Dubai Chocolate traditionally combines milk chocolate, tahini paste, pistachio paste, and knafeh, a spun pastry dough popular throughout the Middle East. The pistachio and knafeh filling is flaky with a vibrant green color, and the chocolate shell often includes distinctive green marbling.

The recipe was originally created by Dubai’s FIX Dessert Chocolatier. Speaking to the New York Times earlier this year, founder Sarah Hamouda explained that a pregnancy craving for knafeh, a dessert from her childhood, inspired both the business and the “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It” bar.

In 2023, TikTok user Maria Vehera posted an ASMR-style video (now with over 122 million views) of her sampling different FIX confections, including Can’t Get Knafeh Of It. Many commenters asked after the green filling, and the product became known as Dubai Chocolate.

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As of April 2025, the #DubaiChocolate hashtag has 265 thousand posts on Instagram and more than 355 thousand posts on TikTok. According to Yahoo News, luxury British travel agent Destination2 reported a recent 38 percent “jump” in Dubai bookings amid the current Dubai Chocolate “shopping frenzy” that is sweeping the UK and beyond.

Lindt has relaunched a previously limited edition version of its own Dubai Chocolate, and supermarket Waitrose introduced a two-bar limit to prevent customers from bulk-buying. Meanwhile, shoppers queued outside Lidl to purchase the new “Dubai-Style Chocolate” that just launched, and Aldi Ireland has promptly introduced a “Dubai Chocolate-style” ice cream.

Read more: Company Raises $30 Million To Scale Up Cocoa-Free Chocolate

Is Dubai chocolate vegan?

With a growing number of alternative options and imitations now available, there has been a flurry of interest in vegan Dubai Chocolate in the new year. Internet users have been asking for tips on Reddit and Googling questions such as “Is there vegan Dubai Chocolate?”

Authentic Dubai Chocolate from FIX Dessert Chocolatier is not suitable for vegans as it features dairy milk chocolate. Furthermore, knafeh can include a wide range of regional, traditional, and non-traditional ingredient variations, such as dairy cheese and honey.

In the UK, the most widely available Dubai Chocolate bars – including Lindt, Lidl, and many of the options sold on Etsy, Ebay, and other platforms – all contain dairy. (In fact, Lindt makes its bar using three different types of milk powder, milk fat, and dairy-derived lactose.)

There are, however, several vegan recipes available. Some creators are sticking as close as possible to a veganized version of the original ingredients list, while others are customizing.

The Little Blog Of Vegan, for example, combines shredded kataifi pastry with white and dark chocolate for a marbling effect. It also includes pistachio butter, but no tahini. The All Natural Vegan, meanwhile, adds raw pistachios and coconut-sweetened cacao nibs for extra body.

Read more: Catherine’s Originals Launches ‘UK’s Largest’ Vegan Easter Egg

Where to find vegan Dubai Chocolate bars

It can be tricky to find an authentic, vegan version of the classic Dubai Chocolate bar, but there are a few options available to folks in the UK and US. (Including Easter eggs.)

Kind Hearted Chocs

The newly founded Kind Hearted Chocs makes a Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Bar, which the small company describes as the “UK’s first” of its kind. Kind Hearted Chocs makes pistachio paste from scratch. It blends this with vegan white chocolate and crunchy, toasted kataifi, and gives the chocolate coating a rippling texture and green and gold marbling pattern.

Kind Hearted Chocs says that the business is “committed to supporting charities that help women, support the LGBTQIA+ community, fight racism and advocate for animal rights.” Throughout March, 2.5 percent of every sale was donated to Women’s Aid via Work For Good.

Find out more here.

The Organic House

Canada’s The Organic House makes a vegan and gluten-free version of Dubai Chocolate. This product is currently available exclusively via the specialty shopping platform Basquet, which caters primarily to North American customers looking for allergen-free products.

The Organic House itself is an award-winning, vegan chocolate-maker, and a “Viral Dubai Knafeh Pistachio EGG with Raspberry Drizzle” is also currently available for pre-order. 

Find out more here.

Qoqoa Chocolate

Qoqoa Chocolate is based in Northampton, England, and the family-run business makes and sells both a vegan and a non-vegan version of the Dubai Chocolate bar. The vegan version includes “crispy knafeh and a generous layer of premium Zeina pistachio cream, all encased in a luxurious coating of Belgian dark chocolate.” According to Qoqoa, using vegan dark chocolate in place of milk gives the bar a “smooth richness” to balance the nutty center.

Find out more here.

Considerit

Considerit is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and makes sweet treats like donuts, milkshakes, ice cream, and chocolate, all handmade with vegan ingredients. The small company is currently taking pre-orders for a “Dubai Pistachio Egg,” which Considerit says is the first of its kind in the UK. The egg includes the company’s “Own unique crunchy pistachio filling encased in perfectly tempered m*lk chocolate,” says Considerit in a description of the chocolate egg.

Find out more here.

Ombar

Ombar was founded nearly 20 years ago, but its presence in the UK’s plant-based market has grown significantly since 2021, when it launched a quartet of oat milk bars at Waitrose. The company is notable for its use of unroasted cacao, organic pistachios, and ethical suppliers.

While not technically a Dubai Chocolate bar, Ombar’s “Pistachio Cream” range might just be the most widely available option for vegan customers in the UK looking for a plant-based taste of pistachio-and-chocolate. A 70g version of the bar is currently available from Ocado, and a smaller 42g version is also available from Waitrose. The range combines organic dark chocolate with a pistachio paste center for a “creamy” and “delicate” flavor combination.

Find out more here.

Read more: 10 Dairy-Free Chocolate Easter Bunnies

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Airline chefs collaborated in the Emirates Flight Catering Concept Development Kitchen to test the new plant-based meals. Among the dishes trialed were a spicy shakshuka using a legume-based solid egg substitute and vegan cannelloni made with a premade pastry sheet.

The airline sources ingredients from a number of international suppliers, including the USA’s Beyond Meat, Japan’s Qian Ye pressed tofu, and France’s Linnolat organic dark chocolate. 

Read more: The Top 10 European Destinations For Vegans

Vegan menus on board

Emirates invested millions of dollars in its vegan options back in 2022. It now serves over 400,000 plant-based meals annually, with 300 menu options available. The dishes are available across Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class cabins. In Economy, passengers can choose dishes like crêpes filled with sautéed vegetables and chocolate mousse cake. Premium Economy offerings include braised mushrooms with five-spice soy sauce and desserts like chocolate tart with apricot compote.

Read more: The Top 10 Most Vegan-Friendly Cities In The World

Business Class menus feature options such as Thai red curry tofu with steamed jasmine rice. First Class passengers can enjoy creamy polenta cake with thyme mushroom ragout and aubergine curry with charred rice.

Emirates has also introduced vegan meals for children. These include dishes like vegetable fajitas and vegan chocolate pudding. Lounges at Dubai International Airport also provide a wide selection of plant-based options, including Baharat-spiced kofta in coconut gravy and the Emirates Green Burger, made with soya and flaxseed.

