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Vegan
American
Fast food
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Asian
Fusion
Breakfast
Plant-based alchemy restaurant that specializes in fast-casual dining since 2018. Serves comfort food made from organic ingredients, such as breakfast tacos, yuca fries, fusion hotdogs, Gensis burger, kamut mac n cheese, kimchi fries, and aloo chat. Reported closed May 2024.
115 Reviews
First Review by Rowse
Summer_Tan
Points +1736
Poor service, overpriced mediocre food of small portions - Edit
WHAT WE HAD (2 pax): Smoked Chorizo Taco [£4.00] – Smoked chorizo, tomatillo salsa, potatoes & Pico de Gallo on soft corn tortilla; Char Kway Teow [£9.50] – Brown rice noodle & stir fried vegetables with spicy black bean sauce; Shawarma [£9.50] – Seitan Doner, Persian Salad, Green Tahini Sauce, Pickles, Garlic Sauce & Chili Sauce in Pita; Chocolate Milkshake [£5.95]
Read moreThe interesting menu with a mix of international flavours along with the good online reviews piqued my interest. However, to me, it didn’t live up to the hype and expectation.
Most of the food was served lukewarm, and the portions were small. I’m from Penang, Malaysia (known for our Char Koay Teow) so I was quite excited to get a taste of home that was Vegan! However, it didn’t taste like Char Kway Teow to me. It was missing the smoky char, fat (greasiness), spice and much more. I guess my problem is more on them calling it Char Kway Teow, because as a fried rice noodle dish, it is ok, but it is just no Char Kway Teow. Still, it isn’t something I would pay £9.50 for. With the small portion of veg noodles. The smoked chorizo taco was overall quite bland. The smoked chorizo was disappointing (I was expecting it to be more flavourful) and the tortilla was dough (maybe not heated up long enough?). The kind of enjoyed the Shawarma with the green tahini sauce. Still, it could use more flavour and my friend said he has had better vegan Shawarma. The chocolate milkshake was more like chocolate milk to me, could be thicker and creamier.
It wasn’t too busy during my visit, yet the service was slow and inattentive with them forgetting 2 of items from our orders that we had to go upstairs to remind them and neglecting/forgetting to bring us things upon request (i.e. cutlery and such). The décor is flashy and aesthetically interesting with pink chairs, white tiles, gold accents and warm lighting which gives off a fun and youthful vibe.
Overall, poor customer service, mediocre food and small portions, I don’t see myself coming back to Genesis for seconds. Being in the Shoreditch area, you can definitely find similar vegan food that is cheaper and better.
Pros: Interesting Menu (International Cuisine)
Cons: Overpriced, Poor Customer Service, Small portions (for price)
EatGenesis
Hello. Since you left this review, the concept has completely changed and new ownership/management/head chef are in place. If you'd like to remove this review, it would be appreciated. You're also welcome to come and visit our new store in Palmers Green for a meal for 2 on us! Check out our instagram to see the new menu items @eatgenesis - info@eatgenesis.com
Read moreGuest
TamaraTaGo
Points +380
Great tasting food - Edit
The food (if available) is very tasteful, but 3 out of 4 dishes we ordered waren’t available at the time. We had to choose something else, but then they served us 1 of the dishes that wasn’t supposed to be there.
Read moreAfter that we’ve waited over 20 minutes for 1 more dish and our drink, which only came after we asked for it.
On the bill they’d charged 2 Mayan Dogs instead of just one. The girl who served us said it was right and that the iPad was being weird, after recalculating it turned out that we were right.
This sounds very bad, but the food is really good. We’ve had THE BEST chocolate milkshake ever. So still worthy of a 4 star review.
It is just that some of the dishes are way too expensive, like a small taco for £5,50.
