AS WITH THE rest of Ireland, Cork’s vegan food scene has changed radically in the last few years.
“There are endless options for vegan dining these days,” says Cork-based chef Louise Kelly, founder of the I’m A Little Vegan blog.
“It’s finally becoming normalised, it’s such a dream now to go in and see a vegan option – I used to have to carry around a bag of snacks with me.”
Just a few years ago, Kelly recalls paying €22 for a bowl of plain pasta because there were so few things on the menu that a vegan could eat.
Nowadays she simply calls ahead. “Most decent restaurants will accommodate you once they know you are coming,” she says.
One of the most exciting developments in the city is the regular monthly market run by Emma Pearce of PostiVely Eventful, bringing together lots of vegan food companies and stalls under one roof.
Pearce started out in December 2017 with Ireland’s first ever vegan Christmas market. It was such a hit that she started running a monthly Positive Market in the former Kino cinema on Washington Street.
“It’s a 100% vegan event,” says Pearce.
We have Italian, Asian, American food, we have a chocolate maker and a vegan cake maker.
So if you’re looking for plant-based food in Cork on the regular, where are the best places to head?
We asked Pearce, along with Cork-based chef Louise Kelly, to share their favourite spots and stalls with us…
143V, Lower Glanmire Rd
The 100% vegan 143V is located on the Lower Glanmire Road, close to the train station.
Everything is cooked from scratch, says Pearce.
I love the vegan chicken burger with roast potatoes and they do delicious brownies with homemade ice cream.
It’s a family run cafe, with simple decor and they have a juice bar too. Other dishes not to be missed are their buddha bowls, breakfast bagels and the “chicken” burger – made with seitan and served with red pepper aioli.
Mauro’s Italian Street Food, Positive Market
Mauro’s is one of Pearce’s favourite new additions to the Positive Market. “He makes his own cheeses, he makes his own pasta, he makes everything from scratch,” she says.
As well as being vegan, Mauro’s fare is gluten-free. He sells a lot of lasagne, risotto and pasta at the market and can make a mean vegan pizza too, says Pearce.
My Goodness, English Market
Based in the English Market, the My Goodness team also attend a variety of weekly and monthly markets around the city and county. “They do rainbow food as I like to call it,” says Kelly. “Oodles of amazing vegan dishes, cakes, tacos and delicious kefir blends.”
Earth Café, South Mall
“Earth Café is a glass cube of vegan deliciousness,” says Kelly. It is 100% vegan, she loves their pastries, cakes, burgers, pizzas and sambos.
It is a social place for vegans to get together and hang out and the owner Carmel is herself a passionate vegan, who sometimes hosts yoga classes outside on the decking in summer time too. “It’s the perfect vegan café and a hopping spot,” she says.
Pearce is also a fan of Earth Cafe. She tips their vegan ham and cheese toasties as well as cookies and desserts. “Everything is really chocolatey,” she says.
Iyers, Pope’s Quay
A vegetarian Indian restaurant, Iyers is predominantly vegan. Head there for the seasonal daily specials and the chai masala brownie, which Kelly dubs “sensational.” She adds:
If I could move in to Iyers – I would. It has to be tasted to be believed. Flawless dishes, mouthwatering samosa chaat, Madras, thali and a variety of dosas.
It is very popular so you might need to book, Pearce warns. “It is harder to get inside there, but it’s amazing.”
Café Paradiso, Lancaster Quay
An award-winning vegetarian restaurant with an abundance of vegan options, says Kelly. “They do incredible dishes with a focus on seasonal and local.”
At this year’s World Restaurant Awards, Cafe Paradiso picked up the Big Plate ‘Collaboration of the Year’ award for the team’s collaboration with the Gort na Nain vegetable farm. The food never disappoints, says Kelly:
Cafe Paradiso has had a well-deserved place at the top of the pedestal for over a quarter of a century in Cork.
Jacob’s on the Mall, South Mall
Jacob’s has a full three-course vegan menu available daily, including risottos, tempura and satays, says Kelly. “Their food is outstanding.” You can follow head chef Trisha Lewis on Instagram, where she has amassed 55,000 followers.
One extra tip? They do a seriously good steamed orange pudding with vanilla ice cream.
The Quay Co-op, Sullivan’s Quay
The Quay Co-op is a vegetarian wholefood shop, which specialises in organic produce as well as vegan and vegetarian foods that you might struggle to find elsewhere. “That is where you go to get your tofu, seitan, vegan cheese and other vegan ingredients,” says Pearce
Anyone who is new to veganism will delight in their wide range of options, including vegan bacon, a variety of vegan cheeses and variety of burgers, she says. The Quay Co-op is also home to a vegetarian restaurant with tonnes of great vegan options as well as a vegan deli and coffee shop.
Malay Kitchen, Paradise Place
Pearce also runs a vegan meet-up in Cork, and one of the group’s most recent visits was to this Malaysian restaurant, which has a full vegan menu on offer.
The team at Malay Kitchen make their own own seitan (a beef alternative). Diners can choose to have that instead of tofu in a wide variety of curries, rice and noodle dishes. And there’s more, according to Pearce:
They even have vegan prawn crackers.
Bar Pigalle, Barrack St
“Every Wednesday is vegan supper at Bar Pigalle, and it’s €10 for a cocktail and a main. It’s really good,” says Kelly.
On her most recent Wednesday visit, Kelly sampled “a very fancy version of a bean stew, beautifully presented with all the trimmings, oat cream, and burnt lime rice. Very decadent.”
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