Vegan
Chinese
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Asian
Vegan Chinese restaurant with an extensive menu that includes dim sum, noodles dishes, stir fries and more. Open Mon-Sat 12:00-22:30, Sun 12:00-21:30.
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105 Upper St, Islington, North London, England, N1 1QN
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Last update on 15 Jul 2024 by RichardⓋMolyneux
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Added by MessyCook on 18 May 2021
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215 Reviews
First Review by MessyCook
Womble
Points +114
Great meal - Edit
Ate here with friends a few days ago. It was great.
Read morePros: Lots of options, all completely vegan
Guest
andresmoritan
Points +170
Extensive menu of delicious food! - Edit
So many great options and the most friendly staff, definitely recommended for anyone that want to taste some delicious Chinese dishes!
Read morePros: Extensive menu, Delicious dishes, Authentic Chinese
Guest
tinydeaths
Points +18
Yummmmm - Edit
The food is delicious, I just wish I could afford to eat it more often.
Read morePros: Unique recipes, Good selection of fake meats
Cons: Expensive, The portions feel kinda small
Guest
SamAnthony
Points +1700
Amazing vegan Sichuan food - Edit
So delicious!! I'm staying with friends nearby and they're obsessed with this place, they literally order from here at least twice a week. So i knew I had to go when I visited! I went with my friend and we got a bunch of things, the fried fish which was AMAZING, dim sum (also AMAZING), aubergine in fish sauce (or something like that) , the last was out only complaint cuz it was super spicy.
Read moreSichuan food is famous for being spicy, but this dish only had one spicy pepper next to it, the same as the fish which wasn't spicy at all. Our waiter was super nice and when we were gonna order another dish instead he offered to have them make it less spicy, which they did. But I would just ask the spice level of things next time.
Rice portions are pretty tiny, we ordered one per person but we could have definitely eaten more. Depends on personal preference obviously.
Overall so impressed with the flavors and textures, will def be back whenever I'm in town.
Guest
Leelondon117
Points +548
Tofu Vegan - Edit
The extensive menu in this 100% vegan Chinese makes choosing what to eat tricky. We decided on the spicy wontons to start. They were tremendous, soft outer with a tasty interior of diced veg and tofu. The sauce they are served in is out of this world; spicy, rich flavour that cries out to be drunk like soup. Speaking of which, we also had the sweet corn soup which was good with a fair amount of tofu in. For main, we had the salt and pepper tofu which had a good level of flavour, the special noodles which were well cooked and contained flavoured tofu/seitan. The only disappointment was the main of hot and fragrant tofu. It came served in crispy noodles which were too dry for the dish(luckily I had some of the wonton sauce left to pour over them). As well as tofu, there were cubes of sweet potato which didn’t work well with the dish. Above all else was the amount of Szechuan pepper that had been used. It totally overpowered the dish making it very difficult to eat and making the notorious mouth buzz from the pepper so intense to be a little unpleasant.
Read moreThat said, there are so many other tempting dishes on the menu, I would certainly revisit and put the Szechuan pepper dish down to just not being to my taste. It would be nice to see bigger portions for the price.
Pros: So many choices
Cons: Portions could be bigger for price, All food brought at once
Guest
konlish
Points +5321
Tasty food - Edit
19/12/2021
Read moreEnjoyed the Wontons which is a most recommended dish and the the stir fry ho fu rice noodles with vegetables and extra tofu. Found the Wontons slightly salty so I added water and it tasted great. Though I had to add soy sauce and sweet chilli sause to the noodles to make it taste better as it was a bit bland.
I enjoy the ambiance with I instrumental Chinese music light played in the background.
Great to find a vegan Chinese restaurant. I'd come again to try something else if I could.
I found out they make their own tofu and soy milk in house so will want to try their sky milk which is a by product of tofu making.
Updated from previous review on 2021-12-19
Pros: 100% Vegan , Great ambience, Friendly staff
Guest
Kerryyork
Points +228
Really Delicious Vegan Food - Edit
Absolutely loved it. We had decided what to order, but the waiter suggested better combinations and we were so glad we went with them. The wantons were superb and the twice cooked 'fish' was outstanding. Great fried noodles and a lovely tofu dish. Wish I lived nearer.
Read morePros: Fully vegan, so many options, Waiter was super friendly and helpful, with great
Cons: None, I loved it
Guest
BMarin
Points +135
Chinese history and cuisine blending with today's veganism. - Edit
Pioneering the vegan version of authentic chinese cousine in Islington, this restaurant without pretentious layout or high prices, offers delicious food and very friendly and attentive service.
Read moreGreat for group meals with sharing dishes.
Guest
Klarajj
Points +2098
LOVE - Edit
We ordered a variety of dishes and loved them all. Prices are fair and the location is nice.
Read morePros: Lots of choice, Nice location, Prices are fair
Guest
katebelcher5
Points +327
Worth the hype - Edit
Went here for my birthday, it's seriously worth the hype, the food is unbelievable and flavourful and the staff are all lovely. Make sure to book!
