On landing in any city, my first question is usually where to eat? Since I became a vegan, that question is even more pertinent. One gets used to doing a certain amount of research ahead of time, not just so you know what options you’ve got but also so you don’t miss out on any local gems. In Sydney, unsurprisingly, there are many of those!
Google “Sydney vegan food” and you’ll find a plethora of videos and articles, but many of them are dated pre-pandemic so sadly many places I was excited to try were no longer in operation. Therefore, when I landed in Sydney a few weeks ago, I made it my mission to find the latest and most delicious plant-based eats that ticked all the Onya boxes – and share them with the world! Here’s what I found:
Flyover Fritterie and Chai Bar
80-88 Regent Street, Sydney 2061
Closest train station: Redfern
Check out more here: flyoverfritterie.com.au and @flyover_fritterie
A charming and unique place with friendly staff and delicious dishes inspired by the flavours of India’s traditional street food. It’s an all-vegetarian menu (some dishes contain paneer, ghee or yoghurt) but the vast majority of what’s on offer is vegan and gluten-free. I have no idea how I managed to narrow down my choices but the cauliflower korma toastie served with seasonal fritters ($24) and iced ginger and cardamom soy chai ($6.50) were amazing. If you’ve ever travelled to India and experienced a bhel puri or pakora made and eaten fresh from a street vendor, Flyover’s irresistible all-day weekend menu will take you right back there. Be sure to try their fritters, as that’s what they’re famous for. Next time I’ll be taking a group of friends and an emptier stomach!
Golden Lotus
341 King Street, Newtown 2042
Closest train station: Newtown
Check out more here: goldenlotus-vegan.com & @goldenlotusvegan
“Vegan Mecca,” is how Sydney friends described the suburb of Newtown to me and they were not wrong! Golden Lotus is one of the most beloved vegan cafes in the area, serving up scrumptious Vietnamese plant-based dishes. With all kinds of stir-fries, clay pots, sizzling plates, laksas and noodles on offer, you can be as safe or as daring as you please with their extensive menu. Considering how packed the place was, I was impressed by the standard of the cooking. My combination laksa ($17.80) was rich and spicy, the broth creamy with coconut milk and sharp with lemongrass and ginger, the vegetables just tender, the noodles toothsome, and the combination of mock meats (“chicken”, “duck” and “pork”, all made from soy proteins) delightfully savoury. If I still ate meat, I possibly wouldn’t have known the difference. As their neon sign on the wall proudly glowed, veganism is magic!
Gigi
379 King Street, Newtown 2042
Closest train station: Newtown
Check out more here: gigipizzeria.com.au & @gigipizzeria
An entirely plant-based pizzeria? SI! Pizza lovers of all persuasions will be well satisfied with a menu that includes no less than 12 pizzas, as well as calzones, pastas and some enticing antipasti. My companions and I enjoyed two pizzas between us – the Funghi e Raddicchio ($26) and the Salsiccia e Broccoli ($30), the latter of which was my favourite. Both made with plant-based cheese, rich with nuts and garlic, this was pizza perfetto.
Miss Sina
44 Holt Street, Surry Hills 2010
Closest train station: Central
Check out more here: misssina.com.au & @miss.sina.sydney
This all-vegan bakery with locations in Marrickville and Surry Hills has a growing fanbase and it’s not hard to see why – owners Jacques and Sina have turned Sydney’s pastry scene on its head by offering all the nostalgic baked treats and patisserie items that every vegan would admit to missing every now and then. And now we don’t have to! Everything on offer is plant-based, including all the milks for hot and iced drinks. I went to the Surry Hills branch which was cosy and well-stocked with unbelievably good-looking croissants, donuts, scrolls and cakes, as well as savoury bakes. I had the same thing each time I visited – the famous cinnamon scroll, which was Out. Of. This. World.
Shift Eatery
4/241 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills 2010
Closest train station: Central
Check out more here: shifteatery.com.au & @shifteatery
Another Surry Hills vegan institution, Shift was the first entirely plant-based deli in Sydney. Offering delicious smoothies, toasties and all-day breakfasts, including their famous “salmon” bagel (made with tomato), it was not the first time on this trip I wished I had four stomachs so I could try everything that I liked the sound of. I went with a My Shroom Toastie ($16.50) which was sensationally savoury and cheesy, and their iced oat latte was the best coffee I had on my entire trip! There’s no extra charge for GF bread either – winner.
