You may have heard that being vegan is a big missed steak, but there is actually a large number of restaurants that serve up delicious vegan food. Whether you have chosen to eat vegan food for the environment, for your health or even just to see what all the hype is about, we have curated a list of the 20 best vegan restaurants in Sydney so you can plan out your next meal!
Alibi
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Woolloomooloo
The Alibi Bar and Kitchen is an amazing vegan restaurant in Sydney headed by star chef Matthew Kenney. He is a well-renowned chef who specialises in making plant-based food, and Alibi is just one of the many vegan restaurants that he has set up across the world. Alibi prides itself on making use of local ingredients to make the best food possible.
Must try: Along with their regular menu, Alibi also has a high tea option where you can sit down for a nice cup of tea and delicious appetisers with a group of friends.
Bad Hombres
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Surrey Hills
This Mexican-cuisine-inspired vegan restaurant in Sydney is the best place to go for a nice hearty meal. Mexican food is all about the cheese, but if you can’t usually stomach the queso Bad Hombres’ all-vegan menu is perfect for you. They even have a range of Gluten free options so you can swap out your corn-flour tortilla for something a lot healthier!
Must try: A Mexican restaurant staple, their Nachos need to make their way onto your order.
Comeco Foods
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
Doughnuts, cakes, bread and pastries, all delicious baked goods and all vegan friendly! If you’ve been skipping these sweet treats because they're packed with oils and butter, pop on over to Comeco Foods and grab some guilt and gluten-free baked goods. This also happens to be one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for a nice plate of sushi!
Must try: Their sweet potato brownies are a crowd favourite and are their longest-selling product.
Funky Pies
Price: $-$$
Location: Bondi Beach
A great place for a quick, cheap bite to eat, Funky Pies is one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney. Their main focus has always been to produce delicious food that is easy on the planet and pride themselves on their “planet loving’ flaky-crust pies.” Located very close to Bondi Beach, Funky Pies is a great place to grab a snack before a day out in the water.
Must try: If you’re a fan of fungi, their Tuscon Mushroom Pie is the perfect pie for you!
Gigi Pizzeria
Price: $-$$
Location: Newtown
Established in 2008, Gigi’s Pizzeria surprised the entire town when they decided to switch to an all-vegan menu and remove any trace of animal products in 2015. This is one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney to grab a slice of authentic Neapolitan pizza. The restaurant has been awarded membership to the AVPN (the True Neapolitan Pizza Association or Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana), so it isn’t hard to believe that this is one of the most popular pizza places in the city.
Must try: For all the carb lovers out there, their potato pizza with truffle oil is to die for.
Golden Lotus
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
The Golden Lotus is one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for Vietnamese food. Vietnamese food is a combination of meats, vegetables and rice-based products, so all they really needed to do was take the meat out of their dishes and voilà - vegan Vietnamese food. The restaurant is run by locals from Saigon who strive to bring the flavours of their childhood to Sydney.
Must try: The famous Golden Lotus Laksa is one of their most popular dishes.
Green Gourmet
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
Established in 1998, the Green Gourmet is known for producing 100% vegan food. It is one of the best vegan restaurants in Syndey that delivers Chinese and East Asian flavours to its customers. The restaurant is known for its innovative dishes, with its founder Colin, trying his best to make sure he brings as much creativity into his work as possible.
Must try: They have an assortment of Australian desserts and baked goods that are the perfect way to finish off a meal.
Green Mushroom
Price: $$-$$$
Location: St. Leonards
If you’re looking for good Indian food, but want to stick to your vegan diet, the Green Mushroom is the place for you. Not only is it one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney, but it is also the first Indian vegan restaurant in Sydney. All their ingredient are fresh, with the restaurant getting hand-picked, organic produce from local vendors.
Must try: Their Kashmiri pulao and palak paneer are two of the best items on the menu.
I Should Be Souvlaki
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
One of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney, I Should Be Souvlaki has one of the most heartwarming origin stories. A young couple, Emma and Adam started dating in 2014 and for the sake of his health, Adam decided to go vegan. Emma was thrilled, but Adam would often remark how he would miss his grandmother’s Greek souvlaki. To give adam a taste of his childhood, Emma found a way to make his favourite, but she added a twist - she made it entirely vegan!
Must try: The restaurant keeps a selection of gluten-free cheesecakes that make the perfect sweet treat.
Khamsa Cafe
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Erskineville
Khamsa Cafe’s is not only one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney but it is also dog friendly! So if you’re looking for a place to grab a quick bite while you walk your bundle of joy, Khamsa Cafe is the place for you. The cafe is run by a woman named Sarah who opened the restaurant in an effort to share a fusion of Middle Eastern and vegan food with the world.
Must try: The food at the cafe is great, but its coffee is by far one of the best items on the menu.