Read morePros: Amazing flavours, Unique restaurant, Large menu
Cons: A bit pricey
Guest
GiGata
Points +67
Very nice and tasty food - Edit
If you want to experience like eating asian “meat” dishes in a vegan way, this is a very nice place to do so.
Read moreI found it very good food and good price as well. I would definitely recommend sharing and get around 1.5/ 2 portions per person.
Updated from previous review on 2021-11-26
Pros: Lots of vegan options
Cons: Some dishes are just okay
Guest
AshleighGillan
Points +414
Delicious food that makes you feel happy - Edit
Such a large variety of things to try and all delicious. The chilli is numbing and just makes you feel happy when eating it. Not too spicy either. Service was really friendly too.
Read moreGuest
GarrrliCat
Points +1650
Great flavourful food! - Edit
We were very lucky to get us table on summer saturday night. I was bit afraid by the location and prices it will bee somehow overly posh for me. At the end there was good mixture of people and the staff was very welcoming and friendly.
Read moreWee tried about 4 different meals to share. And everything was delicious. Marking of the level of spiciness was pretty accurate so didn't have to fight with any fire in mouth:D
Unfortunately, only after we ate and got the bill and had a little chat with the lady, we found out about the degustation menu, must be ordered week ahead. Well, good reason to come back.
Pros: A lot of options, Flavourfull
Cons: Prices
Guest
BillyThompson
Points +22
Best Chinese food outside of Asia. Beautiful flavours and well presented. - Edit
Lovely helpful team and truly value for money.
Read morePros: Amazing vegan options full of flavour , Value for money , Helpful lovely team
Cons: None
Guest
IevaTarutyte
Points +96
Super delicious - Edit
The flavours at Tofu Vegan are amazing! They have a huuuuge menu with so many selections of dishes that I will come back more and more to try something new!;) Every single dish I have tried so far is remarkable.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-11-02
Pros: Lots of options to choose
Cons: A bit pricey
Guest
ErinLouttit
Points +1963
Outstanding vegan restaurant - Edit
I had high hopes for this restaurant after reading the reviews, but the staff went beyond my expectations. Every vegan should know about this place. The menu is extensive, and the food is delicious. If you're looking for a treat, consider booking a table here.
Read moreGuest
·X·
Points +20698
Tofu Vegan - Edit
I am teetering between a three and four star rating, but since this is a fully vegan place I’m rounding up to a four. Based on the other reviews, I think I might have come to this restaurant on an “off” day. They were extremely busy that day I ate there.
Read moreFirst, many of the things we wanted to order we’re not ready yet. Particularly the vegan chicken items.
The vegan wonton appetizer was not great. I know this is a highly recommended item at Tofu Vegan, but the flavor of ours was lacking. Our second appetizer was the crispy spring rolls, which was fine, but we would not order it again. The spring rolls were presented very nicely on the plate.
We also ordered a cold clear noodle dish. Again, the flavors were fine. We were originally under the assumption that these would be thin glass noodles based on the menu picture, but they ended up being wide glass noodles. Had we known that, we wouldn’t have ordered it.
And lastly, we ordered a tofu dish (see attached picture), Which was fine, but there were ingredients in there that actually stung our tongues. It was the strangest sensation! We definitely would not order that again.
Overall, I love the idea of this place and wish we were able to try the menu items we went there for. That said, I’ll give it another shot at some point.
Updated from previous review on 2021-10-31
Guest
Dan+Ash
Points +155
If we could give it 10 stars we would! - Edit
It’s not often we go to a restaurant more than once in a month, but this is the exception! One of the best vegan restaurants in London. Amazing food and the best service - definitely recommend the Gung Bao sauces, so good! Make sure you book as it’s really popular.
Read morePros: Amazing extensive menu, Great service, Delicious food
Guest
hack_man
Points +24871
Check out Guitar George - Edit
Fabulous place serving vegan Chinese food with a passion for animals and the environment. It was difficult to choose from such an extensive menu but in the end went for a hot and spicy soup followed by their famous won tons in chilli sauce and tofu in black bean sauce. The tofu was delicate, possibly silken and not the chewy style firm tofu I was expecting but it worked really well. They know all the chords.
Read morePros: Location , Friendly staff
Cons: Expensive (London)
Guest
PaulFroy
Points +337
Just go and regret nothing - Edit
Perfection, every dish is perfection!
Read moreEverything vegan, everything a taste sensation. Book ahead this place is quite rightly very very busy.
Pros: A big menu to cater all tastes, Everything is delicious, Lovely staff and great vibes
Cons: Must book in advance, it’s so popular
Guest
CarlottaCaiti
Points +40
Best chinese food ever, amazing service, good to veganise ppl - Edit
Brought my friends to this place and we asked for recomendations. We tasted 4 starters, 4 mains, 32GBP each. Excellent pricing and super tasty food. Looking forward to being back. Good to veganise meat eaters haha
Read morePros: All vegan, 100% tasty, good pricing, Excellent service
Cons: Table outside are not very confy , No table cloth
Guest
Nicola.W
Points +132
Best Chinese food I’ve had - Edit
The staff were very friendly and accommodating after I turned up early for my visit. The wontons in spicy sauce we’re probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten - the waiter recommended them as they’re a popular item. I also had tofu in black bean with a side of rice - the tofu was more like a silken than firm which gave a clean texture. The flavours were really good and I enjoyed it a lot.
