The best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Singapore

What is it A Bali-like haven smack dab in Tanjong Pagar and a go-to spot for wallet-friendly vegan eats. 

Why we love it Ahimsa Sanctuary’s got a beautiful outdoor courtyard with chill resort vibes. But on scorching days, head into the indoor area for some respite – the shophouse’s airwell still lets in some beautiful natural light. The café’s menu is chock full of scrumptious and filling bites, from our favourite BLT Bagel ($13.90) with smoky tempeh, veggies, pickled onions, and garlic aioli; to the Nourish Bae-rrito Bowl ($11.90) – a beautiful mess of lion’s mane mushrooms, quinoa, greens, and avocado. Quench your thirst with sips of the ashwagandha latte ($6.50) or other healthy drinks like kombucha. 

Time Out tip Mosey up to the second-floor space outside the yoga studio for a quiet spot to read, work, or just hang out. Or book yourself a yoga class – these are available daily and suitable for all ages.

Address: 76 Neil Road, Singapore 088840
Opening hours: Daily 10am-9pm
Expect to pay: Around $20 per person for one main and a drink.

What is it A tried-and-tested Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee along Peck Seah Street, and one of two vegetarian restaurants on the island listed in the Guide. 

Why we love it Whole Earth serves up a curious mix of Peranakan and Thai vegetarian dishes. This might be confusing for some, but for us, it means the best of both worlds. Order up a bunch of dishes to share here. On the local front, it’s the mushroom rendang ($26) that you should have your eyes on, which sees shiitake mushrooms coated in a thick, rich gravy perfect for ladling over rice. You’ll also spot a plate of the Thai Sweet & Sour Delight ($21) on pretty much every table, as well as the signature olive rice (from $12).

Time Out tip Give the Enchanted Forest ($28) a try. This braised broccoli dish is crowned with Monkeyhead mushrooms, which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunity-boosting properties.

Address: 76 Peck Seah Street
Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-3pm, 5.30-10pm
Expect to pay: Around $30 per person for a proper meal with four sharing dishes and drinks.

What is it A library-themed vegan café in Maxwell Reserve Hotel serving plant-based, GMO-free, and gluten-free nosh.

Why we love it Picture-worthy interiors aside, the café checks all the boxes in terms of meeting dietary needs, and whips up dishes that are as healthy as they are delish. “Pure food” is a big focus here, and organic produce is sourced from all around the world so you know your body is getting nothing less than the best. Plus points for variety: you’ve got everything from vegan sandwiches, poke bowls, salads, and superfood earth bowls, to gluten-free desserts, cold-pressed juices, coffee beans sourced straight from cherry plantations, and kombucha brewed with local ingredients. 

Time Out tip The ‘Cavi-Art’ ($35) – a seaweed alternative to caviar – is one of Cultivate’s most unique offerings. Try salmon roe, wasabi-based, and seaweed-based caviar, and yes, they’re all made out of sustainably harvested seaweed but still deliver an impactful burst of flavour.

Address: Maxwell Reserve, 2 Cook Street, Singapore 078857
Opening hours: Daily 11am-9pm
Expect to pay: Around $90 per person for a proper meal with three to four sharing dishes, drinks, and dessert.

What is it Arguably the first café in Singapore to really popularise vegan grub among the younger crowd with its plant-based stacks in the early 2010s.

Why we love it Even non-vegans can attest to how satisfying Veganburg’s stacks are. The burger joint is completely egg-, dairy-, and meat-free, and does one thing right: crispy soy patties sandwiched between wholemeal buns. But its plant-based ethos doesn’t limit its range, with some 12 burger options available on the menu. A classic favourite is the barbecue sauce-slathered Smoky BBQ burger ($17.90). Or go for the Singapore-exclusive Chili Krab ($15.90), featuring a konjac ‘crab meat’ patty with housemade chilli crab rempah. The Shrooms Burg ($12.90) is another no-brainer, made complete with a dairy-free cream sauce.

Time Out tip Some sidekicks we love ordering to complete the meal are the vegan hot dogs ($6.90), crispy fries drenched in sauce (from $9.90), or char-grilled broccoli (top up $3.90 to your burger) if you’re laying off carbs.

Address: 44 Jalan Eunos, Singapore 419502
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11.30am-9pm; Fri-Sun 11.30am-9.30pm
Expect to pay: Around $20 for a set meal including a burger, side, and a drink.

What is it A hidden vegetarian eatery with affordable meals located below Buddha Tooth relic Temple in Chinatown. 

Why we love it Despite the high footfall of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, this cosy vegetarian food court is still pretty much under the radar. Quite the hidden gem, if you may. Once you find its nondescript entrance (clue: you’ll need to be facing Neil Road), head down a flight of stairs. A couple of stalls serve up affordably priced healthy meals, from mixed rice to noodles and desserts. Customise your plate at the mixed rice station where cooked dishes like Thai-inspired pandan ‘chicken’, sweet and sour ‘meat’, stir-fried greens, and more start at $3. Desserts and drinks are available at a top-up of just $1.

