Are you going plant-based for January?
The start of a new year is always a great time to try something new, be it skateboarding, line dancing, or even trying a few vegan dishes!
The idea behind ‘Veganuary’ – eating a vegan diet for the month of January – can seem a bit daunting, especially if you’re not sure where to start, but these 7 spots in Cork will show you exactly how it’s done.
Vegan food is often seen as boring, a bit strange, or – the worst meme of all – a big bowl of lettuce…but these Cork cafés, restaurants, and food trucks show just how flavoursome, interesting, and just plain savage plant-based food can be!
So, get ready to screenshot your faves and go on a vegan food tour of Cork City and County!
1. Wazzy Woo
Cork’s newest plant-based location can be found in Clonakilty – it’s worth the journey there, trust us! With their café open since December, as well as their delish snacks stocked in many Cork cafés, Wazzy Woo has been wooing the people of Cork for a long time.
Their food is mouth-watering, with options that suit everyone – from peanut butter cups to berry bars to brownie bombs and more! Also, it’s just fun to say ‘Wazzy Woo’ over and over again. Chef’s kiss!
2. Here’s Health Café
This well-known Cork health food store opened a café in Douglas Court Shopping Centre in 2022. The queues of people dining there every day really prove how popular, reliable, and nourishing the food in Here’s Health is.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and plenty of tasty treats, there are loads of vegan options to try; for example, their organic veggie breakfast, which features tofu scramble, vegan sausage, mushrooms, homemade baked beans, sweet potato hash, spinach, tomatoes, and toasted sourdough.
We definitely recommend sipping a West Cork Coffee while you enjoy your plant-powered breakfast!
3. Izz Cafe
If you haven’t been to Izz Café on George’s Quay in town yet, where have you been! They have the most delicious Palestinian food on offer, ranging from hummus with bread, baba ganoush, stuffed vine leaves, manooshet falafel, and more.
If you have room for dessert after their generous portions, definitely try the vegan cinnamon roll because it’s absolutely out of this world – it’s topped with a date caramel and some pecans. Try a stuffed date and some Palestinian coffee afterwards, and you’ll fall in love.
4. Paradiso
Who said vegan food can’t be fancy? Take a trip to the famous Paradiso and let your taste buds be treated to some top-class combinations!
They have a fully vegan six-course set menu that takes you from smoked leek, cauliflower, and spiced butter to parsnip gnocchi, pine nut greens, burnt onion broth, and dried tomato to a caramelised bread pudding with a citrus custard, and the list goes on!
As well as their seasonal menu, Paradiso has plenty of natural wines to enjoy with your meal. Try it out and see for yourself – bon appétit!
5. Liberty Grill
Just up the road from Paradiso is another Cork institution: Liberty Grill. Always serving a brilliant variety of vegan options, Liberty Grill is a reliable and inviting spot for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Their menu is clearly labelled as well (they even have lots of vegan booze to choose from!) which always helps when eating out on a vegan diet. Their affogato for dessert is a must: a scoop of creamy vegan vanilla ice cream served with a shot of espresso and a gorgeous little biscuit to nibble afterwards. Unreal!
6. Naturally Nourished
With two bright and modern locations – one in City Gate, Mahon, and one on Penrose Dock, Railway Street – Naturally Nourished has lots of tasty vegan options to try.
Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and smoothies – they’ve got you covered no matter what you’re in the mood for. Focusing on whole-food and local ingredients, Naturally Nourished serves food that is as delicious to eat as it is beautiful to look at.
7. Meb’s Veg
“Big. Veg. Energy,” as they say on their Instagram, Meb’s Veg is without a doubt one of the coolest food trucks around.
You can find them at the Mahon farmers’ market on Thursdays and at the Douglas farmers’ market on Saturdays, serving up everything from hash browns, summer rolls, strawberry and cream buns, and doughnuts – all vegan, of course.
Meb’s Veg is definitely worth checking out if you’re trying Veganuary this year. Prepare to be wowed by the power of plants!