Pizza

Pizza is an important staple in my diet. No, scrap that, in my life. Pizza is key to my happiness. In fact, fear of bad pizza or, dare I say it, no pizza at all was something that delayed my decision to change my diet to a fully vegan one.

However, I have been pleasantly surprised by the options out there for vegan pizzas over the past year. Whilst it can still be a huge struggle to find a non-chain Italian restaurant serving vegan pizza WITH cheese, there are some easy and delicious pizzas out there for vegans (or lactose intolerant human beans!)

Here are my honest opinions on the following four pizza places: Zizi's, Pizza Express, Icco and Pizza Hut.

1. Zizi's

As one of the first big chain restaurants to offer an entire vegan menu, Zizi's was also one of the first restaurants I ventured to to try/inhale a vegan pizza. Being ahead of the curve with a fully vegan menu makes Zizi one of the top choices for easy eating out for vegans as it means we don't have to filter through an entire menu checking the ingredients for every dish. They even have vegan options for dessert!

I usually opt for the Romana base (seen in the images) as I prefer a thinner pizza but you can have a classic base too. They have a list of ingredients for you to build the pizza of your dreams, using a 'mozzarella' cheese which they tell us is made with organic rice milk. I LOVE their pizza. The cheese is a very similar taste and texture to mozzarella and the list of toppings is extensive.

Once a month I go on a pizza date with a friend, who happens to be intolerant to lactose so he opts for the same pizza as I do even though he is not vegan and he tells me he even prefers it to the non-vegan pizza. For me, so far, Zizi is in my top options for restaurant pizza. Especially since they usually have great offers on, making it a delicious AND affordable dinner option.

2. Pizza Express

Pizza Express has always been a restaurant I find myself at regularly, with a really tasty and extensive menu it is a great restaurant to go to with friends, family or on a date night because there is usually something for everyone, even us vegans!

The vegan option at Pizza Express is on the menu as the 'Vegan Giardiniera' which is a new pizza recipe that combines artichokes with asparagus, red onion, garlic oil, black olives and seasoning on a classic dough and passata base. (Seen in the image above) However, whilst their menu lists one vegan option it is good to know that their vegan mozzarella is available to be put on top any pizza on their menu in place of mozzarella for those looking for a dairy-free alternative.

I LOVE this pizza (too). Just like at Zizi, I opt for the thinner base but again, you can have it on whichever boats your float. The only thing about the pizza which makes life slightly difficult is the fact Pizza Express tend to serve their pizzas ever so slightly undercooked which tastes great but just makes it tricky to hold a slice in your hand without all of the topping falling off, especially if you are like me and pile as much food on top of your pizza as possible.

3. Pizza Hut

After successfully trialling a vegan option for a few months, Pizza Hut are the newest pizza chain restaurant to offer a non-dairy pizza.

Whilst Pizza Hut is not usually somewhere I end up when my pizza craving kicks in (which happens regularly) I have to admit that this pizza was GREAT. It is less a dine out, date night, gourmet kind of pizza and more a hungover, greasy and needed kind of pizza. Both kinds are equally important.

This pizzeria uses the vegan cheese brand, Violife's award-winning dairy-free cheese alternative, and once again for £1 you are able to simply swap this out for their mozzarella on top of any pizza on the menu or one you build yourself.

I strongly suggest trying this pizza the next time you may have had one too many the night before or if you're REALLY smart, before you go to bed to prevent that hangover. Or just get one delivered for a night in front of the TV. That is one thing Pizza Hut has over Zizi and Pizza Express.... delivery. Key to the pizza inhaling process.

4. ICCO

This family run Italian restaurant started as a singular branch located at 46 Goodge Street. However, now they also have a branch in Camden which, as a North Londoner, is a easier to get to. Open most nights until 11pm and serving only pizza this is a great little place for pizza lovers.

For £7 they offer the 'Vegan Veggie', their vegan pizza with caramelised onions, roasted aubergine, courgette and peppers with tomato sauce and vegan cheese. They also are available on Deliveroo so you don't even have to move to get this vegan pizza, although it is worth noting that it is a little more expensive when you get delivery.

Whilst the pizza was good and the fact that they have vegan cheese, which they don't scrimp on, this may be my least favourite out of the four reviewed here. The cheese didn't really feel or taste melted, it was slightly stringy which is not what I like on a pizza but if you do then this place is the place for you.