Who said that being vegan or vegetarian is at odds with enjoying a delicious burger? For some, this idea may be difficult to conceive, but in a city like CDMX, conscious eaters can find a variety of alternatives that are not only healthy and free of animal products, but just as tasty (or dare we say tastier?) than the meat ones. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, on the fence, or simply looking for a delicious meat-free option, here’s this year’s list to find your favorite plant-based and cruelty-free burgers.
Los Loosers
We can say with confidence that the Alien Research burger at Los Loosers, Chef Mariana Blanco’s famous mushroom based Mexican Asian fusion restaurant, is one of the best in town. The star burger at this pioneer of cruelty-free food in Mexico since 2011 is made from a patty based on various wild mushrooms and served with roasted cashew nut cheese, grilled kimchi, and green pipian sauce.
Blanco has also included sweet chipotle, caramelized onion, and a garlic-mustard mayonnaise dip. A hearty delicacy that will leave you more than satisfied. Pro tip: accompany your burger with the new house beer inspired by the Santa María de la Ribera neighborhood and made with mushrooms, white creole corn, epazote, and peppergrass.
Sinaloa 236 B, Roma Norte, CDMX
T. 56 2052 4969
IG. @wearelosloosers
Fakc-Yeah
Fast food and veganism come together at Fakc-Yeah, the pandemic project from Venezuelan Pascual Cicenia. The menu includes six tasty “poio” burgers (made from pea protein) for those who, like Pascual, are vegan and miss the fast food experience but don’t want to compromise on their respect for animals and the environment, or those who simply want to try a new culinary experience.
Check out the Fakc-d-poio, a customer favorite, with blue cheese, pickles, lettuce, and red onion, or the Poio-macho with plantain, lettuce, cheese, red onion, pickles, and blue cheese. If you want something closer to a classic beef burger, you can opt for the Beyond Beef burger with cheese, onion, tomato, pickles, lettuce, mayonnaise, and ketchup. But it wouldn’t be fast food without the sides. Complement your burger with the sweet potato fries served with house mayo-curry sauce and a peanut butter brownie milkshake with whipped cream.
Av. Nuevo León 144, Hipódromo Condesa, CDMX
T. 55 1857 5281
IG. @fakc.yeah
Butcher & Sons
If one of Mexico City’s best known places for burgers has vegan and vegetarian options on its menu, then we are obviously going to try them. And Butcher & Sons has been confirmed once again as a must this year. Finding inspiration for the menu from famous singers, it includes the Marley, with a patty made from breaded goat cheese served with mushrooms and tomatoes, and the McCartney, made from beans, carrots, and oatmeal served with shallots, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce and red onion.
For Meatless Monday, popular in the vegan and vegetarian (and those dabbling in it) community, Butcher & Sons offers the Yorke, a burger with a plant-based patty, 100% vegan cheddar cheese, fried onion, tomato, lettuce, and BBQ sauce on a potato bun. Give any one of these a try with some sweet potato fries or their classic french fries.
Orizaba 87, Roma Norte, CDMX
T. 55 5207 8121
IG. @butcherandsons
Querida Simona
Within La Nación de Todos, a culinary and design collective in Roma Norte, is Querida Simona, specializing in “antojitos veganos” (vegan snacks). While the menu changes regularly, one dish that has endured is the burger with Beyond Chicken strips piled with cabbage and carrot slaw, avocado, tomato, pickled red onion, lettuce, pickles, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and buffalo dressing.
Another not to be missed item is the Beyond Meat with vegan ham and manchego cheese, avocado, tomato, pickled red onion, lettuce, pickles, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and BBQ. And f you’re really feeling hungry, order a tasty appetizer of breaded cauliflower “wings” and french fries with buffalo sauce.
Colima 220, Roma Norte, CDMX
T . 81 8052 5375
IG. @querida.simona