Vegan meals can be pre-ordered across all Emirates flights up to 24 hours before departure. On high-demand routes, plant-based dishes are included in the main menu. 

Read more: Schiphol Airport In Amsterdam Will Be 60 Percent Plant-Based By 2030

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Street food vlogger Mark Wiens and several Thai celebrity chefs will guide viewers through “an array of culinary and cultural experiences,” including ancient breakfast traditions in the capital city of Bangkok and spiritual vegetarian festivals like Phuket’s annual celebration.

“This isn’t just a food documentary. This series highlights how traditional foods can guide us towards a more sustainable future.” said Culturally Plant-Based director Max Hellier.

“We wanted to diversify the conversation about sustainable food by showcasing ancient plant-based street foods and how they have been quietly thriving in Thailand for generations,” he added. “Especially now as we recognize the importance of sustainable food choices, we believe this fresh perspective is vital.”

According to Climate Cats Studios, which produced the project, Culturally Plant-Based focuses on the human stories behind the food, including street vendors, generational cooks, and community members who keep Thailand’s plant-based culinary traditions alive.

In the trailer for Culturally Plant-Based, Climate Cats producer Joanna Hellier notes that “foods that are now being seen by the rest of the world as these new, sustainable innovations, were actually pioneered in Asia thousands of years ago.”

Culturally Plant-Based will premiere in Bangkok in 2025, with streaming details to come.

Read more: Impossible Foods Founder Explores Turning Cattle Ranches Into Forests In New Documentary

Thailand to expand production and export of vegan foods

In 2019, around eight percent of the total population of Thailand did not eat meat. At the time, this amount was forecast to increase to around 15 percent by 2025.

While last June saw Thailand’s FDA propose a ban on meat and dairy labels for vegetarian alternatives, a few months later the Ministry of Commerce’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) published a roadmap to transform the country into a plant-based hub.

This roadmap included plans for research and technology, investment and marketing, and enhanced production, processing, and expansion. The TPSO also suggested a review of laws and regulations around plant-based products, including the proposed label ban.

TPSO director general Poonpong Naiyanapakorn told The Nation that the roadmap would create domestic and international business opportunities in the coming years.

Read more: Portugal’s ‘Groundbreaking’ Climate Plan Includes Plant-Based Protein Strategy

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Welsh Pub Named Best Vegan Restaurant In Europe

Online booking travel platform Omio, has revealed the European travel destinations with the most food choices for vegans. Omio analyzed restaurants featured on Trip Advisor to uncover its list of the top 10 most vegan-friendly cities.

In the number one spot is London. The English capital is undeniably the biggest vegan haven with nearly 5,000 eateries providing vegan options. Though not all the restaurants in each city are fully vegan, London has some extremely popular 100 percent vegan places to eat too. Last year, Uber Eats announced that three vegan eateries made its top 10 finalists for its annual restaurant of the year awards in London.

The full list

The full list of most vegan-friendly European cities is below:

1. London (4,908 vegan options)
2. Rome (2.306 vegan options)
3. Paris (1,751 vegan options)
4. Barcelona (1,685 vegan options)
5. Berlin (1,357 vegan options)
6. Madrid (1,296 vegan options)
7. Milan (1,195 vegan options)
8. Amsterdam (974 vegan options)
9. Vienna (777 vegan options)
10. Lisbon (766 vegan options)

Across the Channel, Rome is the best place for vegan travelers with 2,306 places to eat. Paris is third on the list after London and Rome. You needn’t even miss out on famous French pastries like croissants, as there is a fully vegan patisserie, VG pâtisserie Vegan Paris, within walking distance of many of the city’s popular sights.

Read more: European Court Strikes Down Bans On Meat Names For Vegan Food

Barcelona and Berlin make up the remaining of the top five. Lisbon comes in at the bottom of the ranking, with a solid 766 places offering vegan options. Overall, Italy and Spain proved to be great destinations for vegans, as each country has two cities in the top 10.

Read more: More Than Half Of Europeans Are Cutting Down Meat, Study Finds

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Why Is This Fruit Going Viral On TikTok?

Simon Beun, one half of the popular vegan Instagram account @fitshortie, has taste-tested a variety of fascinating fruits from around the world. Alongside his partner, Tina Stoklosa, he has been traveling to different countries, trying the planet’s most incredible fruits and documenting their experiences on Instagram. Here are his top 12 picks from Costa Rica.

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A post shared by Simon & Tina | Fruit & Vegan Travel (@fitshortie)

1. Soursop

Also known as graviola, soursop smells like pineapple and is both sour and sweet. With a spiky green exterior, the flesh inside is white and creamy in texture. Soursop is also low in calories and rich in fiber and vitamin C.

2. Cupuaçu

This fruit is actually the national fruit of Brazil, which is the world’s biggest producer of Cupuaçu. “Can you imagine a slimy pineapple, sour, a little bit sweet, and very refreshing,” Simon describes it in the Instagram post. It’s often used in desserts or pressed into a juice. Its seeds contain a nutrient-rich fat that is turned into cooking oil and used for beauty treatments.

3. Chocolate Sapote

Chocolate sapote, also called black sapote, is like a low-sugar brownie in fruit form. It has a dark chocolate coloring and a creamy texture. Chocolate sapote is rich in vitmains and potassium, too.

4. Rollinia

This spiky yellow fruit is a native to Brazil but popular throughout Central and South America. Simon describes it as like eating a thick apple sauce, with lemon-infused apple sauce taste. Indeed, it is known for its exceptional taste, often likened to lemon meringue pie, and slimy texture.

Read more: The 9 Healthiest Fruits, According To Nutritionists

5. Cacao

You wouldn’t guess just by looking at it, but this is the fruit that chocolate is made from. Shaped a bit like a rugby ball, the tough skin is red or yellow in color. Inside the flesh is whitish and has a sweet, slightly sour fruity taste. The seeds are what become chocolate, but they can also be eaten raw if you like the intensity and bitterness of very dark chocolate.

6. Banana Passionfruit

This passionfruit gets its name from being long and yellow on the outside. The pulp within is orange in color and, according to Simon, it tastes like tropical punch. The seeds can be eaten but are bitter in flavor.

7. Mocambo

Mocambo is also known as white cacao as its a cousin on the cacao fruit. The hard, craggy shell of the mocambo contains a huge amount of fruit which forms in segments. Inside the segments are seeds surrounded by pulp. These seeds are edible and packed with protein.

8. Pink banana

There are more than 1,000 varieties of bananas, but most of us only eat one type, the yellow Cavendish banana. This pink variety has a starchier texture and contains many larger seeds than what you would be used to.

9. Safou

This small fruit looks like an elongated plum and is also known as butter pear. This is because of its fatty, buttery flesh. Native to Africa, it has ben cultivated in other parts of the world with suitably tropical climates. Simon describes it as having the consistency of mashed potatoes with a slightly sour flavor.

10. Cassabanana

This large fruit resembles a marrow, and is in fact a gourd, though its skin is red. The flesh is orange and very juicy and peppered with black seeds. It has the taste of a melon and is very sweet.

