Restaurant Review
I love travelling, even just in the UK, and one of the things I love most is finding new places (like Anna-Loka) to eat out. My main requirement tends to be somewhere that has reasonable prices, it also helps if it is something I couldn’t make at home.
Anna-Loka
Recently I visited a friend in Cardiff, they’re an omnivore but knowing I am vegan, they were desperate to take me to Anna-Loka. They wanted to order takeaway when I arrived but it turned out we were too late, and it had closed. We ended up going for lunch the next day…..and I’m not sorry.
At the heart of Anna Loka is Adam; vegan, Hare Krishna monk, entrepreneur and passionate about spreading the message of veganism through delicious food.
After seeing a need for a place where vegans can go and choose anything they fancy off the menu without worrying about the risk of cross contamination, whilst having an abundance of choice when dining out, Adam opened the doors of Anna Loka in July 2015.
Why “Anna Loka”? Well, “ANNA” means food, health or earth, and “LOKA” means world or planet in Sanksrit, India’s ancient language, and effectively represents what we offer; an eclectic, authentic, HEALTHY experience that facilitates principled, conscious choices but doesn’t compromise on quality or taste.
From Anna-Loka
While we decided what we wanted to eat, we shared a smoothie and got coffees. It was hard choosing what to order, everything on the menu sounded amazing. I was torn between the Chilli Dog and the Rodeo Burger. They both sounded really good but in the end I realised I was curious to try Anna-Loka’s homemade seitan burger, especially as it came with sweet potato fries and homemade garlic mayo.
My friend got the Southwest style portobello and “cheese” wrap. We shared a Purple Velvet smoothie (Blueberries, pears, fresh orange juice, dates, lime, spinach and chia seeds). We also both got coffee, and they gave us water.
The food was amazing. My burger was just perfect; crispy exterior, soft middle and well-balanced toppings, and the sweet potato fries were to die for. Rhi let me try some of her wrap and the mushrooms were lovely; they were very well flavoured with a rich savoury taste, and a firm chunky texture.
Anna-Loka also had a great selection of desserts (cakes and cheesecakes) but sadly after clearing my plate of lunch I just couldn’t fit anything else in. However, they did takeaway so I got a piece of the Beetroot, apple & ginger cake to take home.
Overall
A lovely little cafe/restaurant serving great food with wonderful service. I can’t wait to go back again and try some more of their menu offerings.
* I am not sponsored by or affiliated with Anna-Loka. The opinions given here are mine alone. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.