A popular takeaway in Southampton city centre has launched a plant-based menu - so we thought we would give it a try.

German Doner Kebab in Above Bar Street is the latest fast food chain to cater to the non-carnivorous among us, following the arrival of the McPlant and KFC's vegan fillet burger in recent years.

But how does it stack up next to these?

READ MORE: German Doner Kebab in Southampton: is it up to the hype?
 

The plant based doner, left, versus the meat one (Image: Newsquest) Of course, I had to order both the original and plant-based doners to properly compare (definitely not because I am greedy) and I was pleasantly surprised by the results of my makeshift test.

Made out of soy protein which is seasoned and fried on a griddle, the substitute delivers the same savoury hit and springy consistency you expect from doner meat - to the extent I would struggle to tell the difference if blindfolded.

@journomaya Tried my first ever kebab in the name of journalism. Would scran the plant-based kebab again @GermanDonerKebabUK #germandonerkebab #kebab #southampton #plantbased ♬ original sound - missy vicky 💞 - ★.𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲🥂

The only subtle difference which edged the plant version into first place was that it was marginally less salty and therefore more balanced with the other trimmings, like pickled cabbage and garlic and chilli sauces.

Even my colleague - a proud veggie-sceptic who labels anything with an ounce of nutritional value as 'rabbit food' - said he preferred the plant-based kebab.

The plant-based doner kebab meal (Image: Newsquest) For those who'd prefer, the veggie meat can be swapped in on a range of items on the menu, from the salad and fries boxes to wraps, creating some options for punters.

It is not the only new addition to the menu.

The signature GDK waffle bread has its own variations, too: a savoury garlic number for example, stuffed with garlic sauce and cheese and toasted.

It was perfect for plunging into the chilli sauce.

The chocolate waffle bread was a bit dry in places (Image: Newsquest) For dessert, we gave the sweet chocolate waffle bread a try, oozing with sauce and melted chunks of the good stuff.

We found the filling was a bit uneven, leaving drier patches that were crying out for some kind of churro-like dip.

A dusting of cinnamon sugar also would not have gone amiss - but the mouthfuls which did have the sauce were very moreish.

Our verdict? We'll be having a plant-based doner on our next visit.