Hg Soho

Last Updated on January 23, 2026

Healthy food chain, Hg Soho, opens in London.

4.5 out of 5.0 stars

Two years ago, I spent five weeks living in Madrid. I ate out daily and discovered that while Spanish homes were no doubt filled with fruit and vegetables, many of the restaurants were not. The surfeit of jamon, potatoes, eggs, and cheese had me craving my sort of food – grains and greens. Fortunately, near my apartment, I discovered a branch of Honest Greens, and from then on, I ate there regularly or ordered takeout. The company was founded in Barcelona in 2017 and has since expanded to Madrid, Valencia, and a number of cities in Portugal. When I heard that Hg Soho, a branch of Honest Greens, was opening, I whooped for joy.

Central London already has restaurants not dissimilar to Honest Greens – medium-priced chains where one can get a quick and healthy meal, and the number of vegetarian and vegan-friendly eateries has grown year on year. One such chain is currently in the news as it attempts to resurrect itself. While Honest Greens is a Spanish company, the food is not Spanish. Its slogan is Real Food Revolution, and it is broadly Mediterranean with large salads, grains and pulses, as well as a selection of non-plant-based plates including grass-fed meats and sustainable fish. There is a nod to South America with purple potato, corn, and aji amarillo, while Japanese cuisine is much in evidence with miso salmon, tuna tataki, miso koji apple pie, shoyu pecan pie, and a host of matcha drinks.

What is the Hg Soho experience like? First, there is the name. The London branch is called Hg Soho, not Honest Greens. I assume this is a marketing decision, but the food is the same. Secondly, there is no reservation system. You have the choice to either order your food on the restaurant App or order and pay at the till, then collect a tracker and look for a table on one of two floors.  When I arrived on a Monday for lunch at Hg Soho, the place was packed. The service was swift. Hg Soho is aimed at a young demographic, yet we two older diners felt very welcome.

Open all day, you can have a good breakfast, lunch, or dinner, pop in for organic Colombian coffee, a Matcha latte, or freshly shaken juices, or enjoy plant-based, gluten-free desserts devoid of any preservatives. The menu is seasonal and sourced from local British producers, organic where possible, and olive oil is used in all the cooking and sauces. The company makes the crockery in-house at the Hg Lab factory in Barcelona, so every plate and cup is handmade and unique. All the furniture and lighting are built in the Hg Lab. It is a welcoming and wholesome environment with an organic feel. There are lots of earthy colours – rough-painted walls, much clay, wood, and large potted plants. Sisal lampshades took me back to the 1970s, though my husband and I were probably alone in feeling nostalgic, since none of the diners or staff were born in that era.

There were three areas to dine. A large wooden communal table in the entrance area was surrounded by the open kitchen where a large complement of chefs kept the food coming out swiftly. A second room comprised a coffee bar and three capacious sofas with low tables where we sat and relaxed. There was also a large basement section with a mix of rustic, communal tables and smaller tables made from either chunky stone or wood. Walls were full of the Hg mission statements in case you were in any doubt about being encouraged to Eat Real. But it felt more wholesome than preachy in this environment.

Hg is a great restaurant for Dry January and the generation that is drinking less alcohol. There are two craft beers and six wines on the menu, but a much longer list of kombuchas, flavoured waters, cold-pressed juices and shots.

I was delighted to find my favourite salad bowls on the menu and was further impressed by how many options there were. Hg Soho is vegetarian heaven, but there are two fish, two chicken and one beef main course. While there are two dishes including feta, most of the menu is vegan-friendly, including the plant-based and gluten-free dessert section.

From the sharing plates, we chose a charcoal-grilled whole cauliflower with tahini, harissa sauce, hazelnut dukka, coriander, mint, and flaky sea salt. I am a massive roast cauliflower person and often order it in restaurants and cook it at home. This charcoal-grilled version was very attractive and had good spicing. The harissa sauce added colour and good heat, while the dukka brought textural contrast. The cauliflower was a substantial starter.

We each chose a main dish. My husband enjoyed his tuna tataki with ají Amarillo, yellow chilli sauce, teriyaki, coriander, and furikake. The fish was hook-caught and sustainable. It looked delicious and had a very good flavour profile. It was served with a small side salad and a slice of sourdough.

I selected a salad from the Garden Bowl section of the menu. Talk about eating the rainbow – the large plate of avocado supergreen salad brought a melange of avocado, mixed greens, basil, parsley, beetroot, apple, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots, pumpkin, beet sprouts, alfalfa, soy, pistachios, and poppy seeds. If you are serious about eating 30 different plants each week, a new recommendation from the wellbeing community, Hg Soho has got your number.

Although the food was all light, the portions were generous and very filling. We took a break before dessert, relaxing on a sofa, enjoying the vibe and people watching. Back to the App to order two desserts, a flat white and a matcha latte. The coffee was good, and I noticed a number of people popping in to order takeout coffee. The matcha latte had real matcha flavour, which is, unfortunately, not always the case amidst the enormous popularity of matcha that has taken London by storm. The desserts were variable. Gluten-free baking can be tricky, and the miso koji apple pie suffered from a rather soggy bottom, the fruit having soaked through into the buckwheat flour crust. We did enjoy the shoyu pecan pie, where the same crust held up well. The shoyu caramel was sweet without being cloying and contrasted well with the pecan nuts above. I had crockery envy throughout the meal, but particularly coveted the small, round wooden dessert plates, which are absolutely gorgeous.

I have a habit of talking to strangers, and towards the end of the visit, I asked a fellow diner what he thought of his meal. He told me that he was already a repeat customer and, as a vegan, felt there was nothing like Hg Soho in the area.

Hg Soho offers a diverse menu: fast food, in that it is served quickly, but entirely wholesome. No nasties are lurking in the dishes, the food is delicious and fresh, and it looks and tastes healthy. The prices are reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food and the restaurant’s central London location. In the heart of Soho, Hg is close to Oxford Street, and would make a great pitstop for lunch or dinner while out shopping or a pre-theatre meal. We spent under £70 on lunch, including drinks and the service charge.  I am delighted that Honest Greens has landed in London. I only hope a branch of Hg opens in my neighbourhood one day.

Hg Soho, 21 St Anne’s Court, London W1F 0BJ, open daily, hours vary, so check the website. Generally from Monday to Thursday 8 am – 10.30 pm, on Friday and Saturday the restaurant closes at 11 pm.

Phone: 0115 6473195