Whether you're a newbie vegan battling the cheese cravings, or a bedded-in believer in need of a culinary cuddle, a little indulgence never hurt anyone.
Treating yourself, however, doesn’t mean going to the dairy-filled dark side, especially not in London.
The capital is home to an increasing number of vegan friendly junk food outfits, happily serving up food-coma-worthy guilty pleasures without an animal product in site.
Craving a kebab or crying out for fried goods? These lot are here to help.
For kebabs: What the Pitta
Let’s start with perhaps the guiltiest of all pleasures. There’s nothing quite like carrying a warm takeout box of pitta and meat – except for cradling a box of What The Pitta’s vegan doner kebab. This totally vegan kebab joint wraps freshly made bread around spiced soya chunks, soya tzatziki, homemade hummus, chilli sauce and salad. It currently has outlets in the Croydon and Shoreditch Boxparks as well as a shop in Camden. To indulge moments of peak lethargy, they even deliver too.
CR0, E1, whatthepitta.com
For fried jackfruit: Biff’s Jack Shack
Sometimes, you just want deep fried something. If you’re a vegan who's ever looked into a fried chicken shop and wished it just had, well, less chicken, then Biff’s Jack Shack is for you. Biff deals in jackfruit, arguably one of nature’s more peculiar offerings. It is a fruit and looks very like fruit when raw, but when cooked, it has a taste and texture more akin to pulled pork. At vegan markets and residencies around the capital, pick up jackfruit “wingz” on a sugar cane spear, drenched in the likes of bourbon barbecue sauce, blue “cheese” and cinnamon sweet chilli, or go for a full jack burger like the The Samuel Hell Jackson – a jack patty with chipotle slaw, jalapenos burger cheese and two types of sauce.
Broadway Market (Saturdays), Boxpark Shoredtich and various locations, biffsjackshack.com
For pizza: Purezza
Food is usually better when it’s pizza. This totally vegan pizzeria has travelled from Brighton to Camden, bringing with it lots of cheese, but not as you know it. Purezza makes its own mozzarella in-house with fermented brown rice milk. Inventive toppings range from shaved seitan with roasted aubergine and potatoes, to a luxurious black truffle base with wood smoked tofu and wild forest mushrooms. If you're looking for something with a significant kick, try the Vulcano, which tops roasted vegetables with green chillies, chilli flakes and sriracha sauce.
43 Parkway, NW1 7PN, purezza.co.uk
For tacos: Club Mexicana
Meriel Armitage has been working on turning vegan eating from disaster to fiesta for Londoners. At Club Mexicana’s various locations, she’s been serving up meat-free, dairy-free tacos and other Mexican-inspired treats to hungry punters since 2013. Now, the South American eatery boasts locations in both Shoreditch and Homerton – the latter of which is based in London’s very first entirely vegan pub. Head to The Spread Eagle for jackfruit carnitas and baja tofish tacos, or feast on loaded cheezy nachos, “chorizo” quesadillas, pan seared “scallops” with corn esquites, all accompanied with lashings of vegan beer.
EC2, E9, clubmexicana.com
For burgers: The Full Nelson
When you’ve got a big craving for a vegan Big Mac, London has your back. The Full Nelson's range of burgers come fully stacked with a few tons of topping – just specify whether you want to eat veggie or vegan and they will point you in the right direction, as vegan alternatives are available for everything. Go for crunch with the Colonel and try their super crispy coated “chicken”, smothered with garlic buffalo sauce, lemon and black pepper mayo.
47 Deptford Broadway, SE8 4PH, thefullnelsondeptford.co.uk
For fried seitan: Temple of Seitan
The website of this fast food joint sports a very important FAQ: “Are you a cult? No.” Seitan may sound like it has macabre intents, but it is in fact merely a meat substitute made from wheat – no soul-stealing here, we’re happy to report. This high protein food stuff has been compared to chicken or Portobello mushroom when left to its own devices, making it perfect for deep frying and decking with goodies. Temple of Seitan specialises in just this, with a menu featuring crispy fillet burgers, hot wings and twist wraps, as well as vegan mac and cheese, popcorn bites and lots of chips.
E9 and N1, templeofseitan.co.uk
For pie and mash: Young Vegans
For all the thriving foodie variety to be found in the capital, Brits still can’t resist good old pie and mash. Camden Market outfit Young Vegans are no exception, serving up meat and dairy free takes on the national treasure. Pick from seitan and ale pie, curry pie, sweet potato pie and a very British all day breakfast pie and enjoy them with a decent squelch of creamy mash. Your winter just got a whole lot warmer.
60 Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF, youngvegans.co.uk
