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Cardiff - and the surrounding area - has some great places when it comes to vegan and vegetarian food.

Some of the bigger chains which are popular among veggie diners are included, as well as a host of independents which have put a lot of effort into feeding the different dietary requirements of the area's foodies.

Here, in no particular order, are the restaurants and cafes that you really need to try. Tuck in!

Anna-Loka

(Image: Anna Loka/Instagram)

Anna-Loka, Cardiff’s first 100% vegan café , serves a full menu of vegan alternatives to classic dishes.

The café, which has around 20 tables, serves up free-from breads, custom-made pizzas, pancakes, doughnuts and smoky, crispy vegan rashers.

And to wash it all down there’s a bar providing Kombucha, or what the ancient Chinese called the ‘tea of immortality’ – an alcohol-free, fermented tea beverage which tastes like something between sparkling apple cider and champagne.

It can be hard to replicate a good fry up when you're vegan - but Anna Loka do an exceptional job.

Their Cali breakfast is a massive hit and can easily fill that cooked breakfast gap you're missing. Homemade sausages, smokey rashers, avo, scrambled tofu. Yum.

Where: 114 Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RU

anna-loka.com

Wild Thing Cafe

(Image: Wild Thing/Facebook)

One of Cardiff's newest cafes and 100% vegan, Wild Thing pack their menu with meals full of delicious seasonal ingredients.

They also aim to reduce environmental impact and fight food poverty.

These aims go hand-in-hand with delicious dishes like black rice porridge topped with turmeric roasted apples and nut butters. And at lunchtime their soup choice is always 'pay what you can' .

Deliciously decent.

Where: 104 Clare Road, CF11 6RT

www.wildthingcardiff.com

Herbivore @The Embassy Cafe

With its carefully created vegan and veggie menu, Herbivore sets up shop at Cathay's Embassy Cafe every weekend, serving imaginative and homemade dishes.

Cauliflower and cumin fritters or rose rice pudding are just two of the unique-sounding dishes from the ever-changing menu.

As well as being found at The Embassy they have monthly supper events around South Wales.

Where: The Embassy Cafe is at 36 Cathays Terrace, CF24 4HX

www.theherbivore.co.uk

The Vegan Box

(Image: The Vegan Box/Facebook)

Pop over Caerphilly mountain and you'll find The Vegan Box tucked in Caerphilly Indoor Market.

By their own admission they are bangin'! But also sustainable and cruelty-free. Their menu is full of meat-alternatives, like seitan bacon baps and sausage rolls. But also they have loaded chips, pancakes and the Caerphilly Fried Chicken bap (which is seitan!) and their 'Philly chez Steak.

Where: Caerphilly Indoor Market, Pentrebane St, CF83 1FR

www.theveganboxlimited.com

Crumbs Kitchen

Crumbs Kitchen specialises in healthy, vegetarian and vegan food.

There are plenty of hearty eats including soup, jacket potatoes, curries and chilli.

Where: 33 Morgan Arcade, CF10 1AF

www.crumbskitchencardiff.co.uk

Vegetarian Food Studio

Enjoy an authentic and vegetarian taste of India at this purely vegetarian restaurant which also has many dishes for vegans.

It uses fresh vegetables, herbs and spices to create unique vegetarian dishes. There are starters, smaller plates and Bombay snacks as well as oriental dishes

Where: 115-117 Penarth Road, Cardiff, CF11 6JU

www.vegetarianfoodstudio.co.uk

Madhav

This is an Asian mini-market and a great veggie café too. Madhav brings a vegetarian twist to the classic Indian restaurant.

Get the Thali special and potato balls (that includes vegetable curry, daal, rice, two different types of vegetables in spiced sauces, a potato fritter, chutney and jalebi.)

Where: 59 Lower Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 6LW

You can see reviews for Madhav on TripAdvisor .

Clancy's

(Image: Clancy's)

Clancy's is another place to grab a bite if you're on the go.

There are plenty of spices and ingredients for cooking at home and you can also swing by for lunch too.

Where: Cardiff Market, CF10 1AU

You can follow Clancy's on Twitter .

Cafe Atma

(Image: Atma/Instagram)

The cafe run by monks offers a wide range of vegan options.

And for £5.50 you can get a hearty bowl of their curry of the day, homemade dal, rice and salad.

Where: Capitol Centre, Queen Street

Wahaca

It's been a firm favourite since opening in Cardiff , and offers a good mix of options for meat-eaters and veggies.

The Mexican chain's menu is split into street food dishes and larger “platos fuertes”, such as a winter vegetable burrito.

Where: The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1GA

www.wahaca.co.uk

Fresh

This is one of the Welsh capital’s most popular sandwich bars and each lunchtime you will see a queue snaking outside the little shop. The family-owned business provides a varied menu with paninis and baguettes and a good selection for vegetarians. There isn't really much seating so it's a good one if you're on the go.

