The Resy Guide To London’s Best Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants

Another restaurant that happens to be vegan, this raucous spot tucked away in a corner of London Fields is a bundle of kinetic energy, wrapped up in MSG and mala. Hailing from Los Angeles, chef Julian Denis’s take on contemporary Chinese cuisine is one of the most exciting expressions of the form right now, with dishes like crispy cauliflower a l’orange (a riff on orange chicken), chicken fried mushrooms dusted in chilli, and a chilli oil sundae with soy sauce caramel and lao gan ma (really) that effervesces with the kind of flavours you’ll think about for weeks. That the entire menu happens to be vegan is incidental and makes it all the more impressive.

Safiya Robinson founded Sisterwoman to share the best parts of her dual Caribbean and African American heritage. A po’boy sandwich exemplifies this, stuffed with cornmeal fried oyster mushrooms, spicy ackee remoulade and escovitch pickle (the fried plantain add-on is always worth it). Elsewhere, grilled okra are dusted with house made fried ‘chicken’ salt and served with spicy ackee mayo, and a side of Robinson’s signature mac and cheese is all but essential. A daily special makes it worth dropping in at lunch, and we also like three plates for £20 at dinner.

Some of the best vegan and vegetarian cooking in London right now comes from the capable hands of chef Rishim Sachdeva, whose residency at Soho’s Sun and 13 Cantons has gone from strength to strength. Here, a vegan-centric menu of sharing plates pulls no punches, with plates like a winter squash tostada or a heritage beetroot ‘bao’ with lemongrass XO highlighting outstanding produce. Meanwhile, a £29 set lunch or £36 dinner prix fixe offers the best of the menu for you and a few friends to share.

Sister restaurant (literally) to Kin + Deum, Bermondsey’s beloved Thai local, this plant-based Thai restaurant was named for founder Roselyn Inngern, who runs the original restaurant with her brothers . While K+D was already welcoming to strict vegetarians and vegans, Plants of Roselyn makes it exclusive; look out for crunchy croquettes of sweetcorn, or a dish of tender herb-marinated jackfruit slow cooked in green curry paste and coconut milk. With cocktails flowing and a room packed with appreciative locals, there’s a strong neighbourhood vibe that’s difficult to resist – and zero risk of cross contamination.

A short walk from London Bridge, Kin + Deum combines the homeliness of classic British Thai restaurants with the modern sensibilities of its young owners. An avid flexitarian and plant eater himself, chef Bank Inngern’s menu is both light and vegetarian-friendly, with many dishes available in vegan and vegetarian incarnations. The kitchen’s also happy to modify staples like som tam to arrive without fish sauce—just ask.

This Tel Aviv-inspired restaurant in Dalston is one of London’s finest neighbourhood restaurants, full stop, and one well worth travelling for. But its vegetarian and vegan offering arguably outshines any of its non-veg options, and chef-owner Oded Oren knows to let the strength of his ingredients shine; in season artichokes with good olive oil and lemon can be transcendental, while a plate of grilled sweetcorn with fresh herbs, almonds and chilli offers a huge hit of freshness and flavour. Even simple tahini, olives and hummus are perfect; natural wines and a cosy neighbourhood vibe keep regulars coming back.

This fine dining restaurant consistently wins praise for its innovative cooking and personal touch, with an atmosphere that feels somewhere between a cutting-edge restaurant and an upscale (but relaxed) dinner party. Chef Gabriel Waterhouse’s menus closely follow the seasons, and the good news for non-meat eaters is that there’s a dedicated tasting menu ‘s perfect for convivial celebrations and intimate dinners.

Legendary for its carefully made udon noodles, small plates and Japanese broths, it’s al so worth noting that this beloved casual Japanese restaurant is very good to its vegan and vegetarian diners. Many of the best menu items – the curry and walnut miso udon noodles, for example – happen to be vegan, while sides are equally strong, like a salad made with pristine veg from Namayasai farm in Cornwall, crisp tofu and the finest plate of vegetable tempura in the city.

Having earned a Michelin star on the back of its impressive tasting menus, Casa Fofo is frequently cited by the city’s best chefs as one of the finest examples of plant-based cookery in London. A separate seven-course menu caters for vegetarians, with cryptic dish names indicating cutting edge combinations of breathtaking produce, like a poached and grilled wild Maitake mushroom with a creamy paste of roasted hazelnut and preserved lemon, or charcoal grilled courgette glazed with fermented honey and brown butter.

