5 best vegan restaurants in London to try this Veganuary

As the dust of 2024 begins to settle and that fresh 2025 hangover rears its ugly head, January kicks off a time of culinary celebration for all our plant-based pals – Veganuary. Starting life as a 2014 charity campaign encouraging people to eat less meat, this once humble movement has grown into something akin to vegan Christmas. With over 450,000 Brits signing up to Veganuary in 2020, everyone from supermarkets to fast food chains now annually get into the vegmas spirit, debuting a wide array of exciting new vegan products and dishes.

Yet it’s not just Sainsbury’s and Tesco bringing the plant-y party, but London’s brilliant restaurant scene, too. Consistently ranking in the top ten vegan cities in the world, London has long been a plant-based mecca – and you can bet your broccoli that the big smoke gets in on the vegxtravaganza. From Tendril to Purezza, there are more brilliant vegan restaurants in England’s capital than you can shake a falafel at. With us all looking to make a change for the better in the new year – and restaurants kicking off 2025 with exciting Veganuary menus - whether you’re a seasoned soy-lover or merely just veggie curious, there’s never been a better time to dine cruelty-free.

Without further ado, here are some epic eats to try out in 2025, and help you stuff your way through those winter blues.

5. Ima

16 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, London, United Kingdom
Reservations here

As a vegan of five years, there are few sadder meals than vegan sushi. From flavourless asparagus rolls to clammy cucumber, vegan options at the sushi bar are usually more depressing than an 8am pint. Thankfully, the chefs at Clerkenwell’s newly-opened Ima are hoping to change that.

Nestled on the corner of Clerkenwell’s bustling Exmouth Market, Ima offers up colourful and creative fishless twists on Japanese staples. From irresistibly crunchy parsnip ‘crab’ tempura rolls , to gochujang-coated inari sweetcorn tofu firecracker and 'Beetroot-Kissed Mango ‘Tuna’', each succulently fresh creation is a delightfully inventive no-fish sushi twist. The starters equally impress, with a phenomenally crispy and flavoursome sesame butternut squash toast, perfectly recreating the comforting crunch of one of my most missed non-vegan dishes - prawn toast.

It’s worth noting that while the vast majority of dishes at Ima are vegan, there are a few clearly labelled dairy options available for those diners that are still on the udder. While Ima’s playfully Studio Ghibli-themed cocktails failed to live up to the lofty highs of the food, Ima’s colourful rolls single handedly changed my perception of vegan sushi. A cruelty-free, fishless delight.

Must-try dish: Sesame prawn toast/ the ‘crab’ tempura

4. The Spread Eagle Pub

224 Homerton High Street, E9 6AS, London, United Kingdom
Reservations here

As nice as fine dining is, sometimes you just want a cold pint and a good bit of pub grub. Yet while your local may have a few vegan-friendly options, no one wants to take the risk of struggling through a dry £18 nut roast.

Thank Quorn then for The Spread Eagle pub. London’s first fully vegan pub, everything from the cocktails and wines to starters and bar snacks are fully plant-based in this Homerton haunt. As it’s a pub, The Spread Eagle caters for those who want to snack while enjoying a winter tipple, as well as offering full three course meals. Yet it’s also a great night out, hosting regular karaoke night and pub quizzes. From the comfortingly melting Whole baked shamembert, to burgers and mushroom stroganoff, there’s a good mix of vegan-friendly pub grub to tuck into.

Whether you’re sipping on a coconut milk White Russian or chowing down on some pie and mash, The Spread Eagle is a wonderfully informal way to grab some tasty vegan food before – or during – a night out.

Must-try dish: Sunday roast

3. Bean’s Café

Hackney Downs, E5 8FB, London, United Kingdom
Reservations here

Not every meal has to be a wallet-destroying endeavour, and when it comes to plant-based breakfasts, there are few better options than East London’s cosy Bean's Cafe. This Hackney hidden gem is situated just opposite the tranquil treeline of Hackney Downs park, and fittingly, Bean’s Café’s menu keeps things equally au natural.

A light and calming space with a welcome focus on sustainability, Beans ditches the mock meats for all natural ingredients, serving up delightfully fresh and healthy dishes. From your classic scrambled tofu full English to stuffed sweet and savoury croissants or even a delightfully decadent autumnal fruit-coated French toast, there are a deluge of delicious brunch options to kick off your day. Yet where Bean’s truly shines is in its toasties, from its Guinness-soaked Irish rarebit, to an all-new stuffing, cauliflower and mushroom ‘roast’ sandwich. Amazing whether you’re popping in for a quick breakfast bite or simply looking to snack as you catch up over a coffee, Bean’s has your Veganuary brunch date sorted.

Must-try dish: Autumnal French Toast

2. Mildreds

Locations across London
Reservations here

If you’re vegan or know a vegan Londoner, there’s a good chance you’ve been to a Mildreds. With branches in Camden, Covent Garden, King’s Cross, Soho, Victoria and Dalston, the plant-based fine dining chain has gone from strength to strength. Starting out with a mission to serve fantastic food and drink for everyone – that just so happens to be vegan – it’s a goal that Mildreds has most certainly accomplished.

With a varied menu that offers everything from a tangy smoked paprika arancini rossi to a rich and creamy makhani tomato cashew and tofu curry, Mildred’s caters to everyone looking for the simplicity of a burger or a more spicy Asian-inspired dish.

For Veganuary, the chain is rolling out an entirely new South American-themed menu, ranging from pozole rojo to a ‘chorizo’ burrito. While we’re yet to try the new dishes, Mildred’s is one of the few restaurants that manages to excel at every type of cuisine it tries - along with serving the expertly concocted cocktail to match. If you’re looking for a wide variety of options to appease even the fussiest diner, you can’t go wrong with Mildreds.

Must-try dish: mañanero brunch plate

1. Tofu Vegan

Locations across London
Reservations here

When it comes to winning restaurant names, you won’t find Tofu Vegan topping any lists. Thankfully for diners, what this chain lacks in an original monicker it certainly makes up for in the kitchen.

Inspired by Sichuan cuisine, Tofu Vegan takes the kind of high-end cuisine you’d expect to find in Chinatown’s best but delivers it entirely meat-free. Boasting an almost overwhelming six page menu, Tofu vegan delivers big on flavour. From the chilli-infused punch of its Chongqing chick’n to its moreish salty Twice-cooked ‘fisc’, every dish is an utter delight. While they do the Chinese staples of ‘duck’ and pancakes and dim-sim, even the simple vegetable dishes are exquisite, with the stir-fried lotus roots and pan-seared padron peppers both being better than they have any reasonable right to be.

For those looking to please meat-eater friends, Tofu Vegan is an easy way to delight even the most vegetable-sceptic. Whether you’re in Spitalfields or King’s Cross, make sure to schedule in one of the best Chinese meals you’ve ever had.

Must-try dish: Honestly, you really can’t go wrong

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