With Veganuary just around the corner, many of us are planning to lean into plant-based choices. But some days, all that’s really wanted is a big burger piled high with toppings and served alongside a generous portion of not-so-healthy fries.
Thankfully, the UAE delivers on both fronts. Long gone are the days when decent vegan burgers were hard to come by. Today, many restaurants, bars and takeaways offer a choice of creative, interesting and unique plant-based burgers that give their counterparts a real run for their money.
Hearty and filling, yet still sustainable and good for the planet, the below are some of the best places in the UAE to get your vegan burger fix this Veganuary and beyond.
Black Tap, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
There are few UAE burger joints more iconic than USA brand Black Tap, and its vegan burger is just as colossal and authentically American as the rest of the menu. Topped with pickled onions, spicy salsa verde and a generous helping of vegan mayonnaise, you can elevate it even further by adding avocado, mushrooms and other extra toppings, or have it with a gluten-free bun or an Impossible meat-free patty instead.
If you somehow have room left over at the end, the ultra extravagant and very ridiculous vegan cake shake is another must-try. Best shared, it comes with a whole slice of vegan chocolate cake balanced on top. Fun, funky and very family-friendly, a visit to Black Tap is always the ultimate treat.
Café 302, Downtown Abu Dhabi
Ask any Abu Dhabi resident where to go for excellent vegan food, and they’ll almost certainly say Café 302. Offering an extensive vegan menu and many unbeatable daily deals, it’s always busy on any day of the week with remote workers, families and groups of friends. The multiple plant-based burger options include sweet potato and black bean, red lentil and cauliflower, quinoa, beetroot and white bean, Beyond Meat and more.
Oh, and don’t even think about leaving before you’ve tried the vegan chocolate cake.
Common Grounds, Various locations, Dubai
A must for all the avocado lovers out there, the avocado burger at hip and funky Common Grounds is a legendary dish. An irresistible tribute to the world’s trendiest superfood, it stars an avocado and chickpea patty, vibrant beetroot hummus, pickled onion and vegan mayo, all sandwiched in a light and fluffy vegan potato bun. If you’re really trying to be well behaved, you can swap the bread for a lettuce wrap, and the sweet potato fries for green salad. With six branches in Dubai and counting, its plant-based breakfasts, salads, wraps and snacks are equally marvellous.
Love Vibe, Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Despite being as pink and girly as Barbie land, female Emirati-founded Love Vibe isn’t just made to look good on Instagram. The towering signature vegan burger offers a Kim Kardashian-approved Beyond Meat vegan patty topped with caramelized mushrooms and onions, creamy avocado, and truly excellent homemade vegan cheese. Served with your choice of fries, it’s the ultimate weekend treat.
@lovevibecafe.
Sweet Greens, Abu Dhabi and Delivery Across UAE
Specialising in meal plans and healthy comfort food alternatives, Sweet Greens is renowned for its great value all-you-can-eat breakfasts and pasta and pizza nights. Its dedicated vegan menu includes the Asian-influenced satay tofu burger with sriracha, avocado and peanut butter (it works, honestly), and the BBQ ‘Veganese’ burger, also with spicy sriracha and pickled cucumbers. If those don’t tickle your fancy, there’s also homemade vegan pizzas, wraps, poke bowls, quesadillas and more. Available to eat in at the cute and cosy restaurants in Rihan Heights and Reem Island, you can also arrange delivery right to your sofa.
Vegan Burger, Dubai Mall
Specialising in flavour-packed vegan burgers and comfort food, Vegan Burger UAE located in the Dubai Mall, offers a variety of plant-based options that will leave even non-vegans coming back for more. Standout choices include the Fa-La-La-Fel Burger, a delicious falafel patty topped with fresh veggies and a tangy tahini sauce, and the Aloo Tikki Burger, featuring a spiced potato patty paired with crispy onions, cucumber, and a rich tomato-based sauce. If you’re in the mood for something more adventurous, there are also vegan wraps, crispy fries, and plant-based milkshakes. With options to dine in or have your meal delivered right to your doorstep, top-rated Vegan Burger is the perfect destination for plant-based comfort food
This post was updated from 2024
