Whether you're after a quick bite or a full blown feast, we've sourced some of the best vegetarian takeaways across the country.
Vegetarian food no longer means boring salads and suspect meat alternatives. The UK has tuned in to the vegetarian market and there lots of great chefs producing top quality grub.
Food celebrities such as Yotam Ottolenghi have helped show the world what vegetarian food is all about and it’s time we sat up and took note. There are a million and one ways to jazz up veg and countless pulses and grains that taste great and do you the world of good.
So whether you’ve got a few precious minutes on your lunch break or you’ve got all evening and fancy a veg-fuelled feast, here are some top tips on where to go:
Iydea – Brighton
This little gem, tucked away in the centre of Brighton, has everything you need for quick and tasty lunch.
The cafeteria style at Iydea means all the food is on display so you can pick exactly what takes your fancy. The dishes come fresh from the kitchen and as the menu changes daily, there’s always something new and exciting to try.
The best things I’ve seen are the aubergine and goat’s cheese stacks and the Spanakopita. Mmmm.
Eighth Day Co-op – Manchester
The Eighth Day Co-op spent years hopping around Manchester before finally settling down on Oxford Road.
As well as selling a wide variety of whole foods and organic wines, their cafe serves up tasty vegetarian food to take away. You can tuck into anything from lentil and coconut soup to Japanese Kimpiri stew, topped off with vegan chocolate and rum torte or gluten free cheesecake. Hungry, anyone?
Rani – London
When it comes to Indian takeaway, Rani ticks all the boxes. Serving home-style Gujarati food, you can expect the likes of kofta paneer, coconut chutney and jalebi on the menu.
A traditional Gujarati meal consists of a sak (curry), dal, rice, bread and accompaniments, so make sure you’re hungry!
Rani’s food is mild to medium spiced, but if you tend to come out in a sweat just looking at a chilli, then there is a selection of cooling lassis to calm the flames!
Juice Island - London
This place may be small, but Juice Island is a real find in bustling Soho. If it’s healthy salads you’re after then look no further.
There are loads of tasty treats to cram into your salad box including artichoke hearts, roasted pepper and hummus. Team this with a piece of soft olive foccacia or sundried tomato bread and you’ve got yourself s pretty scrummy lunch.
They also serve up fresh juices and smoothies which they blend there and then.
No website but you can find them on Lexington Street, Soho.
Tibits – London
With its wide range of homemade salads, hot daily specials and freshly baked snacks, Tibits is a veggie heaven. The food ‘boat’ is loaded with tasty vegetarian dishes that are packed with flavour and largely made from seasonal produce.
This month, they’ve launched a special new range to take away, ‘tibits to go’. This makes it even easier to grab something in a hurry. The range includes breakfast items, antipasti mixtures, salads, sandwiches and desserts. As well as old favourites there are great new lunchboxes including a Ploughman’s Box and a Lebanese Box.
Prices range from:
- Small salads: £2.25 - £2.45
- Fruit/fruit salads: £2.40
- Drinks: £2.40 - £2.60
- Desserts: £2.45 - £2.60
- Sandwiches: £2.90
- Breakfast items: £2.90
- Boxes: £3.15 - £3.65
- Large salads: £4.75
This restaurant is so popular that lovefood.com spoke to co-founder, Reto Frei, and learnt that 90% of his customers aren’t even vegetarian!
Henderson’s – Edinburgh
Henderson’s fist opened as a shop back in 1962 selling produce from the family farm in East Lothian. The legendary basement restaurant soon followed and has since acquired a deli, bistro and bakery.
Sticking true to its principles of serving delicious, wholesome food using the freshest ingredients, Henderson’s is a haven for vegetarians and carnivores alike. The deli has become a popular choice for people on the go and with winners such as pakora, quiche and frittata, it’s not hard to see why.
As well as savoury dishes, there are handmade cakes and pastries to top it all off and fair-trade teas, coffees and hot chocolate.
The Warehouse Cafe – Birmingham
The Warehouse Cafe has to be one of the most ethical, eco-friendly cafes around. The cafe uses organic ingredients, solar power and recycled materials – even their waste vegetable oil is filtered and used to make biofuel.
So what about the food? Well, if the thought of smoked cheddar and BBQ burgers, Mexican tortillas or lime and ginger cheesecake doesn’t make hungry, then you’re a tricky, tricky customer.
Cafe Kino – Bristol
Cafe Kino is a not-for-profit co-operative that is owned by its workers and run in part by volunteers. They use organic, fair-trade and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible and everything is vegetarian and vegan.
Staff are happy to answer any questions you may have about the ingredients and are more than willing to adjust meals to your needs and/or taste.
As well as delicious food, the cafe puts on live music, plays and talks in the evenings.
Share your favourite places
The UK’s a pretty big place, so if there’s a great vegetarian cafe or takeaway near you, we want to know about it! Post your suggestions in the comments box below.
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