Time Out tip The noodle station only serves one dish a day ($4.20) – lor mee on Monday, satay bee hoon on Tuesday, laksa on Wednesday and Sunday, mock fish soup on Thursday, char siew noodles on Friday, and kway chap on Saturday.

Address: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Basement 1, 288 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058840
Opening hours: Daily 7am-5pm
Expect to pay: Around $6 for a main dish, dessert, and drink.

What is it Fuss-free South Indian vegetarian joint in Little India with wallet-friendly rice sets, dosai, and Indian dishes with mock meat alternatives. 

Why we love it Arunchala Bhavan is our favourite place to go for curry-drenched banana leaf plates. The affordable basic rice meal only sets you back $9.90 but comes with generous servings of rice, rasam (a South Indian soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, spices, and herbs), vadai, papadum, three kinds of vegetables, and of course, dahl. Oh, and did we mention? It’s free-flow, so go ham. The dishes and condiments are reminiscent of home-cooked meals – warm, hearty, nicely balanced, and not overly oily. The best way to enjoy this glorious mess is with your hands and a mandatory side of teh halia (ginger tea).

Time Out tip Come back for the dosai – there are some 18 variations on the menu – and order a cup of filter coffee to complete the experience.

Address: 40 Race Course Road, Singapore 218556
Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-11.30pm
Expect to pay: Around $10 for a rice set with a drink.

What is it Popular with the office crowd, Flavours is a vegetarian-vegan concept by the Saute Group located in Funan mall.

Why we love it The unassuming restaurant offers an expansive menu packed with Western, Asian, and fusion plates, and is a great entryway for those trying plant-based cuisine for the first time. Expect everything from rice-based dishes, handmade kolo mee, and ramen noodle bowls, to salads, pasta, burgers, and pizza. We like the black, herbal bak kut teh ramen ($12.70), which sees enoki mushrooms, tofu and vegetables in a warm, nourishing broth. Top up a dollar to add lion mane mushrooms and you tiao into the mix. 

Time Out tip Whatever you do, make sure to order the orh lua or ‘oyster’ omelette ($15.50). This plant-based spin on the local hawker classic tastes like the real deal with an eggy, starchy base. It even comes with the same tangy chilli.

Address: Funan, #B1-30, 107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179105
Opening hours: Daily noon-10pm
Expect to pay: Around $20 for a main dish and a drink.

What is it A vegetarian stall run by a young hawkerpreneur, which started as an NUS canteen stall before branching out into various hawker centres.

Why we love it We first spotted Origanics while filming our guide to Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, and its menu drew us in. Owner Darryl Tong has recreated some of our favourite local dishes like kolo mee, duck rice, and fried fish bee hoon soup and made them completely meat-free. Depending on which outlet you visit, you’ll also be greeted with a different variety of food: more tofu, beans and lentils at NUS; kway chap at Buangkok to cater to the older crowd; and ‘chicken cutlet’ noodles for the younger folks at Woodleigh.

Time Out tip We like to keep it simple with their economic bee hoon, where you can customise your plate with toppings like glazed soy nuggets, crispy spring rolls, vegetarian ‘otah’, and vegetable curry. Top it off with zai er (crispy fried soy skin) – the crowning glory of every plate of bee hoon.

Address: The Deck at NUS, Buangkok Hawker Centre, Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre
Opening hours: The Deck at NUS: Mon-Fri 10.30am-4pm; Buangkok: Daily 8am-8pm; Woodleigh: Daily 8.30am-8pm
Expect to pay: From $3.20 for economic bee hoon, and less than $7 for other main dishes.

What is it An Indian vegetarian restaurant connected to City Hall MRT with gluten-free and vegan selections for all diets.

Why we love it It’s not the cheapest Indian food around, but appropriate for a casual business lunch or catch-up in the city (the Little India branch offers slightly more wallet-friendly prices). Nalan serves up both North and South Indian nosh depending on what you’re feeling that day, and there’s even a special dietary menu with non-root dishes, vegan and gluten-free options, as well as dishes with no onions and garlic. We like the standard South Indian lunch meal ($21) with rice, sambar, rasam, kaara kuzhambu, three vegetables, pickles, curd, papadum, vadai, and milk pudding. Or you can go with the classic naan ($5) and palak paneer ($23) combination that never fails. 

Time Out tip According to regulars, the dahi puri ($15) is a must-order, though the tangy yoghurt filling is an acquired taste for some. Don’t miss out on dessert too. There are several to choose from, including ras malai (cottage cheese dumplings soaked in milk syrup), gulab jamun, and carrot halwa.

Address: Capitol Singapore, #B2-54, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: Daily 10am-10pm
Expect to pay: More than $20 for a lunch set meal and a drink.

What is it Vegetarian bee hoon stall with three locations islandwide including Redhill, Ghim Moh, and Ang Mo Kio. 

Why we love it We’ve been patronising Ruyi Yuan at Redhill since the 2000s – yes, back when a plate would only set you back $1.50. Now priced at $4, you get the same standard mix of toppings above your noodles. Mushrooms, cabbage, fried soy skin resembling chicken chop, sweet ‘char siew’ slices, and tofu come together to add different textures and flavours to the mix. You might not even realise it’s meatless till you’re halfway done wolfing it down. You also get to customise your noodles, with options like hor fun, bee hoon, or yellow noodles. 

