Lent: my least favourite time of year. People loudly, somewhat naively committing to overly ambitious steps to self-renewal, while I guiltily, but quite happily, nibble away at a few impatiently purchased Easter eggs. I realise I’m not alone in this. Lent resolutions to go meat-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, anything-free is understandably daunting. So I carried out the incredibly laborious task of seeking out the finest veggie burgers in Dublin to help you maintain your new health-conscious life while keeping it tasty.
Happy Food
This hidden gem at the top of Camden Street is a health guru’s dreamland. A yoga studio–vegetarian cafe mashup, 27 Camden Place offers both the training and the reward. Admittedly, I skipped straight to the reward (because sometimes, you’ve just got to treat yourself), but the option is there to take a yoga class before enjoying the sensory-delighting experience offered downstairs. The Devil Diablo veggie burger is a personal favourite – a black bean and sweet potato burger, adorned with all kinds of delectable toppings, leaving you in an uncomfortably satisfying state of comatose. The six types of veggie burger on offer range from €9 to €12.
Bujo
This burger joint in Sandymount village made waves across veggieland when it first announced it would be serving the famous Beyond Meat burger. A plant-based burger that looks, cooks and tastes like beef? Well hello there. For anyone flirting with the idea of vegetarianism (I see you batting those eyelashes), but too attached to the hearty flavour of beef, this offers the perfect solution. The vegetarian burger comes with their signature burger sauce, cheese, tomato, onion and pickles, while the vegan version comes with a vegan bun, violife cheese, tomato, onion, pickles and roasted garlic aioli. At just €9.50 a pop, you certainly get your money’s worth.
McGuinness’s Takeaway
I don’t mean to be dramatic, but this legendary Dublin takeaway on Camden Street has only gone and revolutionised the vegan world – they have launched a comprehensive, taste bud-delighting, full vegan menu. This beauty includes four different types of veggie burger, an absolute steal with all under €6. My go-to is undoubtedly the smoky chickpea burger. Filled with chickpeas and a staggering selection of spices, the dish, which could easily overpower with spice, succeeds in achieving that oh-so-smoky flavour that few veggie burgers accomplish. The student-friendly price – just €4.90 – is an added bonus.
Mad Egg
Famed for their construct-your-own cheesecake, not to mention their fanatic dedication to all things chicken, Mad Egg seems a somewhat sceptical choice for the health-concerned Veganuary participant. Fear not, however, for this fellow Camden Street resident has an astoundingly tasty veggie burger on offer. The cauliflower, sweetcorn and shallot fritter serves as a delightful alternative to any of the chicken dishes on offer and satiates those pesky demands of your taste buds. They don’t mess with their prices, keeping every burgers, veggie and all, at €9.95.
On the Pig’s Back Eatery
Located on Capel St, this burger joint has a wide-ranging menu on offer. With both vegan and vegetarian dishes on offer, the restaurant is a great option for any veggie burger-lover out there. Complimented by a selection of toppings, including vegan bacon and cheese, as well as lettuce and tomato, there is something perfectly satisfying about this veggie burger’s simplicity. At just €7.85, this is a very tasty treat that won’t break the bank.
