Vegan in Dalston? You're sorted! The secret got out about Dalston years ago, but the good news about the trendy vibe is there are plentiful vegan options. A few are even dedicated vegetarian and vegan businesses, which is always a bonus. I haven't visited all of the restaurants below, so please take this list as a guide and follow up with the proprietors with specific questions about vegan options.
FED by Water is an Italian restaurant with a separate extensive vegan menu and is worth going out of your way to visit.
Brilliant Corners features a Japanese fusion menu with innovative vegan options. When I visited last year it had potential but fell down on several fronts. The food was great, but they weren't always sure of vegan suitability despite clear markings on the menu. Hopefully they are more on the ball these days.
Andu Cafe is an all vegan Ethiopian restaurant (as far as I'm aware this is London's only 100% vegan Ethiopian joint).
Harvest is an organic cafe and shop, with loads of vegan supermarket finds and some deli and bakery items to sit down with or takeaway.
Voodoo Rays usually has a vegan option, but sometimes sells out. They're great when they do, and a slice with a can of Beavertown Gamma Ray (they sell it) is a winning combination.
Arancini Brothers states they can cook vegan on request, but their mushroom zucchini balls are marked vegan as is. They also sell a vegan wrap incorporating the mushroom arancini. Ditto a burger.
Gujarati Rasoi has been around for quite awhile, but it's been a decade since I've had their food and I've yet to visit their new-ish restaurant (but I want to go).
The Diner has a couple of items marked vegan on its menu: a vegan benedict (chickpea patties, veggies, and sesame sauce) and a taco salad (falafel, black beans, salsa and guac, and a tahini dressing in a taco shell).
Turtle Bay is a national Caribbean inspired chain with vegan options.
I haven't been to the Dalston Mama Lan location, but its Brixton branch is one of my favourite places to eat in South London. Beijing street food, comfort style.
Dalston Yard Street Feast rotates its vendors with its annual spring/summer popup. The list below is current as of April 2016.
- Club Mexicana is a vegan Mexican inspired business that has been running in London for the last few years. Predictably tasty, they are worth trying.
- Breddos Tacos has offered vegan options in past, but they seem to change and aren't always on offer at all locations.
- Rainbo Food makes dumplings and some are vegan.
- Rola Wala sells modern Indian street food and has vegan options.
- The jerk veggie wraps at Mama Jerk are vegan if you request the tropical mayo to be omitted.
Dalston has a handful of Turkish Restaurants, which inevitably offer some vegan options. Enquire for specifics.