Canberra's vibrant food scene has embraced the growing demand for vegan and plant-based dining options. Whether you're a committed vegan or simply looking to explore the world of plant-based cuisine, the nation's capital offers a range of places that cater to diverse tastes. So, we have created a list of some of the best vegan-friendly restaurants in Canberra.
Skip to the list of the Canberra's top vegan restaurants
- Au Lac
- Delhi to Canberra
- Lazy Su
- Monster Kitchen and Bar
- Morks
- Spice Route
- Utopia Vegan
What makes a great vegan restaurant?
Plant-based excellence: The chefs and culinary team should be skilled in crafting innovative, flavourful, and visually appealing vegan recipes. They have a deep understanding of vegan ingredients, cooking techniques, and flavour combinations, allowing them to create dishes that satisfy and surprise diners.
Diverse menu: A great vegan restaurant offers a diverse menu that showcases a wide range of flavours, textures, and cuisines. It goes beyond simple salads and basic vegan substitutes, providing a variety of options that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
High-quality ingredients: Using high-quality, fresh, and locally sourced ingredients is a mark of a top vegan restaurant. It demonstrates a commitment to sustainability, supporting local producers, and ensuring the best flavours in each dish.
Focus on nutritional balance: A great vegan restaurant considers the nutritional aspect of its dishes. It ensures that the menu incorporates a variety of whole foods, vegetables, legumes, grains, and nuts to provide a well-rounded dining experience.
Allergy-friendly and special diets: Accommodating various dietary restrictions and allergies is a hallmark of a quality vegan place to eat. It strives to create dishes that are suitable for individuals with gluten intolerance, soy allergies, or other dietary sensitivities.
The best vegan restaurants in Canberra 2024
To be listed as one of Canberra’s best, Canberra Daily requires them to have maintained a track record of positive reviews on Google and Facebook, with a minimum average of 4/5 stars.
When looking for delicious vegan food in Canberra, check out Canberra Daily’s list of the best local restaurants below.
Delhi to Canberra
Located at the quiet Melba shops, Delhi to Canberra serves outstanding food in a nice atmosphere.
They use quality, fresh ingredients and have crafted an extensive menu of delicious Indian food, featuring a wide variety of gluten free, vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Some of their most popular dishes include daal makhani, mix vegetable jalfrazi, vegetable samosa and more.
John Bruyn left this five-star review on Google: “Delicious food. Truly outstanding. We love coming here at least monthly. Great place to bring your friends, including vegetarians.”
Lazy Su
Lazy Su is a popular modern Asian restaurant located in the heart of Canberra, featuring a vibrant and cozy ambiance with a diverse range of delicious dishes.
Their menu features various vegan options, including potato nori taco, crispy salt and pepper tofu, peking vegan ‘duck’ and even a vegan banana fritter sundae.
Ren Hunter left this five-star review on Google: “Absolutely delicious! Have had both the vegan and non-vegan degustations multiple times. My favourite dish is the miso carrots! Yum!”
Spice Route
Located at the quiet Torrens shops, Spice Route Indian Restaurant delivers Indian food that is spicy, rich, flavourful and diverse.
They offer a cuisine with whole palette of flavours—spicy, sour, sweet, and hot all at the same time, to fulfil cravings for all Indian food lovers. They have a range of vegan-friendly curries that are delicious and have an authentic Indian taste.
Spice Route offers dine-in, take away, home delivery and outdoor/indoor catering services.
Amit Kothari left this five-star review on Google: “Great ambience, friendly staff. Authentic Indian taste, we are vegetarian and often visit this place and there Curries are delicious, all breads are nicely done. Always enjoyed dinner here and recommend to try at least once, you won’t regret it.”
Monster Kitchen and Bar
Monster Kitchen and Bar is located on the ground floor of Ovolo Nishi in the city, cooking delicious meals using local and seasonal produce.
The restaurant is part of Ovolo’s veg pledge, meaning the menu is filled with vegan and vegetarian cuisine. They use locally sourced and seasonal ingredients to ensure the dishes are full of flavour.
Lara Schroeder left this five-star review on Google: “Monster Kitchen and Bar is a vegetarian’s dream come true! No need to worry about what’s inside a dish because you know the menu is 100% vegetarian. So you can order to your heart’s content! Also, there’s nothing boring about the meals so you can absolutely expect fine dining 5 star quality food.
The venue is gorgeous and the service always friendly. Would 110% recommend!”
Au Lac
With two locations across Canberra (Dickson and Woden), Au Lac is the perfect place to go if you are looking for fresh and tasty vegan food.
There is no meat or dairy found in any of their dishes, with the menu instead consisting of fresh vegetables and herbs, noodles and rice, tofu and soy imitation meat.
Some of their most popular dishes include satay stir fry, soy beef rendang, fresh cold rolls, eggplant in claypot sensation and vietnamese crepe.
Rohan Martin left this five-star review on Google: “Au Lac never fails to impress. With a wide menu range and quick ticket time, would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone, not just vegetarians/vegans.”
Morks
Morks is all about bringing Thai cuisine into the 21st century with a focus on showcasing Thai food under a different light.
Their food is creative, passionate, delicious and is grounded with traditional Thai flavours while using new school methods.
They cater for all dietary requirements, with a variety of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu.
Thierry Masquilier left this positive review on Google: “Stunning, delicious, explosion of flavours, delicate, surprising… All adjectives that come to mind after having dinner at Morks. Don’t take my words for it, try them.”
Utopia Vegan
Everything on Utopia Vegan’s menu is prepared using solely plant-based ingredients and their food is inspired by the traditional cuisine of Vietnam.
Some of their well-liked dishes include Vietnamese pancake, laksa, green curry, eggplant hot pot and more.
Joanna Morriss left this five-star review on Google: “Amazing & delicious. Have eaten here 5 times in 3 months and every time the service is quick and friendly. Food is so flavoursome. Would eat here every week if we could! Love it!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people choose to eat vegan food?
People choose to eat vegan food for various reasons, including ethical concerns about animal welfare, environmental sustainability, health benefits, and personal dietary preferences.
Is vegan food healthy?
Vegan food can be healthy if it’s well-balanced and includes a variety of nutrient-rich ingredients. A balanced vegan diet can provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. However, like any diet, it’s important to make informed choices to meet nutritional needs.
What are some common sources of protein in vegan food?
Vegan sources of protein include beans, lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, seitan, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and certain vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
Can vegan food be enjoyed by non-vegans?
Absolutely! Vegan food can be delicious and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of dietary preferences. Many non-vegans appreciate the flavors and creativity in plant-based dishes.
Are there vegan versions of traditional meat dishes?
Yes, there are vegan alternatives to popular meat dishes, including burgers, sausages, nuggets, and more. These alternatives are often made from plant-based proteins like soy, peas, or wheat gluten.
