A more plant-based lifestyle has proven to be both healthy and delicious. These restaurants are living proof that you can still go out and enjoy various cuisines and foods while keeping true to your vegan or vegetarian diet, or to simply enjoy dishes heavy on the veg. In some cases, you’ll even be spoilt for choice. Check out our list of who is doing it best!
MONSTER KITCHEN AND BAR
Monster Kitchen and Bar is Canberra’s only fine-dining vegetarian restaurant. Featuring all in-house produce where possible, the team are committed to ethical eating and searching for the most creative and mouth-watering ways to showcase vegetables. How does beetroot and sheep milk yogurt tartare or mushroom dumplings sound?
CORELLA BAR
Showcasing a modern Australian menu that focuses on native ingredients, Corella Bar’s menu is polished yet unpretentious. Truly catering for vegetarian diets, the menu features an abundance of delicious options. Expect dishes like eggplant tacos, lemon risotto and BBQ carrots with honey.
LAZY SU
Catering for vegetarians and vegans since day one, Lazy Su has always taken pride in their vegan-friendly menu. These options feature prominently throughout their Asian-inspired menu, including an unforgettable vegan banquet with creative dishes like crispy peking ‘duck’ bao buns, agedashi gyoza and mushroom ssam.
BAR ROCHFORD
Although Bar Rochford is regularly changing their menu, you can always expect vegetarian options that don’t suck. Choose a la carte or the vegetarian set menu and try well-rounded dishes like miso potato galette, Szechuan cauliflower and spicy cavolo nero orecchiette.
MED
A relaxed, casual and fun dining experience inspired by the vibrant Eastern Mediterranean culinary culture, Med has an abundance of vegetarian meze dishes. Starting from the classics; hummus, cheese and spinach borek, and saganaki halloumi, to larger plates including oyster mushroom with whipped feta and Moroccan carrot salad, everything is infused with the same rich tapestry of spices and herbs.
RAKU
Find only the most flavourful Japanese dishes at Raku. Vegetables are not a foreign ingredient in Japanese cuisine, therefore Raku has many options available such as their famous miso eggplant, tempura vegetables and spicy tofu with avocado salsa.
MAMA DOUGH
Dishing up fresh wood-fired pizzas, Mama Dough experiments with a range of different flavours in new and exciting ways. Steering away from just the basic Margherita, vegetarians can try pizza options like caramelised onion with goats cheese and hot honey, mixed mushroom with ricotta and confit garlic, and eggplant with basil and ricotta salata.
Miss Van’s
Southeast Asian flavours with a refined Australian twist, Miss Van’s stems from family recipes promising food from the heart. Offering various a la carte and menus for lunch and dinner, with equally enticing options for vegetarians, start off by digging into mushroom larb, tofu coconut and turmeric pancakes, and umami butter egg noodles.
BAR BEIRUT
Where the Middle East and the Mediterranean meet, Bar Beirut’s meze plates have vego food down-packed. Championing big, bold and punchy flavours, if you’re not going for the vegetarian set menu, choose a la carte and be met with reimagined traditional Lebanese and Levantine dishes such as honey grilled haloumi, roasted eggplant and dirty rice.
Au Lac Vegan
Known widely in Canberra for their plant-based cuisine, Au Lac Vegan makes your favourite Asian dishes vegan…and it tastes good. Whether it’s laksa, satay chicken or duck curry you crave, find the same delicious flavour made with meat-free alternatives.
Visit our dining page for more.
