Islington, Vegan Restaurant Guide

2023 Review: “Delicious” plant-based versions of classic American comfort food – from burgers, seitan hot dogs and pastrami to milk-free shakes – cut the mustard at this pair of ‘dirty vegan diners’ in Camden Market and Islington. The Islington branch has a vegan butcher next door, touted as the world’s first, with a concession in Selfridges.

“Wow! I’m not a vegan but I was really impressed” say many fans of the “astonishingly good vegan food, mostly Sichuan”, at this fast-growing group where “the dishes are so full of flavour even meat-eating friends are now tofu converts”. The grub is “perfect not only for vegans but for anyone put off by Sichuan cuisine’s fondness for tripe, offal and the less-commonly-eaten parts of animals” – while vegetarians are “delighted to have so many options to choose from”. The dining rooms tend to be “overly bright and somewhat frenetic at busy times”, but they’re “great fun to visit with friends and order abundantly”.

On the fringe of Islington north of Chapel Market, Jordan & Chyna Johnson’s five-year-old haunt wins praise (if from a small fan club) for its “amazingly inventive vegan Caribbean food”.