Where are the best vegan restaurants and cafes in Singapore for plant-based food? We spoke with Hui Lin recently to find out the top spots for vegan food and drinks. Hui Lin is blogger from Singapore. She actively shares about her passion in meatless diets, recommendations, recipes & lots of creations!
Meatless food and meals are becoming a popular dining choice when eating out in Singapore. Hui Lin feels she’s lucky to be in Singapore where there’s plenty of meatless food to go ’round!
Remember to save this list of delicious vegan dishes and meals in Singapore and some good places to try them.
Best vegan restaurants and cafes in Singapore
Hi! I am Hui Lin, a vegan food and lifestyle enthusiast from Singapore who is passionate about
sharing her journey on veganism on Instagram (@__huiilinn) during her free time. My mom who is
also vegan never fails to surprise me with new vegan dishes so you can find my moms cooking on
my instagram too!
As a food enthusiast, well, I love exploring vegan food around Singapore and here are some of the
delicious vegan food I found and highly recommend you to try out!
Wish to contribute an article like this, click below link
https://meatlessmovement.org/post-my-article/
- Best vegan restaurants and cafes in Singapore
- 729 Yishun Vegan Dessert cafe (Vegan eatery)
- The Kind Bowl (Vegan cafe selling Vietnamese style food)
- Greendot Singapore (Vegetarian cafe with vegan options)
- Makan Vegan (Vegan eatery)
- Lucky Cat (Vegetarian/Vegan Cafe)
- iVegan
- Nature Vegetarian Delights
- Real Food Yishun
- Veggie House
- Green Common
729 Yishun Vegan Dessert cafe (Vegan eatery)
729 Yishun is a cozy eatery nestled in the North of Singapore selling home cooked style veganised
local cuisine at an affordable price. The eatery environment is comfortable and homey too for a good
catching up with friends or regular dine out with family.
Soy Milk Mee Hoon Kueh
One of the popular dishes you can find in Singapore is Mee Hoon Kueh, or known as hand-torn
noodle, and they normally served in soup or dry in specialty sauce. I definitely love the vegan
version served in soy milk soup base from this cafe, this is by far my favourite Mee Hoon Kueh,
Normally for the soup version, fresh milk is added in the soup for a milky texture but for 729 Yishun,
they use soy milk which is a rare find in Singapore.
The soup is so flavourful without the msg taste that I ended up drinking all! The mee hoon kueh is
very chewy in texture. Another ingredient that stands out is the vegan ikan billi or dried anchovy fish
which taste very similar to the real one, crispy with a slight unami flavour.
I love to have the soup, mee hoon kuey and ikan billi all in one mouthful to experience all the
different textures and flavours.
Mushroom Kway Teow
Another dish I tried is the Mushroom Kway Teow, a dry flat rice noodle dish stired with specialty
sauce. This is a pleasant bowl of noodle to have with the rice noodle mixed with delicious sauce and
nicely marinated mushroom.
The Kind Bowl (Vegan cafe selling Vietnamese style food)
The Kind Bowl is a vegan cafe selling vietnamese style food such as pho and rice rolls. I have been wanting to visit The Kind Bowl but felt the main branch at Kiliney Road is too far and it is great that they now open up a few branches around Singapore.
No Crab Noodles
At first, I thought this dish is basically thick rice vermicelli in Tom Yum soup. The soup tasted very refreshing and flavourful with a nice balance of sweetness and sourness. The spiciness of the soup is like you’ve added a good dash of pepper, so it is not spicy to me actually. The dish is so complete with ingredient-packed tofu, garnished with herbs and fried onions.
To add on, the soup is not Tom Yum but tomatoes soup, as stated in the menu description: “spicy fermented “no crab” paste tomatoes soup, silky tofu, finest mushroom served with whole grain vermicelli topped with tangy lime and aromatic herbs.”
