Whether you’re a committed vegan, taking part in Veganuary, a little bit v-curious, or simply want to try some delicious plant-based dishes, these Cambridge bites won’t disappoint!
Vegan Vice:
Peanut Butter BBQ
With its Miami Vice style and deliciously unique menu, this plant-based burger joint is a huge hit with vegans and non-vegans alike. The bestseller is the Peanut Butter BBQ: a soy patty, smothered in lip-smackingly rich and tangy sauce, homemade purple slaw, onion rings and juicy gherkins. “The patty – a ‘Viceburger’ – is made from soy mince, herbs and spices. The soy mince has a really convincing texture and absorbs flavour well from the flame-grill,” explains Tommy from the Vegan Vice team. “It’s also very high in protein, which allows us to stand toe to toe with the meat-based equivalent – in fact, coupled with the Smokey Peanut Butter BBQ Sauce, it’s actually higher in protein than traditional burger competitors. Our PBQ sauce is the most difficult to make: balancing enough peanut taste to be peanutty, yet enough smokiness to be barbecue-y, but the result is great!”
Guerrilla Kitchen:
Sticky Tofu Bao
Street food truck Guerrilla Kitchen offers a choice of three steamed bao buns, one of which is always vegan. A firm favourite is the Sticky Tofu, featuring crisp fried tofu, with gochujang, jalapeno and garlic dressing, topped with crushed peanuts. Another top seller is the Tofu Katsu, with warming katsu curry sauce, fried tofu and pickled veg. Find the GK bao bus in and around Cambridge, Wednesday to Saturday. And while you’re there, don’t miss the sides: the squidgy vegan gyozas are a must!
Crosstown:
PBJ
An all-American classic gets an all-vegan makeover in Crosstown’s popular Peanut Butter & Blackcurrant Compote. Using the brand’s signature sourdough doughnut as a base, this messy delight is topped with a peanut butter glaze and a sprinkling of roasted peanuts, while the ‘jelly’ element is a tangy blackberry compote.
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi:
The Greenkeeper
There are some fantastic options for vegan fast food in Cambridge, but those in search of healthier plant-based eats might find themselves scratching their heads. Enter Sticks ‘n’ Sushi’s Greenkeeper: a virtuous, verdant banquet composed of delicious vegetable dishes, sushi and yakitori sticks. From the seaweed salad drenched in sesame dressing, to the neat little maki rolls filled with sweet potato and snow peas, the whole platter is vegan – and exceptionally tasty.
Wandering Yak:
Mezze Box
Purveyors of Middle Eastern-inspired street food, Wandering Yak puts nourishing plants and grains to the fore, with a mostly vegan-friendly menu. The mezze box offers a whistle-stop tour of the Yak’s best bits, with a selection of hot and cold bites. This includes Lebanese spiced potatoes, crispy falafel, beetroot salad and smoky aubergine dip.
Tipsy Vegan:
Sliders
Tipsy Vegan has a whole host of tasty tapas-style dishes, ranging from cauliflower tacos to kimchi pancakes – but the sliders are something of a speciality. A trio of bouncy buns containing oyster mushroom, Korean tofu and buttermilk seitan, respectively, the dish is a great intro to this restaurant’s inventive plant-based dining.
Thrive:
Tofish & Chips
Crunchy, beer-battered tofu, minted mushy peas and lashings of tartare sauce are in store for orderers of Thrive’s Tofish and Chips. It’s one of the most popular dishes on the menu at this fully vegan cafe, and cleverly utilises a layer of nori seaweed for that authentic ocean flavour.
Stir:
Vegan Shakshuka
Stir’s take on this North African delicacy is a hearty and healthy delight. A warming bowl of spicy tomato sauce stew filled with veggie goodness, it comes with focaccia from the Stir Bakery – plus a dollop of homemade hummus.
Honest Burger:
Plant
Touted as one of the city’s finest v-friendly burgers, Honest’s Plant makes use of the Beyond Meat patty, which is designed to give the look and taste of beef, without an animal product in sight. Flame-grilled and sandwiched in a brioche bun, it’s topped with vegan gouda and chipotle mayo, plus pickles and red onion for a nice crunch.
Feeling hungry? Check out the latest recipe from Elisha Young aka @elisha.eats on Instagram here.