Pros: Amazing milkshakes, Food tastes great, Friendly service
Cons: Small portions, high price, A lot of food is out of stock, They make loads of mistakes
Guest
unmond
Points +769
A bit pricy for what you get, but good food - Edit
I have now visited Genesis several times and always had a similar experience: a very stylish (and American) atmosphere, happy and chatty waiting staff, beautiful presentation of the food, and interesting and delicious flavours. Unfortunately, I also felt that their prices were rather dear for the portion sizes I was presented with. I wasn’t totally satisfied after eating a main (for example their ‘Mayan Dog’) by myself which disappointed me. Will this deter me from visiting again? Probably not; their dishes are too tasty!
Read moreGuest
akna
Points +702
Nice interior, but food not worth the hype - Edit
Went there on a Saturday afternoon and were welcomed by a guy who clearly wasn’t impressed that he had to work that day. Interior is modern and really cool. I liked it a lot! We were served and didn‘t have to order at the counter. The other guys working that day were friendly. Food only took a couple of minutes to arrive, which usually is a good thing, but for me it actually ruined the experience as it gave us the feeling, that we had to leave after like 20 mins. The food was a mixed bag. Both my boyfriend and I didn‘t like the Hoisin Taco at all. You have to be quite careful with Hoisin sauce and this was just way too much in that taco and made it almost not edible at all. The 2nd taco we had was with Chorizo and I enjoyed this one. The Reuben dog was delicious and I would totally order it again. That day there were quite a few people working in the restaurant and because it was still quite early they weren‘t that busy so were just standing around and/or watching the guests. Made us feel a bit uncomfortable, although I know of course that they have to be attentive. Restaurant is definitely on the pricier side especially considering the portions. Restrooms available.
Read moreEatGenesis
Hello. Since you left this review, the concept has completely changed and new ownership/management/head chef are in place. If you'd like to remove this review, it would be appreciated. You're also welcome to come and visit our new store in Palmers Green for a meal for 2 on us! Check out our instagram to see the new menu items @eatgenesis - info@eatgenesis.com
Read moreGuest
MarkHorvatich
Points +234
Great food - Edit
The food was great, the menu was amazing. A little pricey though.
Read moreGuest
jofitpro
Points +149
Best Mac and cheese - Edit
Liked the food we tried a few of the different tacos. The Mac and cheese was really good. I wasn’t crazy about the tacos. I would like to try some of their other food items
Read morePros: Mac and cheese
Guest
Feetinclouds
Points +30
Great flavours big menu - Edit
Found this on happy cow and loved it!! Brought a non-vegan friend who also agreed.
Read moreReally big menu totally vegan. Started with the nachos which had cashew cream and cheese really tasty. The tandoori broccoli also a really tasty hit!
We both had seiten shwarma wich was very delicious salads sauces etc.
Flavours massive selection massive from burgers to salads. Funky pink dinner style decor. New favourite!
Pros: All vegan, Wide selection salads, noodles to burgers , Great decor
Guest
GabyProctor
Points +180
Good food, but expensive - Edit
Another place a victim of the vegan tax. The food here is really nice, and there’s a lot of option, but the portion sizes do not reflect the prices you pay. Friendly staff and tasty food, but not somewhere I’d go regularly!
Read morePros: Lots of options, Tasty food, Served quickly
Cons: Expensive, Small portions
Guest
lena_stock
Points +479
Yum! - Edit
One of the best vegan waffles I tried till now! It was quite a big portion for a reasonable price. Very clean place and friendly staff! You get a fresh water as soon as you sit!
Read morePros: Quality , Variety , Free tab water
Guest
Pinkie
Points +292
Yummy! - Edit
Unfortunately we did not have time to stay and sit in to eat at this place, which was comfy and spacious. Luckily they do take out and we ordered the Korean BBQ wings, hoisin duck taco and the fried avocado taco. All were really tasty and reasonably priced. Will definitely come back!
