Two Friends Launch Barcelona’s First Vegan Fast-Food Shop

Barcelona’s first vegan fast-food restaurant Chuga Libre (translated to “Liberated Lettuce”) recently launched for delivery. The eatery concept was created by vegan friends Ken Bucovineanu Celestino and “Francis”, who have experience in restaurant management and menu creation and realized there wasn’t enough vegan fast food available in the area. Chuga Libre has already begun offering catering and delivery services and is currently crowdfunding in an effort to expand its team and business, and help support the development of the vegan community in Barcelona by assisting animal-welfare organizations, animal sanctuaries, and people in need. 

Chuga Libre offers a variety of fast-food dishes made from vegetables and prepared the same day, such as the El Pollo Loco burrito (salad, tomato, onion, guacamole, grilled chicken flavored tofu, vegan cheddar, and secret sauce); El Tauro Furioso (salad, tomato, onion, red pepper, Tex Mex soy protein, guacamole, sauce, and vegan cheddar); and Papas Tornado (potatoes with secret spiced marinade). 

“We want to show everyone that it is possible to have food that tastes as good as what you are currently eating, even better,” Celestino wrote on the Kickstarter page. “We offer food that is better for your health than traditional fast food, which offers no nutritional balance, a high fat content, a lot of salt, sugars, and harmful products, such as flavor enhancers and artificial flavorings.”

Celestino and Francis hope to eventually open a brick-and-mortar restaurant and expand their menu.