Ah, hey you guys! I haven't done a restaurant review in a while, and when I went for dinner with my friend last night, I thought that I'd love to share the spot we ate with you. While I am not vegan, I do love my veggies and any creative way of cooking. I was so curious when my girlfriend told me about this restaurant called Lekker Vegan.
But first, a lesson in Afrikaans!
Lekker is probably the most South African word you will ever hear me say. Directly translated, it means candy or sweets, but in South African slang, it means nice, great or good. So Lekker Vegan means Great Vegan!
And lekker it was, hey. I went with absolutely no expectations at all, only excitement to try some new chow (another crazy South African word for food).
What struck me first, upon reading the menu, was how they described the menu items. They didn't say "soy meat" or "dairy-free cheese". They just said "beefy strips" or "cheddar cheese". It made me think how cool it must be if you are vegan, to come out and not worry about asking what is in a dish, or not having to scrutinise the menu for animal products.
It's a smallish shop, with a take out vibe, not unlike an uber hipster McDonald's. You order at the counter and sit at the shared seating. Loads of copper accents, natural wood and beautiful green plants everywhere.
I ordered the "Lekker Beefy Gatsby". A gatsby is a typical Capetonian greasy street food, a bun stuffed with processed meats, cheese and fries, typical in the lower income areas.
My friend and @morkrock both ordered burgers.
People! Let me tell you - my meal was HUGGGE! It was an elevated version of the popular street food, with a toasted bun, freshly made fries and vegan beef strips. It also had a delicious spicy sauce. God, it was so big!
The burgers were phenomenal, by far the best the items on the menu. The patty was so juicy, full of flavours and tasty. It tasted like a slightly under-seasoned, lighter version of a beef burger. We also ordered sweet potato fries, garlic "mayonnaise" and "chicken nuggets".
GURRRL - let me tell you about these nuggets. They tasted better than any proper chicken nugget I have ever tasted. I wish I knew what was in them, I would recreate that recipe so often. We guessed seitan, but couldn't be sure.
The staff were literally beaming, their smiles were so big. They were super friendly and professional, really lovely guys. I (being my normal klutzy self) broke a glass, and they just laughed at me and wouldn't allow me to help clean up.
After our meal, we ordered a creamy AF almond milk flat white, and enjoyed our coffee with a last bit of conversation.
The restaurant is in a super up and coming area downtown, where there are a few clubs and bars. I loved mty evening and would definitely return for a burger.
I was most taken with the idea of being vegan and ordering whatever I wanted to eat without worrying about ingredients. It must be awesome if you are vegan
Thumbs up!
Hope you guys enjoyed my review xx
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