Vegetarian restaurants and healthy eating have been on an upwards trend – eating green has never been more exciting. With the rise of more plant-based meat along with the likes of OmniMeat and Impossible, restaurants now feature menu items catered directly toward making your vegetarian indulgence worthwhile.
Expect a slew of cuisines and cultural favourites all made meat-free, so you’ll forget that you ever loved meat in the first place. Here are some of the best vegetarian restaurants in Singapore, so you know just where to go when you’re feeling a little too weary from a night of Korean barbeque or mookata.
1. Joie
To start things off fancy, Joie is a vegetarian restaurant located atop Orchard Central, perched comfortably on the swanky rooftop garden. Talk about setting. It presents a Japanese-European inspired menu that is all things modern and meatless.
It boldly innovates in its specially curated dishes, such as the Vegetable Sashimi on Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass. Don’t expect raw fish here, because this cold dish presents a mix of coconut flesh and ‘sashimi’ made with aloe vera. I reckon that you’ll be hard-pressed to find dishes like these elsewhere. Come here for the unique vegetarian nosh, and stay for the stunning views of the Orchard shopping district.
181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central, #12-01, Singapore 238896
+65 6838 6966
Daily: 12pm – 2pm & 6pm – 9pm
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2. Warung Ijo
Let’s shake things up a little, this time with Indonesian restaurant Warung Ijo. Admittedly, it’s difficult to picture Indonesian cuisine without the likes of ayam panggang and rendang. Yet, that is precisely what this humble eatery along Beach Road seeks to achieve with their vegetarian offerings. If you’re still unconvinced, just take a look at their Rendang Fried Rice (S$9.90).
Featuring lion’s mane mushroom in place of meat, the rendang sauce here is equal parts smoky and heavy with the fragrance of coconut. It comes with an oozy egg yolk as well, so the whole dish is made even more satisfying and sumptuous. For more unique meatless Indonesian alternatives, you must come down to Warung Ijo.
337 Beach Road, Singapore 199565
+65 8857 8600
Tue to Fri: 11am – 3pm & 4pm – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3.30pm & 4.30pm – 9.30pm
Closed on Mon
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3. Herbivore
Japanese cuisine is one that is heavily reliant on the freshness of their produce, such as fish and beef. Indeed, I find it hard to engage in a Japanese menu that is fully vegetarian. Yet, that is what Herbivore seeks to do. You’ll find all of your favourites, from tempura to chicken teriyaki, save for a small difference—it’s all meat-free.
Have a go at their Tonkatsu Curry, a dish which would convince even the most discerning of eyes. A hunk of a battered ‘pork’ cutlet arrives swimming in a pool of curry gravy and alongside rice. The hearty servings of food at Herbivore will be sure to leave you utterly satisfied with their highly creative Japanese options.
190 Middle Road, Fortune Centre, #01-13/14, Singapore 188979
+65 6333 1612
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5pm – 9pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11.30am – 9pm
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4. Sufood
Opened in 2014, Sufood’s vegetarian philosophy is simple—delicious meals that are rich in nutrition. This Taiwanese chain stays true to its food, staying away from the concept of ‘mock meat’. In an era of plant-based meat substitutes, it is heartening to see restaurants make that choice. It’s a sentiment that is obvious from their carefully thought-out 4-, 6-, or 8-course dinners (S$25.80 for 4-course, S$31.80 for 6-course, S$36.80 for 8-course).
Their ala-carte menu also features thoroughly unique dishes such as the 5-Grain Rice with Black Truffle & Mushrooms, a combination that already whets the appetite with a burst of umami goodness. Pay a visit to Sufood in Raffles City for a dining experience that promises to impress without meat.
252 North Bridge Road, Raffles City, #02 -19, Singapore 179103
+65 6333 5338
Mon & Wed to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5pm – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 9pm
Closed on Tue
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5. Cafe Salivation
If you’re looking to spice things up, check out Cafe Salivation along Race Course Road. It’s tucked neatly in a row of shophouses, boasting a menu that is all things fun, fusion, and of course, vegetarian. There’s a playful mix of Western and Indian cuisine, evident from their range of pizzas, pasta, and pies.
A crowd favourite is the Mexican Lasagne, which swaps out traditional lasagne sheets for tortillas, before layering it chock-full of kidney beans, soy mince, and olives. Flavours here are bold and creative, ensuring that your meat-free experience here is never a boring one.
