London is one of the top cities in the world for vegan dining options and the UK as a whole is pretty great too. This post is a non-comprehensive list of some of my personal favourite vegan food in London. It's my opinion only and no one has paid me or offered me free meals in exchange for a review. Down with paid bias and up with honesty and supporting businesses with your pounds and positivity.
There are heaps of other London vegan restaurants I enjoy that aren't on this list and loads I haven't visited at all, so don't flip your table if I've not mentioned somewhere you love. I'll try to keep the list updated, but I'll also probably forget.
I'm not including photos for everything because I can't be arsed.
Vegan restaurants and cafes
Dauns
Scandinavian vegan food by a Swedish chef. Of all the vegan restaurants in the immediate area, this is the one you should prioritise. It's a cosy cafe space with a menu suitable for both the snackish and famished. The open faced sandwiches (smörrebröd) are a frequent choice of mine and when I'm really hungry I typically go for the tunnbrödsrulle, which is a sort of sandwich comprised of flatbread with mashed potatoes and a hot dog. The potato salad is never a bad idea. I'm not usually a chocolate person but for something sweet I love the chocolate and oatmeal globes (chokladbollar). There's also a small grocery section, where you can buy salty liquorice, vegan meats and cheeses, dill flavoured crisps, and more.
Black Cat
Arising from the ashes of Pogo Cafe, Black Cat was opened a long while back now by two of the loveliest activists you could ever meet. The business has since been taken over by an equally charming family who still dish up some of London's best comfort food in a welcoming community space. The portions are generous and the prices very fair. They do a mean vegan fry up, their burgers are excellent, and they have a good range of bakery items too.
Mali Vegan Thai
Many of my readers know I run vegan Thai supper clubs in London, so I'm pretty well versed in Thai cuisine. As a result I'm quite fussy about Thai menus, but Mali does a great job of meeting the local palate where they are while still retaining legitimate Thai flavours and style. Menu items change from time to time, but get the miang kam if they have it. Other dishes I love are the fried rice with salted beef, tom yam mama noodles, and nam tok noodle soup with mushrooms and tofu. Their chive cakes are also extremely good. They do a split hot pot special in the cold months.
Purezza
London isn't short on vegan Neapolitan pizza options (there's almost always a decent marinara within reach), but none compare to the options at Purezza. The parmigiana party (aubergine, tomato, cheese) is my go to, but I recently tried the pistachio pizza (vegan stracciatella, ham, pistachio pesto) and I've been craving it ever since. Their caesar salad is also top notch (the UK calls everything that isn't cooked a salad, but it's actually difficult to find a good lettuce based salad) and I struggle to not order the meatballs every time.
They also purchased La Fauxmagerie, London's first vegan cheesemonger, so they have a variety of vegan cheeses for sale as well as a separate downstairs space with a cheese and wine menu (I've not been but I've been told you need to book a couple weeks in advance).
Mukbap
This tiny Korean vegan restaurant has a very limited number of seats and they don't accept reservations, which means you might need to queue, but it's 57827872% worth it. The tteokbokki with ramen and cheese and soybean paste stew are probably my favourite mains (but they're all good). For sides I usually go for the kimchi pancake, kimmari, and/or kongjaban.
Naifs
I don't understand why people aren't shouting from the rooftops about this place because it is A+++ superb and should be a priority for everyone. None of this waaahhhh but Peckham is too far nonsense. These folks know how to treat vegetables and they're hyper creative and skillful in the kitchen. It's a bright, gorgeous space that's welcoming, professional, comfortable and grown up without any pretentiousness. The menu changes seasonally. Go.
Coven of Wiches
The arrival of this sandwich and pickle bar are proof that the sandwich gods have stopped frowning upon this isle. Yes, I have a thing about sandwiches, and yes this is one of the most common complaints of North Americans who've found themselves living in the UK. My complaints have decreased 666% since Coven of Wiches opened. There are some constants on the menu (the reuben is always a great choice) as well as some rotating specials. They once banged a slab of lasagna in ciabatta piled with slaw, lettuce, balsamic tomatoes, and mayo. It's one of the best sandwiches I've ever shoved in my gob.
Thenga Cafe
I sometimes come here for lunch on research days at the British Library. It's a no frills cafe with wholesome and filling Indian and Bangladeshi flavours. I usually go for the thali, which always includes dal, a vegetable dish of the day, and rice for £10-11. It's a bargain for such generous portions in central location. Everyone is friendly and it's reaffirming to see so many people eating and chatting, to the extent you could trick yourself into believing you live in a world where community ranks higher than laptops.
Essential Vegan
As of June 2025 they're operating out of two kitchens: one at Ten to One Bar (Haringey) and another at All My Friends (Hackney Wick). I've not visited the former, but I'm familiar with much of the menu from their old location in Shoreditch. Get all of the small plates but also be very hungry when you go so you can also have their Feijoada. All My Friends has a more limited menu and the pão de queijo waffle (and feijoada of course) are solid choices.
Itadakizen
There are different menus for lunch and dinner; the former is more noodle soup and set meal based while the latter is more of a small plates affair. This is one of the longer standing vegan restaurants in London (I recall visiting for the first time around 2010). Service is quick and it's a cute space. I like the creamy spicy ramen on the lunch menu and I'll never turn down a good kitsune udon. It's been awhile since I've been here for dinner, but gomadofu is always a good choice.