Peace Harmony
29 King St, Sydney 2000
Closest train station: Town Hall or Wynyard
Check out more here: peaceharmony.com.au
Based in the CBD for much of my trip, I was keen to see what was on offer at lunch time and this wonderful plant-based Thai café was a happy discovery. With everything made fresh to order, and very quickly too, I thoroughly enjoyed my pad se ew ($11.90) noodles which had that gorgeous and addictive smoky wok flavour, and a fantastic “chicken” satay ($8.50) that took me right back to Bali after one bite. A great option if you’re right in the thick of it and want something healthy, fresh and delicious.
Joe’s Sandwich Bar
292 Kent Street, Sydney 2000
Closest train station: Wynyard
Check out more here: eatatjoes.com.au & @joessandwichbar
Another hidden gem in Sydney’s CBD, Joe’s makes “smashable fancy vegan sambos” for city workers who want to grab something delicious and fast. Tucked away in Kent Street, there was a queue out the door, and quite rightly – with six inventive sandwiches to choose from, from Miso Eggplant with Japanese slaw, avocado and pickled ginger to Chipotle Pumpkin with almond ricotta, kale and chilli relish, I wished I was staying long enough to try them all! All sandwiches are made with Iggy’s bread (a Bronte bakery renowned for sourdoughs and ryes) and are seriously filling and delicious. I managed to try two during my stay – the Tempeh Reuben, for a plant-based taste of NYC, delightfully tangy with mustard, slaw and pickles; and the Smokey Potato, which featured a scrumptious kale and raisin dressing (all $13.50).
Hanh Phuc Vegan
242 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills 2010
Closest train station: Central
Two courses and a drink for less than $20 is a steal in any capital city these days, let alone Sydney, so vegans on a budget should head straight for this sweet, no-frills eatery where you’ll get generous portions of comforting and tasty Vietnamese food. My favourite was the bún – a noodle salad with coriander, peanuts and beansprouts – topped with lemongrass tofu ($10). Grab some spring rolls ($5) and an iced tea ($2) or an iced pandan soy milk ($4) to beat the heat and you’ll be sorted for the whole afternoon (they’re only open for lunch). Chances are the lovely owner will give you something to take home too!
Bad Hombres
40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills 2010
Closest train station: Central
Check out more here: badhombres.com.au & @bad.hombres.dining
One word – incredible. There’s nothing bad about the Hombres’ inventive, flavourful and generous portions of amazing (and authentic-tasting) Mexican food. I enjoyed a miso eggplant taco ($6) matched with a delightfully sweet pineapple salsa, a pastor mushroom taco ($6) with cashew crema, and a “Make it a Bowl” ($19) which was a generous portion of rice, braised black beans, pico de gallo, corn, shredded cabbage, nopales (cactus), pepitas, guacamole and jackfruit tinga. With its entirely vegan and gluten-free menu, Bad Hombres is top of my list for a return visit.
Young Henry’s Tasting Bar
76 Wilford St, Newtown 2042
Closest train station: Newtown
Check out more here: younghenrys.com, @younghenrystastingbar & @younghenrys
Not an eatery, strictly speaking, but their beers are vegan-friendly and often there is a food truck on site with vegan options (usually announced on their socials ahead of time). If you just want to chill out with a few mates or even on your own (I did both), Young Henry’s is a relaxing and laid back place to enjoy an ice-cold drink on a summer afternoon (long proclaimed the two most beautiful words in the English language). Warm and welcoming staff, delicious and refreshing beers, complimentary pints of soda water, dog-friendly, happy hour $8 pints and a fabulous sign out front that ensures it is an idiot-free zone, Henry is a fine young man indeed.
As I had the double whammy of limited time and only one stomach, there were many other Sydney vegan institutions and new places I regrettably didn’t get to on this visit – such as Yulli’s (Surry Hills), I Should Be Souvlaki (Newtown), Alibi (Woolloomooloo), Mary’s (Newtown) – but, frankly, any excuse to book another trip to one of my favourite cities.
