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Tofu Vegan Islington

London, Islington - Chinese/Vegan - Restaurant - £

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Good

There’s fierce competition for a table at this vegan outpost from the feted Xi’an Impression stable. Where the mothership is perfunctory in everything but the food, this space has been dressed up to fit in on Islington’s well-heeled Upper Street. Yucca plants and banquette seating might provide a veneer (and attract a social media-savvy clientele) but most people are here for the hot and fragrant flavours which make the plant-based nature of the menu a secondary consideration. ‘Fish-fragrant’ aubergine is served in silky finger lengths that have a weighty, meaty density, while freshly made tofu (the star of the show), appears in myriad dishes from Szechuan, northeastern Dongbei and the Cantonese south. If not mapo tofu, then how about bouncy cubes fresh out the fryer in a lacy batter, liberally scattered with the fruity heat of dried chilli? Faux meat substitutes are less thrilling compared to sizzling king oyster mushrooms in black pepper sauce or plump w...

There’s fierce competition for a table at this vegan outpost from the feted Xi’an Impression stable. Where the mothership is perfunctory in everything but the food, this space has been dressed up to fit in on Islington’s well-heeled Upper Street. Yucca plants and banquette seating might provide a veneer (and attract a social media-savvy clientele) but most people are here for the hot and fragrant flavours which make the plant-based nature of the menu a secondary consideration. ‘Fish-fragrant’ aubergine is served in silky finger lengths that have a weighty, meaty density, while freshly made tofu (the star of the show), appears in myriad dishes from Szechuan, northeastern Dongbei and the Cantonese south. If not mapo tofu, then how about bouncy cubes fresh out the fryer in a lacy batter, liberally scattered with the fruity heat of dried chilli? Faux meat substitutes are less thrilling compared to sizzling king oyster mushrooms in black pepper sauce or plump wontons in an addictively good house-special sauce. Once you’ve scored a table, service becomes friendly and efficient through the buzz and bustle. To drink, there's a handful of beers and a choice of serviceable wines from £19.50.

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VENUE DETAILS

105 Upper Street
Islington
N1 1QNGB

020 7916 3304

Make a reservation

OTHER INFORMATION

Family friendly, Dog friendly

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