I tried Vegan hotspot SnackWallah for the first time and left naan on the plate

Any Geordie following a vegan diet will tell you that SnackWallah is a Newcastle Mecca for plant-based food.

As a meat eater, who would I have ever been to question them? I believed the Grainger Market stall must be good but simply wasn't the place for me and my diet.

Over the past few weeks love for SnackWallah seemed to reach a new high from friends and on social media so, with a tummy rumbling on Wednesday lunchtime, I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

Entering the iconic Grainger Market from the Grainger Street door, it didn't take long to find the vegan hotspot.

The bright-coloured stall is one of the first you see when entering the market and certainly draws you in with its decoration and neatly presented menus.

Admittedly, it was with some trepidation that I approached the SnackWallah menus - would my knowledge of different vegetables suffice to work out what I wanted?

That fear subsided straight away when faced with the options. The sandwiches and wraps board looked particularly tempting with a Mumbai Sandwich and Samosa Sarnie, both for £5 or under sounding tasty. However, the chaat dishes sounded more authentic for my first SnackWallah experience. The Chana Chaat with spiced chickpeas, tomato and onion with yoghurt and tamarind intrigued me, so that is what I went for. I added a Somosa Plate side for £4 and a Masala Chai for £2 to complete the experience.

Service was smiley and pleasant, with food brought to the table a matter of minutes after sitting down.

What surprised me, no doubt due to my lack of knowledge, was that the Chana Chaat was served cold. That was no bother at all and I tucked in immediately. The chaat was fragrant with plenty of textures going on - 'This food is really good?!' I texted my friend straight away.

As the spice of the chaat kicked in I sipped away on my Masala Chai. A sweeter type of tea, it made for a unique experience. The drink's taste was certainly warming and comforting, I’d have loved it at a Christmas market, but perhaps not something I'd order to accompany a meal.

The Samosa Plate was a real highlight. For just £4 the three samosas were large and came with a choice of chutneys - the mango providing some much-needed sweet relief from the chaat spice. In reality, the size of that plate would be the perfect lunch size for many.

To think that the quality and taste of the SnackWallah food can be purchased for less than a meal at McDonald's is quite something - why would I pay more for the latter when the Grainger Market stall is steps away? I didn't go for it, but there's even a Curry of the Day deal which includes a bowl of curry, rice and naan for a meagre £6.

With all the excitement of the taste and price, whilst eating I didn't even think once about the fact my meal was vegan.

Filling, friendly and insanely scrummy, SnackWallah could well be the lunch spot to beat in Newcastle.