Top 14 Plant-based restaurants in Singapore
Support your health and environment, and eat plant-based at these Singapore hotspots
Text: Bella Tan
Supermarkets charging for single-use plastic bags. Eating establishments going straw-free. Vegan restaurants sprouting up all over Singapore like mushrooms. What do these three things have in common? Environmental sustainability. The planet is suffering at a faster rate than ever, and as we become aware of the impact of climate change, it is time to do something about it.
Woman holding up a bowl of greens (Pexels)
Ever thought about going vegan or vegetarian? Studies have shown that vegans and vegetarians tend to live longer, and they have decreased risks of suffering from cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Nevertheless, if you utterly abhor mock meat and vegetarian bee hoon like me, going meat-free will be a challenge. Hence, we sussed out the 14 best plant-based restaurants in Singapore to adopt more mindful eating habits.
When my friend brought me to Lingzhi Vegetarian, I was pretty skeptical about the food – I mean, how good can it be? Their rendition of the Truffle Mushroom soup was extremely creamy and flavourful, with a generous drizzle of truffle oil – so yummy that I finished every drop. Being a self-professed truffle connoisseur, I had to try the Stewed ‘Ee-fu’ Noodles with Truffle Oil which did not disappoint.
Fungus, fish and vegetable dishes (Taken from Lingzhi Vegetarian’s website)
2. VeganBurg
Eating meat has been really hard for me – whenever I bite into a burger patty, I would think about the poor animals being slaughtered for human consumption. Thus, my pursuit for the perfect vegan burger started and it has never stopped since then. Recently, I chanced upon VeganBurg, which seems promising: cholesterol-free, 100% plant-based, egg and dairy-free and hormone-free. I certainly would love to try the Creamy Mushroom burger someday…
3. Whole Earth
Are you a fan of Peranakan cuisine? It’s time to rejoice! As a testament to their culinary expertise, Whole Earth has won the Michelin Gourmand Bib for five consecutive years, from 2016 to 2021. Satiate your taste buds with their Buah Keluak or the Nonya curry with a vegetarian twist and wash it down with the appetising Double-boiled Nourishing Soup or the collagen-rich Royal Natural Beauty Soup.
Nestled in the heart of Havelock Road, Genesis Vegan Restaurant serves a wide variety of local and international dishes. All-time favourites include the Vegan Laksa, featuring a thick broth and the Bibimbap with a generous serving of gochujang sauce and a smorgasbord of vegetables. Why not patronise their restaurant and help them out with a good cause at the same time? They regularly visit the underprivileged to hand out welfare packs.
Bowl of curry noodles with vegetables(Taken from Genesis Vegan Restaurant’s Facebook page)
With the borders between Singapore and Malaysia opening up, it is certainly possible to travel to Penang for a bowl of their local speciality. However, most of us are probably too busy, so the next best thing for spice fiends is to try out the Penang Spicy ‘Heh’ Mee Soup. If you have a craving for Mala, the Mala Xiang Guo Rice is worth a try, as well as the Sichuan Mala Ramen noodles. (Warning: Definitely not for the faint-hearted!)
6. Project Acai
Project Acai is all about your traditional acai bowls and superfoods. The Original Flower Bowl and the Coconut Yoghurt Acai Bowls are a feast for the eyes, with a kaleidoscope of colours. If you would like to go for something more filling, you can opt for their Avocado toast featuring whole-grain bread with cherry tomatoes, smashed avocado and pumpkin seeds, or the Hummus toast comprising of their in-house smoked paprika hummus recipe, cherry tomatoes and garlic.
7. GrateFood
Gratefood has an extensive menu, with a wide selection of smoothie bowls, protein shakes, all-day vegan breakfast sets and even vegan baked goods. They are definitely on my bucket list as I haven’t tried many vegan baked goods before, except for vegan macarons. Interesting highlights include the Vegan Cinnamon roll, the Babka Roll with Pistacho Chocolate Ganache, as well as their Spirulina Peanut Butter and Spirulina Speculoos bowl.
If you live on the outskirts of town, MTR Singapore should be your next pitstop for delectable and rich Indian food. With an ever-changing menu every day of the week, to cater to discerning taste buds, you will be spoilt for choice. Look out for their “Today’s Special” featuring Button Idli Sambhar, a rice cake in a bowl of piping hot stew on Tuesdays and Sagu Masala, the vegetarian version of the traditional potato Masala.
Pudi Dosa with two bowls of Indian curry (Taken from MTR Singapore’s Facebook page)
9. Analogue
At Analogue, be prepared to step into a world like no other, with an experiential dining experience complete with a 3D printed bar made from 1,600kg of recycled bottles and Mycelium Table Tops. I love the fact that they are not afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to drinks as well, with eccentric mocktail flavours such as the Blue Magic with a touch of Blue Spirulina, Goji Berries and Black Cardamom.
10. Herbivore
You must be living under a rock if you’ve never heard of Herbivore. This Japanese fusion restaurant has received many rave reviews from critics, as well as comments about how their food looks like a feast for carnivores! Nonetheless, don’t let appearances fool you – everything on their menu is made entirely from plants. Going vegetarian never tasted this good!
11. Lotus Vegetarian
This restaurant is less well-known compared to its predecessors on the list, but it still deserves a place in the spot. As a home cook, Rebecca Lee wanted to share her love for vegetarian dishes with others and Lotus Vegetarian represents the fruits of her labour. Must-try dishes include dim-sum staples such as the Veggie Shrimp Dumplings, Veggie Siew Mai as well as the Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Beancurd Roll.
12. bamboo bowls
bamboo bowls is a plant-based restaurant founded by Sonya Sukha, a British-Thai model and influencer as well as Tristian Lo, her business partner. Everything is pretty revolutionary when it comes to bamboo bowls – from the special collection pods to the 8 Asian flavoured bowls created by famous chefs such as Bjorn Shen and Justin Hammond, and named after 8 countries in Southeast Asia. If you are not ready to go entirely meat-free, there is always an option to add $5 for sustainable protein options.
Bowls of vegan food from the pod (Taken from bamboo bowls’ website)
13. Revolver
Open flame kitchens are becoming increasingly popular in Singapore, and Revolver is no exception – launching in Singapore with much fanfare. This is the place to splurge on a special occasion with an 8-course vegetarian menu featuring dishes like Jerusalem Artichoke with Burnt Onions and White Asparagus Arabar.
A chef stoking fire and grill (Courtesy of Revolver)
Last but not least, we have Mykonos on the Bay, a Greek restaurant located off the coast of Sentosa Island, with a panoramic and unparalleled view of the sea. Of course, an elevated dining experience often comes with a hefty price tag – the prices are steeper as compared to the other restaurants on the list which makes it perfect for a romantic candlelight dinner with your significant other.
Acai bowls (Pexels)
Going vegetarian or vegan can be a daunting experience for the first-timer, but it doesn’t have to be. For more information on starting your plant-based journey, check out our guide here.