Time Out tip If it’s your first time visiting, the queue system is as such: order on the right, then proceed to the left side to pay and collect your food. The usual wait is around 15 minutes, but do note that the first and 15th day of the lunar month, as well as special occasions like Qing Ming might warrant longer queues of up to 45 minutes.

Address: 80 Eating House, #01-350, 80 Redhill Lane, Singapore 150080
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6am-1.30pm
Expect to pay: $4 for a plate of noodles.

What is it One of the many vegetarian stores tucked away in Fortune Centre, serving hearty bowls of thunder tea rice.

Why we love it There are plenty of vegetarian gems in Fortune Centre, but we like New Green Pasture Café for its clean, homely environment, friendly service, and meals that are light and refreshing on the palate. The eatery has been around for over 26 years, and is patronised by both elderly regulars and the younger crowd. You’ll notice shelves lined with health foods, organic biscuits, and more. The thunder tea rice ($12.50) here is a must-try. Brown rice is the only option, but it adds to the myriad of textures in the bowl – think peanuts, crunchy and savoury cai pu, gluten (to mimic fried scrambled eggs), dried tofu skin, and three kinds of veggies. The slightly minty green gruel is also just the right consistency – leave just enough of it to have on its own for a satisfying end to your meal.

Time Out tip Unless you don’t mind leaving absolutely stuffed, we recommend asking for a half portion of rice for the lei cha – believe us, it’s more than enough to fill you up.

Address: Fortune Centre, #04-22, 190 Middle Road, Singapore 188979 
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10.30am-8.30pm
Expect to pay: Around $15 for a bowl of thunder tea rice and a side for sharing.

What is it A vegetarian restaurant in the quiet, industrial area of Tai Seng, serving up meat-free versions of all our favourite Korean dishes. 

Why we love it Not only are all the sauces and kimchi at The Boneless Kitchen handmade and plant-based, they’re also allium-free, meaning that no garlic, onion, shallot, leek, or chives are used. Most ingredients are also flown in from Korea for the freshest flavours. The joint serves up a wide range of soup, rice-based dishes, snacks, and even large-format stews for sharing. The kimchi jjigae ($13) and soondubu jjigae ($15) are our go-to orders. Spicy, warm, and comforting, the broths are slow burners that build up in heat after a while, and don’t be surprised if you even work up a sweat. The restaurant is also a social enterprise that hires special needs workers.

Time Out tip Order the kimbap (from $12) which is a healthier version of the roll that uses purple rice for more fibre. 

Address: The Commerze @ Irving, #01-31, 1 Irving Place, Singapore 369546
Opening hours: Tue-Sun noon-9pm
Expect to pay: More than $20 for a main, one to two side dishes for sharing, and a drink.

What is it A casual homegrown vegetarian chain known for its wallet-friendly bento sets. 

Why we love it If you need a quick, affordable vegetarian meal, Green Dot is where to go. This homegrown chain started out as a school canteen stall before expanding to malls, where it now has around 10 locations islandwide. We like the standard Daily Craft Bento (from $7.30), which comes with a choice of white, brown, sesame or turmeric basmati rice; a main dish, and a choice of greens. Our go-to order is brown rice with rendang lion mane mushrooms, a top-up of sweet and sour soy nuggets, and stir-fried broccoli. Add $2.90 for a glass of winter melon tea with osmanthus jelly. 

Time Out tip Craving something healthy and light on the palate? The angelica herbal noodles with cordyceps ($8.90) is a good option, and comes with toppings of konjac fisballs, vegan soy mutton, tau pok, carrots, lettuce, and more nutritious ingredients.

Address: Various locations
Opening hours: Various opening hours
Expect to pay: More than $10 for a main and a drink.

What is it An award-winning vegetarian concept by Tunglok Group, tucked away on the fifth floor of Liat Towers in Orchard Road.

Why we love it It’s got an air of secrecy to it – the only way to enter is via a nondescript elevator on level one of Liat Towers – though in actuality, the restaurant has been around since 1991 and is pretty well-known among the vegetarian community. Lingzhi is the kind of place you’d bring your relatives or business partners to. The 150-seater establishment is great for banquets, reunion dinners, and the like. There are even four private rooms you can book. The a la carte dim sum lunch buffet ($33.80) is what you want to go for. For 90 minutes, eat your fill of truffle ee fu noodles, mantou with chilli gravy, sweet and sour monkey head mushrooms, and more. Do note that the truffle mushroom soup is limited to one serving per person.

Time Out tip If you’re ordering from the a la carte menu, the braised organic kale broth ($12) is another popular item.  

Address: Liat Towers, #05-01, 541 Orchard Road, Singapore 238881
Opening hours: Daily 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm
Expect to pay: Around $30 for the lunch buffet, and more than $30 if you’re dining in the evenings or ordering from the a la carte menu.