Facing Heaven
Plant-based Sichuan restaurant and cocktail bar in Hackney, E8 (from the Mao Chow team), open evenings only — punchy umami noodles and scallion pancakes in a fun 80s-styled room. Reviews split on service speed, and strict vegans flag that the kitchen is shared with meat-serving sister site Easy 8.
Why it's listed: Facing Heaven on Bayford St E8 is a fully plant-based Sichuan restaurant (from the Mao Chow team), a genuinely dedicated vegan concept even though Google types don't flag it.
Profile last updated 11 July 2026.
The business claims it
Structured facts from the listing and website.
- Cuisine style
- Plant-based Sichuan/Chinese — noodle dishes, scallion pancakes and aubergine — paired with a proper cocktail list“Also some noodle dishes. The one with peanuts was particularly delicious... I found the food very umami and satisfying”
— reviews - Kitchen-wide dietary regime
- vegan (menu fully plant-based; one reviewer disputes 'vegan' status because the kitchen is shared with a meat-serving sister site)“I'm not a vegan but, even so, I found the food very umami and satisfying. ie the lack of meat/fish/dairy didn't bother me.”
— reviews - Service modes offered
- dine in“Evenings-only sit-down service (Tue–Sat 5:30pm–10/11pm) with table service and cocktails”
— regularOpeningHours
Customers reveal it
Recurring signal mined from real reviews — with receipts.
- Atmosphere as customers describe it
- Fun little room with committed 80s decor — black, pink and chrome, Patrick Nagel posters — more night-out than neighbourhood café“I really liked the 80s decor... The Patrick Nagel posters etc. The black, pink and chrome colour scheme.”
— reviews - Occasions customers use it for
- casual dinner and cocktails · winning over non-vegans — 'almost felt I should turn vegan' · a fun, retro-styled night out“Almost felt I should turn vegan tbh. Overall, a really enjoyable, fun little place.”
— reviews - Dishes customers name repeatedly
- scallion pancake · peanut noodles · aubergine“The scallion pancake in particular was amazing.”
— reviews - Recurring caveats in reviews
- Service can be very slow and out-of-order on busy nights · Kitchen is shared with sister venue Easy 8, which serves meat — meat dishes have been carried through the dining room, upsetting strict vegans · Evenings only, closed Sunday and Monday“They use the same kitchen to cook animal products and then walk the meat tacos through the restaurant and around to Easy 8”
— reviews - Service character as customers describe it
- Polarised: most describe friendly, welcoming, even speedy service, but on busy nights order-taking and food have been very slow (one table waited 35 minutes just to order); the manager comped a drink when challenged“weren't asked our order (despite trying to give it) until 35 minutes after after we had arrived”
— reviews
Only the owner knows it
Questions we hold for the kitchen itself. Unanswered until they answer.
We're holding 9 questions for the owner — families & kids, best occasions & the vibe, vegan, coeliac & allergy options, why choose you, groups, private hire & catering, booking or walk-in?, good to know before you visit, must-order dishes, made in-house & sourcing — and will publish the answers here once confirmed.