Read morePros: Large selection , All vegan!, Friendly and helpful staff
Guest
ElizabethCurran
Points +50
Pink, gold retro and all organic! - Edit
I’d wanted to visit Genesis for a long time, so when I finally got there it lived up to all expectations! The decor is very cute, a 50s/ 80s style diner all in pink and gold with some great 50s style B movie posters, advertising the brand, and comfortable squishy seats. I am allergic to soya and gluten, so even when dining in vegan restaurants there’s usually only one dish I can eat, however, here there was a variety of dishes. We had a GF jackfruit taco, some nachos and I had a mezze salad. My friend had a burger in a brioche bun, it looked delicious. We shared a chocolate milkshake as dessert, an extremely generous portion, and we also had a couple of Kombuchas. All the other diners were happy with their food and there was a warm atmosphere in the restaurant. Our waitress was pleasant but a bit ditzy; we had to wait ages for our drinks and remind her about dishes we were waiting on. She completely forgot to deliver a dish and brought over the dessert menu, then charged us for the dish we were never served. However, the rest of the staff seemed quite on it and rectified her mistakes. Maybe she was having a bad day. Otherwise, a great restaurant and I’m looking forward to going back soon! I love that everything on the menu is organic!
Read moreGuest
OzIlan
Points +17
Best (kinda healthy) cheat meal! - Edit
Amazing. Had the Genesis Burger, Jackfruit "Duck" hoisin taco and Korean bbq wings. Best cheat meal I had!
Read moreCons: A bit expensive
Guest
LisaSpykers
Points +7473
Pricey, but worth it - Edit
I tried the New York deli taco and the Korean street sandwich. Each ingredient put together to create a new spin on fast food were super tasty and well thought out. Mouthgasm worthy. Seitan pastrami, Thai basil mayo, panko eggplant, Russian dressing... Really yum! It was pretty pricey (which included an additional service charge) but for this quality and creativity (and organic too), it was worth the money.
Read morePros: Quality fixins , Organic
Guest
sheeshee1010
Points +72
Excellent - Edit
Really thoughtful flavors in a really fun space
Read moreGuest
MillieBarker
Points +507
Awesome place - Edit
We only stopped for a milkshake but the menu is amazing. Blew my mind that its fully vegan too as they dont advertise it as that. I want to go back ASAP to try their full menu!
Read moreGuest
AlanaE
Points +57
Gorgeous place with so many delicious things to choose from. - Edit
We found this place (thanks to Happy Cow app) when checking out the Sunday market at Brick Lane. They serve brunch until 11.45am so we ordered the Huevos Rancheros tacos and the waffles to share. Both were so yummy but the tacos were outstanding. It was just like eating scrambled eggs. Highly recommend.
Read moreGuest
SophieWanendeya
Points +106
Delicious - Edit
All the dishes we tried were great especially the burgers. And the interior was lovely, would come back.
Read morePros: Affordable, Knowledgeable waiters
Cons: Portions could be bigger
Guest
Emily94
Points +82
Organic Vegan Fast Food in a Funky Setting - Edit
This has become my new favourite place to eat out. I had put it off on a few occasions and gone to other places (we are spoilt for choice in this area) due to the price - it is more expensive than the average vegan fast food joint, and that's because THIS ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE VEGAN FAST FOOD. You really get what you pay for. Everything is organic and with the whole menu being plant based there is so much to choose from.
Read moreI've tried most of the menu now, my personal favourites are; Avocado taco, Hoisin jackfruit taco, Aztec Chilaquiles and the Mac and Cheese. There has only ever been one exception, the Korean BBQ wings are ridiculously spicy, far more heat than we expected and unfortunately we couldn't eat them. All of the desserts are great and we never leave without having a milkshake. YUM.
There is a nice atmosphere and modern decor with seating on the ground floor, downstairs and outside. If you go at a peak time, be prepared to wait for a table as this place can get very busy.
