Adelaide’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants: Where to go for a Meat-Free Meal
Load up on the veggies at Adelaide's best vegetarian restaurants with loaded superfoods, healthy salads, burgers and everything in-between.
This is dedicated to the life-long veggie lovers, to the ones who gave up meat a few years ago, and to those who are simply trying to cut down on their meat consumption. The rise of good quality, nutritious and most importantly, delicious vegetarian food hasn’t gone unnoticed across Adelaide, with more and more restaurants and cafes extending their menus to include multiple meat-free options that aren’t just a mushroom.
Find inspiration with our round up of Adelaide's best vegetarian restaurants, from fine dining to casual local eateries.
RESTAURANTS
Madam Hanoi
Get your fill of flavour with the fantastic range of vegetarian options at Madam Hanoi. Perfect for those wanting to grab a few small plates to share and for those hungry for larger dishes, their French and Vietnamese fusion menu packs a meat-free punch. Try the crispy fried eggplant in a sticky soy sauce, the coconut vegetable curry and sumptuous Szechuan tofu bao buns, or indulge with a vegetarian, Hendricks gin-fused high tea.
SkyCity Adelaide, 125 North Terrace, Adelaide
Parwana Kitchen
Never settle for anything less than the excellent range of vegetarian options that Parwana Kitchen are cooking up daily, for lunch and/or dinner. Their signature dish of Banjaan Borani is not to be missed; think succulent eggplant and fresh tomato sauce served with Afghan palaw rice. Get around the stuffed Afghan flat breads, traditional dahl and fried dumplings. They also have a brilliant banquet menu for larger groups.
124b Henley Beach Road, Torrensville
Aurora
You may have heard of Light Adelaide, the not-for-profit organisation with creativity and wellbeing at its heart, and know that it is built from innovators. Aurora is no exception. We recommend booking in for the Chef’s Selection – a 6-course tasting menu available as vegetarian or vegan, which is quite the rarity to find. You’re in safe hands with Head Chef Brendan Wessels at the helm, formally of d’Arenberg Cube, who serves up what can only be described as edible artwork on a plate.
63 Light Square, Adelaide
Restaurant Botanic
Named as Australia’s restaurant of the year by Gourmet Traveller, take a stroll through the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and you’ll find Restaurant Botanic nestled right in the heart. Not content with being surrounded by nature and lush foliage, Chef Justin James has taken it upon himself to make your (up to four-hour) experience a ‘mini holiday’ through what the Botanic Gardens have to offer with taste, smell, sight, sound, and touch. With an ever-changing menu depending on the season’s produce, you’ll find the freshest local ingredients are as friendly as ever to vegetarians – well, you are in a garden after all!
Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide
Allegra Dining Room
Just upstairs from the popular pizza joint, Etica, lives Allegra Dining Room, a 100% vegetarian hidden gem and fine dining restaurant. Seating just 28, you’ll want to secure your table to enjoy the unique menu. Motivated by flavour, nature and innovation, each night the Allegra team dish up a full course dinner showcasing a collection of plant-based dishes that best represent the ever-changing seasons.
Level 1/ 125, Gilles Street, Adelaide
Africola
Possibly one of Adelaide’s most celebrated restaurants due to the sheer variety of flavours and ingredients, of course we had to include Africola in our round up. Their menu is broken down into vegetable or meat categories with no fancy names for their dishes, simply stating what you see is what you get. And what you get is a whole lot, with options including Swiss mushrooms with white bean and chilli crisp, sumac labneh with almonds and barley, and wood oven cabbage with nori and tahini.
4 East Terrace, Adelaide
Golden Boy
Order up some speciality cocktails and fill your table with a festival of flavour and aroma that only Golden Boy can pull together with their signature style of contemporary yet authentic Thai. There’s plenty of vegetarian dishes to choose from on their tantalising menu and if something in particular catches your eye, you can always request for the dish to be altered to suit dietary requirements. A vegetable-laden, tastebud driven restaurant to add to your dining repertoire ASAP.
309 North Terrace, Adelaide
CASUAL DINING
Veggo Sizzle
True to its name, this vegan eatery has a whole lot of sizzle and spice. With brothers Priyank & Pratik Panchal at the helm, they’ve created an almost entirely homemade line-up of vegan and vegetarian plates that will satisfy even the biggest meat lovers and pickiest of eaters. Pumping out cheap and cheerful comfort food, their menu crisscrosses around the world, affording the pleasure of ordering vegan satay skewers, avocado fries and a Thai green curry all in the one meal.
4 / 465 Pulteney Street, Adelaide
Lockwood General
Lockwood General spoil us with laidback vibes and a delicious brunch menu that is chock full of tasty vegetarian dishes – think chargrilled Turkish bread with heirloom tomatoes and haloumi, green goddess bowls, buttermilk hotcakes with strawberry, shortbread crumb and vanilla bean gelato, and chilli scramble and lemon butter combo. The expertly crafted drinks menu may also take some time to choose from, but you’re bound to find something just right to accompany your meal.
35 High Street, Burnside
Mister Sunshine’s
Tucked away in the streets of Thebarton is Mister Sunshine’s charming indoor and outdoor setting. Their all day menu of wholesome veggie food includes chilli scrambled eggs, a haloumi and tomato sandwich, and the ultimate treat for mushroom fans, their Tribe mushroom plate. Oyster, portobello, shimeji and king brown mushrooms are piled high with roasted heirloom beetroots and herb aioli, and served on toasted brown rice with a sweet potato mash. We're also big fans of the zucchini, corn and cheese fritters, with mint pea puree and fried leek. Yum!
