Junk Food How It Should Be
(Served in Amsterdam and Unbelievably Vegan)
For some reason, the word “vegan” has become synonymous with some very misleading stereotypes. The image of a vegan conjures to mind a picky eater who doesn’t wear socks and hasn’t washed their dreadlocks in a few years. Now we are about to go off on a rant as to why this stereotype needs to change; but before we sour the mood, let’s take a look at this little Amsterdam gem… or box of gems, as the case may be.
Everyone loves junk food but it’s just so much better when it is Vegan. It doesn’t mean there’s no taste, it doesn’t mean it’s all avocado disguised as meat, and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t grab as luscious a burger here as you can anywhere else in the city. Oh yes… the Vegan Junk Food Bar is the next big thing in unhealthy, healthy eating… and we just can’t get enough.
It’s Trendy, It’s Cool, It’s… Vegan Junk Food?
We can literally hear your eyebrows raising at the thought. Junk food that’s Vegan? Just to blow your minds with the concept a little longer we put together this short list of all the junk food items you already eat, that are fully vegan… Prepare to have your meat-eating minds destroyed.
Such culinary feasts as the following are all vegan friendly:
- Oreos. Without a word of a lie.
- Crisps – for the most part, these are fried in sunflower oil or slow baked for goodness. Check the packaging for the flavorings, but for the most part crisps are vegan.
- And so are Chips. Oh yeah. They are also fried in vegetable oil nowadays because it’s cheaper.
- Sorbet – totally vegan friendly, go nuts.
- Icing sugar and cake fondant – all vegan.
- Pizza – there’s no egg in a pizza base. Switch out for vegan cheese (which is a real thing nowadays) and you have a vegan feast.
- Pot Noodles – seriously, and not just the brand. Many of them have never seen an animal.
- Dark Chocolate – we’re talking over 70% cocoa here. These chocolates don’t have milk in them. Also check out Fry’s creams.
- Ritz Crackers have never even glanced at a block of cheese and we are seriously disappointed.
- Twizzler’s are set with Agar. Agar is the plant version of Gelatin. Anything set with this instead is safe jelly for a vegan diet.
- Crunchy nature Valley Bars…
- The list goes on.
So if you are a militant meat eater, you may want to start avoiding those Oreos!
The Vegan Junk Food Bar!
Now that we have suitably stimulated your frontal lobes, lets talk about how someone has applied this concept to a Bar. So they took vegan junk food, threw in some alcohol, and then, because they were geniuses, they placed the whole thing in Amsterdam. If ever there was a city in the world that needed a Vegan junk food bar it was exactly this one. Not only did they do this once, but they actually own several outlets throughout the city, just so that there is always one within stumbling distance.
What’s on the Menu?
What culinary delights do the good folks at the Vegan Junk Food Bar in Amsterdam cook up? Well you can view their full menu here, or you can take our word for it that it is an exemplary extravaganza of eating. Not convinced? Let us talk you through some of those dishes…
The VJFB have produced their own types of substitutes for things that you normally splurge out to eat. One of our favourites of these is their Zalmon… a hilarious salmon substitute that looks, feels, and tastes, strikingly similar to the real deal. They serve this with ‘no tuna’ which is like tuna, but not tuna, on a gorgeous platter of gluten free soya noodles. They combine the traditional Japanese taste explosions of wasabi contrasted with the spice of ginger to complete the dish. The only thing missing are the sounds of the Japanese fish market in the background.
If Sushi isn’t your style then worry not; the Vegan Junk Food Bar have their own melt-in-the-mouth burgers, with new and consistently improved recipes always applied. Who says a smoky BBQ meal isn’t possible when you eat vegan? A crisp, sesame topped bun completes this fake-cheesy feast. If you tuck in with your eyes closed you won’t know the difference… If you tuck in with your eyes open you still won’t know the difference – but you’ll be stumped by where it came from!
How does a creamy coconut curry sound? What if you coated that curry in breadcrumbs and deep fried it? This is what they mean by ‘junk food.’ They have a full range of vegan main courses to choose from: from Spring Rolls to Banana Chip and Sweet Potato Fries. When you get to the sweet menu though, is when you will be truly surprised.
