Once upon a time, vegan food was a mythical entity, believed only to be consumed by rabbits and Bohemians. Today, meat-free meals are commonplace, enjoyed by omnivores, carnivores and herbivores alike. Veganism is now so popular that the entire month of January has been dedicated to championing all things plant-based - Veganuary is a fast-growing, global event.

The Liverpool food and drink scene is peppered with vegan choices including entire restaurants dedicated to meatless dining: Bundobust, The Egg Cafe and Caledonia - to name a few. Purveyors of plant-based food are positively spoilt for choice when eating out in the city year-round. In honour of this enforced meat-free month though, we’re pointing you in the direction of some restaurants and junk food joints offering Veganuary-friendly takeout during Lockdown 3.0.

All of the following restaurants are offering takeout at time of writing.

Down the Hatch

When it comes to meat-free dining in Liverpool, this lot have reached legendary status. Although DTH will be closing its doors in January as we navigate yet another national lockdown, fear not: you can still get your fix delivered to your door. In honour of Veganuary, they’ve added an exclusive meal deal to their Deliveroo platform: any burger and chips, plus a side and drink for £16. Burgers include King Katsu (panko-crusted seitan patty with sauerkraut and curry sauce), Always Sunny (soy mince patty, cheese, fried mushrooms, hash brown roasted peppers and gravy) and Mac’s Big Break (deep-fried mac ’n’ cheese patty, chilli jam, sriracha and crunchy nachos). Sides include crispy buffalo seitan wings, jackfruit nuggets and mini hash brown bites tossed in a herby marinara pizza sauce.

Down the Hatch, 62 Duke Street, L1 5AA - Open from 12pm every day for takeaway orders via Deliveroo.

Frost Burgers

For those sceptical about meat-free dining - or helpless to the pull of a McDonald's drive-thru, we dare you to give Frost Burgers a go. Priding itself on ‘badass street food’ made using 100% plant-based ingredients, this is no less than culinary witchcraft. Available on Deliveroo - with ‘special secret menu’ items - Frost Burgers is renowned for its towering burger stacks, oozing ‘cheezburgers’, chicken-free nuggets, vegan desserts and dairy-free shakes. We recommend the Scorpion burger (double ‘beef’ patties topped with spicy pepper ‘cheese’) and a side of skin-on fries, followed by the gluten-free No-Honeycomb brownie and a thick banana shake if you’ve got room. Other menu items include the garlic mayo no-chicken burger, the Double Trouble with triple sesame bun, battered onion rings and a special winter shake. No spoilers here on the secret menu items though.

Frost Burgers, 58 Wood Street, L1 4AQ - Monday-Thursday 12pm-8pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-9pm and Sunday 12pm-8pm - Order via Deliveroo.

Indigo Greens

Crowned the best vegan restaurant in the UK during the 2019 Vegfest UK Awards, it would be rude of us not to pay Indigo Greens a (virtual) visit this month. A go-to for those seeking plant-based fuel in the Liverpool vicinity, this is vegan food with finesse. From loaded toasts and wholesome chilled breakfasts to grilled plates, nibbles - and a mean Sunday roast. Wash it all down with a fresh smoothie or detox shot. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the children’s menu before you go if you’ve got some hungry little ankle-biters in need of nutrition. These guys also offer an affordable, meat-free meal prep service if you’d prefer to avoid the kitchen at all costs.

Indigo Greens, 132 Queens Drive, Clubmoor, L13 0AL - Monday 10.30am-6pm, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm - To order, download the Indigo Greens app or phone 0151 792 2715.

Meatless

If 2020 was the year of change - albeit rather rudely uninvited, 2021 should be the year of innovation. Leading the way with nimble improvisation are Meatless who have just launched their brand new Veganuary meal prep service. Already having to add extra delivery slots due to popular demand, this is fresh, restaurant standard food cooked by expert vegan chefs at less than 500kcal a pop - though calorie counting isn’t exactly high on the list of priorities here at Confidentials. Recipes include banana blossom paneang, lentil and porcini ragu, black bean burrito bowl and sweet potato, coconut and chilli soup. Meal plans start at £30 for five meals over five days. Meal prep not your cuppa tea? There’s a full takeaway menu too.