Try their oven baked garlic field mushroom panini with dijon mustard, finished with rocket and Parmesan and quorn.

Where: 32 Royal Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AE

www.morganquarter.co.uk/store/fresh/

Ffwrnes

(Image: Josh Knapman)

The Cardiff Market pizza experts not only cater for pepperoni pizza-lovers, but they also keep vegans and veggies happy.

The former with their Happy Herbivore pizza, which is topped with the most delicious mix of mushrooms, red onion, olives, basil and extra virgin olive oil.

Where: Upstairs at Cardiff Central Market, CF10 1AU

www.ffwrnes.co.uk

Cosy Club

It's not a vegetarian restaurant, but it offers some tasty grub for those who are vegan or don't eat meat.

There's something for non-meat and non-dairy eaters on the brunch, tapas, main and pudding menu, including a vegan BLT and chocolate orange torte!

Where: 1 Hills Street, St David's, Cardiff, CF10 2LE

www.cosyclub.co.uk/cardiff

Blanche Bakery

Everything in this coffee shop is 100% vegan, from drinks to food so you're bound to find something you'll enjoy.

However, it's the vegan doughnuts that get customers talking - and you can see why, just look at them.

Where: MacKintosh Place, Cardiff

www.blanchebakery.co.uk

Greazy Vegan

(Image: Instagram/Greazy Vegan)

Going vegan doesn't mean ditching fast food.

Especially when you go to plant-based junk food restaurant Greazy Vegan. They do takes on classic fast food, like burgers, chicken and cheesey fries.

Their vacon double cheese burger, for example, swaps the bacon, cheese and burger parts of a traditional version and replaces it all with vegan alternatives that still taste like you want them to.

Where: 47-49 Castle Arcade, CF10 1BW

www.greazyvegan.com

Dough Thrower

(Image: The Dough Thrower)

Another pizza place looking after its vegan and veggie customers, Dough Thrower even have vegan cheese on request.

They also do a cashew ricotta.

Where: 591, Cowbridge Road East, CF5 1BE

thedoughthrower.com

Wagamama

If you love Japanese food and are vegan you are spoilt for choice with noodle bar Wagas.

Choose from vegatsu - katsu curry made with seitan and served with their yummy katsu sauce. Or a glass noodle salad.

Whatever you choose it's tasty.

Where: 14 Mill Lane CF10 1FL/Mermaid Quay CF10 5BZ

www.wagamama.com

Chai Street

(Image: Bwyta)

After a successful few weeks of trialling their vegan menu last year, Chai Street have brought over a lot of the favourites to their regular menu.

That includes their starters such as potato fritters, onion bhajee and idli chaat.

Along with that, the majority of dishes can be made vegan or vegetarian.

Where: High Street, Cowbridge Road and Wellfield Road, Cardiff

Kemi's

(Image: Kemi's/Instagram)

Kemi's cracking rainbow salads attract diners far and wide and they change often, so get used to having lots of favourites!

They also do special vegan dinner events, so keep an eye on their Facebook for more.

Where: 186 - 188 Kings Road, CF11 9DF

Las Iguanas

There are a few Las Iguanas restaurants around, but the good thing about them is they have pulled all the vegetarian and vegan options out of the main menu so you don't have to search for them.

So if Latin American food is your thing then this is a good choice.

Where: 8 Mill Lane CF10 1FL/Mermaid Quay CF10 5BZ

www.iguanas.co.uk

Pieminister

Pieminister now has two vegan pies to choose from. The Kevin, a pie filled with mushroom, tomato, red wine and thyme. As this pie proved such a hit, instantly becoming one of Pieminister’s best-selling pies Pieminister have introduced another, Chooks Away!

A vegan take on a classic chicken pie, it’s made with tender pieces of tofu and seitan ‘chicken’ in a smoked garlic and sherry sauce. If you are eating it in one of Pieminster’s restaurants, it’s perfect coupled with Pieminister’s plant-based poutine-style loaded fries with caramelised onions, vegan cheese and rich gravy.

Where: 35 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1AD

www.pieminister.co.uk

Lazy Leek

(Image: The Lazy Leek)

A cute little vegan cafe in the heart of Pontcanna, Lazy Leek does lush dirty fries, great vegan burgers like The Italian Job, which is an arancini burger filled with garlic mushrooms and melty 'mozzerella'. Wow.

Where: Kings Road Yard, 183A Kings Rd, CF11 9DF

Grazing Shed

They've had a vegan burger on the menu for a while, but to mark the ex-Dirty Sanchez man's new TV show about veganism, they've launched a new one.

Pritchard's Dirty Vegan has a bit of a spicy kick, showing that vegan doesn't mean bland.

Where: St Mary Street, Barrack Lane, and Clear Water Way, Cardiff