11. Sapote Colombia

Sapote Colombia is another kind of sapote fruit. It’s brown skin contains orange flesh with a large core of pulp. Its flavor is like a melon with a hint of orange.

12. Borojo

This round fruit can be pulled apart, revealing a very sticky brown flesh. According to Simon, it is hard to eat because of its gluey texture and inedible hard seeds. He says it has a strong smell similar to tamarind and tastes how burnt plastic smells. So, this may be one to avoid…

Read more: Eating More Fruit And Veg ‘Equivalent To Walking 4,000 Extra Steps A Day’

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Slutty Vegan To Open In Busiest US Airport

The research – which was conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine – also found that 71 percent of frequent flyers would be interested in buying plant-based food if it were easily accessible. 

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit that promotes preventative lifestyle medicine. It was founded by Dr Neal Barnard, a renowned plant-based physician. In response to the findings, dietitians from the organization reviewed the plant-based options at some of the busiest airports in the US. Meals rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals were prioritized. It found that Los Angeles International (LAX) was the most vegan-friendly airport, being described as a “haven” for plant-based options. It also named Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) as among those “leading the change” in meat-free airport dining.

Read more: UK Airports See Soaring Demand For Vegan Food

US airports get more plant-based

While healthy plant-based options are still lacking in many airports, there’s no doubt that the situation is improving.

Physicians Committee dietitian Xavier Toledo named CAVA, which offers customizable bowls, and Breeze, which features smoothies and breakfast options, as good examples of healthy vegan-friendly eateries in LAX. 

Offering his tips on finding plant-based food while traveling, Toledo recommends seeking out eateries that allow for customization of meals. These could include sandwich or salad bars. Grab-and-go snacks are also increasingly free from animal products, so it’s always worth checking the labels. Before traveling, Toledo recommends doing your research, as brands like VeggL and HappyCow feature plant-based options at airports.

Read more: AI-Powered Vegan Travel App Launches Crowdfunding Campaign

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: The Top 100 Vegan Restaurants In The USA, According To Yelp

In the 2025 version of its annual list, vegan restaurant app HappyCow ranked the best cities globally for vegans. The study looked at the number of fully vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants and businesses in each city, as well as the density of these per square mile and capita. It also took into account the growth of vegan businesses since the last report, how easy it is to find vegan food, how active the vegan community is, and how well veganism is understood by the population.

London and Berlin have topped the list for the fourth consecutive year. They boast 3,600+ and 1,700+ listings respectively in HappyCow’s database. The list also welcomed new additions, Mexico City and Ho Chi Minh City, which came eighth and ninth respectively. According to the authors of the study, Ho Chi Minh City stood out with a huge increase in the number of fully vegan listings. The city is now regarded as the fastest-growing vegan city in the world.

The Top 10 Most Vegan-Friendly Cities

This year hasn’t been the best time for fully vegan businesses, according to HappyCow, with relatively modest growth and small dips in some areas. “2023 to 2024 were challenging years for vegan businesses, with a significant drop in vegan restaurants in many cities,” said Eric Brent, founder of HappyCow, in a statement. “This decline is partly due to increased vegan options at regular restaurants, leading to more competition. Combined with inflation, higher rents, and a reduced lunch crowd from remote work, these factors have created difficulties for vegan business owners who often operate on low margins and adhere to costly ethical standards.” He added, however, that demand for vegan food and overall traffic “continues to grow strongly.”

Here are the top 10 most vegan-friendly cities in the world.

#1: London

London has once again grabbed the top spot, thanks to its huge selection of vegan and vegan-friendly businesses all over the city. Since HappyCow’s last report, London has seen a 12 percent increase in the number of plant-based restaurants. Central London offers 54 fully vegan restaurants, plus over 285 vegan businesses of various types (including cafés, caterers, bakeries, shops, and more). In total, London has 3,620 vegan-friendly listings.

#2: Berlin

The German capital saw a slight dip in the number of vegan businesses, but it nevertheless remains one of the most vegan-friendly areas in the world. The city has 116 fully vegan businesses and has also seen a seven percent increase in vegan-friendly businesses overall. In total, Berlin has 1,772 vegan-friendly spots.

#3: Los Angeles

LA has long been a vegan-friendly hotspot, and it continues to be a go-to destination. While there has been a 22 percent decline in fully vegan businesses in the city, it still offers 128 of these. LA has a grand total of 2,515 vegan-friendly venues.

Read more: The Top 20 Most Vegan-Friendly Cities In The USA, According To New Report

#4: Portland

Portland is famous for its vegan scene and has the highest density of vegan spots per capita. According to HappyCow, it’s the “vegan hub” of the US. Like some other cities, it has seen a slight dip in fully vegan businesses, and it now has 46 in total. However, the number of vegan-friendly venues has grown by 10 percent, now totaling 631.

#5: Lisbon

Lisbon often flies under the radar for vegans, but it’s an underrated plant-based hotspot in Europe. It has seen a 10 percent increase in fully vegan businesses, totaling 41, as well as an 11 percent rise in vegan-friendly venues, which now amount to 82.

#6: Barcelona

Barcelona has also seen increases across the board, with three and six percent rises in vegan businesses and vegan-friendly businesses, respectively. There are 60 vegan restaurants and 951 vegan-friendly establishments. According to HappyCow, Barcelona is also one of the most accessible vegan cities, with a large number of options per square mile.

#7: Amsterdam

Amsterdam has experienced some “shaky ground” since the last report, with a number of businesses closing. It still offers a solid amount of vegan options, however, with 52 fully vegan restaurants in the city center. There are also a total of 827 vegan-friendly listings.

#8: Mexico City

Mexico City is a brand-new addition to the list, thanks to its growing number of fully vegan and vegan-friendly businesses. It has 124 of the former, as well as 493 of the latter. In the report, HappyCow says it’s “excited” to see what’s next for this vegan-friendly newcomer.

#9: New York City

NYC narrowly missed out on the top 10 list last year, but it has now made a comeback. The city offers 122 fully vegan listings as well as 1,165 vegan-friendly businesses across the boroughs. HappyCow points out that New Yorkers, in particular, have a wide understanding of veganism.

#10: Ho Chi Minh City

The second newcomer, Ho Chi Minh City, has seen a sharp rise in vegan food over the last year. Fully vegan restaurants increased by 33 percent, now totaling 210, and there has also been a 41 percent surge in vegan-friendly businesses, reaching 1,214.

Read more: How To Stay At ‘England’s First’ Plant-Based Hotel

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Corn Dogs and Lion King Nuggets Among Impossible Foods New Releases

A decade ago, vegans may have struggled to find decent food while eating out, but there has been a recent boom in meat-free dining across the country. The Yelp list features the restaurants that the nation has rated highest, and there are options to suit every taste, mood, and preference. 

Grabbing the top spot is California’s lil’ Vegerie, which is known for its vegetable-forward menu. One of its most popular items, the Philly “Cheesesteak” Bowl, uses marinated mushrooms over vegan meat and is topped with cashew cheese. 

