Subway UK has rolled out a new fake-chicken sandwich for Veganuary, and it tastes delicious.
The sub contains a soy-based alternative to chicken tikka but tastes just like meat.
I was impressed that Subway opted for something a bit more adventurous that stands out from competitors.
Subway recently unveiled two new vegan sandwiches in the UK that it's trialing during Veganuary. One is a fake steak sandwich, sold exclusively in southern England, while the other is a plant-based chicken tikka sandwich, available elsewhere throughout the UK. Both are available until February 15.
Grace Dean/Insider
When I visited Subway on Friday, I actually had a different plant-based sandwich in mind, but it wasn't available. Like other restaurants across the UK, Subway has been hit by supply-chain disruptions. However, a staff member recommended the new T.L.C. Tikka (Tastes. Like. Chicken.), though it wasn't advertised on the menu.
Subway had a sign warning of stock shortages when I first visited in September.Grace Dean/Insider
The new sandwich uses the same fake chicken Subway developed for its original TLC sub. I'd really enjoyed the TLC when I visited Subway for my first time ever in October.
I was impressed by Subway's TLC.Grace Dean/Insider
So I decided to order the new sandwich, which cost around £3.70 ($5.00) for a six-inch sub.
I tried Subway's new TLC Tikka sandwich.Grace Dean/Insider
The sandwich both looked and smelled really good.
I tried Subway's new TLC Tikka sandwich.Grace Dean/Insider
I wasn't really thinking when I ordered it, and asked to top the fake chicken with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, mixed peppers, olives, and garlic alioli. These all tasted delicious when I got them alongside the original TLC, but the alioli and olives perhaps weren't the most intuitive accompaniments to chicken tikka.
I tried Subway's new TLC Tikka sandwich.Grace Dean/Insider
The sandwich tasted delicious. Although the photos don't really show it, it was packed full of the fake chicken. I was surprised by how realistic the soy-based chicken looked.
I tried Subway's new TLC Tikka sandwich.Grace Dean/Insider
When I tried the TLC for the first time, I was equally surprised by how realistic the soy-based fake chicken looked. With the TLC Tikka, I was just as impressed.
Subway seasons the fake chicken to mimic its own roast chicken, but it also adds tikka spices for the TLC Tikka, making it even harder to tell it isn't actually real meat coated in the marinade. I've never actually tried Subway's original Chicken Tikka sandwich, but I wouldn't hesitate to order the TLC Tikka over the real deal because of the great taste combined with the ethical and environmental benefits of going plant-based.
Subway stores its soy-based fake chicken away from its meat.Grace Dean/Insider
I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to spices, but the TLC Tikka was only very lightly spiced. While this was great for me, I can imagine that some fans expecting a bit more kick may be disappointed.
I tried Subway's new TLC Tikka sandwich.Grace Dean/Insider
I thought it was great to see Subway offering the TLC Tikka. In the UK, tikka is most commonly served with chicken, and Subway was the first place I'd seen offering a plant-based substitute for this. The Subway I visited offered five different vegetarian sandwiches, Including the TLC Tikka, which I thought was pretty good for a fast-food chain.
I went to Subway for the first time.Grace Dean/Insider
Other chains have been unveiling more and more vegan offerings, particularly in Europe, which has become a hub for plant-based food. McDonald's UK, for example, recently started selling the McPlant, a vegan cheeseburger with a Beyond Meat patty, while Domino's launched a pizza with vegan cheese. Though plant-based burgers and pizzas are becoming more common, Subway's plant-based chicken tikka really stands out from the market.
I tried the McDonald's McPlant, which tasted good but didn't have pizzazz.Grace Dean/Insider
Ultimately, I felt like Subway really made an effort to create a more exciting option for vegans and vegetarians, while also developing a sandwich packed with flavor that might even tempt ardent meat-eaters.
Grace Dean Senior Reporter Grace Dean is a Senior Business Reporter at Business Insider's London office. She particularly enjoys writing about the restaurant industry, fast-food giants, retail trends, and the labor market.Grace joined the team in August 2020 after studying German & Business at Newcastle University, including a year living in Germany, and then spending a year as the Editor-in-Chief of its student newspaper the Courier.Grace has spoken on Sky News and the BBC World Service.You can email her at gdean@businessinsider.com. You can also message her for details of her WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.Here are some examples of her coverage:Women in Iceland want you to know it's not a gender equality utopiaFast food feels more expensive than ever before. Here's why.Calibrate's CEO announced layoffs affecting over 150 staff on a Zoom call. Minutes later, their company laptops were wiped.Starbucks workers say customers got ruder during the pandemicLaid-off Googlers are frustrated about being treated as external job candidatesTruckers say an electronic device that measures the hours they drive sometimes leaves them stranded 30 minutes from homeBritain's charity stores are going upmarketThe no-frills tactics that help make Aldi so cheapPrivate cleaning companies are turning down business and canceling regular customers because of staff shortages Read more Read less