Fantastic place with comfortable wooden seating benches, pillows along the windows seating,…read moreeclectic posters and decor and buzzy but not overtly loud or obnoxious convo happening. Although £12 for my lentil burger made me blanche, the generous sides of salad and housemade slaw (I asked for no fries nor burger bun) made it all worth it. There's so much on the plate I boxed half for home (I had drank a smoothie before I had arrived here). The slaw in particular is divine: it doesn't have that gross mayo gloppiness I usually despise. It's quite fresh. There's a lovely vinaigrette on the greens and the burger has a moreish artichoke sauce. The staff is friendly as are the customers; dog-friendly too!

I totally go out of my way for a good vegan cafe or restaurant - especially when it is called…read more"Black Cat" (I live with several black cats, so feel a kinship). My friend and I popped in for brunch on a Saturday and staff were very helpful and flexible with our orders. I got the big vegan breakfast (sans beans) and my friend got a gluten-free version that subbed a bunch of salads. Both of our meals were HUGE -- I ended up bringing home enough for breakfast the next morning! The restaurant also has a divine assortment of vegan cakes, cupcakes and desserts with MANY gluten-free options so of course we bought up about 4 items to bring for later. They also sell some packaged grocery items and have a lovely lefty/anarcho/vegan book selection. The t-shirts are 15 GBP and well worth grabbing one as a souvenir since you know the leftovers won't last the whole way home! Cafe is super cute inside with many small tables and lots of art (I especially adore the big cat mural in the bathroom). Keep in mind - they are closed on Tuesdays. :( Totally worth going out of your way -- it's not too bad of a walk from Hackney Central or Hackney Downs (check out Pemberton Pub on your way back if you have the time!).

Disappointingly, the food is actually served at a middling temperature! And I had this verified…read moretwice yesterday as I ate earlier and then later in the afternoon. The first round I had the aubergine and Dashi dumplings . Taste was fine, particularly for the two generous aubergines, but both dishes were marred by the fact they weren't served very warm. After my play at Arcola Theatre, I came back for the artichoke on crostini and the tenderstem broccoli. Plenty of good-sized portions all around but the lack of heat just ruined the flavour. I've had much better Mildred's experience taste-wise in Camden and Soho. Also whilst the waiters are pleasant when you are seated in the Dalston location, no one comes to check on how you are doing at any point in the meal. So not the greatest service.

Mildreds has consistently great food at all their locations. Being vegan and vegetarian focused…read moredoes not mean sacrificing on taste. The appetizers and mains are all amazing. The desserts and cocktails are wonderful too. Brilliant decor and friendly service makes this place a must visit.

A fancy vegan café/ restaurant in Hackney. (I'm not a vegan. I'm mostly a pescatarian)…read moreIt's very LOUD though. I believe it's do with how they treated the walls and the ceiling. Poor acoustic treatment leading everyone to speak loudly, which compels people around them to speak even louder to get heard. And it's not that they were playing loud music either. At least the staff members were pleasant and helpful. The (vegan) croissant was suspiciously oval. I was suspicious at first, but I was pleasantly surprised; flaky on the outside and moist on the inside. It's not the same thing as real croissant, but if you think of it as a different kind of bread, it is very good. The main dish, brekkie bowl was pleasant enough but nothing mind-blowing. From scrambled tofu to stir-fried kale, they are all things I can make myself. The 'hummus' had a very weird, runny texture, and didn't really taste much like hummus. Which is weird, because hummus is supposed to be vegan!

