Since becoming a vegetarian a year and a half ago, fast food has been completely eliminated from my life. Some may say this is a good thing, but if I’m completely and utterly honest – it makes life a real pain when out and about (especially in London) and when wanting to grab a quick bite to eat. The only places which do cater for us veggies, tends to offer very boring, bland options – so what was a hint of hope for a tasty meal, rapidly fades.
So, what a stroke of luck to hear that one fast food chain that is soon to be taking over the UK, does care about us vegetarians – and actually has their entire menu, meat free. And far from being boring, it has options to suit all tastes. Introducing Just Falafel.
Falafel is a traditional Arab food, made from ground chick peas, herbs and spices and fava beans. It doesn’t necessarily look very appetizing (but then, neither does meat) but it is extremely flavoursome and very versatile, hence the really variety offered on the menu.
Sophy and I, on a recent trip into London, were lucky enough to stop by the Covent Garden branch on Monmouth Street, which is tucked away on a little corner, with a cozy little area to eat inside. The menu is simple (but offers lots to choose from) and the staff aren’t pushy in the slightest. It’s a fast food chain, with a relaxed feel. And how often can you say that!
We both opted for the mexican falafel, in the form of a quesadilla . With melted cheese, salsa and jalapenos (although we both had our meals without these, the scaredy cats we are), it makes for the perfect lunch. At £4.99 for a meal deal (which we both opted for) including the sandwich (or quesadilla in our case), a drink and chips – or £3.49 for the sandwich alone, you really can afford to treat yourself to something delicious. Considering this is based in London too (and I usually pay £5 for my lunch outside of London) it is priced very fairly.
The chain itself is very big in Turkey, The United Arab Emirates and Lebanon (to mention just a few) but has recently been brought to London and will continue to expand for the next 5 years (with an expected 200 branches to open).
And whilst many may believe that a restaurant/chain catering for vegetarians, only serves vegetarians, that is certainly not the case. Whilst eating our meals (it was lunch hour on a weekday) hoards of people queued out the door for their choice of falafel. A mix of big burly meat eaters, women coming in for a salad (they have recently launched their new salad range, which is delicious) and everyone in between. They say having one meat free day a week is really beneficial to your health – and clearly, everyone is taking this in their stride!
So whether you’re a vegetarian – or a meat eater, on a diet or not, Just Falafel offers something for everyone. It’s affordable, relaxed and delicious. I honestly cannot fault it.
There are several branches dotted in and around London, so make sure you check out your nearest here.
