Left image via @yullissurryhills / Middle image via chachasvegangelato / Right image via @bad.hombres.dining ///
Some plant-based goodness to make your weekend…
It’s been a hell of a week. Between work, uni or whatever other commitments you may have had, we’re guessing you’ve been white-knuckling it through the week. We’re also guessing food-wise you probably haven’t been able to look after your stomach the way it deserves. And it’s totally fair, everyone’s so busy and low on time now that barely anyone has the time to set aside an hour or two to cook a delicious and nutritious meal.
Well, you’ve reached the weekend, and you’ve got those hours to spare now. So, instead of making your tired ass cook up a storm and exhaust yourself even further, we’ve got an idea for you. Head out to Sydney tonight (or tomorrow or Sunday) and hit up a quality Vegan restaurant. You’ll get some flavoursome, plant-based meals meals all the while minimising your impact on the environment.
nd not to be biased, but vegan meals are just straight up bumping man. They always sit well in your stomach, and you manage to come away feeling satisfied without any of the consequences of a regular meal (stomach aches, pains, we could go on).
Thus, we’ve rounded up ten slamming Sydney vegan eats (in no particular order) that are just perfect for your weekend meal plans. And we’re spoiled for choice.
Check it below.
Yulli’s
Located on Crown Street in Surry Hills, Yulli’s Bar and Restaurant is a vegan/beer-lover’s heaven. Committed to offering delicious vegan and gluten-free food in conjunction with the best beer and wines has to offer, the Surry Hills treasure goes above and beyond to craft a total experience for its patrons. Their desire for this transcends food however, with the restaurant being host to live art, amateur film nights, live music and plenty more over its time on the Crown. Definitely a go-to if you’re ever in Surry hills, we back it hard. Check their scrumptious BBQ King Brown Mushrooms w/ chilli jam & broccolini below to get a taste of what to expect.
View this post on Instagram
Bodhi Restaurant Bar
Located right under St Mary’s Cathedral, family-owned Bodhi Restaurant Bar is an award-winning culinary hub of vegan Yum Cha and Pan-Asian cuisine. Using fresh ingredients and a holistic organic approach, the family-operated venue delivers vegan offerings of goodness curated by expert chefs in a traditional manner. Even the cocktail menu is environmentally-focused, with the best herbs, fruits , fresh pressed juices and more using local growers who use environmentally friendly processes. And last but not least, its just a beautiful location, with three indoor and outdoor areas that offer a nature-focused view while you indulge in culinary reprieve. Get an idea of what you should be eating tonight with the Vegan Soba Noodle Salad Bowl below.
View this post on Instagram
Peppe’s
Pasta and vino lovers get ready to eat your hearts out, Peppe’s is allowing you to indulge in childhood favourites all while minimising your effect on the planet. Again another establishment with an environmental focus, the Bondi go-to features a large range of pastas with plant-heavy toppings. We’re talking Gnocchi Al Pesto with Crispy Kale; we’re talking Spaghetti Aglio e Polio with Peperoncino and pangratto and finally the all-time favourite Mamma’s Spag (to name a few). Fair warning though, once you dig in you may not be able to stop. Get a whiff of the handmade mafalde with spicy pumpkin sauce below.
View this post on Instagram
Brainwave Cafe
Found next to the UTS Design and Architecture building in Ultimo, Brainwave Cafe offers a fusion-based menu of Australian-Asian vegan cuisine. Focused on exploring the scope of the vegan palette, the cafe seeks to create meals that satisfy even the most particular of eaters, pulling together the flavours of plant-based food and jam-packing them into flavoursome meals. You can even watch as your meal is being made, the open kitchen laying bare the culinary process for all attendees to see. Check out their Malaysian Laksa noodles below for some visual satisfaction below.
View this post on Instagram
Gigi Pizzeria
It doesn’t even matter than Gigi Pizzeria is plant-based. Like don’t get me wrong, it’s super important, but their pizza is so damn delicious you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Open 12pm to 9pm Sunday to Thursday (12pm to 9:30pm on Friday), the Newtown basin of vegan-friendly crusts and toppings is definitely a laid-back joint just perfect for an arvo or nightly feed. They also offer takeaway and delivery, so if you can’t make it to the King Street attraction, they’re more than happy to come to you. Get a whiff below.
View this post on Instagram
Funky Pies
Funky Pies in Bondi has all your pastry-centred needs covered and more, focusing on drawing culinary fuel from the environment whilst ensuring that generations to come have access to similar reserves. It’s got a huge range of pie and roll flavours as well (along with some super perky names) with LWA favourites including the G’Day Satay, Rockin’ Roll, Eezy Chic ‘n’ Cheezy and of course, the Spicy Thai Pie. Definitely a Sydney go-to, you just have to give it a go. Check out the G’day Satay below.
View this post on Instagram
Little Turtle
Another Newtown delight, Little Turtle and its expansive menu is more than ready to address your Thai and vegan-infused desires. Inspired by a series of trips around Thailand, the Enmore abode boasts everything from starters to light meals to soups and plenty more. They even handle private events and off-site catering, so next time you’re booking a hall or (just having a full banquet in your backyard), definitely hit them up. Check out their braised eggplant below to get the salivations going.
View this post on Instagram
Cha Chas
Okay, everyone loves gelato, and everyone loves cashews. So, imagine a cashew-based gelato! That’s what Cha Cha’s vegan gelato have been doing for over 30 years. Everything is made in-house too, with every little addition of caramel sauce or buttery cookies all being crafted in the Bondi store. You’d think a vegan gelato joint would be something of a pipe-dream, but Cha Chas make indulging in one’s sweet tooth both good for the environment and healthy. They’re open from 12pm to 9pm every day as well, so you’ve always got the option to head over. Check out their crowd favourite rocky road-heavy chocolate and coconut gelato (filled with frozen berries, nuts, dark chocolate and cloudy vegan marshmallows, talk about bang for your buck) below.
View this post on Instagram
Golden Lotus
Birthed in July 2015, Golden Lotus is a lush snapshot of Vietnamese cooking with a flavourful, vegan mix. Focusing on capturing the meals that characterised growing up in Saigon and bringing them to the Sydney municipality of Newtown, the owners behind the establishment seek to provide patrons with a quick trip to Saigon and back, all from their King Street escape. With fresh ingredients to be found in every corner of their menu along with intricate recipes and stylings, it’s definitely a standout on the hallowed King Street. Get a virtual taste of their Vermicelli with tofu and spring tolls below and start sorting your plans for this Friday night.
View this post on Instagram
Bad Hombres
Boasting two locations in Bondi and Surry Hills, Bad Hombres offer a Mexican reprieve without compromise; capturing the heartiness and fire of Mexican cuisine through a vegan and gluten-free lens. Open from Tuesday to Sunday 5pm till late, they’ve more than got you covered throughout the week. You can even book online if you’re on the time-sensitive side, so no matter the occasion or time, Bad Hombres have you sorted. Check out their sweet potato enchiladas with house red mole below.
View this post on Instagram