I can't rightly write a full review as I didn't order food, though I don't see anything to complain…read moreabout except the prices, which are generally £1-2 more than I'd like. Given that this is London though... And given that it's a cafe with the word "vegan" in the name... I guess £1-2 more per item is a given? The sandwiches sitting in their glass case near the register did look delicious. A friend ordered the bagel and "lox" (£6), as Sarah J. mentioned in her review, and I tried a bite. It was definitely delicious, and fantastically seasoned to resemble smoked salmon in flavour, while the texture of the "salmon" (made of very thinly sliced carrot) even resembled lox somehow. I had a flat white made with oat milk, and that drink is the reason why I'm giving three instead of four stars. For £3, it was tiny, served in a chode of a glass (wider than it was tall) with a taste that just didn't bring the richness, uniqueness, nerve, and talent I want in my coffee. It is definitely a lovely-looking space, however, with nice indoor and outdoor seating that will be fantastic come summer. The ambience is a bit Bali-beach chic, a bit Topanga Canyon. Music is definitely chill and good to chat or work to. And who doesn't like hanging swing chairs and lots of plants? As mentioned above, the food did look good, and smelled great as it came out to various tables too. So oddly enough, though I'm giving three stars only, I may be back. I'd like to try the noms, and drink something other than a coffee. Beetroot? Turmeric? Peanut butter? Yes for the price of one I could be halfway to a full breakfast, but they might be wins.

Came here after we discovered our other vegan destination was closed :(…read more But this was a great consolation prize! Solid vegan burger & fries. Small shop that does a lot of takeaway business. Staff are friendly & the food comes out quickly.

Unreal!! Best Vegan mock Chick'n in the world!!! So moist, tender and juicy inside, with the most…read moreperfect crispy classic flavored breading!!! Also THE BEST Waffle I've ever had!!! Highly recommend the Chick'n and Waffles!!! Their mylk shakes were the best I tried around London too!!! I ate here 3 times during my short visit to London it was that good!!! Very kind and friendly staff too! Don't miss out on this little Vegan gem!

Holy shit this is some of the best vegan food I've ever had. In particular, this special: Venus…read morerice, black pea and jackfruit in a buckwheat pie with coconut, plum scotch bonnet jam, okra and plantain is AMAZING. In particular, the pie and its filling. Ommmmmmggg bursting with flavour and a great-sized portion. Sweet, savoury etc etc. For £9, it's a steal. The staff was also kind enough to pack another special for me for takeaway: black beluga dahl with apple mango chutney, cashews, green chili, coriander oil and cumin flatbread. Again, superb serving size and incredibly filling and tasteful. The nuts and dahl offset each other very well. Only the flatbread fell flat: pretty tasteless. The rest of the standard menu looks interesting as well: not just your boring avo and toast. All priced similarly. The interior is bordering on cramped though so make sure to get there early to grab a spot! Lots of tempting baked goodies on the counter as well. I would totally come here again if in the area.

BEST VEGAN BRUNCH IVE EVER HAD. We had a table right away,…read moreand it will forever be the place where Ive had my first tempeh. A little bit far when you're not local, but so worth it. Also, that name is perfect!

So, I think I must've had an off experience tonight at Andu Café…read more First of all, my partner and I went earlier when they opened & she told us to come back, because they were waiting on supplies to arrive. Sure, no problem! We decided to walk back over for dinner & we were directed on where to sit & asked what we wanted to order. So, we told her what we had in mind from earlier. She returned within a few minutes with our platter for 2 & told us drinks are self-service. We started to eat and the food was good. I don't really have any complaints there. To me, the spices are very similar tasting to soul food, but just a healthy version of what soul food is. More than halfway through our meal, we were told they're a cash only establishment. This sent us into a little panic, because we weren't informed of this information before being served food. All we had on us was tap to pay, so of course imagine the predicament we were in when uninformed. We definitely wouldn't have stayed to eat had we known this information. We ended up having to get back to where we are staying to grab a debit card to go to an ATM and return again. I think just the misinformation for us, not so friendly service, and having to run around town to go grab cash is what put this right down the middle for me. Yes, the food was good... but, the experience felt a bit tarnished for me. Don't let it deter you from going to enjoy this spot... just BRING CASH. Save yourself the trouble.

I have never been to Ethiopia but this little cafe has a very authentic feel to it. I love…read moreEthiopian food though and happy to have been to several Ethiopain restaurants over the years ... Andu Cafe is amongst the best and the fact that all dishes are not just vegetarian but vegan is an added bonus! I used to live in East London a very long time ago but now only visit once or twice a month. This part of London is changing dramatically and Kingsland Road isn't spared from gentrification. Andu Cafe feels as if it has been here forever and reminds me of the old days ... ironically it is relatively new but blends in well with the multicultural vibe. The food is simple and the menu even simpler. You are encouraged to share a sampler consisting of six delicious vegetable dishes. The only decision you have to make is whether you would like these served with rice or injera, the traditional Ethiopian bread. I think they are BYO which makes me love the place even more as you often end up spending more on booze than on the food it is accompanying.

