Wave goodbye to traditional conceptions of vegan rabbit food and bite into something both sustainable and sumptuous at Clean Kitchen, says Sophie Ritchie
When I think of restaurants, a shipping container is not usually the first thing that springs to mind. But at Clean Kitchen in Camden’s Buck Market, it’s exactly how they roll – squeezing trendy interiors, counter service and plenty of plant-based bites into stacked container walls. Well, when in Camden…
Founded in 2020 by ex-YouTuber turned restaurateur Mikey Pearce, with MIC’s Verity Bowditch also at the helm, Clean Kitchen already has numerous sites across London, with plans for ‘planty’ more – the Camden branch being its flagship location. Designed to offer fully vegan fast casual food, the menu combines a mix of plant-based burgers with trendy health-savvy favourites, along with tasty sides and decadent desserts.
Those that choose to dine-in eat upstairs – I’m surprised by how suave the space is, a velvety array of dark green banquet seating and pastel pink furnishings. It’s cool, chic and above all comfortable – definitely a welcome change to the usual fast casual plastic interiors of eons past.
Onto the food. It would be sacrilege to visit Clean Kitchen and not try one of their burgers – we both opt for the Classic Clean, which arrives in an adorable pink box with quirky ‘Plant Girl Summer’ branding. On the Instagrammable stakes, it’s a 10/10 – whilst the patty itself is juicy and fresh, accompanied by a fluffy white bun. Gone all too soon, we next split a Falafel Salad for something saintly, made with a mix of falafel bites, golden cous cous and a trio of dips. It’s equally fresh and delicious, although the tiny cous cous makes it rather difficult to eat without making a mess!
As the Camden site doesn’t offer the shakes or usual desserts seen on Clean Kitchen’s main menu (I’d been hankering after the Vanilla soy milkshake all day) so we split a chilled pot of overnight oats instead for dessert. It’s creamy, crunchy and literally engulfed in sweet granola, making a wickedly healthy end to the fast casual feast.
The Wordrobe Verdict
It’s fast (but not furious) and perfect for a casually chic bite. Wave goodbye to traditional conceptions of vegan rabbit food and bite into something both sustainable and sumptuous at this exciting plant-based concept.
Make it happen
Where: 198 Camden High St, London NW1 8QP
How: Find out more via cleankitchen.club
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
