounced throughout the land, along with recipes for sweet potato brownies and sweet-potato stew (sweet potatoes are a favourite). Her cookbook was the fastest-selling one ever; she has over a million Instagram followers and now a Deliciously Ella restaurant, meat, dairy and gluten-free. No surprise it isn't a speakeasy hipster den blaring out underground hip hop but a bright homely space with blue tiles, cushions and lampshades – just the sort of friendly neighbourhood caff at which to stop by for a bowl of oat-milk porridge in the morning, or garlic mushrooms and avocado on sourdough toast at lunch. The relatively short, tried-and-tested menu covers Tuscan bean stew, cauliflower dhal with kale and Thai red curry. Drinks include a delicious cold-pressed roots juice, kombucha and a peanut butter smoothie with hemp protein.
Address: Plants by DE, 18 Weighhouse Street, Mayfair, London W1K 5LU
Website: deliciouslyella.com19. The Spread Eagle, Hackney
London’s first vegan pub, The Spread Eagle, stands proud on heroically grimy Homerton High Street. The menu is vegan twists on pub classics made from local and foraged ingredients, including innovative Sunday roasts (hello slow roast celeriac with potato crackling). The bar is similarly dedicated to a plants-only policy and a menu of vegan wines and beers. Be sure to order the signature Smoked Pineapple Cosmopolitan in which the whipped egg white has been replaced with shaken-up chickpea water to create a similar effect.
Address: The Spread Eagle, 224 Homerton High Street, London, E9 6AS
Website: thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk
20. Wulf & Lamb, Marylebone
Don't let the name of this Marylebone eatery fool you. Wulf & Lamb is a fully plant-based spot and the furthest thing away from serving lamb or any type of meat. Around the corner from Baker Street, Wulf & Lamb serves classic comfort foods with a vegan twist – the fish burger is made with banana blossom, their take on a shepherd’s pie includes pulled jackfruit and lentil stew, and you won’t miss real cheese after taking a bite of the Mac’N’Cheese. Starters are innovative, including an umami-packed miso aubergine bun and tempura-fried cauliflower with a tamarind dip. There are also salads and whole-food bowls for those craving healthier options but since balance is key, treat yourself to the sticky toffee pudding or go for a classic tiramisu.
Address: Wulf & Lamb, Chiltern Place, 66 Chiltern St, London W1U 4EJ; Wulf & Lamb, 243 Pavilion Road, London SW1X 0BP
Website: wulfandlamb.com
21. Tofu Vegan, Islington
With three venues dotted around London, this spot's following continues to grow. With reels and reviews flying all over Instagram showcasing the deliciously tasty Chinese vegan menu, it’s now busy for lunch and supper so booking a table in advance is recommended. Dishes are made up mainly of tofu – as you may have guessed – and mushrooms. Plates are designed to be shared, order a selection of around five between two. First things first, make sure you order the wontons – a house favourite and rightly so. Pockets jam-packed with flavour served in a fragrant broth. Our other favourites include the Dongbei sweet potato noodles mixed with vegetables, served cold in a spicy sesame sauce, the sizzling tofu covered in house sauce served on a hot plate and the special fried noodles in Sichuan sauce. For a vegan twist on duck pancakes, order the pecking d’ck – a meat substitute served with a basket of pancakes and plum sauce. Servers recommended the all-vegan fish dish, the popular twice-cooked ‘fisc’ is served with fluffy bao buns and a sweet dip. Vegan or meat-eater, this restaurant should be on your radar. Extremely full-flavoured Chinese plates that’ll leave you wanting more. Sophie Knight
Address: Tofu Vegan, 105 Upper Street, London N1 1QN; other sites in Golders Green and Spitalfields
Website: tofuvegan.com
Nic Crilly-Hargrave22. Club Mexicana, Shoreditch
After several years of dishing up tacos from street food stalls in London and at the UK’s biggest music festivals, the Club Mexicana team have laid down solid ground with three venues, Seven Dial Market, Kingly Court and Shoreditch.
