Eating out can be the biggest challenge for new vegans.

In fact anyone who’s embarked on an unfamiliar or challenging eating plan may prefer to stay home rather than have dinner in a restaurants.

And don’t get us started on takeaways.


Half of Britain’s top restaurant chains can’t offer even one vegan main course according to Ethical Consumer research.

The good news is the other half can.

We’ve lined up the best British High Street restaurant chains for vegans, plus our top picks from the menu.

Yo! Sushi

Tofu Katsu Curry (Picture: Yo! Sushi)

Miso Dumpling Ramen (Picture: Yo! Sushi)

Vegan sushi may sound like an oxymoron to some but it’s huge new in the US.



The Japanese conveyor belt set-up now offers a massive 19 vegan dishes despite the fact it’s seen as fish-focused. Yo! also does a bespoke hand roll, so you can make it vegan.

Try the miso dumpling ramen, vegetable yaki soba, tofu katsu curry (which won a PETA award for Best Vegan Curry) and vegetable gyoza dumplings.

Wahaca

Wahaca CW (Picture: Amy Murrell)

Mexican chain Wahaca has a decent vegan menu with choices for starters, sides and mains.

Top picks include their hass avocado and lime guacamole and tortilla chips, £4.25, crispy plantain in soft corn tortillas, £3.95, and super-charged salad with roasted cauliflower, avocado, spelt, pumpkin seeds and pink pickled onions in a crispy tortilla bowl, £8.50.

Giraffe

Laksa (Picture: Giraffe/Giles Christopher – Media Wisdom Photography Ltd)

Goan Curry Veggie (Picture: Giraffe)

At Giraffe you can have a delicious sit-down breakfast or graze on tapenade and a selection of other meze.

Main dish highlights include the tofu squash laksa, tofu and broccoli Goan curry and the avocado smash on toast breakfast.

Las Iguanas

Quinoa salad (Picture: Las Iguanas)

Moqueca (Picture: Las Iguanas)

If tapas and fajitas are your thing, head to Las Iguanas. They have more than 50 branches in the UK and offer a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu with all dishes clearly labelled.

We love the guinoa enslalada – with quinoa, black beans, sweet potato and sweetcorn in molho à campanha on guacamole. Served with cranberry chilli salsa, roquito pepper drops & topped with corn tortilla strips and coriander. Just hold the cheese.

Or you could go for the moqueca – a mild creamy coconut curry with squash, palm hearts, spinach, peppers, garlic and fresh tomatoes. Chunky sweet plantain piled on spring onion rice, with pico de gallo and coconut farofa to sprinkle.

The Real Greek

Traditional hot and cold Greek meze, with vegan options clearly labelled. Highlights include slow-cooked beans in an herby sauce and grilled aubergine.

Le Pain Quotidien

Chilli sin carne (Picture: Le Pain Quotidien)

Organic chia seed and coconut milk pudding (Picture: Le Pain Quotidien)

Mushroom toast (Picture: Le Pain Quotidien)

Le Pain is a real pioneer when it comes to being vegan friendly.

They got blogger Fat Gay Vegan to consult on their menu and it now has a carrot symbol next to everything vegans can eat.

For breakfast we recommend the organic chia seed and coconut milk pudding with either chocolate or vanilla, or the avocado omega boost tartine with white beans, lemon hummus and toasted seeds.

For lunch try the detox salad with quinoa taboulleh, raw vegetables, avocado and organic rapeseed oil, the organic chilli sin carne with three bean varieties, fresh guacamole, soya sour cream (repeat: they even do soya sour cream), tomato and onion, or the mushroom toast with field, chestnut and porcini mushrooms, creme fraiche [ask for vegan variety], chives and Dijon mustard on toasted organic brioche.



Carluccio’s

Carluccio’s has a separate vegan menu, featuring 14 items – starters, mains, desserts and sides – including spaghetti, bruschetta, olives and fancy Italian breads.

All you have to do is ask for it.

The Italian restaurant also offers soya milk for coffees.

We love the look of the bruschetta, £5.50, with tomatoes, roasted peppers, basil and oregano on garlicky chargrilled ciabatta and the antipasto di verdure to share, £12.50, with roasted peppers,

semi-dried tomatoes, chargrilled vegetables, balsamic onions, olives and green beans with homemade focaccia.

LEON

Brazilian Black Bean – Picture: LEON

Vegan SuperClean Quinoa Salad – Picture: LEON

This expanding chain, found at stations and airports all over London, offers wholesome options such as vegan lunchboxes and salads, hummus and flatbread, and almond ‘milk’ shake in three flavours.

Try the black beans box with carrots and onions, sweet and smoked paprika, oregano and coriander, or the vegan quinoa salad with tomatoes, peas, cucumber, fresh mint, parsley and pomegranate.

Its website clearly marks vegan options.

JD Wetherspoon

You can find a Wetherspoon on almost every High Street and now they have a dedicated vegan menu. Try the sweet potato, chickpea and spinach curry or a super-food Freedom Salad with giant couscous and balsamic vinaigrette.

Pizza Express

Pizza Express recently announced its new vegan Pianta Pizza.

All its pizza bases are dairy-free, and if you take in your favourite vegan cheese you can even have it added to your pizza.

Toby Carvery

We love our #vegan Chocolate & Cherry Torte ? pic.twitter.com/OwhBDcyiEI — Toby Carvery (@tobycarvery) November 11, 2015

A carvery with two vegan main options? Right here. Try the vegan carrot and chickpea wellington or the lentil cottage pie.

They also have two vegan dessert options – a chocolate dessert and butternut squash crumble.


Wagamama

Yasai gyoza (steamed vegetable dumplings) – Picture: Wagamama

Raw salad with leaves, red onions, mooli and carrot, fried shallots and house dressing (Picture: Wagamama)

Wagamama is hot on clear labelling and always has at least some vegan options. You can start with the yasai gyoza (steamed vegetable dumplings) and some edamame.

Some options can be veganised by switching up the noodles and leaving out the fish sauce. But dedicated vegan dishes include the wok-fried greens (yum) and the raw salad with leaves, red onions, mooli and carrot, fried shallots and house dressing.

Nando’s

Despite it fame as a chicken restaurant, from salads to wraps, eating vegan at Nando’s is easy. You just need to make a few substitutions.

Try the portobello mushroom burger or pitta without the dairy sauces and halloumi. You can also eat the houmous, spicy mixed olives, garlic bread (not the kids’ version), corn on the cob (no butter), chips, and the quinoa salad with avocado instead of cheese.

The Handmade Burger Company

Spinach and Lentil Veggie Burger totally vegan) from The Handmade Burger Co.

This chain of burger restaurants has branches all over Britain including in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Sheffield.

Among the items registered with the Vegan Trademark are their Cajun vegetable and bean burger, spinach and lentil burger, chickpea and quinoa burger, sweet potato and bean burger and junior falafel burger: meaning kids and adults alike can enjoy great vegan food at their 23 restaurants.

As well as burgers they do veg skewers, super salad, chips, onion rings or corn on the cob, all free from animal products.

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