If you do want to rein it in a bit after the excesses of the festive season or you want to try a new challenge, January is the perfect time to try cutting down on meat and dairy. Luckily going vegan, whether it’s just for the month or for the whole year, doesn’t have to mean eating leaves thanks to these Veganuary specials.
Marugame Udon
Marugame Udon is adding three new, limited-edition vegan udon bowls to its menu for Veganuary, including Vegan BK, with a sweet and smoky vegan dashi sauce; Kitsune Udon, a light broth topped with sweet tofu skin; and Aubergine Katsu Curry, with fried panko aubergines and a mild curry sauce. And to go with those noods, you can also get katsu aubergine tempura and pumpkin tempura on the side.
Available at all Marugame Udon locations from 4th – 31st January 2023
Romesh Ranganathan x Yard Sale Pizza
Yard Sale Pizza is kicking off the year with another guest pizza and it’s a vegan special created in collab with Romesh Ranganathan. The Romesh Spesh is Yard Sale’s classic tomato base topped with Sri Lankan curried aubergine, coconut sambol, mint raita and curry leaf & chilli oil, and a portion of the proceeds from each pizza sold will be donated to CALM.
Available at all Yard Sale Pizza locations until 31st January 2023
Holy Carrot X COWSPIRACY’s ‘Meaty’ Menu
Vegan restaurant Holy Carrot has teamed up with the organisation behind that shocking animal agriculture Netflix documentary Cowspiracy to create their own spin on a plant-based ‘meaty’ menu. In a hope to raise awareness of the industrial meat industry and the damage it’s having on the planet, the menu includes steak tartare with ox heart tomato, crispy crackling, mustard & cornichons; shepherd’s pie croquettes with smoked beets, onion hay, black lentils & thyme sauce; and glazed doughnut with smoked BBQ mushrooms and harissa & bacon jam. 20% of each menu sold will be donated to COWSPIRACY.
Available at Holy Carrot from 3rd – 31st January 2023
Mildreds
Given that Mildreds is one of the best vegan spots in London, it’s a no-brainer to hit up during Veganuary, but the restaurant is taking things up a notch this month by adding a special menu to mark Vietnamese Lunar New Year. You’ll be able to try tempeh rice cracker cups with carrot pickles & mirabelle plum nuoc châm, char siu mushroom bánh mì, and lemongrass chick’n goi ga, alongside three low-ABV Vietnamese-inspired cocktails.
Available at all Mildreds locations until 31st January 2023
Ramen Yokocho x Clearspring
Ramen Yokocho is celebrating both Veganuary and Clearspring’s 30th anniversary with a spesh collab wellness menu. It includes organic sea vegetable salad with Clearspring wakame seaweed & silken tofu; vegan miso tantanmen ramen, featuring Clearspring white miso in the broth, topped with hosomen noodles, marinated organic soya mince, gamo tofu, wakame seaweed, pak choi, bamboo shoots, beansprouts & chilli oil; and Clearspring organic Japanese hojicha tea.
Available at both Ramen Yokocho locations from 10th January – 14th February 2023
atis
London’s best salad spot atis has added two new bowls to its menu (which already boasts some excellent vegan options) for Veganuary. There’s the Plant Therapy, with shredded kale, cabbage, romaine lettuce, tahini chickpeas, pickled red onion, cucumber, turmeric cauliflower, smoked almonds and tahini dressing; and the Winter Bowl, with shredded kale, cabbage, baby spinach, orange slaw and smoky beetroot, Polâine granola and Willy’s ACV vinaigrette. And if you need a sweet treat, atis now also stocks plant-based chocolate cookies from The After School Cookie Club.
Available at all atis locations throughout January 2023
Plenish x Wild By Tart
Plant-based drinks brand Plenish is collabing with Wild by Tart for two weeks this Veganuary, with a special dish from Plenish ambassador Ravneet Gill hitting the a la carte menu. Ravneet’s rice pudding made with Plenish’s almond milk will be available during the residency alongside other vegan treats on the Wild by Tart menu.
