It's cool to be kind, kids. In 2019, that means caring for the planet, from going plastic free to being conscientious recyclers. And when it comes to the London dining scene, veganism is where it's at. More and more restaurants are incorporating vegan options or even dedicated vegan menus, whilst many hyped new openings have been entirely vegetarian or vegan.
I don't generally eat much meat at home, and I'd love to transition to veganism eventually. Living in a city with so many great alternatives, institutional animal slaughter hardly seems justified. So in the name of journalism, I decided to try some of London's top vegan restaurants, to test if I could ever really enjoy a meal without cheese...
Vurger Co
Of all the vegan restaurants popping up, vegan burgers are one that I was particularly dubious about. The burgers I'm used to are made of beef patties, slathered in cheese and topped with bacon. That's a whole lot of ingredients to substitute!
And so I visited new Shoreditch vegan burger restaurant Vurger Co very intrigued. It's a casual spot with a simple menu of burgers, sides and shakes, where you order at the counter and collect your food when your buzzer goes off. I chose the 'MLT', which consisted of a shroom, barlotti bean and parsley bun (so far, so veggie), garnished with tomato, rocket, ketchup, 'cheese' (made with coconut oil), and a sundried tomato and walnut pesto. I paired my burger with sweet potato fries and a chocolate and hazelnut shake.
Within minutes, my order was up and I was attempting to tuck into one of the hugest burgers I've ever laid eyes on. It was one helluva feast, with a hefty patty loaded up with toppings, and an extremely generous portion of sweet potato fries.
The big question though - how does it compare to a regular ol' beef burger? Honestly, it's not a fair comparison, because they're so completely different. Vurger's burgers don't taste like beef burgers, because they're not trying to be, and in that lies their strength. The ingredients may not be those typically associated with a burger, but they're packed with flavour from fresh, nourishing ingredients. Afterwards, I felt full, but not unpleasantly so like I usually would after polishing off a beef burger. Instead, I felt smug in the knowledge that I'd eaten a whole host of veg to contribute to my five a day. A shout out to the sweet potato fries too, which were plentiful and the perfect balance of crispy on the outside and smushy (technical term) on the inside. The shake was also an unexpected highlight - though the flavours (almond milk and soy ice cream) were unique, it was pleasantly sweet but not too heavy.
Vurger Co is a great little spot for a filling lunch, with all the indulgence of fast food but none of the guilt. Overall, vegan burgers have earned a thumbs up from me.
Kalifornia Kitchen
Tottenham Court Road may seem like an unlikely spot for a pink-hued, California lifestyle-inspired vegan restaurant, but nonetheless, amidst the Crossrail construction sites and frenzy of Primark shoppers, you'll find Kalifornia Kitchen, one of London's newest vegan restaurant options.
Though the menu includes burgers and tacos, it's far from junk food. There's a kombucha falafel wrap, scrambled turmeric tofu on sourdough, and pretty much everything comes with a healthy serving of kale. A kale sceptic myself, I wasn't keen, however I found the kale salad that accompanied my jackfruit and guac tacos surprisingly palatable. The tacos themselves though were unsurprisingly the highlight, heaped with toppings including pulled jackfruit, avocado, tomatoes and pickled cabbage, which blended together with a mix of complementary flavours. Having visited Mexico and lived on a diet of tacos, my taco standards are pretty high, but these passed with flying colours.
My guest went for the kombucha falafel wrap, which was a hefty serving of beetroot falafel paired with hummus, cucumber, kombucha slaw and, of course, plenty of kale. Falafel is never the most exciting thing on the menu, but it was done well, not too dry or heavy but substantially filling.
Even a year ago, vegan restaurants like Kalifornia Kitchen might have struggled to exist. However, in London's current climate, it feels entirely relevant. It's healthy but, crucially, not boring, with all the buzzword health foods available and a colourful tropical-inspired design scheme to appeal to the Instagram-trained eye. Besides, when the reality is gloomy January in London, who doesn't fancy a bit of California living?
