Shoreditch is Getting Another Vegan Fried (Not-) Chicken Pop-Up

In the latest piece of vegan-food-can-be-fun news, Dirty Bones, the “NYC-inspired comfort food” brand is launching the imaginatively named Dirty Vegan next month, a “plant-inspired comfort food concept” that will debut on 5 March at Dirty Bones Shoreditch.

Dirty Vegan is reportedly born from a “desire to make comfort food accessible to everyone,” and inspired by the growing number of venues in London beginning to “challenge the long-held conceptions [of] a vegan diet.” They join the likes of Gizzi Erskine (whose Pure Filth concept will soon go permanent), Dough Society, and Temple of Hackney, who have developed a cult following for their vegan seitan “fried chicken.”

The pop-up menu for Dirty Vegan will include veganised versions of Dirty Bones staples — chicken and waffles becomes cauliflower “chicken” and buckwheat waffles, while mac and cheese is made with cashew and almond milk, and no actual cheese — and a list of vegan-friendly cocktails, wines and beers.

Dirty Bones founder, Cokey Sulkin, is an operator wise to the constraints of conventionally “dirty” food in 2018. He said:

“It’s no secret that there’s been a huge uptake in the demand for more vegan and vegetarian options in London, and we wanted to challenge ourselves to accommodate more of these tastes and preferences while staying true to what Dirty Bones does best. Comfort food will always be our focus, and Dirty Vegan is our way of making sure that anyone from a full-time vegan to a curious, health-conscious part-timer can indulge in comfort food as well.”

Initially, Dirty Vegan is set for just two pop-ups, on 5 and 12 March, where a three-course “set menu” featuring the above, and — of course — a vegan version of buffalo hot wings, will cost £20 per head, inclusive of a cocktail.