Ever wondered if Auckland is a vegan paradise? Spoiler alert: it totally is!
Vegan restaurants are sprinkled all over the city, so skipping them would be a veggie travesty!
But why go vegan? Some do it for the principle, while others hop on board for the health benefits of plant-based munching.
Whether you’re flirting with the idea of going vegan or just hunting for new nosh spots, buckle up! We’re about to dish out the best vegan restaurants in Auckland!
East Restaurant
– Media credit: easteatsnz
Website: https://www.easteats.co.nz/
Address: 63-67 Nelson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 399 2361
Hours:
- Open daily from 12 PM–3 PM, 5 PM–10 PM
With 75% of the menu being vegan, and a team of chefs mastering cuisines from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, you’re in for a plant-based treat at East!
From sticky jackfruit bao to gochujang cauliflower and typhoon shelter fried rice, this nosh is next-level deliciousness.
Launched back in 2021, East is the brainchild of a team of passionate experts who’ve whipped up a modern Asian menu that’s a flavor explosion.
And guess what? They’ve just raised the bar even higher with Auckland’s first-ever vegan Yum Cha service!
Pro Tip: Every Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM, dive into all your Yum Cha faves, but with a tasty, plant-based twist. It’s Yum Cha like you’ve never experienced before! |
Sunflower Thai Vegan Restaurant
– Media credit: sunflower.thai
Website: https://www.facebook.com/sunflowerthairestaurant/
Address: 6/50 High Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 302 0616
Hours:
- Closed on Sunday
- Monday to Saturday: 12 PM–3 PM, 5 PM–9 PM
Cheekily dishing out a vegan spin on classic Thai fare, Sunflower Thai Restaurant serves up delights like zesty green curry, dumplings, and crispy fried ‘chicken’, all bursting with flavor, minus the animal products.
This inner-city gem isn’t just a haven for vegan foodies; it also offers authentic Thai dishes sans fish sauce or shrimp paste.
Pro Tip: Now let’s talk flavor: Sunflower is famous for its mouthwatering ‘prawn’ fried rice, a must-try for any discerning vegan diner in town. |
Forest
– Media credit: forest.akl
Website: https://www.facebook.com/forest.akl/
Address: 243 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 210 901 3352
Hours:
- Closed from Sunday to Tuesday
- Wednesday to Saturday: 5 PM–10 PM
Forest’s menu is practically a vegan paradise, boasting delights like kūmara with Marmite cream and capery peas.
And let’s not forget the Riesling jelly and fried broccoli rice balls. Talk about culinary creativity!
Forest isn’t just any old vegetarian joint; it’s the cream of the crop in Auckland. Recently reopened on Dominion Road, this vegan treasure is back and better than ever, thanks to the culinary genius of Chef Plabita Florence.
Pro Tip: At the new Forest, try entree-sized delights like the ‘Upside-down Broccoli’ to mains designed for sharing. Or get the mouthwatering sides like Florets Bakery sourdough with ‘old wine butter’. |
Khu Khu Eatery
– Media credit: khukhueatery
Website: https://www.khukhu.co.nz/
Address: 171A Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 360 1992
Hours:
- Closed on Monday
- Tuesday to Thursday: 5 PM–9 PM
- Friday: 5 PM–10 PM
- Saturday: 12 PM–3 PM, 5 PM–10 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM–3 PM, 5 PM–9 PM
In Ponsonby and Milford, Khu Khu stands tall as a kale, serving up vegan Thai delights bursting with flavor and finesse. Owner Michael Khuwattanasenee faced a veggie void in Asian cuisine, so he flipped the script.
Say goodbye to sad ’90s vegan lunches. It’s the real deal so get ready to go cuckoo for Khu Khu!
Pro Tip: Try their kumara spring rolls, tempeh pad thai, and ‘duck’ drunken noodles. These mock meat meals taste as good (or sometimes better) than the real thing! |
Wise Boys
– Media credit: wiseboysnz
Website: https://wiseboys.nz/
Address: 604 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 360 0801
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 5 PM–9 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 12 PM–9 PM
Wise Boys promises “a one-stop shop for a face full of indulgent plant-based burger goodness.” Trust us, you can’t go wrong with a burg’ from these guys.