Purezza, Camden
I've reviewed vegan pizza restaurant Purezza previously (read it here) so I'll keep this brief, but I just couldn't write up a list of great vegan eats without including it. Purezza was one of my first forays into vegan dining, and it far exceeded my expectations, serving up delicious pizzas loaded with tasty veg and cheese alternatives. They're completely unique, and taste so good you won't even notice the absence of 'real' cheese.
On my visit I tried the 'Season.4.Pizza.1', a colourful feast of artichoke, olives, wild forest mushrooms and smoked beetroot carpaccio, finished with micro herbs, alongside their daily special and a portion of cheesy dough balls. These were nothing like the dough balls I'm typically used to, with the mozzarella made of brown milk rice, but they were surprisingly good, oozing gooey cheese with a buttery flavour.
There are a plethora of great places to eat in Camden, but if you're looking for guilt-free goodness (or just need a pizza fix), Purezza is a top option.
by CHLOE.
There was a lot of buzz when hip New York vegan restaurant by CHLOE. opened it's first London branch in Covent Garden. With its colourful veg-filled bowls and stacked burgers, it's an Instagram staple and official 'cool-girl' hangout (all your favourite NYC bloggers probably eat there), and soon became just as popular here, opening a second venue in Tower Bridge.
I visited the latter to try their 'Full Brekkie', a Veganuary special with a unique vegan take on the traditional Full English. My guest went for the avocado on toast, which we paired with smoothies, and sides of artichoke dip and baked sweet potato fries.
I'm not usually vegan, so a dish that was so heavily based on one of my favourite (heavily meaty) breakfast meals was somewhat daunting, but I was willing to give it a go. It was beautifully presented with bright veg replacing the usual suspects, including carrot replacing bacon, and scrambled tofu. Some ingredients worked well, others less so - the baked beans were substantial, in a thick, herby sauce, and it took me a while to realise I was eating tofu rather than scrambled eggs (I usually hate tofu, so this is quite the achievement!). The maple carrot 'bacon' had a nice flavour however lacked the texture and crispiness of bacon, and I found the jackfruit sausage somewhat dry.
A surprising stand out for me turned out to be the artichoke dip, accompanied by tortilla chips and garnished with almond parmesan. It was such an innovative use of artichoke and was completely moreish. They also do great sweet potato fries, with a yummy accompaniment of chipotle mayo and beet ketchup.
Whether it's lived up to the hype? The jury is still out, but with it's airy 'fast food goes chic' interiors, playful branding, and menu of solid vegan staples, it's no surprise by CHLOE. is proving such a hit.
Genesis
You'd be forgiven for walking into quirky Shoreditch eatery Genesis and not realising quite what you were ordering. The menu is heaving with junk food staples such as burgers and hotdogs, chorizo tacos and cheese sticks, however any carnivore who stumbles across the restaurant would be sorely disappointed - it's entirely vegan.
With its kitschy pink booths, comic book style artwork, and neon signs, it's a popular spot for the Insta-generation, but it's got more substance than just a cute place for a pic.
The menu is international, borrowing from Mexican and Asian influences combined with good ol' fashioned diner food. We ordered the Kimchi Fries, Mayan Dog, Genesis Burger, Cheese Sticks, and Jackfruit Hoisin Tacos, alongside a peanut butter shake and bottle of kombucha.
The dishes that felt the strongest were those that weren't trying to be meat. My favourite dish was the jackfruit tacos, which were deliciously crispy, slathered in a hoisin sauce. The kimchi fries also stood out, layered with sriracha mayo and pickled cabbage.
What Genesis does particularly well is reframing veganism. This is not the vegan food of yesteryear, heavy on the kale and tofu - you can be a conscious consumer and still get to pig out on shakes and fries. And, it's decked out in millennial pink. What's not to love?
I'd love to know if you'd recommend any other London vegan restaurants I should check out? If you're looking for more London dining options, I have plenty more restaurant reviews!
Great write up and photos.
Oh wow the food looks amazing
Candice | NatalyaAmour.com