The best Manchester spots serving up vegan food for Veganuary

It’s officially 2022 and, while the weather may be cold and dreary, many of us are kick starting the New Year the right way by embarking upon Veganuary.

The month-long challenge, which has been around for a couple of years now, sees people attempt to eat only vegan food for the thirty-one days throughout January.

Yep, not a single bit of meat or dairy for a whole month.

But if you’re dreading your own Veganuary, fear not! Because there are a ton of restaurants here in Manchester offering delicious plant-based options certain to make your month a whole lot easier.

Here’s what’s on offer…

Manchester’s Finest Group

Black Leaf

Nestled beneath the Northern Quarter’s Alvarium, Black Leaf boasts a fully vegan menu good enough to convert even the most loyal of meat eaters.

The tapas menu, curated specially by Alvarium head chef Grace Stubbs, includes a number of tasty delights such as crispy King Oyster Mushroom ‘calamari’, chickpea ‘meatballs’ and Hassleback potatoes topped with tofu feta.

Black Leaf, Alvarium, 8 Dorsey St,  Manchester M4 1LU
alvariummcr.co.uk
07947 556275

@bundobust / Instagram

Bundobust

We just couldn’t leave out Bundobust from a list about fantastic meat-free food; while the popular Indian street food restaurant, which recently opened it’s own brewery down Oxford Road, has a strictly vegetarian menu, it offers some great dairy free alternatives, too.

Vegan highlights include the Bhel Puri, a Mumbai street snack of broken samosa pastry, puffed rice, peas, onion, pomegranate seeds and tomato. There is also the Bhaji Butty, Bundobust’s flavoursome take on a plant-based burger and the Chole Saag, a spicy curry of stewed chickpeas and spinach.

Bundobust, 61 Piccadilly, M1 2AG & Bundobust Brewery, St. James’s Bldg, 61-69 Oxford St, M1 6EQ
bundobust.com

@donersummer / Instagram

Doner Summer

Found in the music venue-food hall hybrid YES, the ‘vegan junk food’ king Doner Summer is truly changing the meat-free burger game; I mean, just look at those burgers!

Available both to dine in and to order for a takeaway, Doner Summer offers a selection of meat and dairy-free kebabs and burgers, including the Bad Girl Kebab consisting of ‘döner’, garlic chilli chick’n, pickled pink cabbage, salad and a whole load of tasty and garlicky sauces.

There’s also a choice of fried ‘chick’n’ burgers that are good enough to hoodwink even the most seasoned of KFC customers.

Doner Summer, YES, 38 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB
donnersummer.co.uk
 0161 273 2725

@purezza / Instagram

Purezza

The Northern Quarter’s Purezza is the place to go if you’re looking for exclusively vegan (and absolutely sensational) pizza; their menu boasts a long list of plant-based toppings including vegan sausage, BBQ pulled ‘porketta’, and black truffle.

They’re also offering 50% off all food throughout January to celebrate Veganuary, so make sure to get yourself down in the next couple of weeks.

Purezza, 75-77 High Street, Manchester M4 1FS
purezza.co.uk
0161 521 5516

@reservewines / Instagram

Reserve Wines

Okay, this isn’t exactly a dining spot, but it is perfect for those taking Veganuary to the next level by including their drinks in the challenge.

Found in West Disbury, this independent bottle shops stocks some of the world’s finest wines and spirits, including a number of vegan wines (because, sorry to break it to you, but wine isn’t actually vegan).

Reserve Wines, 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 1LH
reservewines.co.uk
0161 706 0565

@delhihousecafe / Instagram

Delhi House Cafe

While not strictly a vegan restaurant, Delhi House Cafe, found inside the Corn Exchange, boasts a number of impressive vegan dishes perfect for Veganuary and beyond.

Plant-based highlights include the Avocado Aloo Chatt, made up of fried avocado and fried potato in a mint & tamarind Chutney. There is also the Tawa Dal Tadka, fragrant cumin tempered split pigeon lentils served with a tandoori roti.

Delhi House Cafe, Unit 10, The Corn Exchange, Manchester M4 3TR
delhihousecafe.uk
0161 834 3333

@whatthepitta / Instagram

What the Pitta

Yep, there’s more vegan döner kebabs knocking about; What the Pitta serves a handsome list of döner doused wraps and fries perfect for all vegan junk food enthusiasts.

Their signature vegan döner ‘meat’ contains GMO free spiced soya pieces and comes tightly wrapped in fresh bread with lashings of salad and sauces for you to choose from. They also have a chicken version, as well as falafel and are offering 50% off for two days only this month, the 10th and 17th.

What the Pitta, 42 Back Turner Street, Manchester M4 1FR
whatthepitta.com
0161 835 2934