32 George Street, Thebarton
Two-Bit Villains
Explore the Adelaide Arcade and discover Two-Bit Villains: the restaurant smashing the stigma against vegetarian alternatives by serving up plant-based Americana cuisine. There’s a reason why their ‘beef’ and ‘chicken’ burgers have won awards, as you’ll find out when served up one of these juicy, flavour-packed beauties. Thursday nights offer plant-based pub classics, like the all-time favourite ‘chicken’ schnitty (or eggplant, if you’re not after a chicken alternative).
Shop 150, Level One, Adelaide Arcade, Adelaide
The Pantry on Egmont
We're suckers for an all-day breakfast – who says there should be a time limit on eggs and avocado being served? The Pantry on Egmont seems to agree with us, with breakfast being served well past lunch time within its charming suburban setting. Tuck into some Turkish eggs, a falafel bowl or a chickpea and quinoa burger and discover the passion that goes into every dish; it's one of the best vegetarian cafes in Adelaide.
2 Egmont Terrace, Hawthorn South
Peter Rabbit
The best worst kept secret garden in Adelaide must be Peter Rabbit. You’ll find a leafy green outdoor seating, cool industrial interior and long opening hours, from breakfast right up to evening drinks. What more could you want? Oh just some straight up delightful vegetarian options, of course! Think smokey avocado toast, a King's Breakfast (potato gratin, braised king oyster mushrooms, black garlic hollandaise, and taro crisps), charred turmeric cauliflower and eggs your way.
234-244 Hindley Street, Adelaide
Zenhouse
Take a walk on the quiet side of town and find inner peace at Zenhouse. Their exclusively vegetarian menu focuses on the importance of health, in the form of Asian and Western fusion dishes. Take a moment to browse their tasty menu and choose from an array of wholesome salads, entrees, burgers and daily specials full of chickpeas, tempeh and crispy meat alternatives.
Zenhouse Vegetarian Fusion, 462 Port Road, West Hindmarsh | Zenhouse Vegetarian Yum Cha, 17-19 Bent Street, Adelaide
QUICK FIX
Rodeo
New kids on the block Rodeo are the sandwich pros that serve up more than just mighty sandos – it's a hub of good vibes. Despite its small size, Rodeo is full of vibrant energy, thanks to some big personalities and a steady flow of Pogo coffee to complement your sando. With a menu featuring toasted and two fresh varieties, as well as flavour-packed rotating specials, there's no shortage of combinations to explore, with several being meat-free and loaded with veggies.
Our top pick? The loaded halloumi sando, complete with smashed avo, pickled onions, beetroot relish, and rocket. Rodeo takes freshness seriously, with ingredients prepared and made in-house, ensuring your sando fix is as fresh and delicious as it gets.
224 The Parade, Norwood
Café Komodo
Another jewel in Prospect’s crown, Café Komodo is serving up the goods from their all-day breakfast, complete with The Big Komodo, a plate of scrambled tofu with spiced coconut cream base. Other tasty brunch options include corn and zucchini fritters with red pepper pesto, or their jam-packed haloumi burger. If healthy eats weren't enough, turn up on a Friday night or a Sunday afternoon for some live music to match some of the best vegetarian food in Adelaide.
118 Prospect Road, Prospect
Plant 4
We’ve all been there - you’re after a casual lunch or dinner in a cool location, but everyone fancies something different to eat. Look no further than Plant 4. You’ve got My Grandma Ben, the sustainability conscious café; Ali’s Pakistani Cuisine for authentic flavours; Fun2SeeYa Pizzeria (we'll let you guess what you can order here) and so, so much more. Every eatery is inclusive of vegan and gluten free diets, and you can even find dessert (or tomorrow’s breakfast) from The Lost Loaf, Live A Little Gelato or Cakeboy Donuts, all serving up lip-smackingly tasty vegan treats.
5 Third Street, Bowden
Let Them Eat
Have you been victim of buying a healthy cookbook and never once following a recipe through? Enter Let Them Eat, who have done the hard work for you with their tasty, healthy, comforting vegetarian and vegan creations. Everything is free from preservatives and chemicals and can be served as a sit-down meal or boxed up to take home and enjoy another time.
Various locations: Golden Grove, Central Market, Burnside Village, James Place, Norwood Place, Westfield Marion
The Gator Club
Vegan food truck Later Gator has put down some charming plant-based roots in Adelaide's East, with the opening of The Gator Club. Upon entry, expect a light-filled haven filled with plant-based bakes and gluten-free goods (hello, biscoff butter cake with white choc biscuit ganache), and vegan cafe fare aplenty. Kombucha and nitro brew coffee are on tap, and there's plenty of colourful, warming botanical brews that will have you sipping your way to nourishment and vitality.
On the food front, smoothie bowls, avo toast, tofu scramble and their toasties are all lip-smackingly scrumptious. You need to try their beloved mac 'n' cheese toastie - it'll be one epic serve of notzarella for you!
33 Payneham Road, College Park
Find more vegetarian-friendly restaurants and cafes with the best vegan restaurants in Adelaide for a delicious, plant-based feast.
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