Crazes of carnivore diets, meat-consumption and animal-obsessed clean eating may have plagued social media this year, yet the curiosity and appeal surrounding veganism certainly hasn’t wavered. People still convert to veganism daily. More and more individuals are dabbling in a vegan diet, looking to remove themselves from the animal industry, especially young people.
Where does Glasgow, home to three universities, sit within these societal changes in culinary ideology? Well, in 2022, Student Beans ranked Glasgow the 4th friendliest city for vegans. This year, Glasgow took the crown as Mindful Chef’s highest consumer of their UK-based plant-centric boxes. However, none of Glasgow’s higher institutes managed to make their way into PETA’s list of the most vegan-friendly UK universities; unlike their academic counterparts: The University of Aberdeen, The University of Edinburgh, and The University of Stirling. Such shortcomings then beg the question: is Glasgow an ideal – or even satisfactory – destination for vegan students?
After some statistic-crunching, personal reflections and discussion with friends, I concluded that around £15 per week was a justifiable budget to spend on eating out. So, do Glasgow’s institutes offer choice and affordability (on and off campus)? Or are their plant-based academics forced to settle for age-old beetroot burgers and tomato pastas?
Suissi’s Vegan Kitchen, an Asian spot, located on Dumbarton Road in Partick, is essentially Glaswegian vegan royalty. The restaurant is an A-list celebrity, beloved by many, as every avenue of my research led me here. It is extremely convenient for Glasgow University students, only an 18 minute walk from the James McCune Building. However their MSG-free dishes, which range from £3 to £13.50, are also available for takeaway. They offer small plates, main meals and desserts. They certainly don’t skimp on choice, going above and beyond the run-of-the-mill basics, serving the likes of Lion’s Mane Rendang and Tempeh Bao’s. The restaurant appears to be a saviour for Glasgow vegans who enjoy Asian cuisine, and most importantly, students looking for a treat which won’t break the bank.
I, a pastry enthusiast, and newly-converted vegan, have struggled over the summer at home, trying and testing vegan bakes, only to be left underwhelmed again and again. Glasgow seems to be a stranger to this problem. Many of their vegan bakeries are actually the go-to’s of non-vegans also. Vegan students are spoiled for choice: whether they need a croissant for a quick pre-9am breakfast or a cinnamon roll to accompany them on an intense study session.
The Dorky French is a five minute-walk from St Enoch Centre and most of its items sell for around the £4 mark. Whilst arguably a tad expensive, first-time customers seem to turn into loyals, vegan or not. I guess there must be a reason for that. Plant Blonde in the West End is another top pick, popular for their ‘OG plant blonde’ empire biscuit. Students living in the Southside have the option of raved-about Honeytrap Bakery, and Govan residents are encouraged to take a trip to The Dough Cartel for their vegan options.
Nonna Said, a Glasgow favourite, is even kitted out with an entire vegan menu: offering abstract pizzas and street food for up to £16. Other affordable lunch and dinner spots were recommended to me on more than one occasion, such as: The Hug and Pint, The 78 in Finnieston, Non Viet Vegan, Antojitos and Falafel To Go. I was suggested a number of more spendy alternatives, but such restaurants don’t scream student-friendly.
On campus, all three Glasgow universities have some choice. Having never eaten on their grounds, I am not entirely qualified to comment on the extent of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian’s vegan-inclusivity. However, I have first-hand tasted many delicious options from The Hub Kitchen in the James McCune Building such as gyozas, wraps, noodles dishes and more, all for under £6.
On reflection then, Glasgow seems to have it all, or less optimistically, enough. It has the quick, the convenient, the diverse, the reasonably-priced and more. sweet . Savoury. Pub Grub. Oriental Flavours. Roasts. Canteen Food. Maybe for PETA it doesn’t compare to other Scottish cities, but Hillhead Review indubitably sees Glasgow’s plant-based potential.
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