Plant-Power: 3 New Vegan Openings in London You Need to Know AboutBy Alicia Grimshaw
London is alive with the sound of grilled seitan and deep-fried jackfruit. If you’re hankering for a new plant-powered spot, we’ve listed three new restaurants hitting the capital soon. Take our word for it – they’re all ruddy tasty:
1. For Filthy Vegan Food: Biff’s Jack Shack
What: Launching in time for World Vegan Day on 1st November, Biff’s Jack Shack is bringing its all-vegan menu of jackfruit-based fast food to Boxpark Shoreditch. Started by partners Biff Burrows and Christa Bloom as a reaction against the sad, uninspired bean burger options they suffered in many restaurants, Biff’s is out to change the conversation about what plant-based food can be – with a side of neon and the odd 80s reference.
Eat and Drink: Old favourites such as The Father Jack and The Samuel Hell Jackson, topped with maple chipotle hot sauce will be on the menu at Boxpark, alongside brand-new creations. Best of the new dishes is Biff’s most indulgent burger yet: the Jack Bauer Tower of Power, a double jackfruit patty with deep-fried vegan cheese, potato rosti, bacun jam, vegan aioli, served in a toasted brioche bun. Crispy jackfruit wings come complete with a sugarcane ‘bone’, topped in a range of Biff’s house-made sauces including bourbon-infused sticky BBQ; miso mayo; cinnamon sweet chilli; and blue cheeze.
Where: Unit 49, Boxpark, 2-10 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GY
Photo Credit: Kim Burrows
What: Clapham is welcoming a new arrival on 2nd November with the launch of vegan pop-up, The Meet. A new concept from South London chef, Dominic Taylor, The Meet will offer indulgent plant-based comfort food combined with exclusively vegan cocktails, all in the urban, industrial backdrop of railway arches in Clapham North. Open daily, The Meet will serve a selection of small sharing plates, burgers, late night bites as well bottomless vegan brunch and Sunday roasts on the weekend.
Eat and Drink: Early risers can enjoy a cold press juice or an ‘Upper’, a chai seed and acai bircher muesli pot or ‘avo go’ – crushed avocado on garlic sourdough toast topped with jalapeno-spiked pico de galo. Other dishes include What a mess – smokey black bean, plantain and jackfruit chilli served messy with chips and vegan cheese, topped with pico de galo, and jerkin around, a sweet/savoury medley of jerk-style organic tofu, pineapple salsa, scotch bonnet mayonnaise and gem lettuce in a wholegrain wrap.
Where: The Meet at Fu Manchu, 15-16 Lendal Terrace, Clapham, London SW4 7UX
What: Another new vendor heading to Boxpark Shoreditch is Eat Chay, opening on November 3rd (they’ll be giving away 200 free vegan Vietnamese coffee donuts as well as having a 30% discount on all food that day). Eat Chay knock out plant-based traditional Vietnamese and Korean dishes like Banh Mi, steamed buns and kimchi burgers, all completely vegan and downright delicious.
Eat and Drink: The Korean BBQ Bánh Mì is legendary – smokey and crispy Korean BBQ seitan, mushroom walnut pate, fresh cucumber and coriander, pickled carrots with spicy mayo and crispy onions, served in a freshly baked baguette. And for a slap up feast, the bao lunch box features 2 Korean BBQ Bao Buns (Korean BBQ seitan with kimchi, home-made sriracha mayo, crispy onions and sesame seeds in fluffy steamed bao bun) and their signature Vietnamese noodle salad.
Where: 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY