Despite social media trolls raging against smug vegan killjoys (or words to that effect), there are more animal-free restaurants opening in London than ever before. One of the latest is Mooshies, a rough-and-ready vegan burger bar that has occupied the shell of a Brick Lane curry house.
Mooshies has been open for months but still feels like a work in progress, with the menu undergoing tweaks and various things (like vegan wine) still labelled as ‘coming soon’ on my visits. There are signs that it’s struggling with its own popularity: the first time I popped in I was quoted a 45-minute wait to eat; the second time they were out of sweet potato fries. It’s a DIY, labour-of-love sort of place.
Four rotating burgers, including a Fillet-Om-Phish with fried aubergine and a faux-beef quinoa patty that collapsed mid-chomp, won’t convert the meat-munching massive, but they’re solid, cruelty-free comfort foods. The sides are much better. Don’t miss the fresh guacamole or the chickpea fritters – a bit like deep-fried dhal and served with chilli and fake-mayo dip. It’s not an essential stop for everyone, but the meat-averse – or those looking to stretch Veganuary out across the year – need to know about Mooshies.