Where To Find The Best Vegan Meat Alternatives in London
With more and more consumers becoming aware of the impact of meat consumption on animals, the environment, and their health, there is a growing demand for meat alternatives. If you’re looking for some delicious and sustainable plant-based dining options in London, we’ve got you covered. Here are the six best meat alternatives that you can find in the city.
Tempeh
A traditional Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans, tempeh is rich in protein and fibre, making it a perfect addition to a balanced diet. Tempeh takes advantage of the effects of special bacterial cultures that break down the protein in the beans and make them particularly accessible to the human digestive system. Containing 20% protein on average and a high fibre content, tempeh is ideal for a balanced diet.
You can sample Lodeh Tempe (traditional Javanese coconut-based tempeh curry) and cumin tempeh (a spicy, tangy tomato-based dish with robust flavours) at The Tempe Man, a food stall on Leather Lane Market (EC1N 7TJ) every Tuesday & Thursday lunchtime, serving home-made organic tempeh in two freshly cooked dishes between 12.00–14.00.
Soy protein & tofu
Soy chunks and mince are versatile meat substitutes that can be used in almost any dish. They consist of dehydrated soy, which, once mixed with water, can be used as a meat substitute in almost any dish. Soy is most commonly sold as mince, cutlets, or balls. As with tofu, marinades and spice mixtures can be added to produce virtually any aroma or flavour. This makes soy ideal for vegetarian burgers, meatballs, cutlets, bolognese sauce, or chilli sin Carne.
Visit What The Pitta for their award-winning Vegan Döner Kebab, made with GMO-free spices and soya pieces, wrapped in freshly made bread with hummus, tzatziki, and jalapeno peppers.
A cult classic amongst vegans and non-vegans, bringing pizza (lahmacun) and salad boxes. Find them at 53 Brick Lane. Open for dine-in.
Try it here.
Seitan
Similar in texture to meat, seitan is a popular meat alternative made from wheat gluten. It is made by washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch granules have been removed, leaving wheat gluten. Products include cold cuts, sausages, and cutlets.
Black Cat is an ethical vegan café and bookshop that offers seitan-based burgers and steaks, as well as a turkey seitan deli sandwich and chicken caesar salad. There’s an ever-changing line-up of hip salad plates, but also check out the fake meat offerings — mostly derived from seitan.
Find it on 76 Clarence Rd, Hackney.
Try it here.
Green Spelt
Spelt is a species of wheat and one of the oldest cultivated grains. Once harvested, it is roasted and dried to improve its shelf life. This process lends the spelt a particularly intense flavour and makes it easily digestible. Green spelt has an especially high content of B vitamins, along with magnesium and phosphorus. Bruised grain and semolina made from green spelt are a good basis for vegetarian/vegan patties, cutlets, and meat (free) balls. Green spelt is available as partially prepared cutlets, bruised grain, or semolina.
Try the Spelt Lasagne or Vegan Pies at Planet Organic Kitchen, where everything is certified organic by the Soil Association.
Planet Organic Kitchen offers an excellent mix-and-match menu for food counters in 8 London locations, including 23–24 Tottenham Court Rd.
The menu includes seasonal hot food, including Spelt Lasagne, Vegan Pies, salads, smoothies, juices and coffee.
Try it here.
Black beans
Burgers made from black beans are a popular, healthy, and delicious alternative to ready-made products and fast food restaurant fare. Black beans are rich in protein and fibre and are popular in Latin American cuisine. The darker the bean, the more anthocyanins it contains. This natural vegetable colourant is a potent antioxidant.
Club Mexicana serves up a punchy vegan-Mex flavour at Seven Dials Market, 16 Short’s Gardens.
Check out their Cheezeburger tacos, annatto glazed ‘short rib’ burritos, and loaded nachos with beans. This location has its separate entrance and seating, serving vegan tacos, mock chicken wings, cheesy fries with vegan wine, beer and frozen Margaritas.
Try it here.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas have a beneficial nutrient composition. They contain more protein than many types of meat, provide a substantial portion of iron, and have a calcium content similar to milk. Rich in fibre, chickpeas are very filling and constitute the basic ingredient in several Middle Eastern dishes, including falafel and hummus.
Serving internationally inspired, colourful food, Mildreds has welcomed everyone since it opened in 1988. Located on St Martin’s Lane, in the heart of Covent Garden, Mildreds 100% plant-based food includes creamy hummus with apricot and harissa with chickpeas accompanied by soft, warm pitas. There is a private dining space for up to 10 people.
Try it here.
Discover even more plant-based dining options with the Places App! Find the perfect meat-free meal and support sustainable and ethical food choices, all with just a few taps.
