Salsas Del Sol
Brought to Oxford from the team behind Alpha Bar and Vaults and Gardens, Salsas Del Sol is a new casual café on High Street serving up bowls, sandwiches and tacos.
As with the other sites, there are a decent number of vegan options on Salsas Del Sol’s relatively small menu. With a salad bar at the front, the dishes are nearly all customisable, giving you plenty of options depending on which veggies you’re into. There are fresh juices on offer, and it seems like a great spot for the health-conscious – though don’t worry, there’s usually a vegan cake or two available too.
I visited on a lunch break and opted for a smoked tofu bowl to take away, with fresh salad leaves and crunchy cabbage slaw. I’m notoriously sceptical of salads, but I really enjoyed this one and would go back again. I think my concern is usually the lack of protein, but the portion of tofu was generous so it kept me full throughout the afternoon. It wasn’t bland either; the smoky tofu was really tasty alongside the tangy slaw and sweet bursts of flavour from pomegranate seeds. I was happy to be offered guacamole on top without an additional charge (why do most places do that? If my meal is designed to be paired with guac, surely it should be included in the price?) so at £7 I felt it was a decent, wholesome lunch. I’m intrigued by the tacos, which I hope to try when dining in next time.
Chickpea
Just around the corner from Salsas Del Sol, on King Edward Street, is Chickpea, a purely vegetarian offering which you can probably think of as a sister site to Salsas Del Sol. With similar vibes, think fresh veggies, hearty bowls, and as the name might suggest, falafel. If you’re in town, I would definitely recommend this as a great spot for lunch.
On my first visit, I couldn’t decide between the falafel bowl, salad bowl, or tagine, and luckily for me they offer a dish called ‘The Works’, a large bowl full of a bit of everything for £11. My eyes were bigger than my stomach because I struggled to finish it, but I persevered because every bite was delicious. Sweet tomato tagine with perfectly cooked aubergine and courgette came served with well-seasoned rice and pulses, roasted potatoes, warm falafel and fresh salad leaves, with a beautiful combination of dressings to top the bowl off.
I was eyeing up my friend’s pita, which also looked incredible. I didn’t regret my menu choice at all, I only regretted that I couldn’t eat more. I’ll have to go back again soon.
Vegan Eats Oxford 