Summer Roll
This rice roll is so yummy with refreshing cucumber and carrot slices, thick rice vermicelli, some herbs and spices, and big crunchy peanuts all wrapped in translucent rice wrapper. The rice roll goes very well with the sweet sauce and chilli that came with it. It’s so satisfying to eat with a rich mix of flavours and textures.
Greendot Singapore (Vegetarian cafe with vegan options)
Greendot is a vegetarian cafe with many branches across Singapore selling a variety of vegetarian food and beverages including bento sets, local cuisines, vegan cakes, coffee and tea.
Ipoh Hor Fun
This dish is really indulgent, love it from the first bite. The hor fun (wide rice noodle) is soft, chewy, and silky, and it is served in a flavourful and rich braised gravy which has a little nutty taste, the oil in the gravy gives the hor fun a smooth texture which is satisfying to eat.
The beancurb skin is crispy on the outside (like roasted chicken skin) and tender and chewy on the inside.
The konnyaku prawn is well marinated and is soft and tasted a little like the real prawn, unlike the usual mock meat which tasted like msg seasoned flour ball. The vegetable dumpling is very crispy and I like the well-seasoned vegetable filling. Oh and the accompanying chilli is similar to chicken rice chilli and goes well with the hor fun.
Do take note this dish by default is not vegan as it comes with fried wantons which contained milk. I requested for the vegan option which the wanton is changed to vegetable dumpling.
Laksa Noodles
Laksa is one of the popular Singapore cuisine which is basically thick beehoon (rice vermicelli) in spicy specialty paste mixed in coconut milk soup base.
I love the vegan laksa at Greendot. The dish is so delicious, with thick beehoon mixed with flavourful soup base and many ingredients like vegan fishballs, tofu puff, and some mushrooms. The soup is flavourful and not too salty, adding in the sambal chilli further enhance the flavour.
Fresh Strawberry Shortcake
Greendot sells vegan cake in different flavours and sizes too! This is one of the vegan cakes I got for my birthday. I have always been a strawberry shortcake lover and this vegan version came just at the right time!
The shortcake is basically vanilla sponge cake with layers of delicious vegan cream and strawberries in between. The sponge cake is very soft and even “disintegrate” when we were cutting the cake halfway through. Though the spongecake too soft, I still like the fluffy texture and taste of the vanilla flavour. I also love how Greendot have the fun size option which is great for those who like a petit and round cake as a special treat or for an occasion.
Makan Vegan (Vegan eatery)
This is the very first vegan coffeeshop in Singapore which was newly opened this year, which houses various vegan stalls selling cuisines ranging from Western to local style cuisines, and vegan beverages like traditional nanyang style coffee and bubble tea!
Wanton Noodle Dry
Its been a long time since I had wanton mee (a noodle dish typically consist of springy egg noodles, char siu/barbecue pork slices, and wanton/chinese dumpling) after I went vegan. The wanton mee from Makan Vegan brings me down to memory lane to my favourite traditional non-vegan wanton mee I have tried!
I got the dry version with the noodles mixed with chilli sauce, vegan char siu, paired with a bowl of wanton soup. The vegan noodles are firm and springy and when toasted in the chilli sauce, have exactly the same taste as the traditional Singapore style wanton noodle. The sweet vegan char siu and smooth wanton are just as delicious.
Oh and I love the crispy vegan fried bits which tasted a little like fried pork lard which sits at the bottom of the noodle.
Kopi-Oat
Finally we can have traditional Nanyang style coffee veganised! Typically known as Kopi, these coffee are brewed with robusta beans and sweetened with condensed milk, and the Kopi-Oat from Makan Vegan uses condensed oat milk!
I am very satisfied by this veganised version, there is literally no difference between this and the non vegan version (I mean those good ones). There is neither sour taste like many which I tried, nor it tasted watered down (like drinking condense milk in water).
The sweetness and creaminess of the Kopi-Oat is very well balanced. The coffee is not strong but it is aromatic enough to enjoy it. The creaminess is just nice, so it is very smooth to the throat.