A move away from meat substitutes seems to be a running theme in the list. Other top restaurants include The Mediterranean Chickpea in Florida, which offers a whole foods-based menu with plenty of veg and legumes. Vegan Stops in California is another restaurant that doesn’t offer any plant-based meat at all, instead prioritizing vegetables in its place. 

Vegan meats and cheeses are still very much on the menu, however, with eateries like The Rabbit Hole in Florida offering dishes like BBQ ‘Chick’n’ Salad, Loaded Fries, and BBQ Rib Stir Fry.

Read more: Beyond Meat’s New Product Isn’t Trying To Replicate Meat – Here’s Why

The most vegan-friendly areas in the US

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The new Yelp list covers a wide range of areas across the US. In the top 10, you’ll find three California restaurants, two from Florida, and one each from Arizona, New Jersey, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Nevada. 

According to a report published last month, Los Angeles (California), Orlando (Florida), and Portland (Oregon), are the three most vegan-friendly cities in the USA. The study, by WalletHub, looked at the cost of groceries, how many restaurants serve vegan-friendly food, and whether cities offer vegan festivals. 

The top 100 vegan restaurants in the US

This list covers the best US vegan restaurants in states all over the country. Whether you’re in the mood for Mexican, Italian, or Mediterranean food, there’s something to suit pretty much everyone. 

Here is the complete list of the top 100 vegan restaurants in the USA: 

1. lil’ Vegerie, Redondo Beach, California
2. The Mediterranean Chickpea, Tampa, Florida
3. Urban Fresh, Tucson, Arizona
4. Hey, Sunshine Kitchen, Culver City, California
5. BOOMCHIA, Montclair, New Jersey
6. The Rabbit Hole, Pompano Beach, Florida

1. Vegan Stops, Garden Grove, California
2. Pure Soul, Durham, North Carolina
3. Kelley Farm Kitchen, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
4. Tarantino’s Vegan, Las Vegas, Nevada
5. Ras Plant Based, Brooklyn, New York
6. Pure Kitchen Organic Vegan, Tampa, Florida
7. Thanh Tinh Chay, San Diego, California
8. The Uprooted Kitchen, Gilbert, Arizona
9. Miss Rachel’s Pantry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. NoButcher, Las Vegas, Nevada
11. Earth Aloha Eats, Kihei, Hawaii
12. Urban Vegan, Newark, New Jersey
13. Francis Burger Joint, Minneapolis, Minnesota
14. Thuong An Lac, Honolulu, Hawaii
15. VEGZ, Washington, District of Columbia
16. BeeWali’s Vegan AF, Los Angeles, California
17. Florish, Tampa Bay, Florida
18. Healthy Harvest Urban Farms, Rock Island, Illinois
19. Tane Vegan Izakaya, Honolulu, Hawaii
20. The Tin Thistle, North Bend, Oregon
21. Sweet Rose Cafe, Fall River, Massachusetts
22. veggie bowl, Oregon City, Oregon
23. Organically Twisted, Naples, Florida
24. Sanctuary Bistro, Charlotte, North Carolina
25. Vegelicious, Nashville, Tennessee
26. Mission Burger, Austin, Texas
27. UNiQ Burger, Scottsdale, Arizona
28. Sweet Soulfood, New Orleans, Louisiana
29. Chef Tanya’s Kitchen, Palm Springs, California
30. Dina’s Vegan Deli & Desserts, Riviera Beach, Florida
31. House of Mexica, Reno, Nevada
32. Veg & Go Plant-Based Fast Food, Riverside, California
33. Vegan Shop, Hilo, Hawaii
34. Buds, Salt Lake City, Utah
35. WongWayVeg, Denver, Colorado
36. Chilango PDX, Portland, Oregon
37. Belmont Vegetarian, Worcester, Massachusetts
38. Brekkie Bowls, Wailea, Hawaii
39. Variable Cafe, Los Angeles, California
40. Vegan & Juice, Miami, Florida
41. Root, Newport, Rhode Island
42. Sun Belly Cafe, Greenville, South Carolina
43. Botanical Fare, Charlottesville, Virginia
44. Garden Grill, Las Vegas, Nevada
45. Hijo de su Madre, Los Angeles, California
46. Koshary Corner, Baltimore, Maryland
47. Desert Roots Kitchen, Tempe, Arizona
48. Blondie’s Vegan Cafe Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
49. ChagaRoot, Las Vegas, Nevada
50. Dirty Lettuce, Portland, Oregon
51. Toasty, Bend, Oregon
52. Tamam, New York, New York
53. Hash Vegan Eatery, San Antonio, Texas
54. Secret Pizza Society, Portland, Oregon
55. Rawk Star Cafe, Oldsmar, Florida
56. Belenty’s Love, Fort Worth, Texas
57. Freshroll, Mashpee, Massachusetts
58. The Ginger Mule, Houston, Texas
59. Orchard Grocer, New York, New York
60. Vegos, Albuquerque, New Mexico
61. Sundrip, Chicago, Illinois
62. Norma’s Plant Based Cuisine, Altamonte Springs, Florida
63. Bombay Food Junkies, Saint Louis, Missouri
64. Loving Heart, Chicago, Illinois
65. All Chay, Salt Lake City, Utah
66. Daikon Vegan Sushi, Las Vegas, Nevada
67. Hungry Vegan, Savannah, Georgia
68. Bayside Cafe, Everett, Washington
69. Vegan Vibrationz, Plano, Texas
70. Shayna B’s By The Sea, Westbrook, Connecticut
71. Bistro Vonish, Austin, Texas
72. Tacotarian, Las Vegas, Nevada
73. Can’t Believe It’s Vegan, Westerville, Ohio
74. Honest Pastures, Virginia Beach, Virginia
75. The Cosmic Kitchen, Haleiwa, Hawaii
76. Energize, Brighton, Massachusetts
77. Nissi VegMex Vegan Mexican Cuisine, Austin, Texas
78. Spring Cafe, New York, New York
79. Moku Roots, Kula, Hawaii
80. Cashew, Chattanooga, Tennessee
81. CLTRE. vgn jnt, Virginia Beach, Virginia
82. Down 2 Earth Plant-Based Cuisine, Las Vegas, Nevada
83. Planted PDX, Portland, Oregon
84. Cafe Red, Seattle, Washington
85. Green Love Kitchen, Lithonia, Georgia
86. VeGreen Vegetarian Fusion Restaurant, Duluth, Georgia
87. Recipe Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas
88. Aa Roots Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii
89. Reverie Cafe + Bar, Minneapolis, Minnesota
90. Plant, Asheville, North Carolina
91. Manna Kitchen, Lisle, Illinois
92. Total Vegan Indian Restaurant, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
93. La Semilla, Atlanta, Georgia
94. Wildflower Vegan Café, Millville, New Jersey

Read more: US School Children Get More Access To Healthy Plant-Based Foods Under New Rules

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: What Are The Best US States For Vegans?

The top three cities have switched places since last year, however, with Los Angeles moving up to number one, Orlando moving up to two, and Portland dropping down to three.

