Ever thought about the consequence of everyone going vegan around you? Well, it might seem crazy, but with the mushrooming of vegan culture all across the globe, it doesn’t seem impossible. Over the years, people have taken extreme measures against animal cruelty. One of the extreme measures to stop that was to promote veganism.
But what about the comfort of eating out whenever someone wants to? Can you get good vegan food if you are planning to an eat-out? Well with the increase in the number of vegan food outlets, you can easily achieve that. Even in places like London, vegan restaurants are blooming everywhere.
Today in this article, we will talk about some of the best Vegan-friendly restaurants in London. This will help you to get some insights on vegan food if you are looking for a decent eat-out.
Vegan statistics in London and UK:
The city has taken the concept of Veganism to another level and is currently noticing a fast increase in the vegan population. Over the last 10 years, the UK experienced an increase of 360% in vegan eaters, which is equal to half a million!
Sainsbury witnessed that 91% of Brits are flexitarians, which means that they are not predominant meat eaters. They have subsequently reduced the amount of meat consumption over time. As people are more concerned about the environment than their taste, plant-based diets have got everyone’s attention.
How many vegan restaurants are there in London?
Well, the number might seem daunting, but in recent years, hundreds of restaurants have emerged from the Capital. Currently, London has 152 vegan restaurants and is named the most vegan-friendly city on the planet.
Vegan restaurant scenario in London:
London has a population of about nine million and is also the third most populous city in Europe. Almost 300 different languages are spoken in London. So, with so much diversity, you will find all the restaurants within the 32 boroughs of the city.
You can easily find Ethiopian dishes, several Indian dishes, and different Caribbean eateries in the city. You can find a number of vegan-friendly restaurants in London serving vegan burgers, pasta items, sushis, tacos, kebabs, and burritos.
10 best vegan-friendly restaurants in London
1. Near Burger
Let’s start our list with a restaurant that specializes in different kinds of burgers. Transitioning to a plant-based diet completely, you might crave all the popular foods that we all used to have once upon a time. But, being a vegan, you might feel like giving up on burgers but not anymore. Neat Burger is one of the best restaurants for vegan burgers. The restaurant is expanding overseas but still has a lot of sister outlets in the capital.
The Filet-No-Fish or the smoking smash are some of the appealing options. You can even go for the signature version of the Neat Burger and wrap it up with a vegan shake.
2. What the Pitta
Situated at 32 Brick, Ln, 2-10, London, the restaurant has pretty good vegan options. The fast food selling joint will serve you vegan döner kebabs and salad boxes. You will appreciate the vegan kebabs with spicy soya pieces and trimmings like salads and jalapeños.
Someone looking for a quick, fast, cheap, and filling snack, should definitely make a visit to this restaurant. But even if you are looking for lunch, this could be an ideal option as well.
3. Farmacy
The best thing about this restaurant is it promotes organic farming and supports local producers. Most of the ingredients used in the food items are grown on their own farm. The owner Camilla Fayed opened an outlet in 2016 in Notting Hill, London after getting inspired by the vegan joints in Los Angeles and New York. Since then, the restaurant has been offering delicious and organic foods to its customers.
Not only the food, but the cocktail collection is also noteworthy. If you are done with dinner and thinking of a drink, then you should go for an espresso martini with vanilla vodka.
4. Mildreds
Being established for nearly 35 years at 45 Lexington St, Soho, Mildred has been serving classical meals for a long time. Though it served vegetarian meals mostly, it is now emphasizing vegan-friendly dishes as well. The Sri Lankan sweet potato curry is one of the highlight vegan dishes.
The restaurant serves British classics and fusion meals like Indian curry, lentil burgers, tortilla chips, vegan brownies, and ice creams. One thing you should remember is that the place is often crowded. So, you should expect to wait in a queue before jumping into their exquisite plant-based dishes.
5. Temple of Seitan
Vegans often think of replacing chicken with something equally delicious and filling. Well, out of several chicken substitutes, Seitan is an amazing option if you can easily digest gluten. Temple of Seitan provides you with tasty chicken burgers and wings made up of Seitan. And yes, you guessed it right, it not only mimics the taste of chicken but the texture too.
It had five different locations across London and is one of the popular fast-food vegan joints in London. Just like any fast food outlet, you can visit in, order your food, and get it served within minutes, including the shakes.
6. Holy Carrot
You will find Holy Carot at 2-4 Hans Crescent, London SWIX OLH. The ambiance is beautiful and will keep you tranquil throughout your dining session. It has a spa-like atmosphere with blue walls carved with classical genres.
You will find all the popular food items on the menu like vegan sushi, crab burgers, and their version of shepherd’s pie.
They have the Holy Carrot Hummus on flatbreads that are sweet and savoring. The “fish and chips” dish on the menu is a nori-wrapped tofu that does taste like fish! They have taken all the mainstream food dishes and given them the perfect vegan touch.
7. Vegan Planet
Some people might find it difficult to find a genuine Chinese vegan restaurant in London. But, the UK is one of the popular hubs for Chinese food. Vegan Planet is not just “any” Chinese vegan restaurant, but is one of the best vegan restaurants in London that serves the vegan version of many Chinese cuisines. Some of them are peeking veg duck, deep-fried oyster mushrooms, and salt and pepper veg shrimp.
8. The Spread Eagle
What about pubs that are cent percent vegan-friendly? Well, pub culture is highly celebrated in the UK and there are almost 3000 pubs in London itself. In a place where pubs are so common, it is tough to find a pub that is 100% vegan. Not if we are talking about The Spread Eagle which is the first vegan pub in London.
Your Sundays can be taken care of with the traditional roast and Yorkshire puddings and gravy. On the other days, you might find the dishes a bit expensive, with an offer on Faux Gras and Celeriac Shawarma.
9. Jai Krishna Stroud Green
Well, Indian cuisines revolve around vegan and vegetarian dishes more eloquently than most cultural dishes. The curry will make you crave more after every serving and the prices are way cheaper. The menu highlights the non-vegan cuisines separately and you will find many to choose from.
This could be a very economical option for you, especially, the thali options. A thali that just costs £7.50 will give you tarka dal, mixed vegetable curry, chickpea curry, rice, the choice of chapatis or poori, poppadom, and mango chutney.
10. Itadaki Zen
It might sound like an out-of-the-park statement, but the restaurant provides you with Japanese vegan food. It is located at 139 King’s Cross Road in London. You will love the zen-like atmosphere as well as slurping the udon noodles. The menu comprises grilled spring rolls with a soft tofu filling, Tapas Vegan Calamari with Tartar sauce, and the delightful pumpkin cake with tofu cream. After all, it is an organic, vegan-friendly, and Japanese restaurant. What is there not to be liked here?
Summing it up
Turning into a vegan could be one of the best life choices that you could make. Keeping compassion and the environment ahead of taste is a big deal. But does that mean you have to give up on eating out? Well, not at all. You can eat out whenever you want, rest assured that there are plenty of vegan-friendly restaurants.
In places like London, where people have shown an exponential drift towards veganism, many vegan-friendly restaurants emerged within years. We have tried to mention the 10 best vegan-friendly restaurants in London. You can even check the ratings and ask the locals for a better grasp of such plant-based food outlets.