Lucky Cat (Vegetarian/Vegan Cafe)
When you hear the name “Lucky Cat” , what do you think of? It reminds me of the Japanese style porcelain cat which you can find as a deco at the cashier of a small shop waving one of its paws which symbolises the attraction of wealth.
Well, this is a name of a Japanese style vegetarian cafe nestled deep within a neighbourhood community centre! And I ordered a few vegan-friendly dishes which I think non-vegan friends will like it too! 🙂
🌸Korean Style Spicy Monkey Head Mushroom Don
Lucky cat does serve Korean style dishes too. This is the first time I tried a korean style monkey head mushroom and it tasted alot like spicy bbq chicken! The mushroom “skin” is a little crispy and not too spicy, and I get to taste the texture of the bbq sauce and the crispiness of the “skin” together. The “flesh” within is very firm and chewy in texture. I like the rice which is chewy and cooked just nice.
The portion is very big too! Each monkey head mushroom is quite big and you have about 8 of those, then you have the rice which is generous in portion too.
🌸White Coffee with Oat Mylk
Found another good coffee! This white iced coffee is not watered down, it is aromatic, strong (maybe 3 out of 5 caffeine level), and the oat mylk gives the coffee a “mylky” and a slightly creamy texture. To me, this tasted like cappuccino!
🌸Soy Meat Floss Maki
This soy meat floss maki is a combi of crispy sweet soy meat floss, chewy japanese rice, and filling made of vegan salmon, crabmeat, and cucumber.
The vegan salmon and crabmeat tasted really similar to the real thing in terms of taste and texture.
Overall, a tasty treat to share with friends!
iVegan
iVegan serves healthy and delicious plant-based dishes from western-style cuisine like burgers and spaghetti to Chinese-style stirfry with no MSG added. Currently, they have 2 outlets in Singapore.
I visited their restaurant during Chinese New Year for a nice treat with family and loved the quality of the food they served. The dishes are not salty and are tasty in their own natural flavour.
It felt so much like cosy home-cooked food!
Black Bean Burger
The slightly toasted bun is very soft and light. The black bean patty is lightly seasoned, soft, and slightly chewy. I like to dip the patty, with the bun and onion, in the tartar-like sauce that was served for a more juicy flavour. The caramelised onion in the burger added a crispy texture and sweet flavour. The roasted sweet potatoes are lightly seasoned with black pepper, not overly roasted so it’s not drying to eat too.
Stir-fried mushroom and vegetable
This is a very homey and hearty dish, with a mixture of broccoli, mushrooms, baby corn, ladyfinger, and cherry tomatoes, topped with fried garlic and black sesame. The vegan oyster sauce from this dish is slightly creamy and not salty, I like the texture of the sauce and mixing it with rice.
Kimchi
The kimchi is served cold, and this is more to the salty side, so I have to mix it with other dishes or rice to finish it. The portion is also quite big as a side dish too.
I would say this is a good quality meal to start the new year with!
Nature Vegetarian Delights
Nature Vegetarian Delights is a vegetarian restaurant that serves a huge variety of Chinese-style stirfry cuisines, desserts and beverages, which are mostly vegan.
They do not have branches and their main restaurant is located in an old-school shopping mall which is away from the city area. Nonetheless, this is one of the restaurants I don’t mind visiting despite the long travel time.
Stir Fried Housemade Abacus
They serve stir-fried abacus, a traditional Hakka dish made with yam, and the abacus is soft and chewy, with the fragrant of the yam. A spoonful of the abacus with its savoury sauce, mushrooms, and what looked and tasted like a sweet crispy soy topping, makes it a mouthful of rich flavours.
Spinach In Superior Stock
The dish is very light in seasoning which is very refreshing to eat on a hot day. The spinach in the herbal stock is very fresh and the dish is almost like soup, where you can drink the herbal stock on
its own. I could taste a slight natural sweetness and the fragrance of herbs in the herbal stock. To top it off, the dish comes with some shimeji mushrooms, goji berries and red dates which added natural flavour to the dish.