WalletHub compared the 100 largest US cities against 17 key vegan and vegetarian friendliness indicators. These included the cost of groceries, how many restaurants serve affordable meat-free options, and whether the city hosts a vegan festival.

The finance company published the report earlier this week and noted the significant purchasing power of plant-based consumers. Despite representing just six percent of the adult population, the widespread availability of meat-free foods reflects a burgeoning sector.

“While vegetarians and vegans are still a relatively small share of the population, businesses are recognizing their impact on their market,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

Research from 2022 found that approximately 70 percent of the US population consumes plant-based foods, significantly more than just the six percent made up of strict vegetarians. Dairy-free milk and alternative proteins made up the vast majority of flexitarian purchases.

“With meat prices rising significantly faster than vegetable prices, too, we may see a lot more people taking a foray into a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle in the near future,” added Lupo.

Read more: California To Ban Octopus Farming And Sales Of Farmed Octopus

The top 20 vegan-friendly cities in the US

Using the 17 relevant metrics for a vegan-friendly city, WalletHub gave each one a score out of 100 possible points, emphasizing affordability, diversity, accessibility, quality, and lifestyle. The top 15 cities each scored over 50 points, while the top 20 each scored at least 48.

1. Los Angeles, California
2. Orlando, Florida
3. Portland, Oregon
4. San Diego, California
5. Seattle, Washington
6. Austin, Texas
7. San Francisco, California
8. Miami, Florida
9. Phoenix, Arizona
10. Tampa, Florida
11. New York City, New York
12. Washington, DC
13. Oakland, California
14. Las Vegas, Nevada
15. Chicago, Illinois
16. Atlanta, Georgia
17. Madison, Wisconsin
18. Houston, Texas
19. Sacramento, California
20. San Antonio, Texas

The winner

Los Angeles has been crowned this year’s winner with 61.26 points. WalletHub reported that the city’s residents eat meat-free food 187 percent more often than the national average, and assigned 17 points for the diversity, accessibility, and quality of available foods.

Los Angeles has the second-highest number of affordable restaurants with vegan or veggie options and more than 4.5 stars on Yelp, plenty of farmers markets, organic farms, and community gardens, and a range of vegetarian festivals, meet-ups, and cooking classes.

Vegan highlights in Los Angeles

According to Happy Cow, Los Angeles has at least 408 vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in central locations. However, because Los Angeles has an extensive sprawl (over 500 square miles) there are countless other gems within and outside of the city proper.

Here are just a few of the best-known and most popular vegan highlights in L.A.

Crossroads Kitchen

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Crossroads is a high-end Mediterranean restaurant founded by Chef Tal Ronnen over a decade ago. It is a favorite of vegans and non-vegans alike, including prominent celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian, and even offers a lavish and extensive tasting menu.

Find out more here.

Ramen Hood

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Located in the historic Grand Central Market, Ramen Hood serves a completely vegan menu including a rich, creamy base broth and plant-based boiled eggs with poppable yolks. Both are included in its perpetually popular “OG Ramen,” but Ramen Hood serves a variety of other dishes, small plates, and addable extras.

Find out more here.

Lucifers Pizza

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Lucifers Pizza doesn’t have an extensive vegan menu, but it was voted “Best Vegan Pizza in LA.” The restaurant serves vegan cheese on a vegan crust, with a range of toppings including pizza staples like mushrooms and bell peppers as well as roasted pumpkin.

Find out more here.

Gracias Madre

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This all-vegan Mexican restaurant says its dishes are “rooted in nature.” Gracias Madre followed up its original San Francisco location with this LA branch in early 2014, and the eatery is known for its menu of Mexican staples like esquites, huevos rancheros, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, and gorditas.

“We serve traditional Mexican cuisine made from scratch using organic, non-GMO, plant-based ingredients sourced from local and regenerative farmers,” writes Gracias Madre. “We embrace sustainability, advocate for regeneration, and stand by transparency.”

Find out more here.

Cafe Gratitude

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Cafe Gratitude was founded by Chef Seizan Dreux Ellis in 2012 and serves a 100 percent organic, vegan menu. Its many dishes have titles like “I Am Thriving” (the soup of the day) and “I Am Grateful” (a shredded kale and black bean-based “community bowl”).

Find out more here.

Shojin

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Shojin is named after the Shinto Buddhist vegan diet and also exclusively serves plant-based and organic foods. It has separate takeout and dining menus, which include vegan sushi, ramen, tasting plates, and desserts. (Try the Tempura Banana & Chocolate Mousse Cake.)

Find out more here.

Pura Vita

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Pura Vita is the self-proclaimed first-ever completely plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the US. Its flagship location is in West Hollywood and the restaurant has now opened a dedicated Pura Vita pizzeria next door. Pure Vita’s dinner menu includes antipasti, fried food, salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes, along with pizza and calzones.

Find out more here.

Read more: The Top 20 Vegan Cities In The World Revealed By HappyCow

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: AI-Powered Vegan Travel App Launches Crowdfunding Campaign

In a statement, the airport said that it will make 60 percent of food and dairy offerings – based on ingredient volume – plant-based by the end of the decade. Furthermore, it aims to cut CO2e emissions from food products by 50 percent by 2030, compared to 2023.

The airport hopes to achieve a resource loss goal of less than one percent by 2030, which will make it effectively zero-waste. Schiphol has said that its products will be certified deforestation-free by 2025, and all cocoa and coffee will be sourced with FairTrade certification by the same year.

Schiphol Airport is the primary international airport for the Netherlands and the third-largest in Europe. It saw more than 60 million passengers in 2023, up 18 percent from the year before, making its sustainability pledges potentially very impactful.

Read more: Vegan Chicken Brand ‘SHICKEN’ Launches In US Costco Stores

Flyers demand vegan food at airports

In July, Schiphol Airport announced a “plant-based bonanza” in its dining area thanks to food and beverage partners FEBO, Toko To Go, LEON, STACH, and Burger King. The latter even partnered with the airport for an exclusive meal, the Veggie Crunchie Chicken Deluxe, which features plant-based meat by the Vegetarian Butcher.

You can find Schiphol’s current range of plant-based options on the airport’s website here, which include its “Health Food Wall” vending machines, Pizza Per Tutti!, Up To Do Good, La Place, Kebaya, and Amsterdam Bread Co, most of which offer vegan-adaptable meals.

Airports, in general, have seen a recent surge in demand for vegan and alcohol-free options, including plant milks, meat-free breakfast and brunch items, and healthy smoothies.

Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole announced in July that her plant-based fast-food chain would be opening a branch in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson international airport, one of the busiest in the US. This will be the first all-vegan restaurant at Hartsfield-Jackson.

Read more: Burger King Makes Plant-Based Food Cheaper Than Meat In Germany

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: AI-Powered Vegan Travel App Launches Crowdfunding Campaign

The sales have been analyzed by MAG, the largest airport group in the UK, and the operator of London Stansted, East Midlands, and Manchester airports.

