If outstanding service and delicious freshly cooked food is what you want when you eat out – and combined with super vegan options then Busaba is the restaurant for you!
Launched in Soho’s Wardour Street in 1999 by serial restaurateur Alan Yau (Wagamama and Hakkasan fame), Busaba Eathai is a modern Thai eatery that has just launched their “Vegan Calamari”, and we were intrigued to find out more. We went to the Oxford Circus branch and we were all impressed with the decor as well as the vegan sign outside!
Fast forward 19 years after opening their doors and they now have an impressive 13 locations dotted around London.
The team told us,
“Long gone are the days when vegan options in restaurants were limited to a side salad (without dressing!) As the world slowly gets on board, new creations such as the vegan cauliflower steak, the vegan cheese, and even vegan bacon are starting to emerge, albeit mostly in specialist vegan restaurants.
Now herbivores can rejoice as Thai eatery, Busaba Bangkok Thai introduce a new vegan equivalent of their signature dish, the Thai Calamari. Busaba are proud to be the first restaurant to offer this vegan-friendly dish, using innovative new soya-based ingredients and of course, their classic Thai flavours to re-invent the Asian favourite.”
The dishes were all delicious and good sizes. One of the dishes (the Green Curry Jay) was a little too spicy for my lightweight palate, even with adding in some additional coconut milk, so this was quickly replaced with a more milder curry that was delicious. As a fan of not wasting food the green curry seemed less fiery when enjoyed for lunch the next day.
Busaba’s ‘Thai Soyamari’ is made from ‘Oumph!’ products which are completely plant-based and also free from gluten, dairy and nuts. As the very first restaurant in the UK to feature ‘Oumph!’ as the basis for a dish, Busaba are proving that they are one-step ahead in the vegan game, as they launch their new Spring menu which is 30% vegan-friendly.
Showing that Busaba is great for even the most fussiest of eaters the 2 young “tweenagers” with us also left the restaurant with clean plates.
Main courses are around £7 to £11 with sides and starters around £3 to £5 ish.
100% for service, taste and decor. One of the best restaurants we have been to. Outstanding vegan options and will definitely go back. With just a handful of deserts it is also great to see a vegan dessert on the menu – sadly it wasn’t available on our visit so another reason to go back!
The ’Thai Soyamari’ is served as a moreish small plate, priced at £7.95.
www.busaba.com
@busabaeathai
