SpiceBox Leytonstone

It’s hard to miss SpiceBox’s second outpost, which has landed on High Road Leytonstone in a riot of colour. The stylish, canteen-style interior is electrified with cartoon shades of pink, yellow and orange, and lined with cosy, comfortable booths that mean the atmosphere is as buzzy as the décor.

Instagram-friendly setting aside, SpiceBox is your classic neighbourhood curry house, with one small twist – it just happens to be vegan. Carnivore or not, it’s really not relevant: all the classics are covered.

The food kicks off with the arrival of a complimentary platter of warm, crisp poppadoms accompanied by a selection of chutneys to nibble on while you peruse the menu and wait for drinks (we tried a delicious Chilli and Mango Margarita from a short and sweet cocktail menu). Street Bites feature well-spiced potato and pea samosas, a cooling Chana Chaat and standout onion bhajis: delicate tangles of sweet onion in a light, crisp batter.

Curries include old favourites and imaginative newcomers: the vegetable cashew and coconut Korma is sweet and creamy, and though the seasonal vegetables feel a little like a lucky dip, with broccoli, butter beans and carrot in the mix, each is perfectly tender (or choose chick’n instead for a meatier experience).

A whole fire-roasted aubergine brings a little drama to the table, with complex layers of spice playing with the charred smokiness. Sides of crispy, spiced Bombay potatoes sit alongside their award-winning tarka dhal and a flaky, somehow-buttery paratha is a must for wiping your plate clean.

For dessert, a vegan brownie is one of the best we’ve tasted, its rich texture and deep chocolatiness balanced by a fresh coconut ice cream.

With warm service, a failsafe menu of favourites, and a sustainable approach to dining (they recycle as much food as possible to reduce landfill), SpiceBox is a fun and feelgood destination for everything from family lunches to date nights.

SpiceBox Leytonstone is the second site from restauranteur Grace Regan whose vegan curry house dishes have won her legions of fans (not to mention a book deal and a whole range of sauces and condiments). Coming to the scene just two years on from the Walthamstow original, this sibling site retains much of the allure of the first, but adds some of its own signature dishes to keep things interesting.

With a larger kitchen there’s more on offer here. Original classics include the tandoori spiced cauliflower steak served with coriander chutney and pomegranate seeds which was a hit back when the brand was little more than a street food stall. Newbies run from starters like a traditional samosa chaat through to mains like a whole fire-roasted aubergine in a spiced tomato sauce and roasted portobello mushrooms in a creamy, spicy tomato sauce. Specials span dessert too. Think a mango and coconut chia pudding topped with Grace’s homemade granola.

Come the weekend there is a Full Indian on offer which puts a spicy spin on a traditional English breakfast, while the perennially popular bacon or sausage naans are available for loyal fans too. If you fancy going all out don’t miss the ‘KFC Puda’ which combines spiced chickpea and sweetcorn pancakes with Keralan fried chick’n, spicy tomato ketchup, raita, and golden syrup. For £20 per person there’s also the option to add bottomless fizz to really take things up a gear.

The brand’s commitment to sustainability remains intact in its second site too, with the clever Tiffin Club part of the offering. This sees takeaway dishes served in reusable metal tiffin tins which guests are able to bring back to use repeatedly.

On the interiors front you can expect an upbeat colour scheme of pinks and oranges. Seating is spread out between a central run of tables and banquette-style booths that ensures there's something for smaller gatherings as well as larger groups.