Opened by the same team behind the excellent Berber & Q and Shawarma Bar, this cosy eatery in Queens Park exudes a neighbourhood vibe, and then some. Inviting interiors and a bright, open plan layout set the scene for breakfasts of shakshuka and stuffed French toasts, mezze at lunch, and wood-fired sharing plates in the evening, all accompanied by chic low-intervention wines. Most of the menu happens to be vegetarian, with highlights including a turmeric roasted cauliflower and oven-warm mushroom flatbread.

Run by the Nguyen brothers and sisters, this stylish family-owned Vietnamese restaurant in Brixton offers modern takes on classic dishes. Notably, much of the menu is vegan or vegetarian, with highlights including delicate banh khot mini-pancakes laced with turmeric, bowls of vegan hue chay noodle soup infused with lemongrass and chilli, and banh tam bi, thick noodles tossed with herbs and tofu and drenched in a coconut-soy dressing. Meat-free Mondays are popular, and there’s a short-but-sweet drinks list with the obligatory Vietnamese coffee and natural wines.

An entirely plant-based menu (organic and GMO-free, naturally) of comforting classics like butterbean and callaloo curry, Korean plantain ‘wings’, Redefine meat burgers and bowls make this vegan restaurant in Palmers Green excellent for day or night; casual enough to drop in, but worthy of a celebration.

The associations between barbecue and meat are inextricable, and chefs Daniel Watkins and Andrew Clarke are masters of the form. But their restaurant at Dalston’s 40FT Brewery is a gentle reminder of just how sublime barbecued vegetables can be – huge swathes of the small plates menu are vegan, from coal roast celeriac with mushroom-kelp XO to an all-in hearth vegetable plate brimming with flavours and textures, all cooked over open flame. A freshly poured brew is essential, and the restaurant comes into its own when visiting with a group or during finer weather.

With bright, minimal interiors and a MO of sunny Australian fare, it’s little wonder that Sydney chef Bill Granger’s restaurants are so popular. His Chelsea outpost is a wonderful place to post up for a couple of hours for cocktails, dinner, or for one of the restaurant’s legendary brunches. There’s a strong lineup of vegetarian dishes that include a flavourful tofu and squash curry with holy basil, sunny chopped salads, superb small plates and excellent desserts – don’t miss the pavlova. A lovely terrace is on hand for sunny days to make the most of good weather.

With a thoughtful and seasonal approach to sourcing, this intimate vegan restaurant on Mare Street is perhaps one of the city’s best new plant-forward eateries. With many items sourced from regenerative farms, produce is often some of the best available and cooking highlights each ingredient’s flavour. Small plates like a winter salad of radicchio, blood oranges and homemade almond feta are standouts, while a main of red, white and golden beetroot on a bed of tender kale shouldn’t be missed. Can’t choose? Plump for the seven-course tasting menu, a snip at £57. There’s a pretty courtyard for warm weather, too.

Owner of one of Istanbul’s most celebrated restaurants, Civan Er’s Anatolian gem also happens to be one of Soho’s finest. Open fire cooking and carefully sourced British ingredients are constants, with noteworthy vegetarian and vegan sharing options on both a la carte and set menus, both of which offer excellent value for this level of cooking; bulgur fritters and courgette flower tempura with aged feta and honey are superb, while wood-fired aubergine with figs and Pedro Ximenez sherry makes for a decadent main. A smart, relaxed dining room is a perfect setting for watching Soho go by; dessert remains unmissable.

Renowned for their bakery and excellent pasta, this London Fields standout also looks after its vegetarian customers well. There are a few veg options on the concise menu, but each one is superb; coco beans with earthy cavolo nero and Parmesan are a worthy prelude to some of the city’s finest pasta, while tender salt baked radishes arrive draped in creamy Stracciatella. A buzzing dining pulses with a relaxed Hackney crowd, while an outdoor terrace is perfect for warm summer evenings.

