January 2, 2018 Comment 0 16 Restaurants to try this Veganuary in Glasgow Veganuary is all about trying new things with your diet, making more conscious decisions about what to put on your plate and in your body and start experimenting with foods that most people consider only to be secondary side dishes. In the UK a estimate of 80,000 people have pledged to start their year with a new year's resolution they can actually stick to and cut out animal products for an entire month. And who knows, some might enjoy it so much that they'll keep doing it after the time is up. When I turned vegan almost a year ago, I quickly realised that it is actually not that hard to eat an entirely plant-based diet. Yes, there are some things that I loved and I had to give up - I am not one of those few lucky vegans who never have a craving for cheese - but on the whole, there is hardly anything you can't get free from animal products. While eating a lot of plants is certainly a healthy way to feed your body, being vegan does not mean that all you eat is lettuce, lentils and brown rice! From comfort food to a full cooked breakfast, from square sausage to fish & chips and gelato; chefs and restaurants in Glasgow have perfected their vegan takes on these popular dishes - it is now easier than ever to be a vegan in Glasgow and eat anything you desire! Here are 16 vegan restaurants in Glasgow you should try this Veganuary, especially if you need a little convincing done that it is actually easy and tasty to be a vegan in Glasgow! For a similar post with vegan restaurant ideas in Edinburgh, head over to VeganEdinburgh.com! Ranjit's Kitchen Ranjit's Kitchen is a family-run vegetarian restaurant in the Southside of Glasgow that serves authentic and delicious Punjabi cuisine. Most dishes are vegan, and it is very easy to find the right thing for you with the help of your waiter. Think dhals, sabjis, paranthas, pakora and rotis, that taste like you were invited to visit a local family in the Indian Punjab region for dinner! Why to eat at Ranjit's Kitchen during Veganuary? In the UK, everybody loves a curry - and Ranjit's Kitchen proved that an amazing curry does not need chicken or cream in it. The food is simply outstanding and you'll be full for days! Ranjit's Kitchen607 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 2QGOpening times: Tuesday - Sunday 12 – 8.30pm Website: http://www.ranjitskitchen.com/ Steak, Cattle & Roll Steak, Cattle & Roll is an American diner style restaurant with two branches in Glasgow's City Centre. While the name does not make it sound particularly vegan, the menu actually offers a variety of vegan options which are clearly labelled! Why to eat at Steak, Cattle & Roll during Veganuary? There are different burgers and sides to choose from, however as a vegan who used to love fried chicken, I highly recommend trying the southern fried seitan "chicken" to get your fill of fried deliciousness. The opulent milkshakes are the icing on the cake! Steak, Cattle & Roll321 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3HW17 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1NUOpening times: 12pm to late (daily)Website: http://www.steakcattleandroll.co.uk/ Mono Mono is the King of vegan comfort food in Glasgow. Opened in 2002 it is one of Glasgow's most popular vegan restaurants, bars and music venues. Whether you crave burgers, pizza, fish'n'chips or mac & cheese, at Mono you can get vegan versions of all of your favourite comfort foods! Why to eat at Mono during Veganuary? Mono is the kind of restaurant to end the rumours that being vegan means eating healthy and low in calories all the time. The food at Mono is proof that you can indulge and treat yourself, without having to eat animal products! Mono 12 King St, Glasgow G1 5RBOpening times: 11am to late, kitchen closes 9pmWebsite: http://www.monocafebar.com/ photo via Mono Cafe Bar Picnic Picnic is more or less the opposite of Mono or Steak, Cattle & Roll, or similar places as it focuses entirely on providing healthy vegan lunch options in the city centre. On the menu you'll find salad bowls and lush sandwiches, but also a daily curry, a burger and lots of cakes! Why to eat at Picnic during Veganuary? I sometimes get the feeling that omnivores that healthy and vegan equals tasteless and boring - but a lunch at Picnic will quickly show you that that's not true at all! Read more about Picnic! Picnic103 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DXOpening times: Mon – Sat 8am – 4.30pm, Sun 10am – 4.30pmWebsite: http://picnic-cafe.co.uk/ Riverhill Coffee Bar Cake is another biggie for many omnis (or vegetarians) who say they could never be vegan - but did you know, that you don't have to use eggs or dairy to bake a delicious cake? Riverhill Coffee Bar is the perfect place to dip your toes into vegan cakes, and its location in the city centre makes it easy to swing by for a cake and coffee on your way to