Vegan restaurant menus: From Nando's to Pizza Express, here's how to veganise your favourite high street food

Because there's no reason vegans should have to miss out on the classics

Unfortunately, vegans have earned themselves the reputation for being notoriously difficult to take on a dinner date.

It wasn't too long ago that people were gasping at the very thought of having a cheese-less pizza or a meat-free burger, but thanks to the growing demand for plant-based products in the UK, that's all changing.

According to market researchers Mintel, the UK market for meat-free foods was reportedly worth £572m in 2017, up from £539m only two years earlier.

There are now estimated to be around 540,000 vegans in the UK, and well-known high street restaurants are catching up to speed.

Here's how to veganise your favourites:..

Nando's

It's hard to imagine a restaurant that revolves around chicken offering any animal-free options, but Nando's has certainly stepped up its veggie game.

Surprisingly, loads of the starters are vegan (even the garlic bread!) and last year the restaurant chain introduced two new veggie burgers - the Supergreen and the Sweet Potato & Butternut.

Just remember to hold the mayo when you're ordering a wrap, burger or pitta. Luckily, all the peri-peri glazes are vegan!

For dessert, you can have your pick of coconut, mango or vanilla gelado.

Greggs

Say goodbye to your New Year's diet - Greggs have finally launched a vegan sausage roll!

The traditional pork filling will be replaced with Quorn, wrapped in 96 layers of delicious of puff pastry.

It's an absolute steal too, setting you back just £1.

McDonald's

Think eating vegan in McDonald's is impossible? Think again.

Despite the debate over whether the McDonald's Vegetable Deluxe burger is vegan - we can confirm that it is vegan-friendly, as long as you remember to leave out the mayo.

As well as the veggie burger, you can also order hash browns, fruit bags and french fries.

Giving hope to hungover vegans everywhere, the fast-food chain is currently trialling a vegan burger - aptly called the McVegan - in Finland. If it proves a hit, let's hope the McVegan will be rolled out globally. Happy munching!

Starbucks

Coffee is vegan (thank goodness), but it's the added extras you'll need to watch out for.

At Starbucks, you can veganise any hot or iced coffee by opting for soya, coconut, almond or oat milk.

When ordering, ask the barista to leave out any cream, java chips, protein powder (added to the smoothies) and caramel drizzle.

Starbucks' classic pumpkin spice latte is now vegan, meaning everyone can enjoy this autumnal treat.

Pizza Express

Pizza Express is another restaurant chain which has upped its game when it comes to providing tasty vegan options.

They've not only introduced vegan dough balls but a host of other vegan-friendly pizzas too.

The latest addition is the super-tasty Vegan Puttanesca, featuring marinated jackfruit, tomatoes, olives, capers, red onion, chilli, garlic & herbs and a vegan mozzarella alternative.

Pizza Hut

Thanks to the introduction of vegan cheese to the menu last year, Pizza Hut is super easy to veganise.

Getting into the Veganuary spirit, Pizza Hut has also announced they will be releasing a brand new vegan jackfruit pizza - called the Vegan Jack 'N' Cheese.

It's around for a limited time only, but Pizza said on their Twitter page that if 10,000 Vegan Jack 'N' Ch**se pizzas are ordered, it will become a permanent fixture on their menu.

Wagamama

From noodles to curries, Wagamama can be a vegan's best friend.

It's recently rolled out a vegan version of the katsu curry - the Vegatsu - across all UK branches.

Made from Seitan, a meat alternative, the plant-based dish tastes just like the real thing.

The vegetable gyoza is also vegan-friendly, and for dessert there's a choice of pink guava & passion fruit or lemongrass sorbet.

JD Wetherspoon

Traditionally, vegans avoid pub food like the plague.

But good old Wetherspoons has been serving vegan-friendly dishes for a while now, and the results have clearly paid off.

For mains, the Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry, Five Bean Chilli, Teriyaki Noodles, Quinoa Salad and Five Bean Chilli Jacket Potato are all vegan.

If you're a sucker for a 'Spoons breakfast, you can also make their veggie breakfast vegan-friendly by getting rid of the egg and the beans (Heinz confirmed earlier this year that their No Added Sugar beans used by Wetherspoons aren't vegan).

Toby Carvery

You wouldn't usually dream of taking a vegan to a carvery, but what's on offer at Toby's Carvery is pleasantly surprising.

For mains, you can choose from the Portobello Mushroom Bullseye Tart, Grilled Aubergine Stack and Root Vegetable Roast.

An ideal location to please both vegans and carnivores.

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