On our last day in London we went searching for a fish and chips spot that was close to our hotel…read moreand had the local feel to it. Upon walking in we were greeted by friendly faces and sat down by the windows at the counter. The menu is pretty simple yet delicious as it has vegan options too. My husband and I ordered the cod and chips, and I ordered the black tea and he had the fizzy lemonade. Both portions were large enough that I had leftovers. The fish was crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside and the chips were perfectly crunchy. The staff there were quite friendly and made sure everyone was happy with their choices. For the two fish and chips, tea and lemonade it came up to £38 which was reasonable for the size of the food portions. We'd definitely come back here.

Had some massive cod goujons and chips. Swift service, great food, good price. Batter perfect,…read morefish great.

Cosy little vegan pub with the nice outdoor space. The food is great. Love their Sunday roast,…read morealthough it is on a small side

Delicious Sunday lunch. The staff was very friendly. There was a small delay with our meal, which…read morewas not a big deal at all, and they comped the entire meal. Super generous. Nut roast and beet Wellington were both very good. Also highly recommend the sticky toffee pudding!

I'm still very confused when I see such new and exciting offerings in Dalston. Growing up here, my…read moreperception of the area was so fixed as grim and scary, that I seem to be stuck in that, despite being part and parcel of the gentrification myself! I was starvin like Marvin on the day in question when I tried this spot. After dithering around the new places for ages, I picked this one as it looked heathy and speedy (2 of my fail-safe concerns for food ordering these days ;) The new-ish staff were very kind when I got confused about what the mushroom option entailed and the care they took over creating my order was touching. I do hope that the enterprise succeeds as the salad in particular was super-fresh and of good quality :D

Arancini! So good when done right....and these guys get it right again and again…read more The set up inside is relaxed and the staff, always super friendly. There's several booths where you can eat in but they also do takeaway. But whether eating in or taking out, I love the food here. The salad boxes are £3.50 for any combination of apple slaw, bean salad, jalapeños and other freshly made veggie delights. And of course, the arancini. Crunchy on the outside soft and creamy on the inside. These little morsels are perfect with the garlic and tomato sauces that accompany them. Once you start you won't stop. Luckily they're sold in snack boxes of three, five and if you're feeling up for a challenge (or sharing), twelve. I keep coming back to this place and they never fail to fill my luchtimes with arancini perfection. Yay arancini!

This is a cute new little café and shop in Dalston Lane - a very welcome addition to the…read moreneighbourhood! The café is smaller than it looks from the outside - there is basically one table to sit at, but when the sun is as brilliantly shining as it is at the moment, one can enjoy food and drinks al freso at additional tables outside. The coffee I had was ok, and perhaps because we got there late on a Sunday afternoon the food selection wasn't overwhelming. (A couple of cupcakes and a sandwich). But they do sell delicious bread, cakes and cupcakes from London's best bakery (E5) and the "Happy Kitchen". That means the sweet stuff is vegan - thumbs up for that! In addition they offer a variety of health foods and ingredients (including Asian food), as well as eco toiletries, cleaning products, etc. The selection is somewhat limited compared to other, bigger stores, but if you live in the area "Healthy Stuff" definitely provides a useful resource.

I managed to smuggle my boyfriend into this cafe/shop without him seeing the name. "Healthy Stuff"…read moremight have put him off. But we were both happy when we sat down at one of the three tables. This part of Dalston Lane isn't very busy so there'll proably always be a free seat and you wouldn't be disturbed by shoppers passing by either. The blackbord above the till lists a menu of salads, toasies, fresh juices, and other wholesome treats. I loved my green salad with avocado, sprouts, and basil tofu. For a dish and a big glass of juice you'll pay about 10 pounds per person. It's unlikely that I'll find myself in that area again soon but I'd recommend a visit to anyone who happens to be around.