Forget the fatty, heart-clogging cliches of fast food — a new downtown London eatery is giving that sector of the restaurant industry a healthy, environmentally conscious twist.

Billing itself as Canada’s first vegan fast-food restaurant, Globally Local has opened on Dundas Street with a menu and operation that looks familiar — quickly made burgers, fries, pop, BLTs, coffee — but has one big difference: no animal products in anything.

“It’s vegan McDonald’s, basically,” said James McInnes, who opened the eatery with his wife and business partner, Lia, last week. “We’re trying to really create vegan versions of fast-food items that we’re familiar with and in love with.

“(We) take the most popular fast food . . . make it without animal products and still make it taste as good or better . . . at fast-food prices. And (it’s) convenient and fast.”

The eatery is located at 252 Dundas St., across the street from London Public Library's Central branch.

The menu includes a breakfast BLT — made with soy-based “tempeh” bacon — and what customers call the Vegan Big Mac, with the traditional meat patty replaced by one made of chick peas. There are also fries, onion rings and pop.

But unlike other vegan outlets, McInnes says theirs is modelled after fast-food restaurants, with no wait staff and quick service.

At midday Christmas Eve, they were serving more than a dozen customers with a set-up that could best be compared to Harvey’s.

The business started three years ago as an organic-produce delivery company, but grew into a food truck and market. That helped build a client base — nearly 14,000 Facebook followers is proof of that — and McInnes hopes that translates into restaurant success.

Globally Local says on its website its online orders and services will no longer be available, including meal kits, produce boxes and a la carte shopping.

The restaurant isn’t just courting vegans, who live life without using animal products. McInnes says they want to reach “mainstream” consumers who may have never even considered eating vegan.

“People want to eat vegan, but they just don’t know how and it’s hard and it’s not convenient,” McInnes said. “I believe by giving people access to it, we’re going to have more people eating plant-based diets . . . ”

“We’re not looking for chains in the downtown,” said Janette MacDonald, Downtown London’s general manager. “We’re looking for unique experiences, and this is definitely one of them.”