Start with nachos. The fully loaded iteration is topped with queso, ground ‘beef’, guacamole, pico de gallo, pink onions, pickled jalapeños, chipotle oil and chilli lime salt. We recommend three each – the BBQ short ‘rib’ made with jackfruit, hickory smoked BBQ sauce, slaw, pink onions, pickled jalapeños, drizzled with garlic mayo was our favourite, but we also loved the Al Pastor Taco made with adobo marinated shawarma and sweet charred pineapple. Burritos are served in a wrap or a bowl – they’re on the large side so if you want to try the tacos and still be able to waddle home, we'd advise sharing. There are plenty of meat substitute flavours including ‘chorizo’, cheeseburger, fried chicken and BBQ short rib. In keeping with tradition, Tuesdays are a big deal in the taco world. Visit after 5pm on a Tuesday for all-you-can-eat tacos for just £15. Sophie Knight
Address: Club Mexicana, Commercial Street, London E1 6LT; other sites in Seven Dials Market and Soho
Website: clubmexicana.com
John Carey @johncareyphotVegan-friendly restaurants
23. Pollen Street Social, Mayfair
Moments into our meal at Pollen Street Social, my friend apologetically took out her phone – “I’m sorry, but I have to. Look at this dish, it’s art!” she exclaimed, painstakingly trying to capture the intricate design… of the palette cleanser. Nine courses later, her camera reel detailed every inch of Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred vegan tasting menu, an extensive play-by-play of fabulous seasonal flavours (heritage carrots, Crapaudine beetroot) and Britain’s best ingredients (Lincolnshire broccoli, Scottish girolles). Here, Atherton’s strength lies in his innovation: a shot of rich, buttery ‘mushroom tea’ is comforting and moreish (we’d have happily sunk a whole teapot); crispy pockets of ravioli had us questioning why we’d never deep-fried pasta before. Pollen Street Social feels worlds away from the mania of nearby Oxford Circus and all its post-Christmas-sale-gift-receipt retail hell, and this menu has not been designed with speed in mind. The kitchen has invested serious time and energy in finessing this food, so it’s only right you do the same whilst experiencing it. A leisurely three-hour lunch should do the trick – slow down and settle in for the ride, taking the time to appreciate this culinary form of art the way you would in the city’s finest galleries.
Address: Pollen Street Social, 8-10 Pollen Street, London W1S 1NQ
Website: pollenstreetsocial.com
24. Sutton and Sons, Islington
This family-run fish shop has pivoted to provide the staple British dish to its ever-growing vegan fanbase – first by opening a stand-alone vegan fish ‘n’ chip shop, then by incorporating the menu into all its branches. Deep-fried banana blossom is prepared in a seaweed marinade, its crispy batter making it a convincing alternative to white fish, while ‘tofish’ tastes better than the name suggests. The menu offers three starters, three ‘fish’ options, ‘sausage’ and pie options plus three meat-free burgers, taking it beyond a token attempt to placate the plant-based and into top-tier vegan territory.
Address: Sutton & Sons, 356 Essex Road, London N1 3PD; other sites in Hackney and Stoke Newington
Website: suttonandsons.co.uk
25. Coya, City
Like Mexican food, Peruvian cooking is an obvious choice for vegans – after all, the country has around 4,000 varieties of potato alone, bringing flurries of colour to the plate. Although à la carte menus at the two London branches of this international mini-chain (one in the City, the other in Mayfair) differ slightly, both offer a fine selection of vegan options, avoiding any fake meat and sticking to pure vegetables. Three types of corn are paired with sweet onions, and there are wild mushrooms with choclo and crispy shallots. And don't overlook the sides: patas bravas with spicy tomatoes on huancaina sauce, aubergine dressed in miso and lime along with broccoli with sesame seeds. Nice to see that vegan Pisco Sours have been added to the menu – replacing egg white with chickpea aquafaba.
Address: Coya City, 31-33 Throgmorton Street, London EC2N 2AT; COYA Mayfair, 118 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NW
Website: coyarestaurant.com26. Hoppers, Soho
Fair warning: Hoppers isn’t vegan or even vegetarian, and there’s quite a bit of meat on the menu, but there are also excellent vegan options, some naturally so, some made on request – ask for the vegan menu. The vegetable kothu roti (a richly spiced and stir-fried mix of flatbread and a vegetable medley) is full of big flavours and makes a substantial meal. We couldn’t resist ordering more, though, and weren’t disappointed by the aubergine kari, which turned out to be a must-order, with juicy, perfectly cooked aubergine chunks coated in a bold, thick sauce. The creamy dhal was also a delight, as was the fiery sambar. And let’s not forget the restaurant’s namesake; the regular hoppers (thin, crispy, bowl-shaped pancakes made with rice flour) are vegan, as are the noodle-like string hoppers, arriving with kiri hodi, a thick, fragrant, coconut-milk sauce that didn’t last long.