The staff are friendly but the service is slightly strange… for example, your food comes as it is ready, rather than with your whole order. Apparently this is normal in some places but to me it is odd to get your sides 10 minutes before your burger or for you to have finished your main before your partners meal has arrived. I’m not sure if it is supposed to be like this or if I just got unlucky every time I have visited. Either way, it is a minor problem and the quality of the food far outweighs the issue. I also think table service would be an improvement from going up to the counter to order.
I don’t know of anywhere else that serves all organic ‘healthy’ vegan comfort food, and for this reason we will keep returning, the food really is the best vegan food we have eaten at a restaurant. We live locally and if my bank balance allowed, I would eat here every week! we usually spend around £40pp.
Pros: Organic, Best vegan food in london, Good atmosphere
Cons: Strange table service
Guest
ValerieRichards
Points +158
OMG good! - Edit
The atmosphere sets the tone for a great meal. AMAZING food, wonderful staff. We had the tacos, buda bowl, Kim chi fries and OMG, the drinks and dessert....to die for.
Read morePros: Wonderful, fresh ingredients , Great menu, Original drinks
Cons: A little pricy
Guest
_m57
Points +84
Too many options and very delicious - Edit
I ordered cheese sticks and hotdog, both are very delicious. I wanted to order more since they’ve got a lot of other options!! i’ll definitely be back again to try the other options!
Read morePros: lots of vegan options, delicious
Cons: price
Guest
bahavegan
Points +275
Delicious but very expensive - Edit
The Korean kimchi burger was incredible and with the dessert I was very full in the end. I would’ve liked to try more things but everything was just so overpriced.
Read morePros: Fully vegan, Great atmosphere
Cons: Expensive
Guest
SophsEats
Points +430
Cute place with big menu! - Edit
Loved this place, super cute interior. Big menu and friendly staff.
Read moreFood is good overall - the mac and cheese is one of the best i’ve had.
Jackfruit salad and wings are good but were too sweet for my taste.
Chicken burger was good too!
Guest
PepeNapo
Points +26
Great Choice - Edit
I loved everything about this place, the atmosphere, the food, the people. I would really recommeden. Maybe te prices are a bit high, but considering all the environment I was glad to pay that amount.
Read moreGuest
M.M
Points +56
Ok but nothing major. - Edit
Food is ok but nothing exciting.
Read moreSlightly overpriced and weird staff.
EatGenesis
Hello. Since you left this review, the concept has completely changed and new ownership/management/head chef are in place. If you'd like to remove this review, it would be appreciated. You're also welcome to come and visit our new store in Palmers Green for a meal for 2 on us! Check out our instagram to see the new menu items @eatgenesis - info@eatgenesis.com
Read moreGuest
JamesMorgan
Points +274
Brilliant! - Edit
Lovely restaurant not far from Liverpool Street.
Read moreReally unique options, massive menu and fantastic service. Such nice decor too!
Guest
AndyAbroad
Points +267
One of my Favs - Edit
I love this place - super cool environment and tons of plant-based options. You can grab a quick snack to go or stay there and eat in for a longer affair. They also have great ice cream and milkshakes! Definitely have to go here if you're in London!
Read morePros: Amazing Food, Awesome Vibes, Friendly Staff
Guest
iokan
Points +1775
Weird name, weird place, fast food - Edit
When hearing the name "Genesis" one would think this is the very first vegan restaurant that started it all. However, it's brand new and it's in an area that's already bursting with vegan restaurants. "Genesis" is different by it's unique style of black and white drawings, loud music and diverse menu.
Read moreGenesis offers a wide variety of vegan fast food, ranging from Mexican to Asian. We opted for the fried avocado taco, which was one of the most tasty things I ate during my stay in London. An avocado (part) is wrapped in fried bread crumbs and seasoned with all the regular taco spices and vegetables. Added to that is a generous amount of spinache, which really made the dish.
If you don't mind loud music and feel like vegan fast food, Genesis is a nice play to try.
Pros: strong taste, unique atmosphere
Cons: loud and busy
Guest
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