Third Culture Deli
A small cafe and deli space by the owners of I Am Nut Okay vegan cheese. They've got a selection of hot and cold drinks (some quite creative), good sandwiches, and sweet bakes. The space also double as a small vegan grocer, where you can buy their range of excellent cheese. They occasionally open in the evening for ticketed pop ups. Go earlier in the day for the best selection.
Vegan Yes
This health focussed—but don't let that put you off—spot boasts a Korean Italian fusion menu with hits such as toppognocchi (tteokbokki and gnocchi with a passata and gochujang sauce). The menu is very heavy on kimchi, of which they have four varieties: red (your standard Chinese cabbage variety), viola (red cabbage and carrots with rosemary), yellow (daikon with turmeric and ginger), and green (white cabbage with mint and spirulina). My favourite of the kimchi dishes is the kimchi tempeh.
Beza Ethiopian
London has a lot of wholly vegan Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants, but Beza tops my list because of the green and red chilli sauces they serve along with your meal. Go with friends and get a massive beyaynetu platter.
Tofu Vegan
When they opened up in Islington a few years ago it was the news of the vegan town and now they've grown to have multiple locations. Some of my favourites: sliced 'fisc' in sizzling chilli oil, Dongbei sweet potato noodles, man and wife slices, house made silken tofu with spicy sauce, fisc-fragrant aubergine, Chongqing chick'n, wontons in house special sauce. They do dim sum, but I don't rate it as highly as the rest of the menu.
Fun game: ask any bro who's ever made dumplings what they think of Tofu Vegan and they'll be the first to complain about the lack of authenticity. More times than not it's an attitude born of ignorance. Businesses deserve to stay afloat and to do so often involves modifications to suit local audiences. This isn't news and it happens everywhere with every cuisine. Follow up question if you can be arsed to stick with the conversation: which culinary academy did you attend in China? Be sure to express jealousy they were able to spend a couple years studying abroad.
Kippysnacks
Shameless plug, but I run semi frequent vegan Thai supper clubs from my home in East London.
Vegan bakeries
Beaten by a Whisker
This exceptional vegan bakery sells a range of high baked goods from fresh loaves to sweet buns (the cinnamon and babka are favourites). Their sandwiches are creative and many steps above any of those weird triangles this country is obsessed with. I especially enjoyed a cream cheese, dill, and smoked carrot sarnie I had a year or so ago. There's focaccia, tarts, cakes, and hot drinks too. Get there early, especially on weekends when there might even be a queue. They do sell out.
Nonvegan restaurants with vegan options
Yun Cross Bridge Noodles
Look no further than Yun for Yunnan cuisine, which is a unique and underrepresented culinary region in China. Vegan options are plentiful and include vegan cross bridge noodles, little pot noodles, silken tofu noodles (I think this one is my favourite, though it's hard to choose), sa pie noodles (cold sweet, sour, and spicy dipping broth with noodles), congee noodles (made with a creamy bean porridge) and more. Beyond noodles, they've got some of the best small plates in town. The granny's mashed potato, pu'er su beans (fried beans with tea leaves), fermented fried tofu, split pea jelly, and langya chilli potato are my favourites from the starters/small plates menu. If you can only choose one, go for the mash. The rose ice jelly is a perfect finish to your meal.
Kailash Momo
It's worth a trip to Woolwich for this Himalayan mainstay with plentiful vegan options. I alternate between ordering jhol and chilli veg momo when I'm craving dumplings. The sel roti and bhatmas sets are also solid options. I love their fried bread. I'm beyond grateful this is an easy local-ish option for me and forever saddened by how few people make the effort to eat here.
Persepolis
A backbone of the Peckham community, this Middle Eastern food space is unlike anything else in London. It's a laid back and informal combination corner shop and restaurant space. Most of the items on the menu are vegan or can be veganised, including their out of the ballpark sundaes (the hot paklava meltdown is my favourite). You can't go wrong with anything you order, but if you're a rice fiend you'd be nuts to skip whatever pulao they have on the menu. I also love the khorma malous (tofu and dates fried with baharat seasoning) and the fattet is one of the best plates in London. If you're not in the mood for a sundae, go for the fried apples with barberry coulis. The massive drinks menu is also inspired (all non alcoholic).
Normah's
Founded by a superstar named Normah, this Malaysian hole in the wall has limited (three) but outstanding vegan options. I've had both the nasi lemak and assam pedas, both of which I'd order again in a heartbeat. This place is p-o-p-u-l-a-r, with a need to make reservations a month or two in advance, but if you show up before they open (17:00), they might squeeze you in if your promise to eat quickly.
Koya Udon
This Japanese udon noodle bar has three locations, each with slightly different menus. My go to is the kinoko udon, a hot udon soup served with a dollop of walnut and miso paste (available at the Soho and City locations). Their curry udon is comforting and the zaru is great during our 8 days of summer.
Sabiib Somali Restaurant
I've only been once but 10/10 for food, service, and cleanliness. We had the soor iyo spinach and fafaqo for mains. Somalia culture loves the humble banana, which is eaten right alongside mains, as in slice the banana straight into your food. It's a revelation how good that is. The chutneys are excellent and diners get a free bowl of welcome soup, which is vegan by default. Make an afternoon of it and hit up The Museum of Homelessness at the Manor House Gate entrance to Finsbury Park, 15 minutes' (walking) down Green Lanes.
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