Their Unicorn Bread might be brightly coloured (and fully vegan, of course) but it isn’t as dazzling as their cheeze cake. This sumptuous success is only marginally pipped by their version of a Magnum. If there is one food you should try in Amsterdam before you leave it is a VJFB X Magnum. It’s an ice cream, that’s not an ice cream, that will rock your world.
Vegan Junk Food at Multiple Locations
We mentioned before that the Vegan Junk Food Bar has four separate locations throughout Amsterdam. Let’s take a closer look at each one so you know where to find them – and what to expect when you get there.
(We don’t want to ruin the surprise, but some of the bread is Blue).
Vegan Junk Food Bar 1 – Staringplein
The western branch of the VJFB is officially a burger joint… forgive the pun. They supply a variety of totally plant-based, all-natural burgers. All of which are vegan, some of which are gluten-free, and all of which are stomach friendly. Assuage your appetite with the likes of the Notorious SUMO Burger with its purple bun, the Black Daddy McChicken, or Kapsalon fries.
Whichever you choose it will be colourful, consider this fair warning.
Vegan Junk Food Bar 2 – Marie Heinekenplein (De Pijp)
Table service comes as standard at the slightly more up-market VJFB at Marie Heinekenplein. Enjoy their specialty: Amsterdam Bitterballen, in a delicious curried flavour. Better yet; order a Vegan Junk Food Bar sharing platter for a taste of everything and a distinctly tapas-style feel. All these can be complimented by some Chickpea Fries, or with a full length Pinky Bratwurst that you won’t believe isn’t the real thing!
Vegan Junk Food Bar 3 – Eerste Van Swindenstraat
The eastern front of the VJFB is also a sit-in establishment. Go and enjoy a quiet drink or some slap-up feasts – you decide. If you are getting your drink on though, we suggest trying out some of the house specials. Try a Tipsy Unicorn is you like a hint of violet, lychee juice and strong vodka. If Tanqueray is more to your taste then they have that too.
Vegan Junk Food Bar 4 – VJFB Downtown
This is their newest restaurant and the current apple of the chains eye. If you can only make it to one Vegan Junk Food Bar in Amsterdam – make it this one. It’s open 11am till midnight every day of the week!
We also want to give a shout out to the one cocktail they have on the menu called ‘Pass the Dutchie’. It’s made with Ketel One, Apple Juice, and a peppering of fairy dust… not really, but it’s still special. We love it because it just seems to sum up the whole eating-in-Amsterdam experience that you come to expect from the Vegan Junk Food Bar.
Vegan Junk Food Bar 5 – ROFFA
Roffa is the Rotterdam branch of this fabulous foodie vegan-friendly feasting place… It’s in Rotterdam but that doesn’t make it any less fantastic.
What About Prices?
The Vegan Junk Food Bar is very affordable across all outlets in Amsterdam. Don’t get us wrong; the whole city is a little more expensive than your average European destination is anyway; but by comparison the VJFB is relatively cheap. It’s definitely the most affordable place to eat vegan in Amsterdam if you are on a budget.
You also have the peace of mind you just don’t get from other restaurants. There is an on-going hatred of all things vegetarian in the Chef industry that makes the vegan diet almost a joke to some. This isn’t true when you choose a wholly vegan restaurant to eat in.
And if you aren’t a vegan? That’s OK too. You will most definitely be surprised at what there is on offer at this brilliant Amsterdam eatery. It might even be the final push you need to make the leap to Vegan, for good. Equally it might not be… but that won’t be because the food was bad. Give it a go, no matter your meat-religion, and let the standards speak for themselves. That’s all any of us can ask for in the fast-paced bustle of the city.
So Why Not Stop by the VJFB?
We are going to take a break there and hop on over for some Vegan Junk Food of our own… You just can’t talk about it without wanting it! Maybe we’ll see you there? We have a Carrot & Ginger super juice with your name on it just waiting…
Dare you go Vegan for one meal? The evidence suggests it will be a fantastic foray into the world of food.
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