The second site for all-vegan Rudy’s Diner finds its home on Islington’s crowded Upper Street, which is home to a whole host of popular restaurants (the original location can be found in Camden Market). Rudy’s Diner Islington is set up like any other typical American-style diner, complete with a menu of burgers, hotdogs and shakes, with the only difference being that everything here is plant-based.
The space resembles an all-American diner, but with a sleek modern update - think white tiles and classic diner booth seating, but upholstered in shades of mustard yellow. You will also find sketches of farm animals dotted around the walls, alongside slogans such as ‘friends, not food’. As for the menu at Rudy’s Diner Islington, you can expect a belt-busting selection of vegan junk food. Choose from the likes of a stacked Destructor Chick’n burger topped with ‘bacon’, vegan cheese, grilled onions, smoky barbecue sauce, coleslaw, dill pickles and lettuce or the signature Rubenz sandwich stacked high with ‘pastrami’ between thick cut slices of freshly baked, homemade rye bread. Elsewhere on the menu, you can find seitan hot dogs and faux pulled pork, as well as side orders of vegan mac ‘n’ cheese, cajun chick’n popcorn and oozing mozzarella sticks made with a plant-based cheese.
To help wash it all down, you can indulge with dairy-free freakshakes, such as The Unicorn: a vanilla shake topped with bubblegum syrup and a selection of sweets. If you are after something stronger though, Rudy’s also serves up vegan beers and wines, as well as cocktails on tap (including Aperol Spritz and Mojitos).
On your way out, check out the adjoining vegan butcher next door, where you can shop plant-based products and mock meats - think pastrami, meatballs and bacon - to take home and whip up yourself in your own kitchen.