Bonsai Plant Kitchen has just been named Plant Champions in the BRAVOS 2025 (April). We Love Brighton’s Elise Vernon went to sample the menu.
Brighton has no shortage of great vegan spots, but Bonsai Plant Kitchen really is something special. Opening in 2022 on Baker Street, it quickly made a name for itself with its bold, Asian-inspired flavors and impressive plant-based dishes. We’d heard a lot of hype, so we went down to check it out – and honestly, it more than lived up to expectations.
The menu is packed with dishes that make you want to order everything, so we did our best to try a bit of it all.
Read more: BRAVOS 2025 – Full list of Brighton Restaurant Awards Winners
First up was the crispy tofu with satay sauce and pineapple relish, and it was unreal – crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, with the satay sauce bringing just the right amount of richness and the pineapple adding a perfect touch of sweetness.
We also had the tempura cauliflower, coated in Bonsai Plant Kitchen’s signature Bonsai Korean hot sauce and sesame. This was hands-down one of our favorites – crispy, sticky, spicy, and completely addictive. I’m getting hungry as I write this!
Of course, we couldn’t visit without trying their famous “chicken” yakitori skewers, and they did not disappoint. The texture was spot on, and the smoky, slightly charred flavor was everything you’d want from a proper yakitori skewer.
We also went for the Hanoi “pork” spring roll with pickled apple, which had such a great balance of crispy, savory, and tangy flavors. And to round it all off, the dirty rice was the ultimate comfort food—rich, flavorful, and packed with umami.
More like this: The story of Bonsai Kitchen
The vibe at Bonsai is just as good as the food – laid-back, stylish, and welcoming. The staff were super friendly, happy to chat through the menu and recommend their favorites.
Whether you’re vegan or not, Bonsai Plant Kitchen is a spot that proves plant-based food can be exciting, indulgent, and absolutely packed with flavor. We already can’t wait to go back!
Address: 44-45 Baker St, Brighton BN1 4JN
