I think one of the most daunting aspects of a vegan lifestyle is the socialising aspect of it. Making vegan meals is super easy when it’s your own kitchen and you know exactly what is going into every meal that is made. But of course that is not always practical, nor is it really all that healthy to never eat out anywhere. I know when I first went fully vegan, I would spend hours researching menus to see if there was even one vegan option for me (granted this was nearly 10 years ago) and whilst the whole movement has grown, I still find myself in this habit. I therefore thought it would be a good idea to share with you a list of my Safe Places – i.e. the places I can go where I know that there will be options for me and I don’t need to do any other research.
I will preface this with saying that almost every restaurant (café, coffee shop, fast food restaurant etc) will have at least one vegan option these days. Whilst I have found that the options have decreased in recent years, there is always at least one, so no matter where I go I am able to find at least one thing I can eat. Whether or not it’s necessarily what I would choose is another thing, but I go out to eat so rarely that I am more going for the experience and to see loved ones more than I am going for a great culinary experience.
My favourites:
- Wagamama’s – at least 50% of their menu is vegan so you will never struggle finding something you like on the menu
- Tortilla – Another very easy option, with loads of vegan options to try and so many combinations to explore
- Itsu – So many options and all very tasty, so a very safe option
- Pizza Pilgrims – granted, there is only one vegan option, but their menu only has about 10 items to begin with. Plus they make the best pizzas I have ever had so I am always willing to go here for a meal
- Honest Burgers – similar to Pizza Pilgrims in that there are only 2 vegan options, but their whole menu is only about 10 items big. Hands down the best burgers I have ever had, so will always say yes to an Honest Burger.
Other easy options:
- Pizza Express – Their menu has a lot of vegan options so a safe option. Not one of my personal favourites, but still a decent meal for vegans and non-vegans
- Pret a Manger – Lots of vegan options, however I do find that they can be a bit pricey. But a very good option if you want to meet for a tasty coffee and cake.
- Wetherspoons – A surprising one as they are pubs, but they have a lot of vegan options on their menus and are pretty affordable. The food is very much pub grub, but there are Wetherspoons pubs on every corner of England it seems to there is always this as a final option
- Papa John’s – Ok, this is technically a take away option, but lots of vegan options that are perfect for a night in with people.
- Zizzi – Lots of vegan options and a decent meal, although a little pricey
This is clearly not an exhaustive list, and there are so many I have left off. This is just meant to be an easy introduction so you have a quick list to refer to should you ever need to. One of the best parts of veganism is that it is all about exploration and finding what is best for you and what food you prefer, so I would recommend trying all of the above to begin with so you can work out what sort of vegan food you prefer (Italian over Mexican? Burgers over pizza?) and can then build out from there.
Taylor Talks Vegan 