It's never been more fun, or stylish, to to be vegan, especially in the world capital of V – London. Whether fully committed or just wanting less animal products on your plate, you no longer need to hunt down your local lentil dealer or pilgrim to faraway establishments – there's plenty on offer from the dirtiest of deep fry at Biff's Jack Shack to the elevated plant offerings at Cub. Here are some of my favourites, thoroughly tried and tested while writing An opinionated guide to Vegan London.
An Opinionated Guide to Vegan London
Shoreditch, Walthamstow, Homerton: Jackfruit-based junk food (vegan)
BIFF’S JACK SHACK
Boxpark Shoreditch, 2-10 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GY Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street biffsjackshack.com @biffsjackshack
For when nothing but the crispiest, deepest-fried junk – smothered with BBQ sauce or maple chipotle and stuck between buns – will do, Biff’s has your back. In the Shoreditch branch in Boxpark you can catch a flicker of Bruce Lee on the vintage TV monitors while counting the seconds for your jackfruit burger and ‘gnarly seitan bacun’-topped fries to arrive. Don’t forget to add one of the four varieties of jackfruit wings – and don’t panic if you find a piece of sugarcane ‘bone’ in there.
Hoxton: Modern fine dining, without the stuffiness (vegan friendly)
CUB
153 Hoxton Street, N1 6PJ Nearest station: Hoxton
lyancub.com @lyan.cub
The moment you step into this intimate, sophisticated space, with its saffron-yellow upholstered booths (and, look closely, table tops made out of recycled yogurt cups), you know you’re in for something special. With impeccable sustainability credentials and attention to flavour that borders on the obsessive, the set menu transforms ingredients gathered from small British producers – seaweeds, hay-smoked roots, microorganisms and rare blooms – into a playful sequence of edible delight. The cocktails are as fabulous as the food – and that stalk of pok choi main? It may just be the best green leaf you’ve ever tasted.
Brixton: Crêperie and zero-waste shop (vegan)
PIPOCA VEGAN
224 Brixton Road, SW9 6AH Nearest station: Brixton facebook.com/pipocavegan @pipocavegan
Part café, part package-free shop, this cute spot is worth the detour from central Brixton. Long wooden shelves line the walls, packed with dispensers of every dry wholefood, oil and detergent you could possibly desire, while sacks of grains and giant tins of colourful preserves crowd the corners. The crêpes and brunch menu have a Latin-Caribbean twist, with homemade baked pinto beans, croquettes, Cajun spice and cassava chips joining classic favourites such as tofu scramble and sausages. Grab yourself a coffee and a snack at one of the tables before a spot of plastic-free shopping.
Walthamstow: New-generation curry house (vegan)
SPICEBOX
58 Hoe Street, E17 4PG Nearest station: Walthamstow eatspicebox.co.uk @eatspicebox
Wind down Walthamstow’s Hoe Street to find this modern spin on the British curry house: street snacks, jalfrezi and chick’n korma, but not as you know them. Flavours are layered and natural, with crunchy, fresh textures exploding in your mouth – if only all Indian food could be like this. Come at night and the psychedelic, branded graphics and vibrant colour-blocked dining room may have you feeling like you’ve stumbled into a Varanasi alleyway after a particularly strong bhang lassi. Bring on the banana chai doffle.
Hoxton: Café, shop and community hub (vegan)
THE BRIGHT STORE
268 Hackney Road, E2 7SJ Nearest station: Hoxton brightzine.co/the-bright-store @thebrightstoreldn
Come visit the home of ethical lifestyle magazine Bright: a café and store with a members’ club in the basement. The compact space echoes the clean black-and-white layout of the magazine, and gathers some of the capital’s most active and innovative movers and shakers, makers and bakers under one roof, both as suppliers and patrons. Pop in for a coffee and croissant, strike up conversation with like-minded strangers and maybe even bag yourself a Vegan Queen t-shirt while you’re here.
Brick Lane: Monthly food rave (vegan)
VEGAN NIGHTS
150 Brick Lane, E1 6QL Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street vegannights.uk @vegannightsldn
It’s a weeknight in the heart of Brick Lane and some of London’s finest up-and-coming food vendors and DJs are gathered among a diverse, lively crowd of thousands – hungry for good food and a good party. From pizza to bánh mì, soft serve to churros – every type of street food is represented and there are market stalls to browse, too. This fast-evolving, festival-like event sees the vegan-curious and the long-converted rubbing shoulders, all clutching beers and boxes of food while throwing shapes on the dance floor. Just make sure to book online, in advance if you can.
Brick Lane: Spell-binding gluten-free bakery (vegan)
VIDA BAKERY
139 Brick Lane, E1 6SB Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street vidabakery.co.uk @vidabakery
You may not have realised it, but your life could well have a half-foot-high, rainbow-layered, cake-shaped hole in it right now. Luckily you can fill it fast, down on Brick Lane. Invite your best friend or your on-trend mother, and whisk them to this pastel-coloured haven for all things sweet, vegan and gluten-free. Next, each choose a hot drink, served in cute mismatched mugs, and succumb to the sugar-induced euphoria. Not someone with a huge sweet tooth? Go for a cupcake, with its perfect ratio of icing to cake.
An Opinionated Guide to Vegan London by Sara Kiyo Popowa (insta: @shisodelicious) is published by Hoxton Mini Press