From The Pumpkin Patch

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2024: This post was written to reflect the launch of Byron’s first vegan burger, The Beetnik, which was released back in 2018.

This burger has since been removed from the menu, replaced with a selection of new vegan burgers and sides. Check out an updated sample menu here.

You guys know how much I love checking out the latest plant-based food trends. At this point, it’s a full-blown hobby!

So I was overjoyed when an email pinged into my inbox from the lovely people at Byron, inviting me to the launch of their new vegan menu at the Beaker Street restaurant in London.

I arrived with a rumbling stomach and an open mind – I didn’t quite know what to expect, as Byron’s previous menu has always been particularly meat-heavy. In the past I’ve been limited to their sides, but it looks like this is all about to change.

Our three-course vegan feast began with a heaping plate of stacked nachos, loaded with pulled BBQ jackfruit and topped with crispy onions.

Jackfruit is by far my favourite meat substitute, so we were already off to a great start! If you haven’t tried it before, it’s literally what it says on the tin – a variety of fruit that once cooked, takes on the same consistency and texture of tender pulled pork. It’s a rite of passage for every vegan!

You can’t go wrong with generous nacho toppings – the plates were piled high and drizzled with spicy red pepper ketchup. These would be great as a starter to share between two people, or even as a main course for one person. Personally, I couldn’t bear to share!

Next up was the main event, the star of the show. Byron’s new vegan burger: The Beetnik.

Besides the cute name and aesthetically-pleasing pink patty, the combination of flavours complemented each other perfectly. Think baby kale, smashed avocado, pickled red onions and a lime rainbow slaw all packed into a bun alongside a beetroot falafel patty.

This may be an odd thing for a vegan to get excited about, but the bun was scarily similar to the McDonald’s version – trust me, it’s a good thing. If you’ve been craving a little nostalgia lately, I highly recommend popping into Byron.

Did you think they served us the burger all by itself? Uh uh. Remember the jackfruit from the nachos earlier? We encountered it again, this time piled on top of crispy fries. Heaven. I actually preferred this to the loaded nachos, as I have a soft spot for potatoes in any form.

What better way to finish off this vegan feast than with something a little lighter? Enter the superfood salad – a delicious mixture of quinoa, edamame, tenderstem broccoli, pomegranate, avocado and leafy greens. By this time I was so stuffed that I couldn’t manage more than a few mouthfuls, but I did manage to squeeze in a handful of sweet potato fries.

In my defence, these weren’t bite-sized portions. They were full meals! I’m sure I set a new record for the most vegan food consumed in a single sitting. Not that I’m complaining, of course.

During the meal we were treated to a speech by Paul Mason, Head of Food at Byron. It was fascinating to learn about the thought process behind the development of the vegan menu, and it left me feeling positive and excited about these plant-based changes. Plus, doesn’t ‘Head of Food’ sound like a dream job?

As we left we were handed goodie bags which included gift vouchers and a bottle of their vegan-friendly hot sauce – an essential for any serious foodie’s condiment collection.

Overall, it was an evening well spent sampling these delicious plant-based eats. I’m so happy that Byron reached out to me, and they have definitely gained a new regular customer!