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City Spice, a Brick Lane institution, has created a new mock meat menu – the first of its kind for any Indian restaurant in the UK. Restaurant manager Niaz, who runs City Spice along with his father Abdul, is the brains behind the new dishes. 19-year-old Niaz is set about producing a forward-thinking flesh-free menu to offer a delicious plant-powered take on well-loved Indian dishes.

The new vegan menu boasts signature animal-free options which deliver the flavour, texture, aroma and taste of meat, yet are completely plant-based. With the demand for vegan food skyrocketing, and eaters looking for dining options that go beyond the standard plant-based fare, City Spice’s mock meat menu is an exciting addition to London’s eating out scene.

The menu, which is broken into starters, mains, and sides, is brimming with Indian delights, made fresh, on-site using locally sourced produce from nearby suppliers. Guests can kick start their banquet with a number of small plates including City Spice’s flagship starter Vegan Tikka (cubed pieces of vegan chicken or lamb marinated in a piquant blend of mild spices and served with City Spice’s special vegan sauce) which is one of the key new dishes from their carefully curated new menu.

City Spice, which has built its steadfast reputation on constantly creating inventive dishes, has delivered a range of imaginative and bold mains as a part of their latest menu including the The Inconceivable Thali (a thali-style platter featuring ‘chicken’ Dopiaza and ‘lamb’ rogan josh accompanied with roti, basmati rice, mushroom bhaji and saag bhaji) and The Inconceivable Naga (seared vegan tikka pieces served with fried onions, green pepper, naga pickle and chillies in a distinct tomato-based sauce). And there’s plenty more mock meat to go around as the menu also features the likes of The Inconceivable Chickpea Saag (pan-fried spinach and chickpeas with gently spiced vegan chicken); and The Inconceivable Rajeswari (vegan tikka pieces clay-roasted with accompanying onion, pepper and tomato).

For long-standing City Spice diners who have firm favourites, well-loved signature dishes that have stood the test of time will still be served. From curry house favourites to the City Spice signature sides, these dishes bring together the flavours, tastes and smells of India, all with a vegan twist. Think spicy Mix Vege-table Jalfrezi (seasonal vegetables cooked with fresh green chillies, fried onions and green peppers), Mix Vegetable Rogan Josh (classic tomato sauce with a fine a selection of herbs), Daal Masalder (Chana, mog and mossorl daal cooked together with spice and herbs) and Palani Potatoes.

With a mantelpiece of accolades, namely securing the BCA Best Vegan restaurant in London award 2018, City Spice has been one of East London’s dining hotspots for decades. Well-loved by journalists, bloggers and critics, the restaurant has made a number of appearances on the small screen.
Niaz commented “The growth of veganism trend in the UK shows just how health- conscious UK diners are becoming. While this is very remarkable, being a 19 year old manager of an award-winning restaurant, I’m glad to contribute to this scene through my new range of inconceivable curry dishes, which is a first for UK Indian cuisine.

Not only high in protein, being fully plant-based means that once again, innovating in what is otherwise a laggard curry industry shows how my restaurant is worthy of the nickname “The King of Brick Lane” which has been gifted by my customers. The best thing about the new range of dishes is that, while I have show-cased a few new dishes, customers can virtually order our classic signature dishes upon request! This includes the ‘Inconceivable Jalfrezi, the Inconceivable Rogan Josh and so many more!”

Aligning with London’s changing and growing vegan landscape, City Spice’s mock meat menu is an out-standing and incredibly tasty take on the future of plant-based eating.

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