I'll admit, I'm usually a little skeptical of vegan meals when it comes to that all-important question: will I actually feel full afterward?
Too often, I finish a plant-based meal feeling satisfied for the moment, only to find myself hungry again an hour later and quietly reaching for a second meal when I get home. Chickpea, however, completely changed that expectation.
I ordered the Schnitzelonim Platter, and what arrived at the table was a generous spread of colour, texture, and contrasting flavours. It felt less like a collection of side dishes and more like a complete meal designed to keep you reaching from one corner of the plate to another.
The crispy tofu schnitzel itself was probably the least impressive component. Some of the edges were a little too burnt, and the tofu could have benefited from more seasoning. There were moments where the char overwhelmed the more delicate flavour of the tofu. Thankfully, the platter as a whole was much greater than any individual component.
The salad was a particular highlight.
Fresh, vibrant, and packed with herbs, it brought a wonderful brightness to the plate. The sweet lemon dressing added a refreshing citrusy note that cut through the richer ingredients and kept everything feeling lively. Every forkful seemed to bring a little burst of freshness, making it an excellent counterpoint to the heavier elements of the platter.
Then there was the hummus.
A generous portion arrived alongside everything else, creamy and smooth with a lovely nuttiness that made it difficult to stop dipping into. It had enough flavour to stand on its own but worked especially well when paired with the other ingredients.
I particularly enjoyed the combination of yams, avocado, and pickles. Each one brought something completely different to the plate. The yams offered gentle sweetness and softness, the avocado added richness and creaminess, while the pickles provided that sharp, tangy crunch needed to wake everything back up.
Together, they created a surprisingly satisfying rhythm. Sweet, creamy, tangy, savoury, fresh, and rich, all appearing in different combinations depending on what you put together in each bite.
The chickpea fries were probably the weakest part of the platter. On their own, they were fine, but they didn't leave nearly as much of an impression as the other components. The dipping sauce, however, was another story. Sweet and bright, it added exactly the boost they needed and made them considerably more enjoyable.
What surprised me most was how satisfying the entire platter felt.
By the time I finished, I wasn't thinking about what I could eat afterward. I wasn't eyeing the fridge on the way home or wondering what snack might fill the gap. I was genuinely full.
And that's something I don't always associate with vegan meals.
Chickpea managed to create a platter that felt hearty without relying on meat to provide that sense of substance. The combination of hummus, tofu, yams, avocado, chickpea fries, salad, pickles, and sauces gave the meal enough variety that every bite could feel different.
There were certainly a few misses. The tofu was more burnt than I would have liked, and the chickpea fries didn't quite reach the same level as the other components. But those shortcomings were easily overshadowed by the overall experience.
What I remember most is the balance of the platter. The cool freshness of the salad against the warmth of the yams. The creaminess of the hummus and avocado interrupted by the sharp crunch of pickles. The sweet lemon dressing brightening everything up. It was colourful, generous, and much more substantial than I expected.
Most importantly, I left feeling genuinely full and satisfied.
For someone who is usually hesitant about whether a vegan meal will actually fill me up, that's probably the strongest compliment I can give.
The Schnitzelonim Platter may have a couple of rough edges, but as a complete meal, it delivers. Hearty, colourful, flavourful, and surprisingly filling, it left me curious about what else Chickpea has hiding on the menu.
I'd happily come back and find out. read more