172 Race Course Road, Soho @ Farrer, #01-01, Singapore 218605
+65 6297 1716
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm & 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
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6. The Social Kitchen
In collaboration with The Vegetarian Butcher (TVB), local eatery The Social Kitchen offers a fully plant-based menu at their second outlet in Jurong. TVB’s products feature an array of plant-based meat substitutes, ranging from beef patties to chicken nuggets. But don’t let your eyes deceive you, for there is a cunning ‘No’ prefix to every menu item.
The NoChicken Nuggets in Thai Sauce (S$13) features those special meat-free nuggets cooked Thai-style with pineapples and sliced cucumbers. Akin to a bento-style meal for one, diners can look forward to its pairing with white rice topped with fried shallots that makes for a tasty and perhaps healthier dish. Hop on down to The Social Kitchen to try some of their unique plant-based dishes.
2 Jurong Hill, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore 628925
+65 6254 1541
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 7.30am – 6pm
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7. Elemen
You may have heard of this one. Elemen is no stranger to the vegetarian restaurant scene, having outlets in Millenia Walk, PLQ, and Great World City. The secret to its success? Affordable, nutritious, and most importantly, downright delicious menu items. Clever twists on local favourites are what drive the selection at Elemen.
Think Claypot Truffle Fried Rice (S$16.80) and Sea Salt Porcini Mushroom Pizza (S$15.80). These are some of the restaurant’s original creations. It features an extensive menu of soups, appetisers, and an array of mains that won’t leave you hungry for meat.
9 Raffles Boulevard, Millenia Walk, #01-75A/76, Singapore 039596
+65 6238 0511
Daily: 11.30am – 4pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
10 Paya Lebar Road, PLQ Mall, #03-13, Singapore 409057
+65 6503 2533
Daily: 11.30am – 4pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
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8. The Goodburger
One of the motivations in switching and committing to a plant-based diet is that of sustainability. Beyond changing their own consumption habits, there are those who go a step further in enacting change around them. That is the case for Lee Ken Ming, founder of The Goodburger. Before you go all ballistic on your “It will never taste like the real thing” rant on me, hear me out.
In between the buns of this humble food truck sits an Impossible patty. That’s right, the brand which has been gaining significant traction, taking the food world by storm one plant-based meat substitute at a time. Here, burgers are undeniably juicy, flavourful and all things delicious. Go for The Classic (S$16), or The Black Tie (S$18) for some truffle aioli goodness atop The Goodburger’s juicy meatless patties.
Going vegetarian doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?
587 Bukit Timah Road, Coronation Plaza, Singapore 269707
Daily: 11am – 9pm
456 River Valley Road, Crystal Court, Singapore 248342
Daily: 12pm – 10pm
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9. Tea Villa Cafe
Here’s one for the Easties. Tea Villa Cafe sits along East Coast Road, serving up all things tea and vegetarian-friendly. It’s a delightful space offering an impressive variety of dishes, and an even more astounding selection of teas. Go for sturdy classics like the Risotto With Pesto Sauce (S$16), or if you’re feeling funky, the Mac And Cheese Pizza (S$20) surprises in a playful carb-on-carb pairing.
Not many establishments are able to juggle between a focus on drinks and food, yet here at Tea Villa Cafe, they manage to do so while weaving in a plethora of meatless options.
97 East Coast Road, Singapore 428794
+65 8518 4250
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 3pm & 5pm – 9.30pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Closed on Mon
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10. Genius Central
Right in the heart of town lies Genius Central, a giant 150-seater community outlet that exercises an unabashed generosity in its food and ethos. Although not fully vegetarian, the menu here focuses on using only the freshest and best of ingredients, catering to the masses with dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options. Diners here are welcome to stay at the restaurant after their meal, so laptops on tables aren’t that uncommon a sight at this establishment. If you’re just here for some vegetarian grub, you won’t be disappointed either.
The Pumpkin Ricotta Pizza (S$20) wins my heart over with ease, as the sweetness of the roasted butternut squash and caramelised onions contrasts perfectly to the saltiness of the cheese. It’s a medley of flavours that I drool for now even as I’m thinking back to it. Who said a pizza needs meat to succeed?
This vegan pie is one of many of Genius Central’s many unique and well-executed menu offerings, all of which are best enjoyed in their handsomely furnished space. Bring a friend or two, don’t worry, there’s something here for everyone.
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7 Amoy Street, Far East Square, #01-01, Singapore 049949
+65 8940 1200
Mon to Thu: 8am – 8.30pm
Fri to Sat: 8am – 9.30pm
Sun: 8am – 4pm
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