The best kitchens have always been able to knock out sublime vegetable dishes, and Elliot’s is a perfect example. Thank their peerless sourcing – bitter leaf and puntarelle salads are outstanding, while seasonal vegetables (like mauve aubergine) are grilled in a wood oven and presented with simple garnishes. Classic cocktails and mezcals are a huge strength, and there’s a pretty PDR for private dinners, too. Oh, and there are wood-fired pizzas, perfectly blistered and available for delivery in the Hackney area, or to greedily scarf down at the restaurant.

While most of the menu at this classic Shoreditch restaurant caters for omnivores, it’s worth noting that Rochelle Canteen offers some of the best vegetable cookery around – and a meal in its idyllic garden is one that non-meat eaters should be able to experience. A scattering of vegetable-focused dishes is effortlessly delicious – roast carrots with red onions and goats curd for winter, perhaps, or a comforting plate of slow-cooked squash with chanterelles and barley. Desserts remain among London’s very best, and the hospitality is second to none.

One of South London’s most popular restaurants, this Taiwanese gua bao specialist in Peckham (and its sibling, Daddy Bao) are offering a short-but-sweet menu of steamed buns (with a variety of fillings), dumplings, sides, and curries. An outstanding selection of pure plant-based small plates, snacks, and mains makes it ideal for new and seasoned vegetarians and vegans alike.

Difficult to miss – even on bustling Broadway Market – this bright and chic café makes for a perfect pit stop during lunch or for a casual gathering in the evenings. A broadly Middle Eastern menu of plant-based dishes is perfect fare for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike; start with warm flatbreads and dips, before moving onto sharing plates like a dish of baked carrots with mint pesto, or crisp aubergine polenta chips. Heartier options are available, and a popular brunch and all-vegan wine list are compelling reasons to return.

Imagine a cosy, dimly-lit wine bar with a menu of exclusively cheese and wine pairings. Now, make it vegan. Just off Brick Lane, the offering at the Cheese Cellar is an easy sell, with vegan wines selected by award-winning sommelier Clara Rubin, flavourful bakes from Fabrique, and vegan cheeses like a peppy Brixton Blue or an entire vegan Camembert roasted with rosemary.

Many of the most loved dishes at London’s best Chinese restaurants happen to be vegetarian or vegan, and this hip Clapton restaurant leans into that with a mostly vegan and vegetarian menu perfect for sharing. Cold snacks liked black fungus salad, sesame noodles and smacked cucumbers make for an excellent start to a meal here; afterwards, go deep with platters of typhoon shelter brussel sprouts and Yunnan-style aubergine. A short-but-sweet list of craft beers, cocktails and low-intervention wines completes the experience.

Hackney’s favourite dim sum specialist has plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes – crispy-chewy sui gok dumplings come loaded with truffle and potato, smacked cucumbers and marinated silken tofu are beautifully light, and a vegan mapo tofu with shiitake makes for a perfect cold-weather dinner. Punchy cocktails and wine round it out, and their Victoria Park boasts at stunning patio decorated with plants and colourful hanging lanterns.

A sibling restaurant to the extremely popular Mr Bao (and itself a local staple), this Taiwanese gua bao specialist in Tooting offers a short-but-sweet menu of steamed buns (with a variety of fillings), dumplings, sides, and curries. An outstanding selection of pure plant-based small plates, snacks, and mains makes it ideal for new and seasoned vegetarians and vegans alike.

The original Peckham site of this stylish family-owned Vietnamese restaurant offers modern takes on classic dishes, and is run by the five Nguyen siblings. Notably, much of the menu is vegan or vegetarian, with highlights including delicate banh khot mini-pancakes laced with turmeric, bowls of vegan hue chay noodle soup infused with lemongrass and chilli, and banh tam bi, thick noodles tossed with herbs and tofu and drenched in a coconut-soy dressing. Meat-free Mondays are popular, and there’s a short-but-sweet drinks list with the obligatory Vietnamese coffee and natural wines.

Tucked between Shoreditch High Street and Curtain Road, this bright all-day cafe and hangout serves excellent brews and a lineup of fresh and hearty vegetarian plates throughout the day. Offerings are superior to comparable vegetarian cafe offerings in the area — zesty salads, melty toasties stuffed with Neals Yard’s finest, and heartier fare (like slow-roast cauliflower with black garlic and samphire) make for a convenient and delicious spot to return to. Especially lovely during warmer weather, when picnic benches line the pedestrianised street outside.