Available at Wild by Tart from 9th – 22nd January 2023
Dabba Drop x Flat Earth Pizzas
Two of East London’s most popular vegan brands, Dabba Drop and Flat Earth Pizzas, have come together to create a collab vegan pizza this Veganuary. The plant-based pizza uses Flat Earth’s signature organic heritage stone-based dough topped with Dabba Drop’s famous black dal, spiced roasted cauliflower, vegan cheese, crispy red onions and a crumbling of zero-waste poppadoms. £1 from every pizza will be donated to local charity East London Cares.
Available at Flat Earth Pizza throughout January 2023
Mr Bao
Mr Bao already has a couple of vegan dishes on the main menu but the restaurant is adding a bunch of specials for Veganuary, including katsu celeriac bao, popcorn oyster mushrooms, cabbage yakitori skewers, and sesame aubergine dip with lotus root crisps.
Available at Mr Bao throughout January 2023
Crosstown
Crosstown has vegan doughnuts on its main menu but they’re adding three brand new flavours especially for Veganuary. There’s rhubarb & jasmine, filled with rhubarb and jasmine compote, dipped in jasmine glaze and topped with strawberry buckwheat crumble; strawberry cheesecake, with pockets of vegan cheesecake filling and strawberry jam centre, dipped in strawberry glaze and topped with vanilla crumble; blood orange, with a blood orange glaze, dark chocolate curls and candied blood orange segments.
Available at Crosstown throughout January 2023
Local & Wild Restaurants
The Gladwin Brothers are teaming up with non-alcoholic brand Botivo for a spesh cocktail and Veganuary tasting menu for their Local & Wild restaurants. After kicking off with a Botive & Apple Spritz, you’ll be able to tuck into dishes like seaweed & ponzu broth with caramelised kohlrabi; BBQ leek hearts with dandelion, golden syrup & truffle; mushroom & bulgur wheat celeriac lasagne; and black & white chocolate with forced rhubarb.
Available at all Local & Wild restaurants throughout January 2023
Tendril
Rishim Sachdeva’s Tendril, currently popping up in Mayfair, serves a mostly vegan menu but for Veganuary he’s going exclusively plant-based. You’ll be able to get a five- or six-course vegan menu, featuring dishes like stuffed cabbage with grilled swede & house ferments; salt & pepper celeriac terrine with mustard dressing & chive aioli; grilled oyster mushroom with spiced beetroot, onion gravy & citrus gremolata; and vegan sticky toffee pudding with bay leaf custard & miso toffee sauce. He’ll also be launching a brunch menu so if you fancy heading in on a weekend, you can try the likes of crispy beetroot bao & fennel kimchi; chargrilled squash & kimchi toastie with pineapple chutney; and vegan pancakes with cinnamon banana & quince compote.
Available at Tendril until 31st January 2023
Shake Shack
Shake Shack is bringing its vegan Crispy Shallot Burger back for Veganuary, with a new side in tow. The burger is a bespoke vegan patty created by chef Neil Rankin, featuring roasted mushrooms, onion, miso, bulgur wheat and spices, and it’s topped with smoky vegan cheddar, beer-marinated crispy shallots, lettuce and Dijonnaise sauce. Shake Shack will also be topping their crispy crinkle cut fries with those same shallots, Dijonnaise and spring onions for a limited time only.
Available at all Shake Shack locations from 6th January – 15th March 2023
Wagamama
Not only is Wagamama putting a vegan spin on one of its most-loved dishes for Veganuary, it’s also launching a charity partnership with The Bread and Butter Thing, which helps bring low-cost food to low-income communities. The vegan ‘chicken’ kare lomen dish features udon noodles in a coconut & chilli broth, topped with vegan ‘chicken’ teriyaki, coriander, beansprouts and cucumber, and alongside serving up the new bowl, Wagamama will support The Bread and Butter Thing in delivering one million meals to those in need.
Available at all Wagamama locations throughout January 2023
