I thought I’d grab a bunch of photos of some fantastic vegan meals I’ve had around town. The belief many hold that vegan/plant based food is ‘rabbit food’ (or bird food) is of course untrue but so many people seem to think you’d be missing out on tasty, gourmet style meals. So here I present many exhibits of (I hope) drool worthy meals.
There are way way waaay more great options than I’ve included here. If I included everything that’s fab, it would be an incredibly long and image heavy blog post. So consider these photos an idea of what is out there. Please note some of the meals shown may no longer be available as restaurants change their menus frequently!
Good Days in Brunswick make the best (IMO) spring roll noodle salad. This is one I keep going back for. Their mushroom pho is my favourite pho anywhere too.
Loving Hut Northcote is my family’s number one restaurant. Here’s the lemon chicken. This tastes *exactly* like the not-vegan version, texture and all, and has fooled many a lemon chicken eater:
Ray in Brunswick have a great vegan menu. Shown here is the Beast of Brunswick fried chicken burger with miso cheese, pickle aioli and more:
Another excellent burger option is the chickpea burger with chipotle mayonnaise and more from Power Plant Cafe in Templestowe:
Shop 225 in Pascoe Vale South have your vegan Napoli style pizzas wishes granted:
Vegan ramen needs can be met at Misoya Sake Bar in Brunswick:
Small Axe Kitchen in Brunswick have an excellent smoky eggplant with pomegranate, almond hummus and tahini mayo:
Krishna on Barkly in Footscray is my number one choice for great Indian food and fantastic service:
Sister of Soul in St. Kilda have a number of great vegan dishes, like this big breakfast style meal:
The vegan options at Trippy Taco (Fitzroy and St. Kilda) are so good. Love the smoky fries:
The extensive sandwich menu at Smith & Deli in Fitzroy might overwhelm you at first but the Rubenstein is a good choice:
I loved this Japanese katsu tofu dish from Day Kitty in Warrnambool. It was on the specials board, but one of the nicest meals I’ve had:
Dumplings from ShanDong Mama in the city:
Going plant based/vegan means you don’t have to miss out on hot jam donuts from a van! The van at Preston Market makes vegan donuts. LIFE IS AWESOME:
Pancakes from True North in Coburg:
The excellent tiramisu hotcakes from The Glass Den in Coburg:
Raw Trader in the city are incredibly creative with their cakes flavour combinations, all of which are raw. The cappuccino cheesecake is one of my favourites, but I’ve loved everything:
Miinot Gelato in Pascoe Vale South create marvellous gelato onsite, using fresh and local ingredients. The vegan flavours are excellent, particularly the fruit flavours and the dark chocolate varieties:
Mister Nice Guy’s Bake Shop in Ascot Vale is a long standing favourite in my house. Lots of decadent treats, make sure you try the peanut bronuts if they’re available:
I hope this gives you an idea of how creative, delicious and inspiring vegan/plant based foods can be. Don’t think that vegan food is all about being super duper healthy, or restrictive or rabbity-birdy! If you want healthy whole foods or deep fried crispy, vegan foods can cover all that!
You are so terrible, making me drool so early in the morning and I haven’t even had breakfast yet, I want to eat them all, but the fried Chicken Burger has me hungry now, the batter crispness wants me want to bite in; and don’t get me started with the Rubenstein!
I feel the same way when I read your blog!
So much of this food is on my wish list – I am thinking I should just tell Sylvia that on the school holidays we eat out every lunch and try all these places – would be so much fun (if only…) I do really want to get the pizza shop in Melville Rd. I always love trying Smith and Deli sandwiches but haven’t had the reubenstein (love the Wiggum) and I really want to get out to Plant Powered cafe
There are more places on the radar I want to try now, like Red Sparrow all vegan pizza when they open up and the new Veggie Bar dessert place!
Melbourne is off the hook!! This is an excellent photo montage representing what vegans really eat, eradicating the notion that we all are like Neil cooking lentils in the kitchen from the Young Ones!
thanks! Melbourne has a few more places now, there’s an all vegan pizza place (Melbourne’s first, Sydney has one already) and a vegan dessert bar to try 😀