The best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Singapore

Despite the high footfall at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, this cosy vegetarian food court is still pretty much under the radar. A total of four stalls serve affordably-priced healthy food like mixed rice, noodles, and desserts. The noodle stall follows a scheduled menu that only features one dish a day – for instance, char siew wanton noodles ($5) on Tuesdays and laksa ($5) on Wednesdays. Each set comes with a salad and soup of the day. You can also customise your plate at the mixed rice station and choose from Thai-inspired pandan ‘chicken’, sweet and sour ‘meat’, stir-fried greens, braised radish with mushrooms and more. Prices start from $3 with an option of white rice, multigrain rice or bee hoon, and desserts like red bean soup, sweet potato and longan fungus are also available at just $1.

Starting out as a small business across school canteens, Green Dot is now a household name among vegetarian eateries in Singapore. With its numerous outlets islandwide, you’re never too far from a quick and convenient plant-based meal. The chain serves home cooked-style Asian fusion food and its core ingredients include soybeans, konnyaku, mushrooms and vegetables. You can’t go wrong with the highly customisable daily craft bento sets (from $6.90) which come with rice, mains, greens and soup. Choose between four rice types – white, brown, sesame or even turmeric basmati rice. Our favourite mains are the rendang lion mane mushroom which has a rich, saucy curry coating and a firm and chewy texture, as well as the addictive sweet and sour soya nuggets.

A cosy joint tucked away in the basement of Havelock II, Genesis serves up delicious plant-based, dairy-free local fare at affordable prices. The ingredients here are carefully selected for their rich nutrient values while still remaining delicious and flavourful – it’s no wonder the restaurant draws in a decent lunch crowd daily. Try their famous dumplings with capsicum sauce ($6.60) stuffed with savoury mock meat, mushrooms and spring onions; or the seaweed rolls ($5.90) that come packed with fresh vegetables and coated with a creamy cashew sauce. There's also the bak kut teh ($11.90) with tofu, mushrooms, mock meat and potatoes. Don't forget to round off your meal with a delicious and creamy tofu cheesecake ($5.90).

Joie is one of the few restaurants in Singapore to offer a vegetarian, multi-course fine-dining experience. It’s undoubtedly a special occasion type of place, decked out in elegant decor and perched on the rooftop garden of Orchard Central with a view of the city. Sample thoughtfully-plated dishes from the four or five-course lunch menu ($38 or $50) or six course dinner menu ($78). You’ll be served a chef’s selection platter at the start of your meal which features ‘salmon’ sashimi topped with sea grapes, vegetable skewers with honey balsamic sauce, and a refreshing raspberry sphere on a crispy pistachio biscuit. And for the mains, you’ll get to choose from options like the truffle risotto, grilled summer mushroom steak, or grilled eggplant with homemade mentaiko sauce. 

With more than half a dozen outlets under its belt, Elemen breathes new life into vegetarian dishes. The restaurant’s intercontinental menu offers people-pleasers like pizzas and pastas, but we urge you to give the Asian delights a try. Tuck into the seaweed tempura tofu california roll ($15.80), dry truffle ramen ($16.80), or the sizzling brown rice with red quinoa ($16.80) – make sure to scrape the charred rice bits from the stone bowl. Stay for desserts as well – Elemen offers a good selection of Western and traditional Asian desserts. Think tiramisu ($8.80) and toffee chocolate cake with gelato ($7.80), or Chinese classics like double-boiled lemongrass with peach gum ($7.80) and pulut hitam with gelato ($7.80).

If you cannot envision Korean fare without barbecued meats or fried chicken, a visit to this meatless Korean restaurant will change your mind. Here, sauces and bases like kimchi and gochujang are made from scratch without meat or animal products, and ingredients are flown in from Korea to keep flavours authentic. The dolsot bibimbap ($13) is packed with raw veggies and tastes decidedly healthier while still being packed with flavour, while the jajangmyeon ($10.90) promises rich, umami-laden mouthfuls even though it’s meatless. Other crowd-favourites include kimbap; kimchi-based dishes like kimchi stew, pancake and fried rice; steamed egg; tofu stew; japchae – a stir-fried glass noodle dish with sesame oil and vegetables; as well as the ever-popular army stew and tteokbokki.

Beyond its cocktails, Analogue’s plant-based menu extends to its food as well. Expect meatless plates that come loaded with flavour. Jackfruit tacos ($25) hide hearty, rempah-spiced filling between crispy shells, while nori fries ($14) are ideal for sharing and are served with nori powder and a unique smoked beetroot ketchup. Wash down the grub with a drink or two. Cactus ($26) is an ode to succulents – the mezcal adding an alluring smoky understone to the fruity mix of prickly pear, pink dragonfruit and aloe vera. Spirulina ($26) is a gin-based drink made appetising with savoury hints from wakame. And another easy favourite is the Soursop ($26), which replaces farmed honey with a vegan alternative to create a delightfully vibrant and floral-scented tipple.

