Besides serving up Insta-worthy food creations, Vegan Junk Food Bar in Amsterdam is proving that plant-based meals can please any crowd. This place hit the spot on a brisk, windy day and gave me just the dose of vitality I craved.
What it’s like
Think 50s American Diner meets chill Amsterdam neighborhood meets enthusiastic Los Angeles vegan crowd. They don’t take cash and you can only pay with your card. All seats are at high top tables except for outside, where you can sit in picnic benches.
What I ate
Coconut Curry Bitterballen
This was a vegan take on a traditional Bitterballen – a meatball-like croquette. This curry version is ultra crispy on the outside and creamy soft on the inside with kick of heat. Served with a spicy, tangy, sweet chili sauce.
Original VJFB
A plant-based cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and a fried onion mix that added another dimension of flavor. The bun was soft and chewy and topped with black and white sesame seeds – it was not an afterthought like most of the dry vegan buns I’ve tried (which usually end up ruining the meal!). Their burger is topped with its VJFB sauce which tastes similar to Thousand Island Dressing.
Truffle Sauce
If I could put truffle-something to make truffle-anything, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I have no idea how they make this, but now I have to try to recreate it. Delicate light creamy with a strong hit of truffle. I put it on everything I ate.
Shawarma Royal
Plant-based Shawarma that was flavorful and not spongey – they really know how to cook their ingredients properly at Vegan Junk Food – which is always appreciated. The toppings of lettuce, tomato, red onion, fresh herbs, garlic and their fried onion mix transform this Middle Eastern classic into a modern mound of satisfying vegan-friendly goodness.
Vegan Junk Food Bar
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