A trip to an airport’s Wetherspoons for a meat-heavy breakfast and a pint of beer, no matter how early the flight may be, is seen as a tradition by many in the UK. But this surge in vegan and alcohol-free sales appears to point to flyers switching to more ethical and health-conscious choices.

Holidaymakers move away from meat

The Giraffe restaurant at Manchester Airport has seen an eightfold rise in sales of its vegan breakfast and brunch items. The London Stansted Wetherspoons has also been selling its vegan chili at a 167 percent increase. Costa Coffee has seen a 25 percent rise in demand for non-dairy milks, and MAG has also reported a 10 percent rise for plant milks across all its airports and outlets.

Read more: South Korea Launches Nine Day Vegan Food Tour

The majority of these sales have seen tea and coffee drinkers asking for oat milk, with soy and coconut being the next most popular respectively.

Another significant change in behaviour from a pint of lager pre-boarding is the 39 percent rise in smoothie and juice sales seen at the Stansted Joe & The Juice. Some are swapping alcohol for a very different type of shot: WH Smith reported a threefold increase in gut health shot sales across each of the airports. Wetherspoons and other airport pubs and bars have seen a sharp upturn in demand for alcohol-free beer and beverages.

And once aboard the flight, airlines are also adapting to meet the demand for vegan choices. British Airways and JetBlue both recently introduced oat milk to their menus and complimentary beverages. LATAM Airlines is teaming up with NotCo to offer in-flight vegan sandwiches for Chilean domestic flights, and the German LSG Group are working with The Vegetarian Butcher to roll out plant-based meals onboard.

Read more: How To Stay At ‘England’s First’ Plant-Based Hotel

This article was written by Adam Protz on the PBN Website.

Read more: AI Predicts Most Of World Will Be Vegan By 2075

Vegius will be the first “all-in-one vegan platform” to unify plant-based travel and lifestyle globally. According to its Wefunder campaign, the app’s creators are currently targeting USD $50,000 in funding. The minimum reserve amount is set at $100.

The app – formerly known as The Vegan Stay – already uses AI-powered technology to provide “an experiential vacation and homestay service” in more than 30 countries and focuses on vegan hosts and guests. Vegius already partners with 125 animal sanctuaries in 40 countries, and donates 50 percent of fees collected upon booking.

Morag Sangster, the founder of Scotland’s Tribe Animal Sanctuary, said that partnering with the app has helped “immensely,” allowing staff members to focus more on the animals. “This is a much-needed initiative, and we are very glad to be part of it.”

Read more: 21 Places To Find Vegan Soft Serve Ice Cream In The UK And USA

Vegan travel

According to Vegius, all funds raised by the crowdfunding will go towards advancing its web and app development, market expansion, listings-related outreach, and community engagement. Overall, the company predicts its total expenses will reach $120,000.

Early investors will gain access to new and premium app features, merchandise, VIP event invitations, and various other exclusive rewards. Eventually, Vegius plans to incorporate restaurants, retail options, services, and experiences alongside stays in the app.

Culinary tourism is booming and expected to show additional growth over the next decade, and an increasing number of vegans and flexitarians means dedicated plant-based tourism is a burgeoning sub-category in the sector. There are several all-vegan resorts and hotels around the world and even an electric, all-plant-based airline called Ecojet operating out of the UK.

Earlier this year Green Earth Travel launched a nine-day vegan food tour in South Korea, while the Japanese government is looking to attract tourists with more plant-based restaurant options. Existing vegan restaurant finder Happy Cow has over one million members, and vacation planner Vegvisits operates in over 80 countries.

Read more: The Top 20 Vegan Cities In The World Revealed By HappyCow

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Read more: McDonald’s Launches New Vegan Ice Cream

Ice cream is one of the most popular desserts in the world. Over 94 percent of Americans regularly purchase ice cream and other frozen treats, while Brits buy more than 147 million kilograms of ice cream per year. (That’s around the weight of a large cruise ship.)

It’s not just the sugar that makes ice cream a go-to comfort food for so many people. It’s the blending of sugar with protein and fat – combined with its cool temperature and smooth texture – that make it so uniquely moreish and comforting.

Like more traditional ice cream, soft serve also combines sugar, protein, and fat. As noted above, this ratio is a big part of what makes all ice cream such a mood-boosting dessert. But soft serve also requires a slight ratio adjustment to achieve its very light consistency.

During the manufacturing process, soft serve receives additional aeration to create its familiar fluffy texture. And while all ice cream must be frozen quickly to avoid the formation of ice crystals, soft serve machines typically keep premixed soft serve just above freezing temperature. This can also make it hard to produce – or store – without specialist equipment.

What is vegan soft serve ice cream made from?

Most plant-based ice cream follows a similar recipe to traditional, dairy varieties: plant-based milk made using oat, nuts, seeds, or soy, combined with vegetable fat, sugar, and flavorings.

Ingredients vary from brand to brand, with some notable innovators incorporating potatoes and cauliflower as part of their plant-based ice cream recipes. Soft serve is much the same, with some variation on the same core ingredients and the additional aeration it requires.

In the UK, Bristol’s Happy Cow ice cream van combines rice milk with coconut oil for its Mr Whippy-style soft serve cones. Some brands use binders and emulsifiers like xanthan gum, while some – like the Illinois-based Temptation, which sells directly to businesses – eschew added vegetable fats entirely. Others, like New York City’s Seed + Mill (mentioned below), emphasize whole ingredients like nuts and seeds for dairy-free fats and protein.

Now that vegan soft serve is so widely available, even more people can enjoy their favorite nostalgic, comforting sweet treat. Here are 21 of the best places to find it.

Read more: Califia Farms Launches ‘Complete’ Kid-Friendly Vegan Milk

Vegan soft serve ice cream in the UK

More cafes, restaurants, and fast food eateries in the UK are offering vegan soft serve than ever before, and there’s more on the way. (One Reddit user who attended London’s World Vegan Expo late last year reported an upcoming Violife soft serve.)

DÁPPA

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London’s DÁPPA makes its plant-based soft serve ice cream from a blend of almonds and cashews. Customers can order the vanilla soft serve with a variety of different toppings and in several different sizes, as well as in vegan milkshakes.

The ice cream is also stocked at Halo Burger, Dirty Vegan, Revival Coffee and Doughnuts, Sweet Nothing Bakehouse, Humbledough, Truman Brewery, Joe and Co Burgers, and more.

Find out more here.

Secret Garden Cafe

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Cardiff’s Secret Garden Cafe is vegetarian friendly and has a selection of vegan options, including cakes and soft-service ice cream. The cafe has previously served several different flavors, including roasted rhubarb and coconut with a “mint sugar sprinkle.”

Find out more here.

What The Pitta

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What The Pitta is an all-vegan Manchester – and Brighton – mainstay and serves a wide selection of plant-based options, including soft serve with Love Raw wafer bars and sprinkles. (The restaurant also offers lemon cheesecake, caramel cheesecake, and baklava.)

Find out more here.

