Glasgow is brimming with burger places - there seems to be a new one popping up every day - but it is also considered to be the vegan capital of the UK. Put those two together, and what do you get? Veggie burgers, of course. In the worst cases, veggie burgers are dry and tasteless, but when you get it right, they are hard to beat. Here are a few of the best ones in Glasgow.
The West End institution is well-known for caring about their vegetarian guests, and their veggie burger is one of the best options on their well thought-out meat-free menu. What you get is a spicy, flavoursome bean burger - not too soft and not too chewy - with lettuce, tomatoes and melted cheese in a bun topped with plenty of seeds, along with a side of thick potato wedges. It’s very close to a 'classic' burger, but with a spicy twist.
BrewDog’s veggie burger is not your ordinary bean burger. It’s a vegetarian haggis patty with a Scottish red pepper salsa, Isle of Arran smoked cheddar and a soft, flavoursome bun. The patty has the typical veggie haggis flavour - peppery, with a hint of allspice and nutmeg - and goes perfectly with the salsa and the cheese. The whole concoction is very Scottish, a bit different, and really tasty. With it you get thin, crispy paprika fries and BrewDog’s own garlic, caper and aioli dip. This burger goes perfectly with one of the group's many beers.
Handmade Burger Co has about a million of different burgers on the menu and they have made an effort to cater towards non-meat eaters, with four vegan options and three vegetarian ones. The sweet potato and bean burger, served with mango and ginger salsa, and the chickpea and quinoa burger with their original burger relish are both delicious. The first is exotic and tropical, whereas the latter feels more like a classic burger. The other options also sound equally as tempting - especially the cajun vegetable and bean burger, the spinach and lentil burger, and the falafel burger with Moroccan relish.
Bread Meats Bread is located only a few steps from Handmade Burger Co, and while it doesn’t offer as many options as their competitor, their veggie burger is seriously well-made. They do also offer the standard mushroom burger, but their sweet potato and falafel burger is the highlight, without a doubt. It’s moist, but still has a nice chew to it. It’s flavoursome and a little bit spicy, and comes with gherkins, tomatoes, either tzatziki or tahini sauce, all in a fluffy, golden bun. Vegans can choose the tahini sauce and those with dietary requirements can swap the bun for a gluten-free one.
Bloc’s veggie burger is original and well thought out. It’s made from puy lentils and pumpkin seeds, with a sweet onion and cinnamon relish, spiced cheddar and sweet pickles. We’re going to cheat here and give the veggie hot dog (pictured above) a mention too. Bloc’s excellent vegetarian 'not dog' is made from butternut squash, chickpeas, sweet potato, tahini, red lentils, walnuts, herbs and spices, served with avocado cheese sauce, Quorn chilli, toasted walnuts, dried apricots, mint and mustard. It’s elaborate, original and incredibly tasty. It can also be made vegan if you skip the cheese sauce.
If those lot aren't enough, there are plenty of other veggie burgers to try out. Gourmet Burger Kitchen, also located on St Vincent Street, has both a falafel burger and a bean burger. Burger Meats Bun on 48 West Regent Street offers a spicy bean patty, which can be topped with anything that comes with the regular burgers. The vegan restaurant/bar The 78 on 10-14 Kelvinhaugh Street in Finnieston offers their signature 78 burger with a wide selection of toppings. The list could go on...
Still hungry? See Time Out's guide to Glasgow's best restaurants.