Veganburg’s been a staple in the vegan and vegetarian food scene for quite some time now, and they were arguably one of the first to popularise vegan grub among the younger crowd. The fast-food burger joint assembles stacks of egg, dairy and meat-free soy and mushroom patties between wholemeal buns. The brand certainly doesn't let its plant-based ethos limit its range, with 12 burger options on the menu for you to choose from. Get the classic barbecue sauce-slathered Smoky BBQ burger ($17.90), or opt for the Singapore-exclusive Chili Krab ($15.90) burger featuring a tender and crisp konjac ‘crab meat’ patty with housemade chilli crab rempah sauce. Other sidekicks to complement your meal include vegan hot dogs, crispy fries drenched in sauces, and even char-grilled broccoli sticks if you’re laying off on carbs.

The Kind Bowl serves up belly-warming meals that are friendly on the waist and environment. This plant-based Vietnamese eatery uses sustainable, ethical ingredients to create its menu of pho, banh mi, and salads. Try The Kind Pho ($12.80), with a comforting broth topped with shredded marinated seitan – a replacement for shredded chicken, sweet grilled oyster mushrooms, sprouts and fresh herbs. Or slurp up the BBQ Delight ($14.60). It’s a cold, rice-vermicelli noodle dish topped with grilled soy ‘pork’, fresh mint, salad, pickles, and the highlight – crispy golden roasted spring rolls and a moreish vegan fish sauce drizzled on top.

This 150-seater vegetarian diner in the CBD has been around for a decade. At Sufood, you can expect nutrient-dense whole foods served in creative ways. The menu is peppered with fruit and vegetable salads, hearty soups, and Italian-inspired mains with Asian touches. The full eight-course meal ($38.80) features a trio of blueberry yoca root, wafu sea grape and tomato plum jelly for the appetiser. You can then choose between main dishes like the wild mushroom charcoal tagliatelle, macaroni alfredo casserole, or golden baked star-shaped pizza. You’ll likely see a plate of the star pizza on every table – it’s lathered with a rich housemade sauce, chewy king oyster mushrooms, shredded seaweed and cheese.

This Michelin Bib Gourmand winner on Peck Seah Street serves up a curious mix of Thai and Peranakan vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is also the first in Singapore to serve plant-based Peranakan fare. Order a bunch of dishes to share – but be sure not to miss the Nonya curry ($21). The hearty Peranakan style curry is slow-cooked for hours to achieve a thick, rich stew that packs a punch. The dish is loaded with potato chunks and minced shiitake mushrooms that resemble meatballs. Other vegetarian takes on zi char staples include sweet and sour ‘pork’ ($19), as well as crispy handmade yam treasure ring ($28) stuffed with fresh lily bulb, capsicum, celery, cashew nuts and king abalone mushrooms.

With an entirely meat-free menu, meat-alternative restaurant Casserole at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa is a haven for all vegans or vegetarians. It’s also the very first restaurant in a Singapore hotel to offer a meat-free menu. What makes Casserole stand out is that it follows a family-style dining concept: a rotating menu of casserole dishes are part of the chefs’ specials, showcasing a variety of cuisines such as Asian, Western, and Indian. Try the Banana Leaf Dry Braised Beef Rendang ($32) or the Middle Eastern Spiced Kebab & Falafel ($28) for a delicious start to meat-free dining. Casserole also offers organic wines and unique cocktails, featuring fresh sprigs of garnish that have been grown in-house.

Cultivate checks all the boxes when it comes to quality vegan nosh: they’re plant-based, GMO-free, and even gluten-free. The café in Maxwell Reserve Hotel also has a picturesque library-themed setting, with shelves of books all around. You’re spoilt for choice here, with a solid range of vegan sandwiches, poke bowls, salads, and superfood earth bowls. Some favourites include the smoked onion and asparagus risotto with grated lemon rind ($32), pad thai ($32) and the organic potato mixed vegetable tagine ($30). Look out for the selection of ‘Cavi-Art’ ($28) – a seaweed alternative to caviar, and try salmon roe, wasabi-based caviar and seaweed-based caviar atop gluten-free biscuits and coconut yogurt.

