Hello friends! We're glad to be back with a new volume of plant-based eatery recommendations in London 🎉
The past year and a half have witnessed some places closed, including our favourite one, tibits (whose owner said they might come back again). But at the same time, the new openings are everywhere too!
We're lucky to have found some new places that offer decent options for dining out, including:
Stem & Glory - for a gathering with family and friends
222 Vegan Cuisine - for an easy meal out with plenty of choices
Govinda's Pure Vegetarian Restaurant - for an Indian-flavoured experience
Tofu Vegan - for a taste of Chinese cuisine
Humble - for a grab'n'go
Also, there're some updates about plants by de (formerly Deliciously Ella)
As usual, we'll share our reviews and recommended dishes for each place.
Before we dive into it, here's a quick introduction to what we eat as pure diet practitioners and what our recommendations are based on:
plant-based/vegan, no animal products;
allium-free/onion and garlic free, no onion, shallot, leek, chives, garlic, asafoetida, etc.;
alcohol-free, no wine vinegar or spirit vinegar
Interested in why we eat what we eat? Please leave us a message, and let's chat 😊
Now shall we get started?
Stem & GloryÂ
for a gathering with family and friends
A vegan restaurant came into being, along with the burgeoning plant-based movement. As they introduce themselves, "The backdrop to our success has been the rapid and exponential shift in attitudes towards plant-based cuisine...Our hope and aim are that we can make a contribution towards this shift in consciousness, so that we can all live in a more peaceful and harmonious world."
They provide diverse meals that averagely cost about £20 per person. Contact the team via info@stemandglory.uk to pre-order allium-free dishes.
Our recommendations:
· Asian Watermelon Salad (starter £8) - left top
· Swede Gnocchi (starter £8 /main £14)
· Baked Tofu Yakitori (main £13)
· Katsu Curry (main £15) - left bottom
· Fettuccine Capesante Di Funghi (main £15) - right top
Environment: 8/10, modern and cosy, but the music is quite loud
Address: 60 Bartholomew Cl, Barbican, London EC1A 7BF
Website: www.stemandglory.uk
222 Vegan Cuisine
for an easy meal out with plenty of choices
An eco-conscious vegan restaurant with creative cuisine. All dishes are prepared to order by chef Ben and his kitchen using fresh, natural ingredients. Though the place tends to be quite busy, their level of personal attention does accommodate the special request or particular dietary requirements as best as they can. That's why they made the whole menu allium-free for us, which is impressive!
Averagely, diners spend about £20 per person. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Our recommendations:
· Heart's Desire - sautéed artichoke hearts (starter £6.5) - left top
· Bean & Tofu Pancake (starter £6.5)
· Oyster Mushroom Raclette (main £12) - right top
· 222 Fresh Burger (main £12) - left bottom
· Spaghetti Polpette (main £10.5 / kids portion £6) - right bottom
· 222 Pancake (dessert £6.5)
Environment: 6/10, average, with a semi-open kitchen, the lighting is not ideal
Address: 222 North End Road, West Kensington, London W14 9NU
Website: 222vegan.com
Govinda's Pure Vegetarian Restaurant
for an Indian-flavoured experience
One of London's oldest vegetarian eateries, established in 1979 and known for its nutritious and wholesome allium-free vegetarian food (egg-free, but some dishes use milk/cheese). They serve a set thali - a traditional Indian menu based on fresh vegetables, grains and lentils - with different options daily. Their vegan cake is very delicious too!
The average cost is about £10 per person for a satisfying meal.
Our recommendations:
· Set Thali (The veggie, 5 items for £6.96 / The unlimited, 8 items for £9.95) specific dishes depending on the daily menu
· Vegan marble cake £2.95
Environment: 5/10, suitable for a quick meal
Address: 9-10 Soho Street, London W1D 3DL, U.K.
Tofu Vegan
for a taste of Chinese cuisine
A newly opened vegan restaurant serving Sichuan and Cantonese Chinese cuisine. They've been popular among all eaters since opening! Many dishes are prepared with tofu, bean curds and mushrooms. However, allium-free options were limited the last time we visited since the pre-made chilli oil contains garlic, so ask carefully before ordering.
About £20 per person is the average cost.
Our recommendations:
· Dongbei Sweet Potato Noodle Sheets £9.2
· Peking 'Duck' £13.8 - middle
· Sesame Rolls Stuffed with Red Bean Paste £4.8 - right
Environment: 7/10, Chinese-style interior design
Address: 105 Upper Street, London N1 1QN
Website: tofuvegan.com
Humble
for grab'n'go
A lovely eatery for vegan pastries, smoothies and soft serves. Though out of their creative and colourful menu, the allium-free savoury options are limited. We went for the Truffle & Funghi cauliflower base pizza and other sweet treats. It's nice to pay a visit when you want to grab something or chat casually with friends.
About £8 per person is the average cost for a quick bite.
Our recommendations:
· Varius pastries - left
Croissant £1
Pain Au Chocolat £2
Pain Au Raisin £1
Cinnamon Sugar Donut £3.25
Glazed Donut £3
Peanut Butter Blondie £3
· Truffle & Funghi cauliflower base pizza £11 - right
· Soft-Serve Cup £3.25 / Cone £3.5
Environment: 7/10, upgraded fast-casual
Address: 342 King's Rd, London SW3 5UR
Website: www.humble.london
Finally, we also see some updates from previously recommended places:
plants by de
formerly Deliciously Ella
Ella and her team upgraded the former deli to a restaurant with delicate dishes packed with various plants, located in a quiet neighbourhood near Bond Street. The place is, however, a bit pricy with limited allium-free choices.
A proper meal costs about £30 per person.
Our recommendations:
· Sourdough flatbread £6.5
· Salt baked celeriac carpaccio £8 - left bottom
· Coconut caramel panna cotta £8 - right bottom
· Chocolate torte £9 - right top
Environment: 8/10, modern and bright
Address: 18 Weighhouse St, London W1K 5LU
Website: deliciouslyella.com/plants
That's it, and I hope you've added one or two to your to-do list. 😊
We're happy to see more places dedicated to sustainable and delicious plant-based food and become more flexible in providing allium-free dishes. Even many more non-vegan restaurants can now prepare food according to pure diet preferences. It's easier than ever to dine out in London.
Meanwhile, whenever you wish to cook at home, check out our recipe videos for step-by-step instructions for some simple and healthy inspirations! Until next time, take care 💕
P.S. Don't miss out on our previous volume of Plant-based Map of London!
Volume I: click to read
Volume II: click to read