Cafe Soya

Cafe Soya specialise in vegetarian dishes, some of which are vegan.

There are two branches in Birmingham, one on Upper Dean Street (across the road from the outdoor markets) and a smaller one just across the road, in the Arcadian.

Rather than list the vegan options here, I’ll give you a link to their menu (pdf) so you can see for yourself. I do know that they do a fair few mock duck/chicken/pork dishes, and I’ve had their (vegan) aubergine and tofu stir-fry with rice, on the lunch menu. It’s expensive at £4.50 but it’s very tasty.

According to one reviewer they “store meat and vegetarian products in different fridges and are scrupulous about keeping the preparation and cooking of meat and veggie meals separate”. Which, if true, is nice to know. The smaller branch, in the Arcadian Centre, has a larger vegetarian selection, although the one in Upper Dean Street also provides a vegetarian menu. It’s unlicensed but you can bring your own alcohol.