Minted

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In Scotland, Glasgow’s Minted serves primarily dairy-based ice creams but offers a selection of vegan options like cake, plant milks, sorbet, and of course soft serve. The business’s soft serve is currently available in mango, blueberry, and coconut Oreo flavor.

Find out more here.

V360

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Brighton’s all-vegan V360 serves soft serve by Swish, which is nut, soy, and gluten-free as well as dairy-free. V360 – which is a pop-up beachside cafe – also offers gelato, breakfast baps, hot drinks, shakes, shaved ice, and much more.

Find out more here.

Laughing Dog

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Laughing Dog is also in Brighton and serves vegan soft serve complete with a flake-style chocolate bar on the top. While the cafe serves meals containing animal ingredients, it has a selection of clearly labeled vegan options on the menu in addition to dairy-free soft serve.

Find out more here.

Cafe Thrive

Southampton’s Cafe Thrive is completely plant-based, including its Mr Whippy-style soft serve and fully loaded milkshakes. The ice cream is available as “Mini Soft Serve Sundaes” in Smores, Biscoff, and Smarties flavors, as well as in full-sized cones. Customers can also order any of the cafe’s cakes and baked goods with a dollop of soft serve on top.

Find out more here.

Ikea

Swedish home goods company Ikea has long been celebrated for its budget-friendly cafeteria, and in 2019 it first introduced a dairy-free soft serve throughout Europe. In the UK, it costs just 65p for a cone of the strawberry flavored ice cream.

“Our ambition was to create a plant-based treat that is as soft, airy, and delicious as our popular dairy-based soft ice,” Sandra Lindh, Commercial Manager IKEA Food Services AB, said in a statement at the time. “It’s an easy, affordable, and delicious treat for customers that either need or want to skip dairy products and prefer plant-based food options.”

Find out more here.

Neat Burger

The Lewis Hamilton-backed Neat Burger serves vegan soft serve by Oatly in its dairy-free “Thickshakes,” available in strawberry, Oreo, chocolate, Biscoff, or vanilla. If you want to try the Oatly soft serve in its original form, the brand has been known to serve scoops from an ice cream van at festivals over the summer. (It’s also available at Halo Burger.)

Find out more here.

Vegan soft serve ice cream in the US

There are a huge number of locations across the US that serve vegan soft serve, including businesses from dedicated ice cream shops to cafes and even bakeries. Here are some of the most popular options.

Crust Bakery

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Philadelphia’s Crust Bakery is women-owned and operated, all-vegan, and aims to balance offering an affordable and quality product while “providing a living wage and supportive work environment to our wonderful staff.” The bakery sells dairy-free soft serve in various flavors, including lavender and birthday cake. What more could you want?

Find out more here.

Carbon Copy

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This Philadelphia-based beer and wine-maker also serves food, including several vegan-friendly pizzas and snacks. Carbon Copy’s dairy-free soft serve is available in classic vanilla or as part of a birch beer float.

Find out more here.

Orchard Grocer

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Orchard Grocer in New York City is all-vegan and is “inspired by the delicatessens of New York’s past.” That includes hearty sandwiches, vegan pantry items, and plant-based soft serve – including peach and vanilla flavors with optional caramel or hot vegan honey.

Find out more here.

Vaca’s Creamery

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Vaca’s Creamery, based in Lincoln Park and Wicker Square, is an all-vegan Chicago chain. The core menu includes vanilla, chocolate, and swirled soft serve, as well as a large selection of toppings, sauces, milkshakes, and “handshakes.”

Earlier this month, Vaca’s Creamery also announced two new flavors: Calamansi Lime at Lincoln Square only, and Watermelon at both branches. Describing the lime flavor on Instagram, Vaca’s noted that the “tart, sweet, slightly bitter” citrus tastes like both lime and orange. 

Find out more here.

Yoga-urt

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Yoga-urt serves organic, vegan, “handcrafted” smoothies and soft serve across three different California-based locations – Glendale, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. It has an extensive soft serve menu, including Chocolate Bliss, Lavender, Blossom, Coconut Chai, Gingerbread, Cherry Amaretto, Maple Banana Pancake, and Pecan Praline.

Find out more here.

Runaway Cow

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Runaway Cow is a new addition to Chicago’s vegan restaurant community, and the all-vegan ice cream shop has a huge customizable menu. The oat-based ice cream can be ordered in four different sizes of cone – waffle, sugar, or gluten-free – and topped with a huge array of flavors, such as pineapple, cherry, hot fudge, peanut butter, and marshmallow.

At the end of May, Runaway Cow announced the addition of mango-flavored soft serve, which can be ordered as a cone, a sundae, or substituted as part of any other soft serve dish.

Find out more here.

Erewhon Market

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Erewhon is an upmarket supermarket chain with several locations throughout California. Customers can order its coconut-based “Cosmic Bliss” soft serve with a shot of espresso. Ask your server about the availability of other vegan-friendly toppings.

Find out more here.

Scoop Deville

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Another vegan-friendly ice cream shop from Philly, Scoop Deville has an extensive vegan menu including Chocolate Peanut Butter Indulgence, Cookie Crumble, Philly Samoa Lovin’ (salted caramel, chocolate, and coconut), and vegan parfait with fresh fruit and granola.

Find out more here.

Seed + Mill

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New York City’s Seed + Mill offers a unique, tahini-based soft serve ice cream. The women-owned business is 100 percent vegan and gluten-free and produces its own tahini-based chocolate sesame sauce to purchase or top your soft serve.

Find out more here.

Urban Dessert Lab

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Urban Dessert Lab has locations in New York City and Los Angeles and offers a 100 percent vegan menu including oat milk-based soft serve. Its “ice crème” selection includes Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel, Strawberry Shortcake, S’Mores, and Cinnamon Apple Crisp.

The company was recently named one of ESPN’s Champion Black Businesses of 2024 and has attracted enormous queues of people waiting hours at a time to try its decadent desserts. Many of the items can also be shipped nationwide via Goldbelly.

Find out more here.

Niu

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Honolulu’s Niu is located in Mo’ili’ili, near the historic Old Stadium Park, and offers an entirely dairy-free menu. Visitors can custom-order ice creams by choosing cones, sauces, and toppings, or choose from the sundae and malted shake sections. The ice cream shop also stocks fresh cookies, pies, and “sammies.”

Find out more here.

Ice Queen

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Ice Queen in Portland stocks plant-based frozen treats like ice creams, soft serve, and paletas, a Mexican ice pop traditionally made using whole ingredients. “Ice Queen is not just about frozen treats; it’s a celebration of passion, dedication, and a connection to the community,” says the company. Its soft serve is made by Oatly and comes in the brand’s signature vanilla, chocolate, or swirled flavors.

Find out more here.

Read more: The Best Vegan Ice Cream In The US

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The Korea Tourism Organization announced the tour earlier this month, which will be led by the US-based Green Earth Travel – specialists in vegan and sustainable trips and vacations.

The nine-day tour will include stops in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, and Jeju, showcasing local markets, restaurants, cooking classes, and other culturally significant activities, such as a stay at a temple and a visit to Gangcheon Mountain.

