We visited Burger King's meat-free London restaurant and were shocked by the number of plant-based options that aren't available in its other stores

Grace Dean,Abby WallaceMar 27, 2022, 15:18 IST

The plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider.

Burger King UK transformed one of its flagship London locations into a meat-free restaurant.
The restaurant will serve a plant-based menu but only for only one month.

One of Burger King's flagship restaurants is selling a fully plant-based menu – but only for a month.

The plant-based Burger King restaurant in Leicester Square, London.Grace Dean/Insider

The restaurant in London's Leicester Square is only selling plant-based food between March 14 and April 10.

Signs advertising the restaurant were scattered around on London's underground metro.Abby Wallace/Insider

So we headed to the restaurant to check it out.

The restaurant had signs to promote the plant-based menu.Abby Wallace/Insider.

The restaurant's decor had been overhauled with signs promoting the new plant-based menu.

Signs in the restaurant promoted the meat-free menu.Abby Wallace/Insider.

Other than these signs the restaurant seemed largely like a normal Burger King.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider.

There was a lot of green in the decor as well as imagery of vegetables to highlight its plant-based credentials, though.

Green signs in the restaurant promoted the meat-free menu.Abby Wallace/Insider.

You could order at the counter ...

The restaurant's order counter.Abby Wallace/Insider

... or at a digital kiosk.

The restaurant's digital kiosks.Abby Wallace/Insider

Burger King UK started selling the Rebel Whopper, a meat-free version of its flagship burger, in early 2020, and has since rebranded it as the Plant-Based Whopper.

Burger King UK already sold some plant-based options.Grace Dean/Insider

But the burger has faced some controversy. Burger King classes its meat-free Whopper as plant-based but not vegan because it's cooked on the same broiler as its meaty namesake.

Burger King UK already sold some plant-based options.Grace Dean/Insider.

But the burger has faced some controversy. Burger King classes its meat-free Whopper as plant-based but not vegan because it's cooked on the same broiler as its meaty namesake.

The Plant-Based Whopper, as well as Burger King's vegan nuggets and the Vegan Royale, are widely available at its restaurants across the UK. But as well as these standard menu items, the chain says the Leicester Square restaurant has more than 15 "ground-breaking new items."

The restaurant had some new items, and some items which are also available at other Burger King locations.Grace Dean/Insider

The Plant-Based Whopper, as well as Burger King's vegan nuggets and the Vegan Royale, are widely available at its restaurants across the UK. But as well as these standard menu items, the chain says the Leicester Square restaurant has more than 15 "ground-breaking new items."

These are largely plant-based versions of items already on the menu, including Vegan Onion Rings, Vegan Chilli Cheeeze Bites, and a Vegan Cheeeze & Bakon Royale.

The restaurant had some new items, and some items which are also available at other Burger King locations.Grace Dean/Insider

Some of the items were vegan and others were plant-based. Symbols on the menu showed which ones were approved by the Vegan Society.

The menu board inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in Leicester Square, London.Grace Dean/Insider

Companies sometimes say their food is plant-based if it contains all-vegan ingredients but it cooked using the same equipment, utensils, or oil as non-vegan dishes. But because the Leicester Square location doesn't sell any meat, it seems strange that some of the dishes aren't vegan.

The restaurant had signs to promote the plant-based menu.Grace Dean/Insider

Companies sometimes say their food is plant-based if it contains all-vegan ingredients but it cooked using the same equipment, utensils, or oil as non-vegan dishes. But because the Leicester Square location doesn't sell any meat, it seems strange that some of the dishes aren't vegan.

We ordered at the digital kiosks in the restaurant, and it gave us the option to add non-dairy cheese and vegan bacon to burgers and sandwiches for £0.50, or around $0.65.

The restaurant's digital kiosks.Abby Wallace/Insider

We ordered at the digital kiosks in the restaurant, and it gave us the option to add non-dairy cheese and vegan bacon to burgers and sandwiches for £0.50, or around $0.65.

When we previously ordered a Plant-Based Whopper at a separate Burger King restaurant — which was not meat-free —we only had the choice to add dairy cheese and non-vegan bacon.

The digital kiosk at a separate Burger King restaurant.Grace Dean/Insider.