Meatless, 312 Smithdown Road, L15 5AF - Thursday-Saturday 12pm-9pm and Sunday 12pm-6pm via UberEats or phone 0151 733 0879

PICNIC

PICNIC is all about ‘healthier fast food’. There are jaw-breaking burgers and a rainbow of wraps along with nutritious bowls, loaded fries and sweet treats - including the infamous PICNIC peanut butter jelly protein balls. Popular choices include a spicy harissa burger, a technicolour quinoa burrito and salt ’n’ pepper fries. Also joining the lineup is a trio of locally-sourced MOO2You vegan ice creams in strawberry, salted caramel and good, old fashioned vanilla. Deals on offer at the moment include a £6 wrap & drink deal, a £5 rice box deal, a £7.95 wrap & side deal, and an £8.50 burger & side deal.

PICNIC, 509a Smithdown Road, L15 5AE - Order online or phone 0151 345 8310

Potts Coffee

Potts Coffee is all about hearty, vegan fare which is sustainable, has a low environmental impact, and celebrates shopping local and supporting small. In celebration of Veganuary, the popular plant-based restaurant and coffee shop has curated a weekend takeout menu covering breakfast, brunch, late lunch and everything in between. Breakfast and brunch feature classics like a traditional English breakfast, avocado on sourdough and a vegan sausage & egg muffin. The pancake stack menu offers both sweet and savoury toppings from fresh fruit and Biscoff spread to spinach and scrambled tofu. Lunch brings the Potts Beyond Meat™ burger with a brioche bun and seasoned fries, a sesame tofu Winter Soul Bowl with quinoa, veggies & a sweet tahini dressing, and a velvety carbonara with linguine and portobello mushroom. Veganuary specials include crispy jackfruit ‘wingz’ with a choice of sticky bourbon glaze or fiery sriracha and garlic mayo. Coffee, cakes and croissants also available if you fancy going all continental.

Potts Coffee, 18a Slater Street, L1 4BS - Veganuary takeout menu available Saturday 9.30am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm - Order by phone on 0151 708 5300 or Instagram DM - Collection only

Sanskruti

Voted among Liverpool's best restaurants by the likes of The Guardian and The Times, Sanskruti is a hidden gem in the heart of the city’s business district. Those who have never quite strayed that far off the beaten track - as well as Sanskruti regulars - can now enjoy the traditional Indian menu delivered straight to the door. Every plate here is meat-free, our favourites include a black lentil daal makhani, papdi chaat crispy canapés with chickpeas and chutney, mushroom masala and kela nu shaak with turmeric sautéed bananas and curry leaf. If you’re looking to share a feast with your lockdown compadre(s), we recommend picking a few small plates from the starter and street food menus. We can vouch for the batter-coated baby corn Manchurian, jackfruit tandoori kathal, Punjabi samosa and humble-but-heavenly masala tossed chips.

Sanskruti, Bixteth Street, L3 9LP - Open for takeaway delivery and collection Thursday-Saturday 5pm-10.30pm

Woo Tan Scran

Woo Tan Scran is every bit as cool as the name suggests. The city’s first plant-based Chinese chip shop is a, er, chip off the old block from the brains behind Down the Hatch. This is the place to go when those merciless chippy cravings set in. There’s everything you’d expect - but veganised, from sesame ‘prawn’ toast, ‘chicken’ sweetcorn soup and salt & pepper curly fries to crispy chilli ‘beef’, char siu ‘chicken’ and even a battered vegan sausage. Sides include all those non-negotiable Chinese takeout extras: fried rice, ‘cheesy’ chips, noodles and hot curry sauce. Despite looking every bit as dirty as you’d want it to, every meal on the Woo Tan Scran menu is made using only the finest quality meat alternatives. Still not sure of the a-peel? Eye their Instagram page and you’ll be checking out on Deliveroo faster than you can say 'check out my gravel pit' - and if you don’t catch that Wu Tang Clan reference then frankly you don’t deserve to dine here.

Woo Tan Scran, 109-111 Lark Lane, L17 8UR. Open 4pm-9pm, 7 days a week. Order exclusively via Deliveroo.