Throughout the tour, participants will be able to taste – and at times, even prepare themselves – authentic Korean dishes and ingredients like gochujang, makgeolli, kimchi pancakes, and bibimbap, all made using 100 percent plant-based ingredients.

“I had never seen a tourism board create an opportunity like this focused solely on promoting vegan dining and sustainability before,” explained Donna Zeigfinger, Travel Advisor and Green Earth Travel founder, in a statement sent to Plant Based News (PBN). “Witnessing the creativity and passion behind South Korea’s surging vegan movement first-hand made me realize there was enormous potential for a specialized vegan food tour here.”

Green Earth Travel’s “South Korea Food Adventure” will run from September 20 to 28, 2024, and cost USD $4120 per person with double occupancy accommodation. The tour includes an English-speaking guide throughout, accommodation, meals, and activities.

South Korea’s flourishing plant-based market

The Korean Tourism Organization arranged the tour after noting a significant increase in the number of people adopting a vegan lifestyle. As of 2021, there were at least 2.5 million vegans in South Korea, with the overall number increasing tenfold between 2008 and 2018.

Zeigfinger noted to PBN that booking vegan trips to Seoul a decade ago was a very different undertaking due to the strong influence of meat and dairy in traditional Korean cuisine. But since then, what she described to PBN as a “food revolution” has swept the country.

In October 2023 the country notably became the second in the world after Denmark to publish a national plan for boosting the plant-based food industry, including the establishment of a research center for alternatives to animal-derived foods.

This growing national awareness of the environmental and health benefits of producing and eating more plant-based food and a large uptick in the number of vegan and vegan-friendly eateries has made South Korea an ideal destination for plant-based travelers.

“Our new South Korea vegan food tour lets travelers feast on the country’s bursting plant-based dining scene,” said Zeigfinger. “Guests can indulge in innovative vegan takes on Korean classics across Seoul while learning about the traditions behind the cuisine. It’s a deliciously eye-opening culinary adventure!”

More like this:

• South Korea Party Pledges New Legal Status For Animals
• How To Stay At ‘England’s First’ Plant-Based Hotel
• Japan Looks To Attract Vegan Tourists With More Plant-Based Restaurant Options

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The menus at Beck Hall in Malham are already half plant-based. But owners Louise and Andy Macbeth decided to go all in with their catering after undergoing their own journey towards veganism.

“We’d previously enjoyed eating out, but finding quality vegan food can be difficult, with often only one option on a menu and the dishes wouldn’t be as good as we could make at home,” Louise Macbeth told Plant Based News. “Considering this and the fact that it didn’t sit well with us that we were still selling animal produce at Beck Hall, we decided to take a leap and become England’s first fully plant-based hotel.”

Many other features of the hotel will be vegan. These include toiletries, in-room trays, laundry detergents and conditioner, duvets and pillows. Staff are not permitted to bring non-vegan lunches to eat on site.

Some of the furnishings are not currently vegan, such as leather booth seating and chairs, wool in carpets, and down in cushions. “We won’t be replacing these until worn,” said Louise. “However when we do replace them it will be with vegan alternatives.”

The hotel is open for bookings while it makes the final transition to being plant-based.

Compassion for animals

The transition to serving all vegan food follows the Macbeths’ own journey to cutting animal products out of their lives.

“We were living onsite at Beck Hall in Malham and one night the cows were so noisy, bellowing all night,” Louise explained. “We later found out that they were calling out for their calves who had been taken away so that the mother’s milk was available for us. 

“As new parents to twins, we couldn’t fathom this unbearable cruelty just so we could drink cow’s milk, when there are so many other options available. This was the start of a journey that eventually led our family to becoming plant-based.”

The Macbeths, who have run the hotel for nearly a decade, said the response to their announcement has been “amazing.” Other vegan businesses have praised the move too. According to a press release from Beck Hall, the team at The Queen Inn Cwmbran, Wales – the country’s first vegan steakhouse – said: “We transitioned to fully vegan in January 2022 and have only gotten busier. Aligning your business with your ethics massively empowers what you’re doing, and we’ve been so passionate about our business ever since.”

Beck Hall is already a popular award-winning hotel. Accolades include Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice 2023 and winning a Bronze Award from Green Tourism. The hotel is dog-friendly, making it a great place to stay for those taking their companions on walking holidays in the Yorkshire Dales. While customers can bring non-vegan food for their dogs, any treats provided by Back Hall will be vegan.

Exciting new menu options

Beck Hall serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, and Sunday roasts. Sample menus reveals some of the meals that guests have to look forward to.

Before setting out for a day of walking on the Dales, guests can fill up at the breakfast bar or order a full English, pancakes, or chai latte porridge. Lunch offerings include a range of sandwiches such as a “chicken” pesto baguette or Chuna bagel. More hearty options are available too, such as burgers and a hotpot pie.

After a day of hiking, guests can recover with a full three course meal. For starters, perhaps the potato and sweetpea samosas or the “shrimp” cocktail. Mains feature slow-cooked seitan ribs, Moroccan “lamb”, or a North Indian thali. For afters: sticky toffee pudding, lemon chia cheesecake, or pomegranate and rose mess.

Afternoon teas include loose leaf teas, a selection of sandwiches, warm homemade scones with butter, jam and cashew cream and a variety of cakes. On Sundays, there is a choice of seitan roasts or a mushroom wellington. They come with all the trimmings including vegan Yorkshire puddings. 

Beck Hall plans to “continue to foster a culture of innovation among the team and strive for excellence” in plant-based cooking. To this end, Louise Macbeth will begin a Diploma in Plant-based Culinary Arts at Le Cordon Bleu London culinary school in January 2024. 

More plant-based accommodation

Beck Hall may be the first plant-based hotel in England, but it isn’t the first plant-based accommodation. In fact, there are several vegan and plant-based bed and breakfasts dotted already dotted around the country.

Goats & Oats at Garsdale is a fully vegan bed and breakfast a little farther north in the Yorkshire Dales. Run by Graham and Linda Bourke, who told London Vegan Diaries: “We chose to move to the Yorkshire Dales due to the beautiful surroundings and to provide a place for vegans to visit without having to worry about what’s on the menu or what the people at the next table will be eating.” The toiletries and furniture are entirely free of animal products too. 

In Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Peasholm Park Vegan B&B offers guests a Full Vegan Breakfast or lighter options such as scrambled tofu on toast. Twigs and Leaves Vegan B&B in

Lincoln is a Grade II listed cottage offering freshly made dinners. It is closed over the winter.

Scotland has a dog-friendly plant-based hotel, Saorsa 1875, which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Field Shelter in Perthshire, Scotland is both a guest house and an animal sanctuary, currently focused on rescuing sheep. 

More like this:

• British Restaurant Awards Unveils Its Top 10 Vegan-Friendly UK Eateries
• Vegan Brand Wins 4 Times At International Cheese And Dairy Awards
• These Might Just Be The 10 Best Restaurants In Central London (And They’re All Vegan-Friendly)

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.