When we previously ordered a Plant-Based Whopper at a separate Burger King restaurant — which was not meat-free —we only had the choice to add dairy cheese and non-vegan bacon.

We ordered a range of food ...

We ordered some food at the restaurant.Grace Dean/Insider

... including a Vegan Royale, Vegan Katsu Chicken Royale, onion rings, and vegan nuggets.

We ordered some food at the restaurant.Grace Dean/Insider

The Vegan Royale sandwich cost £7.99, or around $10.50, as part of a medium meal with fries and a drink. Abby normally eats meat-free burgers and sandwiches anyway, but the cheese tasted just like any other burger cheese to her.

We ordered some food at the restaurant.Abby Wallace/Insider

The Vegan Royale sandwich cost £7.99, or around $10.50, as part of a medium meal with fries and a drink. Abby normally eats meat-free burgers and sandwiches anyway, but the cheese tasted just like any other burger cheese to her.

We got a portion of the vegan nuggets, too, which launched in January. They're made from soy and plant proteins and approved by the Vegan Society. Their appearance, texture, and flavor was just like meat-based chicken nuggets – apart from a buttery aftertaste.

We ordered some vegan nuggets at the restaurant.Abby Wallace/Insider

We got a portion of the vegan nuggets, too, which launched in January. They're made from soy and plant proteins and approved by the Vegan Society. Their appearance, texture, and flavor was just like meat-based chicken nuggets – apart from a buttery aftertaste.

We went on a sunny Thursday lunchtime. The restaurant in Leicester Square is in a prime central London location ...

The plant-based Burger King restaurant is situated in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider

... so there were queues of people waiting for their food in the restaurant.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider

The restaurant has two floors. The ground floor — where food can be ordered — is 2,055 square feet. The top floor has additional seating and measures 2,540 square feet, according to a Burger King UK spokesperson.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider

The restaurant has two floors. The ground floor — where food can be ordered — is 2,055 square feet. The top floor has additional seating and measures 2,540 square feet, according to a Burger King UK spokesperson.

Though Burger King's Leicester Square site is only going plant-based for a month, it's yet another sign that chains are finally taking vegan food seriously, especially in the UK. Already this year, Starbucks and Costa Coffee have scrapped their charges for non-dairy milk while KFC and McDonald's have rolled out their vegan burgers nationwide.

UK coffee chain Costa Coffee scrapped charges for non-dairy milk earlier this month.Grace Dean/Insider

Though Burger King's Leicester Square site is only going plant-based for a month, it's yet another sign that chains are finally taking vegan food seriously, especially in the UK. Already this year, Starbucks and Costa Coffee have scrapped their charges for non-dairy milk while KFC and McDonald's have rolled out their vegan burgers nationwide.

Technological innovations mean new plant-based products are becoming available, and the growing number of vegans and flexitarians is creating a bulging market for plant-based meat replicas.

KFC's plant-based burger.Grace Dean/Insider

Technological innovations mean new plant-based products are becoming available, and the growing number of vegans and flexitarians is creating a bulging market for plant-based meat replicas.

Burger King UK has announced plans to make half of its menu meat-free by 2030.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Grace Dean/Insider

"In addition, our plant-based products continue to be an important sales driver in Europe, where we are a leader in plant-based offerings," José Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, said at its last earnings call in February.

The plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider

"In addition, our plant-based products continue to be an important sales driver in Europe, where we are a leader in plant-based offerings," José Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, said at its last earnings call in February.

"We've been pleased with the results, including a doubling of plant-based product incidents in Europe in the quarter and are looking for new market opportunities in Europe and around the world to expand the platform," Cil added.

The plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider.

"We've been pleased with the results, including a doubling of plant-based product incidents in Europe in the quarter and are looking for new market opportunities in Europe and around the world to expand the platform," Cil added.

The restaurant is only operating a completely meat-free menu until April 10. If Burger King has the recipes and facilities to make plant-based options, we wondered why most of these dishes aren't available at other Burger King restaurants.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider

The restaurant is only operating a completely meat-free menu until April 10. If Burger King has the recipes and facilities to make plant-based options, we wondered why most of these dishes aren't available at other Burger King restaurants.