Mung Bean Pastry (Tau Sar Piah)
Tau Sar Piah, a traditional Teochew pastry, is one of my favourite pastries to have for afternoon tea. I remember the first time when I tried this Tau Sar Piah from Nature Vegetarian Delights in 2018, I was blown away by the taste and the texture. The crust is very crispy and firm, and each layer of the crust is very distinct. The fragrant mung bean filling is savoury and moist, with a hint of flavours of spices. However, do note the crust texture is now slightly on the softer side, hence if you like to have it crispy, it is recommended to toast it on your own.
Real Food Yishun
Real food serves western and Chinese-style vegetarian and vegan cuisines ranging from all-day breakfast, noodles, pasta, burgers, and pizza. They have 4 outlets around Singapore and I love to visit their branch in Yishun which is nestled in the modern Tzu-Chi Humanistic Youth Centre with a park view and some small wild animals like reptiles and wild birds in sight!
Mushroom Soy Carbonara
I thoroughly enjoyed this vegan carbonara! The spaghetti is smooth and firm, and the rich creamy carbonara sauce is full of natural flavour and not too salty. I like how the dish is well-seasoned but not too salty and the creaminess of the sauce is not too thick nor thin but just nice to savour and sip
Soy Latte
As an ice latte lover, I love exploring vegan lattes and I really love every sip of this soy latte! The strength of the coffee is just nice where I can taste the aroma of the coffee, and the creaminess of the soy milk mixed so perfectly with the coffee.
Scrambled Tofu With Broccoli
This is one of the hearty all-day breakfast which I enjoyed. The scrambled tofu tasted slightly similar to egg, slightly moist and soft, and seasoned with black pepper. The tofu goes really well with the sourdough toast which is chewy on the inside with a slightly crispy crust. Along with the nicely cooked broccoli and tomato, everything in this dish simply goes well together. A good treat is completed with an iced soy milk latte.
Veggie House
Veggie House is one of the vegetarian places I always go back to. They have a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian local cuisines and drinks to select from.
Mee Pok
One of my favourites is their Mee Pok, a Chinese-style wide yellow flat noodle toasted in specialty chilli sauce, topped with plant-based minced meat, fish balls, and tau kee (plant-based fish paste wrapped in fried beancurd skin).
As a Mee Pok lover since I was a child, this plant-based version just hit the sweet spot. The plant-based mince meat texture and taste are “meaty” and slightly seasoned. The plant-based fish balls and tau kee are so delicious too with the fish balls soft and bouncy and the beancurd skin very crispy. The noodles are cooked just nice, smooth, firm and not too soft. And yes, the chilli sauce is the key here as it seasons the entire noodle dish, and as expected, the sauce does not disappoint.
Green Common
Green Common is an interesting restaurant serving fusion vegan cuisines with a small marketplace dedicated to selling vegan frozen food too!
Veggie Lovers Pizza
Veggie Lovers Pizza was one of the dishes we ordered and at first glance, the pizza seems huge but the portion is just nice for 2 ladies due to the light thin crust used. A hearty mix of veggie, mushroom and Daiya plant-based mozzarella cheese spread over the crispy crust makes a delightful treat to the tastebud.
Potato Fries
We also ordered the potato fries and at 5 SGD, the portion is so big that we have to take home the remaining fries! They have good quality fries with a crispiness that last! The fries were thick and firm. Sprinkled with seasoned chilli powder and truffle dipping sauce at the side makes the fries an addictive snack
Golden Fillet
For the vegan frozen food, we bought the Golden Fillet. The taste and texture of the Golden Fillet are very close to the fried fillet made from real fish. The “meat” of the fillet is dense, firm, and slightly seasoned, and when deep-fried properly, the skin of the fillet will turn golden brown and become crispy. I love to have the fillet paired with fries or made into a burrito with vegan mayo, cheese and tomato.
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all images courtesy of Hui Lin