Restaurants that serve a wide range of interesting and tasty food for non-carnivores used to be somewhat hard to come by. As the diet has grown in popularity, restaurants that serve vegetarian and vegan fare that’s interesting, delicious and in some cases, very Instagrammable, have popped up all over Sydney. Here are 10 of the best places to eat in Sydney if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.
Shift Eatery, Surry Hills
Shift is a perfect spot for breakfast or lunch. Try the vegan reuben sandwich — piled high and thick with house-made corned “beef”, sauerkraut, house made Russian dressing, vegan cheddar cheese and gherkins. It tastes just like the real thing.
The “no whey jose” sandwich with vegan cuban “ham”, pulled jackfruit, gherkins, dijon mustard, house-made mojo sauce, and vegan cheddar cheese is just meaty, cheesy goodness.
Shift is also a vegan deli, and stocks everything a seasoned vegetarian or vegan needs for their pantry, as well as staples for meat-eaters who are curious about dipping their toes into the plant-based lifestyle.
Shop 4/241 Commonwealth St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Contact here
Bodhi, CBD
It’s been around for 30 years but nothing about Bodhi feels old or dated. The menu is vegan yum cha and pan-Asian cuisine.
They do vegetable-focused and meat-replacement food in equal measure. The Asian sticky barbecue portobello mushroom steaks with a Thai style heirloom tomato, cucumber, shaved coconut and coriander salad are divine, as are the wide range of dumplings, sliders and bao buns.
You don’t even have to miss out on the peking duck pancakes. Bodhi’s version comes with vegetarian peking “duck”, hoisin sauce, cucumber, and pancakes.
Lower Mezzanine Level of Cook and Philip Park
2 – 4 College Street
Sydney NSW 2000
02 9360 2523
Gigi Pizzeria, Newtown
You won’t even miss the meat and cheese while chomping down on a ripieno zucca e spinaci pizza, which comes with pumpkin cream, sautéed pumpkin, spinach, swiss brown mushrooms and onion topped with roasted cherry tomatoes, thyme & rosemary and extra virgin olive oil, or a calzone con cavolo, which has cauliflower puree, red capsicum, cabbage, olives & artichokes topped with parsley salsa, and extra virgin olive oil.
They also have an extensive aperitivo menu should you fancy something strong to wash your pizza down with.
379 King Street
Newtown NSW 2042
02 9557 2224
Yulli’s, Surry Hills
Yulli’s caters for vegetarians, vegans and gluten free diets, all of which have their own menus.
Their fare is mainly Asian, but also include a few gems like the zucchini flowers filled with a beetroot and truffle oil cream, served with wasabi mayo and an apple and walnut salad; the cajun-spiced potato and chickpea croquettes served with zucchini scrolls, baked red radish and house made seeded mustard, and a range of delicious vegan desserts and wine.
417 Crown Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
02 9319 6609
Soul Burger, various locations
Burger lovers who are also vegetarian or vegan need not despair — you don’t have to miss out on a great burger experience.
Plant-based chicken, beef, fish and pork are on the menu. Falafel, mushroom and tofu options are also available for the less adventurous.
Loaded fries with vegan bacon bits and cheese can be added as a side, and there’s a light drinks menu consisting of organic soft drinks, kombucha, and beers.
Desserts are various flavours of coconut-based gelato. 100% of the profits from these gelati are given to charity.
Parramatta, Glebe, Newtown, Randwick, Marrickville Vegan Markets (food truck)
02 9277 4624
Yellow, Potts Point
Vegan fine dining is not an oxymoron at Yellow.
Yellow offers 5 and 7-course vegan dinners that sounds deceptively simple on the menu but are rich and complex, yet delicate. The eggplant, corn and black garlic has seared eggplant balanced on a corn puree with corn kernels and pungent, salty, umami-rich black garlic shaved finely on top.
There’s also 5 and 7-course vegetarian set menu, and a la carte. Try the licorice bread for a salty, aniseed-heavy, deeply satisfying treat that you probably shouldn’t have every day.
57 MacLeay St
Potts Point NSW 2011
029332 2344
Bad Hombres, Surry Hills
Mexican vegan fare is the go at Bad Hombres. A literal stone’s throw from Central station, it’s down a side street and could be easy to miss.
But don’t miss it, because the adobo potato tacos with salsa verde, onion, coriander and lime could be the highlight of your day.
They don’t skimp on the drinks list either, with beer, natural wine, a range of tequilas and margaritas available to wash down your totopos with.
40 Reservoir St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
0410 191 441
Alibi Bar and Dining, Woolloomoolloo
Get your smartphone camera ready because Alibi is an Instagrammer’s dream. Filled with fiddle-leaf ferns, pastel-coloured booths and interesting technicolour art, you could come purely for the photos.
The food is the star here though, so start with bread and cheese, move on to the snacks like smoked oyster mushrooms buns with cashew hoisin and red cabbage, pick something from the “vegetables & leaves” list for a lighter option, or for something more substantial, choose a plate of “vegetables & grains” like the spicy udon or the polenta verde with kale pesto, almond ricotta, blistered tomato and roasted fennel.
Step back in time to your childhood and order a banana split for dessert, done healthily with chocolate maca, strawberry goji, and vanilla hemp, or try the coconut cream pie which tastes more unhealthy for you than it really is.
Within Ovolo Hotel
6 Cowper Wharf Roadway
Woolloomoolloo NSW 2011
02 9331 9000
The Green Lion Pub, Rozelle
Pub food goes plant-based at The Green Lion, giving you the best reason yet to break your diet.
Burgers, loaded fries, nachos, tacos, pizza and desserts like banoffee pavlova and cookies and cream cheesecake are the perfect way to treat yourself for cheat day.
726 Darling St
Rozelle NSW 2039
0424 115 466
Verd, various locations
Offering a bunch of different bowls, drinks and raw treats, Verd caters for the vegan who doesn’t know if they want Mexican, Thai or Indian food.
Try the spicy, creamy and warming vegan laksa with spiced coconut and root vegetables, tofu, rice, greens, pickled sprouts, and herbs.
Barangaroo, Manly, Surry Hills
[email protected]
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