A spokesperson for Burger King UK told insider the restaurant was a "pilot only," but some of the most popular items might make it onto other Burger King menus soon.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Grace Dean/Insider

"We have launched the takeover to help offer wider and better choice for those looking for meat alternatives," the spokesperson said.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider

"As part of this, we will be monitoring the most popular items and consider putting them on sale nationwide," the spokesperson added.

Inside the plant-based Burger King restaurant in London's Leicester Square.Abby Wallace/Insider.

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We visited Burger King's meat-free London restaurant and were shocked by the number of plant-based options that aren't available in its other stores

One of Burger King's flagship restaurants is selling a fully plant-based menu – but only for a month.

The restaurant in London's Leicester Square is only selling plant-based food between March 14 and April 10.

So we headed to the restaurant to check it out.

The restaurant's decor had been overhauled with signs promoting the new plant-based menu.

Other than these signs the restaurant seemed largely like a normal Burger King.

There was a lot of green in the decor as well as imagery of vegetables to highlight its plant-based credentials, though.

You could order at the counter ...

... or at a digital kiosk.

Burger King UK started selling the Rebel Whopper, a meat-free version of its flagship burger, in early 2020, and has since rebranded it as the Plant-Based Whopper.

But the burger has faced some controversy. Burger King classes its meat-free Whopper as plant-based but not vegan because it's cooked on the same broiler as its meaty namesake.

The Plant-Based Whopper, as well as Burger King's vegan nuggets and the Vegan Royale, are widely available at its restaurants across the UK. But as well as these standard menu items, the chain says the Leicester Square restaurant has more than 15 "ground-breaking new items."

These are largely plant-based versions of items already on the menu, including Vegan Onion Rings, Vegan Chilli Cheeeze Bites, and a Vegan Cheeeze & Bakon Royale.

Some of the items were vegan and others were plant-based. Symbols on the menu showed which ones were approved by the Vegan Society.

Companies sometimes say their food is plant-based if it contains all-vegan ingredients but it cooked using the same equipment, utensils, or oil as non-vegan dishes. But because the Leicester Square location doesn't sell any meat, it seems strange that some of the dishes aren't vegan.

We ordered at the digital kiosks in the restaurant, and it gave us the option to add non-dairy cheese and vegan bacon to burgers and sandwiches for £0.50, or around $0.65.

When we previously ordered a Plant-Based Whopper at a separate Burger King restaurant — which was not meat-free —we only had the choice to add dairy cheese and non-vegan bacon.

We ordered a range of food ...

... including a Vegan Royale, Vegan Katsu Chicken Royale, onion rings, and vegan nuggets.

The Vegan Royale sandwich cost £7.99, or around $10.50, as part of a medium meal with fries and a drink. Abby normally eats meat-free burgers and sandwiches anyway, but the cheese tasted just like any other burger cheese to her.

We got a portion of the vegan nuggets, too, which launched in January. They're made from soy and plant proteins and approved by the Vegan Society. Their appearance, texture, and flavor was just like meat-based chicken nuggets – apart from a buttery aftertaste.

We went on a sunny Thursday lunchtime. The restaurant in Leicester Square is in a prime central London location ...

... so there were queues of people waiting for their food in the restaurant.

The restaurant has two floors. The ground floor — where food can be ordered — is 2,055 square feet. The top floor has additional seating and measures 2,540 square feet, according to a Burger King UK spokesperson.

Technological innovations mean new plant-based products are becoming available, and the growing number of vegans and flexitarians is creating a bulging market for plant-based meat replicas.

Burger King UK has announced plans to make half of its menu meat-free by 2030.

"In addition, our plant-based products continue to be an important sales driver in Europe, where we are a leader in plant-based offerings," José Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, said at its last earnings call in February.

"We've been pleased with the results, including a doubling of plant-based product incidents in Europe in the quarter and are looking for new market opportunities in Europe and around the world to expand the platform," Cil added.

The restaurant is only operating a completely meat-free menu until April 10. If Burger King has the recipes and facilities to make plant-based options, we wondered why most of these dishes aren't available at other Burger King restaurants.

A spokesperson for Burger King UK told insider the restaurant was a "pilot only," but some of the most popular items might make it onto other Burger King menus soon.

"We have launched the takeover to help offer wider and better choice for those looking for meat alternatives," the spokesperson said.

"As part of this, we will be monitoring the most popular items and consider putting them on sale nationwide," the spokesperson added.