OMNOM merges vegan Indian cuisine with community initiatives and wellness education, serving delicious dishes while providing 200 meals weekly to those in need at Charing Cross Station.
I t’s not often that you find a restaurant that’s eco-friendly, that gives back to the community, and that provides education, cooking, and yoga courses to further wellness for the soul as well as the body. But OMNOM in Islington is doing all of it.
Founder Vijay Jetani was born vegetarian, a common practise in India. But after moving to the UK and discovering how animals are truly treated in the meat industry, he realised he wasn’t doing enough. It was here that his passion for a sustainable, vegan diet began, and his desire to share with others was born.
Vijay’s mission at OMNOM is to nourish the body as well as the soul. In pursuit of this goal, not only does he serve an entirely vegetarian and largely vegan menu, but he also hosts yoga and ‘enlightened eating’ cooking and education courses in OMNOM’s upstairs function room. In his words, ‘encouragement comes from education.’ Every Sunday, people come to learn about the benefits of vegan cooking, and how to do it.
If all of that wasn’t impressive enough, OMNOM also prepares 200 vegan meals every single Tuesday and distributes them to people in need at Charing Cross Station. They’ve been doing this for five years and have given out more than 50,000 meals. Vijay’s passion for people is obvious through his policies, his own ethics, and his food.
Highlights:
- OMNOM aims to nourish both body and soul, offering a vegetarian and largely vegan menu alongside wellness activities like yoga and cooking classes.
- Born vegetarian in India, Jetani’s awareness of animal welfare in the UK sparked his passion for veganism and sustainability.
- OMNOM distributes 200 vegan meals every Tuesday to those in need, totalling over 50,000 meals in five years.
- Highlights include crispy spinach chaat, chick’n butter masala, and palak butter naan, praised for their rich flavors and textures.
- OMNOM offers a wide variety of beverages, including masala chai, wellness smoothies, and cocktails with Indian flair.
- Caters to all dietary preferences, featuring options for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores, including an Indian-inspired afternoon tea.
- Committed to eco-friendly operations, ensuring a positive impact on both patrons and the community.
When I asked Vijay what dishes best represent his restaurant, he told me the crispy spinach chaat and the chick’n butter masala with vegan palak butter naan. So of course, these were the dishes I asked to try—and they did not disappoint.
Anyone who’s eaten Indian food knows butter chicken. It’s arguably the most popular and most accessible dish with its mild spice level, creamy tomato sauce, and tender chicken; it’ll satisfy just about anyone. However, it’s never been my go-to. It’s often too tomatoey and acidic for me, akin to eating marinara sauce by the spoonful. But at OMNOM, they achieved a much deeper, more complex flavour beyond just tomato. And I never would have been able to tell that the sauce and the butter inside were entirely plant-based. However, as much as I hate to say it, vegan meat just isn’t for me. It may look like chicken, but the comparison stops there. I’d much prefer blocks of tofu or cubes of veg in there. But dipping the crispy spinach naan into the rich gravy alone was absolutely a winning bite.
Though I did love the butter masala with the palak naan, the crispy spinach chaat took the cake. Crispy fried baby spinach leaves are topped with tamarind and mint chutneys, vegan yoghurt, pomegranate seeds, and chaat masala. These are like nachos’ healthier cousin. Usually when I hear about a ‘healthier’ version of a favourite snack, I roll my eyes. Because no, leaves of lettuce with salt and vinegar will never be a substitute for potato crisps and you can’t convince me that it satisfied your craving. But these crunchy spinach leaves will undoubtedly satisfy you in every way. The batter is light and airy while also being hearty and crunchy, and the flavours on top are like fireworks in your mouth.
I’m a drink fiend through and through. I could easily drink my calories for the day in the form of coffee drinks, teas, matcha, kombucha, smoothies, cocktails, etc. and consider it to be the perfect day. This made OMNOM the place for me, as they gifted me with three drinks throughout my time there. As I waited for my table, they brought me a masala chai. As I sat down to interview owner Vijay, they brought a kale banana smoothie. And with my meal, a Holi-Tini inspired by the Indian festival of colours. And this didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all their drinks on offer. I’ve definitely got my eye on the creamy saffron pistachio lassi for my next visit.
For carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike, OMNOM has something for everyone—including an Indian-inspired afternoon tea for the posh crowd. Not only will your body be happy with this delicious food, but your mind can feel good about eating it knowing that it’s sustainable, eco-friendly, and contributing to meals for those in need. OMNOM really is a feast for the soul.