Oh, and definitely don’t skip the vegan aioli! It’s practically transcendental.
Started as a food truck, Wise Boys has been dishing out their mouth-watering vegan burgers since they opened a brick-and-mortar spot in Grey Lynn back in 2019. They even expanded to a Commercial Bay outpost a few years later.
Pro Tip: Their menu’s packed with banging burgers featuring smoky ‘bacon’, crispy fried ‘chicken’, and BBQ jackfruit! Along with tempting sides, shakes, and soft-serve sundaes, the hardest part is deciding what to order. |
Janken
– Media credit: jankenjapanese
Website: https://www.jankenjapanese.com/
Address: 158 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 360 0555
Hours:
- Closed from Monday to Tuesday
- Wednesday to Thursday, Sunday: 8 AM–3 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 8 AM–3 PM, 5 PM–8 PM
We’re yanking up our excitement for Janken! Vegans, listen up because Jervois Road’s Janken is your holy grail of plant-based goodness.
This spot’s got all the vegan delights you could dream of, giving traditional Japanese flavors a modern twist. From ramen to sushi and even a vegan Benedict breakfast, they’ve got it all.
And hey, they’re not just about breakfast! They’ve got brunch, lunch, and even Friday night dinners covered too!
Pro Tip: It’s time to feast on their mochi tofu Benedict, plant-based lasagna, black sesame and cacao waffles, and breakfast panna cotta! |
Kind Cafe & Eatery
– Media credit: kind.morningside
Website: https://kindcafe.co.nz/
Address: 16 McDonald Street, Morningside, Auckland 1025, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 869 8765
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM–3:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 8 AM–3:30 PM
Tucked away in Morningside, Kind Cafe has been dishing out its mouthwatering ‘mostly vegan’ menu since 2018. From irresistible breakfast delights to brunch favorites, even die-hard carnivores won’t be able to resist trying something new.
Plant-based double cheddar burger, a breakfast burrito loaded with scrambled tofu, and ‘mince’ on kumara sourdough toast? You’ve got options galore!
But hold onto your reusable coffee cups, because Kind isn’t just about eco-friendly goodness behind the scenes. Nope, their food is downright drool-worthy and almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Pro Tip: Let’s not forget their banoffee pancake stack, it’s a game-changer! Go ahead, make it a double stack, and consider your taste buds officially spoiled. |
Ralph’s Bar And Eatery
– Media credit: ralphs_eatery
Website: https://www.ralphsbar.co.nz/
Address: 225B Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 214 9369
Hours:
- Closed from Sunday to Monday
- Tuesday to Wednesday, Saturday: 5 PM–9 PM
- Friday: 12 PM–9 PM
That vegan mac n’ cheese from Ralph’s? It’s not just any old mac n’ cheese; it’s a masterpiece crafted by the legends at Ralph’s, the holy grail of vegan-friendly eateries in Auckland.
Now, let’s talk about their veggie burger (a real Dom Road OG). These guys don’t mess around when it comes to serving up a burger that packs a serious punch.
It’s American-style, complete with your choice of curly or straight-cut fries. It’s a 100% must-try for anyone with taste buds!
Pro Tip: Their Veggie Mac can be made vegan on request, so you can rest easy if you’re on a more restrictive diet! |
Coco’s Cantina
Website: https://www.cocoscantina.co.nz/
Address: 374 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 300 7582
Hours:
- Closed from Sunday to Monday
- Tuesday to Wednesday: 4 PM–9:30 PM
- Thursday to Saturday: 4 PM–10 PM
If you’re looking for vegan and vegetarian Italian food that’s so good it’ll make your taste buds sing, this is your sign. Coco’s Cantina is where you can dig into a bowlful of pasta pomodoro for just fifteen bucks during their legendary Happy Hour.
