Herbivorous York in Spark: Exciting Vegan Comfort Food

Welcome to York, Herbivorous! New to Spark, Herbivorous is the home of exciting, modern vegan comfort food that’s not only better for you but also better for the planet. Inspired by the vegan food explosion in America, Damian and Robyn, the masterminds behind the brand, have developed their unique cooking style while touring food festivals across the UK. Now, they’ve settled down in Manchester, and their first location in York, Spark, is ready to wow your taste buds.

There are plenty of delicious and original recipes on their menu, including highlights like harissa corn ribs and mushroom cheesesteak fries. And don’t worry, they also offer gluten-free options for all the food enthusiasts out there.

The Herbivorous Journey

Damian and Robyn started their culinary adventure with Herbivorous after being inspired by the vegan food revolution in the United States. They went on a road trip across the states and were amazed at the vegan food there, they decided to try and bring some home. At their first food festival, they sold out and knew they were onto something good. They bought an old horsebox and used it to tour various food festivals across the UK. They honed their skills and developed their unique style of cooking while on the road. Bringing together their experiences and passion for plant-based cuisine, they set up their first location in Manchester. Now, with the opening of Spark in York, they are excited to share their mouthwatering creations with even more people.

The Menu

At Herbivorous, the menu is a testament to their innovation and dedication to vegan comfort food. Packed with original recipes, each dish is designed to tantalise your taste buds and leave you craving for more. Let’s take a closer look at some of their best sellers:

Harissa Corn Ribs

These irresistible harissa corn ribs are a real winner. Tender and smoky, the corn ribs are coated in a tangy harissa glaze that adds a burst of flavour with every bite. Served with a side of cooling vegan aioli (yum!), this dish is the perfect combination of spicy and refreshing.

Mushroom Cheesesteak Fries

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with Herbivorous’ mushroom cheesesteak fries. Thick-cut fries, loaded with sautéed mushrooms, caramelised onions, and vegan cheese, are topped with a savoury vegan cheesesteak mixture. Each mouthful is a symphony of flavours, with the umami-rich mushrooms complementing the gooey cheese and crispy fries.

Gluten-Free Options

At Herbivorous, they believe that everyone should be able to enjoy their delicious creations. That’s why they offer a range of gluten-free options on their menu. From gluten-free buns for their burgers to gluten-free pasta dishes, they ensure that no one has to miss out on the scrumptiousness.

Herbivorous aims to be a welcoming and inclusive brand that caters to all dietary preferences and restrictions. The focus on gluten-free options highlights their commitment to ensuring that everyone can enjoy their delicious creations.

Locations: Where to Find Herbivorous

Herbivorous has established itself as a go-to destination for vegan comfort food in Manchester.

They have just introduced a new location, Spark York.

Address: Spark:York 17—21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB

Our meal at Herbivorous

I visited Spark with my parents. As soon as I saw Herbivorous, I knew I wanted to eat there. I’m so happy to find another vegan food stall in York after El Rayo Vegan Cantina sadly closed.

I was quite surprised that my parents wanted to get something from there, too. My dad can be a typical boomer – you know, all about the meat and thinks vegan means you just eat salad. He actually didn’t realise it was vegan until after we ate it – oops!

My mum ordered the mushroom cheesesteak fries, my dad and I ordered the Chilli cheesesteak fries and I got the cheesy fries for my toddler.

Wow, the portions came in a small tray and at first I thought I’d still be hungry, but that wasn’t the case at all. The flavourings in this are all so rich – it becomes very filling very quickly. The ‘beef’ steak kind of had the texture of kabab meat. It didn’t have much flavour itself but took on the flavour of the rest of the dish.

The chips were the star of the dish – they had so much seasoning on them! The paprika salt was amazing.

I was a little intimidated by the chilli, I decided to take most of the chilli off. There were a lot of seeds and flakes on the dish, so I thought chillis would have been too much for me as I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy food. But it wasn’t too hot at all – there was a nice kick every now and then it did make my nose run a bit. But I probably could have managed with the chilis on.

As for the cheese sauce – I’ve tried many various vegan cheeses before and I have to say that this did not taste like cheese at all. It was nice, don’t get me wrong – but the flavour and texture were more like a humous. Vegan cheese isn’t generally that great in large quantities, so it’s probably for the best but I just think maybe it shouldn’t be marketed as a cheese sauce.

I do think that many vegan places fall into the trap of trying to re-create vegan versions of meat dishes – but this is delicious in its own right and doesn’t need to do that! I get why they do it though – it may appeal to more people than saying it’s a ‘cashew sauce’. I expect Philly cheesesteak is where they got their inspiration to create this dish.

So although I enjoyed this dish a lot, I would not say it was a substitute for Philly cheesesteak!

I’d love to try the fried ‘chicken’ burger and BBQ ribs next!

Thoughts on Herbivorous

Herbivorous is not just a place for vegan food enthusiasts; it’s a place that demonstrates that vegan comfort food can be exciting, delicious, and good for the planet. My parents are both meat eaters and m my mum kept saying how it was nice to do something different! Herbivorous plant-based cuisine is a welcome addition to the vegan comfort food revolution in York.

Damian and Robyn have created a haven for plant-based food lovers with their unique style of cooking and dedication to innovative recipes. So, whether you’re a long-time vegan or just curious to try something new, head over to Herbivorous York inside Spark soon!

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