work! Why to eat at Riverhill Coffee Bar during Veganuary? It's often frustrating when coffee shops don't have vegan sweeties and unfortunately, a lot of them still don't (chains in particular). The vegan cakes at Riverhill are amazing - my personal favourite is the generous Tahini Brownie! Riverhill Coffee Bar24 Gordon St, Glasgow G1 3PUOpening times: Mon - Fri 7am - 5pm, Sat 8am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 5pmWebsite: http://www.riverhillcafe.com/index-gordon-st.htm photo via ZaytunZaytun I love Kurdish food and while there are loads of Kurdish restaurant and takeaways dotted about the Southside of Glasgow, my favourite for a proper meal is by far Zaytun, a small and inconspicuous restaurant on Cathcart Road. Why to eat at Zaytun in Veganuary? Whether you need a solution for a lazy weekday dinner or a satisfying meal to cure a hangover, the veggie stews from Zaytun will sort you out. There are three options of stews (white bean, okra or aubergine) and they all come with a tub of rice and a delicious nan for just £4-5! Kurdish452 Cathcart Rd, Glasgow G42 7BZOpening times: 1 - 9pm dailyWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/Kurdsh-Zaytun/ Lotus Lotus is a fully vegan Chinese restaurant that serves up all your favourite dishes you know from the Chinese takeaway up the road, but doesn't use any animal products or MSG, and only fresh vegetables, tofu and a variety of fake meats. Why to eat at Lotus during Veganuary? Chinese cuisine is traditionally very veg-heavy as it is, so it's an easy one to start with! The family who runs Lotus has devoted their lives to enriching the local community and welcome everyone with open arms - the atmosphere is one of the best in Glasgow. Lotus69-71 Bridge Street, Glasgow G5 9JBOpening times: Website: https://www.facebook.com/lotusveget/ photo via TripAdvisor Soy Division Soy Division is a vegan cafe in the Southside of Glasgow that proves you never have to set foot in a greasy spoon for a proper fry up again! Come here for a full Scottish breakfast, French toast with fruit, a sausage roll, fresh sandwiches, burgers, lasagne or anything else that fills the cafe's deli counter. Why visit in Veganuary? For many people breakfast is a meal they could never imagine without animal products; eggs, bacon, sausage, haggis, black pudding, buttery mushrooms and spinach - you name it. I love Soy Division for its 100% vegan full Scottish breakfast with amazing homemade square sausage, bacon, baked beans and fresh veg. Read my Soy Division review! Soy Division51 Kilmarnock Rd, Glasgow G41 3YNOpening times: Tue - Fri 11am - 7pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 11am - 5pmWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/soydivisionglasgow/ BLOC+ BLOC+ is a restaurant, bar and music venue serving a mix of pub grub and comfort food. There are several vegan options on the menu, like burgers, tacos, hot dogs and poutine. My personal favourite is the spicy Veganoid hot dog that comes with spiced rum, spiced avocado puree and jalapenos! Why to at at Bar Bloc during Veganuary? I'd consider BLOC+ a perfect place to visit with your friends before a night out, even if not everybody is up for Veganuary. There are vegan and omni options, the food freshly made and tastes delicious and the vibe is a great warm-up for a party! BLOC+117 Bath St, Glasgow G2 2SZhttp://bloc.ru/ photo via BLOC+ Rose & Grants There are a lot of great breakfast places in Glasgow, but one of the most popular ones among vegans and vegan-curious omnis is Rose & Grants on Trongate. The cafe provides a large and open space with big windows for people watching and plenty of vegan options on the menu and the deli counter. Why to eat at Rose & Grants during Veganuary? The square sausage at Rose & Grants is somewhat of a local icon and is approved by vegans and omnis alike. You can also buy it at the deli, to make at home! Rose & Grants27 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5EZOpening times: Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 5pmWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/RoseandGrants/ The Flying Duck The Flying Duck is a student-friendly basement joint in Glasgow's city centre serving 100% vegan fare. The menu is simple: burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches filled and topped with a variety of fresh ingredients. Why to eat at The Flying Duck during Veganuary? It's good to try vegan options in omni restaurants, but if you really want to know how diverse and creative vegan food can be, there is nothing like eating at a vegan restaurant. The Flying Duck might only serve a few dishes, but the many variations of each really outshine any other fast food joint in Glasgow. My personal favourite is the Hawaiian Kahuna burger with pineapple and vegan cheese and bacon! The Flying Duck42 Renfield St, Glasgow G2 3AUOpening times: 12pm to late, kitchen closes at 10pm (11pm Fri & Sat)Website: http://www.theflyingduck.org/ photo via The Flying Duck Chocolate Brownie Shake Vegan Pizza at Pizza Punks – Glasgow Vegan Guide by Kathi Kamleitner-6Pizzapunks Pizzapunks is a pizza place in Glasgow's city centre that specialises in custom pizzas, allowing you to add as many toppings to your pizza as you like without charging more. There are a few ready-to-order combinations, but for a vegan-friendly pizza you have to make it up yourself. Why to eat at Pizzapunks during Veganuary? Pizza is a big hurdle for anybody wanting to go vegan - and I get it, I'm a recovering cheese addict myself and could not have imagined pizza without cheese before trying it. Once I try it, I realised that while cheese can save any pizza, it really needs a whole lot more than that to make a good pizza - like the perfect fluffy dough and a tomato sauce you'd happily eat by itself. Pizzapunks makes great pizzas and really understands how to make vegans happy, with the option of adding melting vegan cheese to your pizza, or going crazy with all the veg without any cheese. PS: Pizzapunks also does deliveries! Read my Pizza Punks review! Pizzapunks90 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5UBOpening times: Sun - Thu 12 - 10pm, Fri & Sat 12 - 11pmWebsite: http://pizzapunks.co.uk/ The V&V Cafe The V&V Cafe is a warm and welcoming cafe on Great Western Road - one of many in that area, but one of few with reliable vegan options for breakfast, lunch and cake treats. There is a deli fridge with loads of great takeaway deals, but my favourite items on the menu are from the vegan cake counter which is always filled with Empire biscuits, croissants, donuts and different little cakes. Why to eat at the V&V Cafe during Veganuary? The V&V Cafe has always been vegetarian with good vegan options, but recently decided to do Veganuary themselves and relaunch an entirely vegan menu. You're in the same boat as the cafe staff themselves, so to say! Read more about the V&V Cafe! The V&V Cafe481 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 8HLOpening times: 8am - 5pm, Fri - Sat 9am - 5pmWebsite: http://www.thevandvcafe.com/ Red Onion The Red Onion serves up Scottish classics with a twist and a separate vegan menu. Owner and chef John Quigley used to be the private chef of rock stars touring the world, the vegan Bryan Adams among others. There are Scottish and Asian inspired dishes on the menu, and the vegan desserts are actually mouthwatering! Why to eat at the Red Onion during Veganuary? Finding fine dining restaurants that offer really good vegan options for a special occasion, family dinner or work night out is often quite tricky. At the Red Onion everybody will be happy with what is on their plate (no boring mushroom risotto, sorbet or fruit salad!) in a really classy atmosphere without a crazy price tag! Red Onion257 W Campbell St, Glasgow G2 4TTOpening times: 12 - 9pm dailyWebsite: http://red-onion.co.uk/ Bread Meats Bread There are enough burger joints in Glasgow to never eat at the same one throughout all of Veganuary, but Bread Meats Bread might just be the most vegan-friendly. There are two branches, one in the West End, one in the City Centre - but when it comes to vegan options I prefer the one of Great Western Road, because in addition to the vegan burger and Reuben sandwich, they also offer a variety of vegan fried chicken dishes! Why to eat at Bread Meats Bread during Veganuary? Many of my favourite vegan-friendly restaurants have a Reuben sandwich on the menu, but nowhere gets it just as close to the real thing as Bread Meats Bread. Both the pastrami "mheat" and the cheese in the sandwich taste amazing! Bread Meats Bread104 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5UBOpening times: 11am - 10pm dailyWebsite: http://breadmeatsbread.com/ The Hidden Lane Tearoom The Hidden Lane Tearoom is a cozy little tearoom tucked away in the West End of Glasgow, serving delicious sweet and savoury treats and different chai teas on gorgeous vintage crockery. Why to eat at The Hidden Lane Tearoom during Veganuary? There are not too many places in Glasgow that serve a vegan afternoon tea that is in no way inferior to the vegetarian or omni version, but the Hidden Lane Tearoom pulls it off perfectly! The Hidden Lane Tearoom1103 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8NDOpening times: Mon - Fri 10am - 5.30pm, Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 12 - 6pmWebsite: http://www.hiddenlanetearoom.com/ Pin me! With a vegan scene as thriving as Glasgow's and restaurants catering vegan options to any need, cuisine and preference there is really no excuse not to try Veganuary in Glasgow this year! Are your trying Veganuary this year? Or do you want to share your favourite vegan or vegan-friendly restaurant in Glasgow that really helps you stick with the plant-based diet? Would love to hear your tips in the comments! All photos by Kathi Kamleitner.
