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Planning on going vegan this January? London’s hottest new restaurants are making it even easier to go meat-free with dedicated vegan menus and veggie options that are so good, even meat eaters will want a taste. Rosie rounds up some of the best new options on London’s culinary scene.
Le Bun
Legendary burger specialists Le Bun will be turning their whole burger concept completely vegan for the month of January. Chef and founder Andy Taylor is on a mission to prove that environmentally-conscious eating doesn’t have to be boring, and has created a menu of showstoppers to prove his point. Burgers include Le Zinger – made with fried chick’n, hash brown, chipotle Zinger sauce, vegan cheese, v-ranch and served in a potato bun; and CBD Fucking Vegans – a vegan patty, served with Le Bun CBD burger sauce, vegan American cheeze, confit beer onions, ketchup and mustard in a potato bun.
Kolamba
Soho’s recently opened Sri Lankan spot, Kolamba, features a multitude of naturally vegan dishes on its menu: coconut is a prevalent ingredient in Sri Lankan cooking, so it was an effortless decision from owners Aushi and Eroshan Meewalla to curate a menu where over half of the dishes were vegan. Highlights include Kumar’s Pineapple and Aubergine Curry, Young Jackfruit (Polos) Curry – a dark, boldly flavoured curry of tender jackfruit, cinnamon and fried onion – plus Hoppers and a not-to-be-missed Coconut and Lime Sorbet for dessert.
Nutshell
At Nutshell owners Marwa and Mohammad have drawn on cooking principles from the North of Iran to curate a colourful menu where all the mazze (bar one) is vegetarian. There is an abundance of vegetarian options in Iranian cooking, particularly in the North – and this plant-based influence has informed the colourful menu at the restaurant, where vegan mains include comforting Khoresht Bademjan, a classic stew made with pearl onions, split chickpeas, aubergine; and seasonal Butternut Squash Fesenjun.
Madera at Treehouse London
We love going to Madera for brunch, since the views of London are amazing by day and who doesn’t love a Mexican breakfast? Vegan breakfast specials include the ‘vegan breakfast’ with scrambled tofu, frijoles negros, grilled tomatoes, papas bravas, mushroom, spinach and avocado; and the ‘soyrizo bowl’ with scrambled tofu over soyrizo, crispy Yucatan potatoes and tres chiles salsa. Lunch and dinner items include a vegan take on the traditional ‘carne asada & eggs’: a grilled vegan steak topped with chimichurri and accompanied by scrambled tofu, smoked guajillo salsa and papas bravas, as well as chipotle-dusted tofu and vegan beef served on lava stones.
Mrs Fogg’s
Quirky venue Mrs Fogg’s is offering a special Veganuary menu with Indian influences that complement the restaurant’s interiors, which are designed to transport guests on a journey aboard the Rangoon Steamer, with the sights and sounds of a faraway port. Dishes include pulled jackfruit with kulcha bread and a green chilli and bean slaw, and spicy carrot and split lentil fritters with a coconut and coriander dip.
Paradise
Set in a tropical brutalist style by designer Dan Preston (whose previous credits include KILN, Smoking Goat & BRAT), this contemporary Sri Lankan restaurant showcases dishes that draw their eclectic flavours from the nation’s many diverse regions. Vegetarians can enjoy a host of options included curry leaf hoppers, fried aubergine and jaggery moju, jackfruit and cardamon biriyani, charred pineapple salad with green chillies and a flavour-packed turmeric dahl. The accompanying drinks menu is not to be missed, with interpretations of classic cocktails such as tamarind and chilli sours and jackfruit bellinis.
Pastaio
Pasta lovers will be pleased to hear that legendary fresh pasta restaurant Pastaio is opening its second site at Westfield London in early January. The opening of the new site coincides with the launch of the restaurant’s new ‘green menu’ of vegan and vegetarian pastas, combining Pastaio classics such as the spinach spaghetti with crusco chilli, agretti, breadcrumbs with exclusive new dishes, such as a vegan version of cacio e pepe.
Main image: Nutshell London
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