Read moreIt is a bit pricey but everything tasted very fresh and I didn’t mind paying extra for the difference of having something made that day.
Pros: Whole vegan menu, Fresh clean flavours
Cons: On the pricey side.
Guest
davidtay
Points +494
Good Chinese vegan food - Edit
Good place for people who wants Chinese food cooked in Sichuan style
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-10-05
Pros: Tasty , Lots of options , Sesame roll is very good
Cons: Oily but it’s Sichuan style so it’s expected
konlish
Hi Davidtay, if you liked the food why would you give them such a low rating. At least a four would be nice this too for a Vegan business. My sister used to tell me that businesses struggle so I should be more considerate when rating them.
Read moreIf there was something you think that they could improve on please contact them and give them that opportunity.
davidtay
I will leave it at 3* it’s not a low rating it’s good enough for the standard of Chinese vegan food. I m sure you have your reasons for giving 3* to some of your own ratings at some restaurants.
Read morekonlish
Yes and I explain why they didn't get the extra star. Also good idea to feedback the restaurant so they have an opportunity to improve.
Read moredavidtay
Let’s put this in the right perspective: if I am the only one or the minority who gave a 3* rating and the majority gave higher ratings then it’s probably just my personal preference for the taste. There is no need for them to make any drastic change just for me as it was not a disastrous dining - the universe does not revolve around me. But if many customers give them 3* or lower then it may be wise for them to reach out to their customers (esp the regulars) to find out what needs to be improved.
Read moreThe tastebuds of one person should not be the turning point for the restaurant to make major changes.
As I have said I gave it 3* (not high & neither low) in view of the standard of Chinese food based on my personal preference & tastebuds.
Let’s leave it as it is…I was there as a visitor to London so I don’t think I will be back at the restaurant anytime soon.
Guest
tversteeg
Points +390
Lovely - Edit
Really nice Chinese dishes, most seem to be based on Szechuan and Chongqing cuisine with some obvious exceptions like dim sum. Would have been a bit more authentic if it was more spicy but I understand why they didn't do that. Everything was very delicious!
Read moreGuest
tapalong
Points +130
Great food - Edit
Really great restaurant. Friendly staff. The food was incredible. Though would love for some portions to be better (e.g. small rice bowl for £3 is a bit much).
Read morePros: 100% plant based, Nice staff, Really tasty food
Cons: Fairly oily, but it’s authentic to the cuisine , Some portions could be better
Guest
sfio
Points +3147
Terrible service - Edit
I was really looking forward to going here as it had so many great reviews and because the whole menu is vegan.
Read moreMy friend and I were really disappointed. Service was really bad, the tables are really close and you end up hearing more of the conversations from the next table than yours.
You have the table for 90 minutes and will be rushed out.
they overcharged us (only by £1.50 but still) because the waitress couldn’t divide the total amount by 2 and kept ignoring the correct amount i gave her.
The food was nice but the unusual dishes I wanted to try were not available. So we had tofu in black bean sauce and a potato, aubergine and pepper dish which were nice but not spectacular (quite oily too). We ordered some plain rice to go with them and were presented with probably the smallest portion i’ve been served to date. Good for avoiding food waste though.
We also had some dumplings for starters, those were really good, and salt and pepper fried tofu-had better elsewhere.
I’m actually quite easy going and initially wasn’t even annoyed when they asked us to move to another table so they could sit another party where we were, but all in all I just didn’t feel welcome here at all, the food wasn’t extraordinary and we were charged the wrong amount. I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.
Updated from previous review on 2021-10-01
konlish
Hi sfio, I find this review very harsh that too for a Vegan business. It's struggling times for restaurant industry and as customers we should be considerate too. As an Ambassador you should also speak to the business manager. I hope you contacted them and provided the feedback directly to give them an opportunity to improve.
Read moreAlso understand that the staff are mostly Chinese so there is a cultural difference to what you might be used too and shouldn't be taken personally. I found them very friendly and kind.
I love Asian and Chinese food and this is the 1st Vegan Chinese and the best I have been too. I am Ambassador for Cardiff.
sfio
Hello. As you can see from my other reviews, I honestly am not harsh but in this case I stand with my review. It’s just one of many and so people can make up their own mind but I cannot recommend it based on my own experience. I’m not sure how to take your comment on this being a vegan restaurant. I considered that in my rating but there are multiple other vegan restaurants in London that I could whole heartedly recommend.
Read moresfio
PS: I didn‘t take the lack of service personally, I just wanted to highlight some of the reasons on why we didn’t enjoy our experience and thought putting some specific examples would allow others to make up their own mind of if those things matter to them or not.
Read moreGuest
PaulDaly☘️
Points +2945
Really friendly staff & a lovely man who told me I ate too fast, which is true - Edit
Had the black bean dish with steamed rice. Was delicious
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-09-28
Pros: Outside seating with heaters , Friendly staff
Cons: The bill adds up as the dishes & rice separately
Guest
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