Is there really any difference between organic chicken and non-organic chicken?
These are not only the best vegan restaurants in London, they are restaurants that only serve vegan food – and also some of the most nutritious and healthiest, too.
They offer deep-fried street food-style goodness, and also fine dining from Michelin-starred trained chefs, too. Enjoy!
Best vegan restaurants in London:
The Spread Eagle
224 Homerton High Street London E9 6AS
Vibe: Stylish gastro-pub
Closest Tube station: Homerton
The Spread Eagle is first and foremost a brilliant pub. It’s now probably the most famous vegan pub in London. It prides itself on its music selection.
The staff are friendly. They allow dogs and kids (until 9pm).
Some brewers add finings to clarify the beer (to remove excess protein and yeast). Finings can be animal-derived, such as isinglass (made from swim bladders of fish) and gelatin (collagen from animals).
The Spread Eagle has rotating cask ales that are specially brewed without any finings, making them not only vegan but also much more natural. On top of cult beers, they also offer organic, natural and sustainable wines.
The Spread Eagle is creative with its decor and its colourful, filling and flavoursome Mexican street food. Don’t let words like “mustard mayo” or “ice-cream” fool you, their food menu is totally vegan. And totally delicious.
Best vegan restaurants in London:
Itadaki-zen
139 King’s Cross Road London WC1X 9BJ
Vibe: Nourishing
Closest Tube station: Kings Cross
Vegan and organic Japanese restaurant Itadaki-zen cuisine is based on the healing qualities of plants and food.
Itadaki means ‘to take the food life’ and Zen means ‘to fix, to mend’. Their sushi, tempura, noodles and soups are vegan and organic. The medicinal value of plants has long been appreciated in Far Eastern tradition.
The belief is that what you eat not only affects your day-to-day health but also helps to determine the quality of your life.
At Itadaki-zen, they believe that food is closely related to human consciousness as well as the body. You can learn more about the food and agriculture of Japanese cuisine at the free workshops held at the restaurant. Plus, look out for live music nights.
Best vegan restaurants in London:
Wulf & Lamb
Chelsea: 243 Pavilion Road, London, SW1X 0BP
Marleybone: 66 Chiltern Street, London, W1U 4EJ
Vibe: very casual and kinda posh vegan ‘caff’
Closest station: Sloane Square
First things first, there’s only table-service for food, not drinks. Armed with that knowledge, you can’t start the day off badly with the a Wulf & Lamb avo on toast breakfast (gently smashed avocado, perked up with chilli, lemon & beetroot houmous on toasted sourdough).
You could also opt for the fluffy American pancakes, stacked and served with maple syrup, mixed berries and vanilla cashew cream.
This plant-based menu is good for the planet, good for animals and surprisingly good for your health. Chilli “non” carne with cashew sour cream, seitan burgers, green coconut curries and texture-filled salads make up the lunch and dinner menus.
Make sure you save room for dessert – the Tiramasu is not to be skipped. It is made from raw almond cream on a chocolate and nut base, topped with coffee meringue and a decadent brandy and vanilla cashew cream.
Best vegan restaurants London:
Plates London
538 Kingsland Rd Hackney E8 4AH
Vibe: Fine-dining vegan food in an stylish, intimate setting
Closest Tube: Shoreditch / Old Street
ONLY OPEN WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY: 6pm – 11.30pm
Plates is quietly but assuredly changing the way we dine out in London. Every dish is a work of art, beautifully constructed on bespoke crockery made just down the road in London Fields.
Sibling founders, Kirk and Keeley Haworth, have created a menu that is stealthy plant-based and offers ingredients with nourishing qualities. Walking in feels like a cross between entering someone’s stylish living room and a contemporary art gallery.
Michelin-trained Kirk’s challenge is to create a menu of fine-dining quality that appeals to meat eaters and vegetarians while using purely plant-based ingredients.
The menu is not only vegan, but also around 70-80% organic and sourced from carefully selected suppliers. These include The Wild Room who specialise in rare ingredients from around the UK.
Kirk also forages in the spring and summer, handpicking fresh ingredients from organic sources. It’s no easy feat to create richness without dairy, an intense depth of flavour in sauces without meat stocks and incredible desserts without sugar, but each course makes it look effortless.
“My favourite dishes include one of our signatures; celeriac and shiitake lasagna, with white truffle and toasted hazelnut,” says Kirk.
We defy any meat eater to leave here not feeling completely satisfied.
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