The history of one of the city’s oldest restaurants stretches back to 1924, when a Brahmin family opened up a joint along Selegie Road serving traditional Indian vegetarian dishes. That original branch is still dishing out all manner of flatbreads and curries, but it now has four sister outlets, thanks to the late MK Ramachandra. On the food front, go for the South Indian set meal ($9.60) if you’re famished – it comes with generous servings of side dishes, curries, papadum crackers, and refillable scoops of rice. We also love that you can get rava thosai in various combinations here, depending on whether you prefer ghee, masala, onion – or all of them at once. Our pick is the onion rava masala thosai ($6.30) which is stuffed with potato curry and onions.

Kailash Parbat’s interiors are as busy and chaotic as its menus, but it remains a stalwart among Indian vegetarian restaurants for good reason. Don’t be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices – here’s how to narrow it down. You’ll find a good selection of chaats (Indian street cart snacks), from papdi chaat ($9.50) which are fried flour crispies with an assortment of toppings, to a range of puri like pani puri ($8) and dahi puri ($8). And among its signature main dishes, the chole bhature ($12.50) comes up on top, featuring fried fluffy bread served with spicy chickpea masala for a spicy but sinfully good combination. Other favourites include the Punjabi samosa ($9) which is stuffed with potatoes, chickpeas, chopped onions and coriander.

Both its Orchard Central and Yishun outlets boast zen-like interiors and a menu of Asian and Western vegetarian dishes. Ingredients are all sustainably sourced and largely organic, with a wide selection of vegan and gluten-free options, as well as detailed calorie breakdowns for calorie-conscious diners. Regulars come back for the mushroom and turmeric risotto ($14.80), fruit rojak ($8), and handmade fried or steamed dumplings ($10.80) stuffed with 10 ingredients including carrots, mushrooms, bean curd, french beans, celery and turnips. The restaurant's beverage list is also fully plant-based, with dairy-free probiotic drinks, organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and healthy blends featuring ingredients like turmeric and chia seeds.

Franchise or not, we like the simple but ever-reliable Komala Vilas, which has been around since 1947 and serves up all manner of thali meals, thosais, and South Indian coffee. The food comes in hearty sets on metal trays – go for the whopping vegetable biryani set ($10.50) with saffron rice, chapati, and an assortment of curries, pickles and sauces. Craving something less hefty? Opt for the thosai meal ($10) where you get a choice between paper thosai for a thin, crispy consistency; or masala thosai which is packed with more flavour and spice. The thosai sets are served with three vegetables, vegetable curry, dhal, raita, payasam, appalam and pickles. With such punchy, aromatic flavours, who needs meat?

Inspired by the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, Original Sin is Singapore’s first and only Mediterranean and Italian vegetarian restaurant, established in 1997. Get the best of both cuisines with the Mediterranean pizza ($31) which is loaded with feta cheese, olives, spinach, semi-dried tomatoes, and Spanish onion. Or hit your daily fibre quota with the roasted vegetable quinoa salad ($22) – a vibrant medley of pumpkin, beetroot, cauliflower, onions, baby spinach and feta, drizzled with a tart lemon mustard dressing. Other mainstays include the mezze platter ($30) paired with a variety of dips for sharing; as well as the comforting moussaka ($32) featuring layers of baked potato and eggplant layers topped with a béchamel sauce.

Shojin Ryori (Zen Buddhist) cuisine is gaining popularity as of late, and Teng Bespoke is resolved to being an affordable alternative vegetarian sushi joint. The restaurant doesn’t use refined flour, artificial flavouring and sugars, nor added salts and chemical preservatives. Try the five kinds sashimi platter ($33) where prawn, salmon, squid, scallop and tuna are served moriawase style – all made of konjac jelly but look exactly like the real thing. The rest of the menu is packed with salads, maki rolls, tempura, noodles and rice dishes. Interestingly, the restaurant also serves a selection of Thai dishes ranging from basil minced ‘pork’ ($8), to pineapple fried rice ($10), and pandan ‘chicken’ ($8).

While this isn't a strict vegetarian establishment (the place serves white meat like fish), the menu is largely made up of vegetable-forward dishes. You’ll be amazed by how extensive the choices are, proving that eating clean doesn’t need to be limiting. There are raw food entrées like pesto ‘zoodles’ or zucchini noodles ($18) and taco boats ($18) packed with guacamole, mango salsa and ‘meatballs’ made of grinded walnuts. You can even chow down on burgers and wholemeal pizza without the guilt – or hunger – pangs after. Dessert-lovers can peruse through the extensive list of raw desserts and chocolates ranging from cheesecakes and tarts to brownies and even a dairy and gluten-free tiramisu ($12). Don’t forget to pop by the retail space on the second floor to stock up on more healthy eating essentials.