To celebrate and honour National Burger Day, here’s our pick of the five best plant-based burgers in London
1. The Vurger Co.
The Auburger, £8.45
This minimalist, plant-based burger joint across the road from Rich Mix has the cool vibe of an east London creative agency, and a menu of easily the best vegan burgers we’ve had in London. Their classic burger is a black bean, pepper and corn patty number, but be on the lookout for any specials. We happened upon a limited edition Caribbean burger from celebrity vegan (yes, they exist) Gaz Oakley, topped with fried plantains and coconut bacon. On the regular menu, the Auburger won our hearts, with its aubergine, caramelised red onion and chipotle chickpea patty. 6 Richmix Square, E1 6LD
2. Dirty Bones Shoreditch
Moving Mountains burger, £12
When the meatless-meat burger from Impossible hit the US, it caused a huge stir. But until these high-tech plant-patties arrive on our shores, we've got the B12 Burger from Moving Mountains, a “bleeding” burger that closely mimics the consistency of meat. Containing mushroom, beetroot juice and a host of other ingredients, it’s not only meat-free but also genuinely tasty. 1 Club Row, E1 6JX
3. Mooshies London Vegan Burger Bar
Various burgers, from £7.50
Pick from a variety of vegan patties including jackfruit, quinoa and blackbean, battered aubergine and chickpea at this hip Shoreditch burger joint. They’re all made in-house. 104 Brick Lane, E1 6RL
4. Stokey Bears Haggerston
Cola Bear, £9
A new Stokey Bears opened in Haggerston in July, just 15 minutes down the road from the original site in Stoke Newington, and with a new all-vegan burger and sides menu. The crowning glory of it is their Cola Bear burger, a spiced bean burger patty with salsa, avocado, ketchup and mustard, topped with vegan cheese and a sticky, sweet smoked cola jam. If you turn up at the wrong Stokey Bears, like we did, you can burn off calories by strutting down Kingsland Road, thereby necessitating that you try one of their vegan shakes too. 480 Kingsland Rd, E8 4AE
5. Temple of Seitan
Temple Spicy Burger, £7
Temple of Seitan makes fakey chicken using the newest advancement in plant-based eating: textured wheat gluten, the same meat-alternative used in the Silicon Valley spawned Impossible Burger. Battered and fried, this fibrous analogue (yum) makes for a cracking burger. Their Temple Spicy Burger, with jalapenos and sriracha is our top pick. 103a Camley Street, N1C 4PF