La Petite Fauxmagerie
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
La Petite Fauxmagerie is a cheese manufacturer in Sydney. They create a variety of delectable handcrafted products of their own, and also seek out artisanal, alternative, dairy-free, plant-based goods from all across Australia, including Tasmania, that delight all cheese lovers and foodies and broaden their palates. They are one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for anyone looking to satiate their need for dairy-free cheese.
Must try: Their Artisa Launcaston Blue cheese is one of the most unique cheeses on the menu.
Want to work up an appetite before sitting down for a big meal? Spend a day at one of the best museums in Sydney!
Little Turtle
Price: $-$$
Location: Enmore
Little Turtle is the realisation of Vinita's lifelong desire to operate a vegan Thai restaurant that delivers wholesome Thai food that was inspired by her childhood travels around Thailand. This is one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for Thai vegan food and is known for its friendly waitstaff that does its best to remember its regulars and any special requests they make.
Must try: Little’s Turtle’s wok stir-fry dishes are some of their tastiest dishes.
Mary's CQ
Price: $-$$
Location: Macquarie Pl
Mary’s Circular Quay is not a purely vegetarian eat-out but is known for having some of the best vegan burgers in the city. Among the many vegan restaurants in Sydney, Mary’s CQ stands out for having the most delicious and flavourful plant-based burger options. The restaurant also has a very nice laid-back atmosphere with graffiti, beer on tap and beautiful rustic interiors.
Must try: The Vegan Mary’s Burger is not only a hilarious play on words but also makes for a delicious meal.
Nutie
Price: $-$$
Location: Surry Hills
Another one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for baked goods, Nutie is a great bakery located in the city. Their main goal is to add a little sweetness to life. They take great pride in producing fun pastries and doughnuts that honour creativity and excellence in their field. With great care, attention to detail, and only the finest naturally gluten-free ingredients, they ensure all of their goods are top-tier.
Must try: Nutie is known for having some of the best doughnuts in the city, so make sure to pick up a few the next time you’re in the neighbourhood.
Oh My Days
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Glebe
Oh My Days is Glebe's plant-based cafe that celebrates delectable vegan bakery delights. This is the go-to place in Inner West Sydney for everything from organic croissants to vegan pastry gems. It also one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for Mexican baked goods. If you’re looking for s snack to pair with your morning coffee, this is the place for you.
Must try: Their croissants are absolutely exquisite and come a range of different flavours for you to try.
Shift Eatery
Price: $-$$
Location: Surry Hills
The city’s first ever vegan deli, Shift Eatery is the best vegan restaurant in Sydney to visit if you are craving a good club sandwich. They believe that going vegan is the way of the future, and many Sydney residents are joining them in making the switch to a plant-based diet. They are passionate of trying to produce the tastiest vegan food possible so that more people are encouraged to make the switch.
Must try: If you love having their all-day breakfast menu is the perfect meal on a Sunday morning.
Soul Burger
Price: $-$$
Location: Newtown, Glebe, Randwick, Paramatta.
Soul Burger is a franchise that prides itself on being the one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for fast food. They are one of the few vegan restaurant chains in the city and are people among even the non-vegetarians of the city. Soul Burger is the perfect place to go if you’re craving a nice, guilt free meal.
Must try: While they’re famous for their burgers, their hot dogs are not to be missed!
The Green Lion
Price: $-$$
Location: Marrickville
If you’re craving a pint of beer along with some delicious food, The Green Lion is one of the best restaurants in Sydney for you to visit. Co-owners Sacha Joannou and Bhavani Baumann founded The Green Lion in 2016 with the intention of creating Australia's only 100% plant-based pub bistro. The idea was to veganize classic Australian comfort food like burgers, chicken schnitty's, pizzas, pastas and seafood baskets.
Must try: End your meal with their sticky date pudding or their classic chocolate cake.
Vandal Taqueria
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
Vandal Taqueria is one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney for anyone who is looking for a relaxed, laid back and friendly environment to enjoy their meal. Vandal doesn’t believe in traditional sit-down meals. Instead they believe that all their meals should be consumed with a taco in one hand and a maragarita in the other! They pride themselves on serving up some of the best vegan Mexican food and drinks in the city.
Must try: Their street food menu houses dishes that pair perfectly with a nice drink.
Yulli's
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Surry Hills
Yulli's bar and restaurant is passionate about creating delicious vegan and gluten-free food and pairing it with the best beer, and wine NSW has to offer. Yulli's has been one of the best vegan restaurants in Sydney since it first opened in 2008 and they have a very loyal, devoted following of decent individuals that love the food that they serve.
Must try: Their Korean fried broccoli is one of their tastiest and most popular dishes.
That was our list of the 20 best vegan restaurants in Syndey! If your food journey doesn’t stop here, head on over to our blog on the 30 best restaurants in Sydney to see what else the city has to offer. For more information on the Emerald city check out our Sydney student guide to better plan out your time in the city.