Tofu Vegan Charlotte Street is part of the hugely popular Tofu Vegan group serving exclusively vegan, regional Chinese food in London. It proves that London’s love affair with vegan food is no longer niche - it’s not only mainstream but at places like this, genuinely exciting. Plant-based eating has moved well beyond compromise cooking, and if tofu is your idea of a good time (or you’re tofu-curious but not yet convinced), this is a restaurant that makes a very strong case for it.
Set at 32 Charlotte Street, the restaurant sits right in the heart of Fitzrovia - a lively stretch known for its restaurants, late-night bars and steady stream of office workers, creatives and gallery-hoppers. It’s central without being chaotic, making it an easy choice for lunch meetings, pre-theatre dinners or group meals where dietary requirements vary wildly. Charlotte Street has always been good at feeding people well, and Tofu Vegan fits neatly into that ecosystem.
The menu is extensive and ever-so tofu-led, drawing on Chinese regional cooking and Buddhist vegetarian traditions. Everything is 100 per cent vegan, made fresh daily, and clearly labelled for spice and allergens. This isn’t tofu as an afterthought, it’s tofu as the main character.
One of the most popular dishes is Mapo tofu, served bubbling in a chilli-rich sauce that delivers proper heat and depth rather than polite spice. It’s delicious and proof that tofu can absolutely bring the drama. The sizzling fried tofu in black bean sauce is another winner, arriving hot and fragrant, with that addictive salty-savoury balance that keeps chopsticks moving.
King oyster mushrooms appear throughout the menu and are particularly good in the Gong Bao-style dish with cashew nuts, offering crunch, richness and a convincing meatiness without trying too hard. For something bolder, the cumin “lamb” (don't worry, entirely plant-based!) leans smoky and aromatic, pairing well with plain rice or stir-fried noodles.
Starters are built for sharing and over-ordering. Think tofu and vegetable dumplings, salt-and-Sichuan-pepper tofu, smashed cucumbers with garlicky sesame dressing, and cold dishes dressed in chilli oil that wake everything up. While, desserts stick to familiar comfort territory, including sweet potato rolls and chocolate brownie, rounding things off neatly.