And that’s just the beginning! All their sides and salads are vegan, and they whip up a mean pepperonata pasta and vegan margarita pizza.
Pro Tip: Ever had orechiette pasta with spinach, broad beans, asparagus, garlic, and tangy straccino cheese? Trust us, Coco’s Cantina does it best. You won’t know whether to say “Hot damn” or “Mamma mia” after one bite! |
Kiss Kiss
– Media credit: kisskisseatery
Website: https://kisskisseatery.com/
Address: 1 Rocklands Avenue, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 600 3076
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 5 PM–9 PM
- Friday: 5 PM–9:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 12 PM–8:30 PM
Feeling the love yet? Kiss kiss, bang bang!
A flavor explosion is about to happen because we’re all about those good vibes here. We’re talking neon lights, steamed buns bursting with fried tofu, crispy cabbage, mayo, coriander, and a Bangkok-style sauce that steals the show.
Pro Tip: If you’re a plant-based eater, no worries! Just ask for Kiss Kiss’ classic dishes made vegetarian, like their saucy Pad Thai. |
Little Bird Kitchen
– Media credit: littlebirdkitchennz
Website: https://littlebirdorganics.co.nz/
Address: Summer Street &, Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 27 648 4757
Hours:
- Open daily from 8 AM–4 PM
Ever heard the saying about the early bird? Well, at Little Bird, they’re not just early; they’re the trendsetting bird that catches all the worms!
This OG raw, organic, vegan eatery in Ponsonby is still the talk of the town. You gotta swing by for a taste of their famous Bird Bowl, kimchi pancakes, dahl dosa, or kumara hotcakes.
And oh, did we mention their mind-blowing smoothies and shakes? Don’t even think about leaving without indulging in one of their heavenly raw sweet treats.
Pro Tip: Little Bird Kitchen was plant-based before it was cool. Now, their entirely vegan menu boasts antioxidant bowls, house-made granola, matcha waffles, and more. |
Richoux Patisserie
– Media credit: richoux_patisserie
Website: https://www.facebook.com/richouxpatisserie/
Address: 119 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051, New Zealand
Contact details: +64 9 579 1815
Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 6 AM–4:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 7 AM–4 PM
We hate to miss out on Richoux Patisserie. Seriously, it’s a pastry paradise you can’t afford to skip!
Next time you’re in Ellerslie, do yourself a favor and join the lineup at Richoux Patisserie. This hidden gem serves up award-winning meat pies alongside their plant-based wonders.
We can just imagine sinking our teeth into one of their vegan pies, and suddenly, everything feels right in the world. And let’s talk about those plant-based pies — they’re downright legendary.
Speaking of those vegan delights, they’ve got everything from mince and cheese pies to sausage rolls and custard tarts. Trust me, each bite is pure bliss.
But the real MVP? Their vegan spinach and feta pie. Once you’ve had a taste, you’ll be head over heels for this bakery.
Pro Tip: Their vegan butter chicken pie is to die for. Well, not literally. We need to come back for more! |
Maison Des Lys Pâtisserie
– Media credit: maisondeslysvegan
Website: https://www.maisondeslys.co.nz/
Address: 567 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021, New Zealand
Hours:
- Closed from Monday to Wednesday
- Thursday to Sunday: 8 AM–1 PM
Recently, this plant-based patisserie burst onto the scene, and let us tell you, empty shelves here are as rare as a sunny day in London.
Just imagine buttery, delicate pastries that defy vegan logic, flaky croissants that taste like they were kissed by angels, and ‘ham’ and ‘cheese’ creations that’ll make you question reality itself.
It’s Maison Des Lys, or as we like to call it, the Holy Grail of vegan indulgence.
Just forget about cheat days; this is a full-blown French pastry affair. And if you haven’t tried their almond croissants or apricot galettes yet, well, let’s just say you’re missing out!
Pro Tip: Almond croissants, mille feuille, and cruffins oozing with almond and hazelnut praline — they’re basically the cure-all for those “I’ll eat healthier this year” resolutions. Trust us, resistance is futile. |