A hip vegan hotspot in bustling Amsterdam-West where they serve original vegan Asian street food snacks to share AND where they play just the right music. As soon as you sit down and sip your first cocktail, you'll know: The Vegan has totally got it. Friend of thegreenlist.nl, Ariana, went with her friend to preview for us.
The Vegan in Amsterdam
When cycling through Amsterdam-West, this colourful vegan hotspot is not to be missed. The Vegan stands out in the crowd and the pop of colour has huge appeal. And with a fantastic menu of 25 vegan dishes from different Asian cuisines and a fine cocktail menu, you won't get away from it easily either. Enough reason to pay a visit to this fun sustainable restaurant. My conclusion: this hotspot definitely belongs in the list of thegreenlist.nl.
Bao buns, Gyoza, Korean fried cauliflower and more
I am not the only one to have discovered The Vegan. When you sit down for a cosy spot, you are probably not by yourself. I visit the restaurant with my friend on a ‘normal’ Monday evening at and around seven o'clock and the terrace and shop are already bustling . As soon as you taste the food, you understand why. The Bao buns, one with 5 spices oyster mushroom and one with crunchy tempeh, do not only look colourful; they are also a true taste explosion (umami!). If, like me, you love dumplings, then you absolutely must also try the gyoza with mushrooms, cashew and homemade ponzu sauce try. Yum! Most surprisingly, we find the Korean fried cauliflower. These cauliflower pieces are wrapped in a crispy, slightly spicy coating. Wow, is this a cauliflower? ‘This looks like chicken!’ my friend exclaims after the first bite. Unbelievably delicious!
Sipping at the Vegan.
Vegan chocolate dessert
Of course, we won't leave without a dessert. It will be the creamy Chocolate ganache with mint, pepper and passion fruit. That sounds exciting, we want to try that one. A dessert with a cool story too, it turns out. A local bakery buys this sustainable chocolate especially for us. ‘These local collaborations are important to us, so we can help each other out a bit!’, the cheerful waitress tells us as we are being served. Again, we are surprised after the first bite: is this creamy dessert really vegan? We know the answer, of course, but still...
Also local beer and sustainable wine at The Vegan
The plant-based dishes are a sustainable choice anyway, but the drinks also reflect the sustainable idea. For instance, only locally brewed special beers from Amsterdam are on the menu. And the wine list also consists only of sustainable and organic wines. And with a bamboo floor and a ceiling made of recycled materials, it is quite clear to us: sustainability permeates the entire restaurant concept.
Drinks at The Vegan
For drinkers, there is also plenty of choice at Amsterdam Vegan. Their signature cocktail is a jug Sake Sangria to share. Very tempting, but since it is Monday, we decide to take it easy. I go for the Holy Virgin Mary and my friend opts for the Saigon Mule. The (non-alcoholic) cocktails fit perfectly with the rest of the interior: equally - tasteful, vibrant and colourful.
At The Vegan you can not only eat, but also have a drink (and on weekends even until late at night). I think this combination is the reason why, even on a Monday evening, you forget it's only Monday. They combine the concept of a good and tastefully decorated restaurant with the cosiness of an Amsterdam bar.
The Vegan is open seven days a week for dinner and drinks (even until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays). From Wednesday to Sunday, you can also have lunch and drinks there. You will find De Veganees at 1e Constantijn Huygenstraat 45 in Amsterdam-West. See more about this restaurant.
More sustainable in Amsterdam tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Another sustainable gem in Amsterdam: Mana Mana restaurant.
- And we found another vegan gem in the Jordaan: Restaurant Bonboon.
- Day out in Amsterdam: Do the Green Light District Walk.
- Local dining out in Amsterdam-Noord at Puff.
Photo credits: Zindzi Zwietering (including main image), Ariana Schmikli and thegreenlist.nl.