Address: Hoppers Soho, 49 Frith Street, London W1D 4SG; other sites in Marylebone and King's Cross
Website: hopperslondon.com
27. Mildreds, Soho
The original Soho branch of this meat-free stalwart opened back in 1988, ‘when Soho was still edgy,’ as Mildreds’ website points out, but although it’s been around for more than 30 years, it is still going strong. The brand hasn’t been afraid to move with the times and now has five branches around London. Although it’s still veggie-vegan, it’s also seriously boosted its plant-based offering over the past few years to the point where the few non-vegan items are now marked on the menu as the exceptions. Those menus have also been globalised as well as veganised, offering up big flavours from Asia, South and Central America and the Middle East, alongside Mildreds’ famous burgers. But famous as those burgers are, these days, much of the best stuff is to be found in the sides and starters: a dish of harissa patatas bravas and tahini cream packed with fine, rich flavours, as are the beetroot celeriac borani drenched in tamarind fig glaze. It’s not just the food that’s been modernised, either, as all branches of Mildreds now look and feel thoroughly contemporary. And sure, it may be a tourist tick-box exercise for some thanks to its heritage, but that absolutely shouldn’t put off more discerning diners.
Address: Mildreds Soho, 45 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AN; other sites in Camden, King's Cross, Covent Garden and Dalston
Website: mildreds.co.uk
Press28. Pied à Terre, Fitzrovia
This discreet Fitzrovia restaurant has had at least one Michelin star since 1993 – probably the high-water mark of expense-account lunches – yet doesn't get shouted about much in the ever-excitable-so-what's-new London food scene. It was co-founded by Pop Art pioneer Richard Hamilton, and it's where Tom Aitken and Richard Neat first carved out a reputation. Now Greek-born Asimakis Chaniotis wears the apron strings, and he's only gone and created one of the best vegan-tasting menus in London (and lest you think he's merely bandwagon-jumping, the restaurant has had a vegan menu for years). Comprising 10 courses (but you can also order the four – lunch only – six or eight courses), its ingredients and techniques are plucked from the Mediterranean and Japan – though there's nothing particularly Greek – and is all pretty as a Georgia O'Keeffe painting, fresh as chlorophyll, and garnished with seasonable leaves, flowers and herbs. Wine pairings are imaginative, and the sommelier may keep you amused by keeping you guessing over which variety he's just poured. The room itself is a lovely pocket of companionable hush, great for a special night out – if you're a couple, ask for a corner seat and sit side by side. Chaniotis has banned swearing in his kitchen – but you should ignore that and let a few expletives fly about just how bloody good this vegan menu is.
Address: Pied à Terre, 34 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2NH
Website: pied-a-terre.co.uk
29. Dishoom, Soho
There are many reasons why Dishoom is so incredibly popular – and their entirely vegan menu may play a major hand in this. Across the six branches in London, the Bombay-inspired breakfast selection includes warming oat milk chai, vegan sausage naan rolls and a plant-based take on their ever-popular The Big Bombay, where the scrambled egg is swapped out with tofu and the black pudding, sausage and home-made buns have been veganised. For lunch, order the mushroom prepper fry seasoned with punchy whole spices, as well as the charcoal-flamed corn-on-the-cob sprinkled with chilli, salt and lime. But if you’re after something hearty, the vegan raan (they use soy pieces instead of lamb) is accompanied by chilli sprouts, tender stem broccoli and an onion salad.
Address: Dishoom Soho, 22 Kingly Streer, Carnaby, London W1B 5QP; other sites in Kensington, Shoreditch, Covent Garden, King’s Cross, Canary Wharf and Battersea
Website: dishoom.com
30. Plaza Khao Gaeng, Tottenham Court Road
Though much of Luke Farrel’s Southern Thai-influenced menu is peppered with all things meat and crustaceans, some dishes are available for the vegan taste buds. Perched on the mezzanine floor of central London’s Arcade Food Hall, Khao Gaeng loosely translates to ‘curry over rice’; therefore, it is only right to order these dishes. The Miang Phuket is a sweet, spicy combination of coconut and cashew, while the deeply rich Gaeng Massaman Tauhu curry is packed with tofu, potatoes and lots of shallots – one of our best Thai restaurants in London.
Address: 103-105 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DB
Website: plazakhaogaeng.com
31. Farm Girl, Soho
The world may be in a general state of disarray, but these are fine times indeed to be a pot plant. As well as providing soft-focus greenery set against white walls, they’re short-cut signifiers of bouncy, goodie-two-shoes eating – scoff down enough, and you may start photosynthesising. Plenty of them peek out at this Melbourne-style café in Notting Hill as breakfast hits of Amazonian berries and bananas are washed down with lattes mixed with honey, turmeric, ginger and black pepper. For lunch, there are packed salad bowls, a homemade coconut bacon BLT with beetroot cashew cream and pickles, and the ever-reliable seasonal soup.
Address: Farm Girl, 59a Portobello Road, W11 3DB; Farm Girl, 8 Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2HF
Website: thefarmgirl.co.uk