Long-term friends Péter
Valkó and Dani Csekő come from different backgrounds, vegetarian Péter working
in business, the more recent meat-free Dani involved in hospitality abroad. A
year ago, they decided to create something together.
As veganism gains more
prevalence, and with both passionate about protecting the environment, a vegan
restaurant was the logical conclusion.
Spicy, juicy and hearty
“Lots of people are now choosing a vegan lifestyle in Hungary as well, for various reasons. We felt it was best to start out with street food rather than opening a classic restaurant,” says Dani. “I haven’t eaten meat in 15 years, but many still believe that all vegetarians and vegans eat is salad. I myself love spicy, juicy and hearty dishes, regularly.”
Péter adds that, “a well-prepared vegan burger can provide the same experience as a traditional one, but without harm to the planet or animals”.
Péter adds that, “a well-prepared vegan burger can provide the same experience as a traditional one, but without harm to the planet or animals”.
Their main profile
became burgers, but their menu has options other than the most popular
fast-food ones. In fact, ‘fast food’ doesn’t accurately describe the range, as
everything is prepared and cooked on-site, so you might have to wait ten to 15
minutes to receive your order.
The results are well worth the wait though, as
in return you receive fresh, hearty and nutritious dishes, without falling into
a food coma afterwards.
Of the main line of burgers, eight varieties can be found: five mimic traditional
meat burgers, three are made with various plant patties. Of the first group,
Beyond Burger (2,990 HUF) involves the only patty not prepared on-site.
All the
other burgers follow unique recipes, made specifically for each order. The boys
are proud to create almost everything by themselves – even the sauces and
spreads.
One of the loveliest mock-meat creations at Jimmy’Z
is the pulled-shroom sandwich (2,290 HUF), filled with shredded oyster
mushrooms, BBQ sauce, jalapeños, rocket, fried onions and melted vegan cheese.
We should also mention the Wiener schnitzel burger (2,290 HUF), with a hefty
slice of fried seitan in the middle.
This sandwich with its tomatoes, mustardy sauce and
pickles evokes the Wiener schnitzel buns once so popular at Hungarian train
stations – but in an upgraded, 21st-century, vegan way.
There are also great breakfast options to choose from – even more enjoyable once you sit inside or on the large seasonal terrace. You can start your day with American pancakes or Hungarian French toast, which is just like the real thing, its classic yellow colour derived from chickpea flour. You can taste it plain (1,190 HUF), with ham or salami (each 1,490 HUF), all vegan, of course.
For children or those not looking for a heavy meal, the toast menu (990 HUF) should do the trick – it comes with either pesto, zakuszka paprika spread, ham-and-cheese or tomato-and-mozzarella. These three-layered crunchy items are topped off with fresh salad, and made with generous amounts of vegan cheese and homemade spreads.
Bánh mì (1,890 HUF) also features in the morning selection, adding a new splash of colour. With a Gallic touch, this typical Vietnamese sandwich can be found at a few places in Budapest, but rarely in its vegan form. The fluffy baguette is filled with pickled vegetables and cauliflower, peppered oyster mushrooms and tofu.
Efforts towards sustainability are not limited to vegan meals at Jimmy’Z – the packaging and utensils are all made of biodegradable paper or wood. The owners also honoured the building’s past when designing the locale. The bare brick walls and the neatly renovated ceiling all show a devotion to protecting the original environment.
