Veg Friendly Restaurants

More and more restaurants are realising the economic sense of providing some vegetarian and/ or vegan meals on their menus. These can be of great assistance when dining with a mixed group of people, and also offer more choice for vegetarians/ vegans just looking for somewhere to eat out. If you discover a vegetarian/ vegan friendly restaurant that is worth letting others know about, email us and we will list it on this page. Remember to tell us the name, address and phone no. (if possible) and what you like about it.

In a vegetarian/ vegan friendly restaurant, it is important that the chef/ cook understands vegetarian/ vegan requirements. For example, are they aware of unsuitable ingredients such as fish sauce or meat stock? Is there  more on the menu than just pasta? Are there tasty protein dishes available? For an in-depth list of requirements for restaurants providing vegetarian/ vegan meals, read our Restaurant Guidelines.  Feel free to print that information and take it to any restaurant you think may benefit from it. Many will welcome these specific guidelines.

Some restaurants are only at the beginning of the catering-for-vegetarians journey! Look after yourself and promote your diet by trying these ideas:

Ring ahead of time to discuss menu options
Check the menu before you go – some restaurant menus are available online
Be clear on whether you eat dairy and eggs or not
Ask about the cheese/eggs – if they use vegetarian rennet cheese and free range eggs
Let them know of any other specific requirements
Give the chef positive feedback about successful dishes

Burger Fuel – branches have the Vegetarian Society Approved Trademark for their vegetarian patties. There are branches throughout the North Island.

Auckland Albany, Botany Downs, Ellerslie, Glenfield, Henderson, Manukau, Mt Eden, New Lynn, Parnell, Ponsonby, Queen St, Sylvia Park, Takapuna, Windsor Park

Hamilton Five Cross Roads, Victoria Street

Wellington Lower Hutt, Courtenay Place, Johnsonville

and Mt Maunganui, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Newtown, Taupo and Tauranga

Hell Pizza – Outlets throughout NZ.  Five NZVS Approved Pizzas and Quorn Tenders.

Subway Branches are throughout NZ and offer a vegetable patty option in their Classic Subs range.

Auckland

Hectors Restaurant**
Heritage Hotel,
35 Hobson St, Auckland City

Has a (delicious) vegan menu.
Hectors Restaurant website
*

Iguacu
269 Parnell Rd
Parnell
Auckland
Iguacu Vegetarian Menu

*
Jewel of India Restaurant
3/33 Tamaki Drive,
Mission Bay,
Auckland
09 528 3856
This restaurant has a vegetarian buffet during the weekend – please contact them for details
*

Kokako
492 Parnell Rd,
Parnell
Auckland
09 366 4464 (+vegan)

This cafe used to be vegetarian- we are waiting to see if their new menu contains suitable dishes for us.
*

Molten**
422 Mt Eden Rd
Mt Eden
09 638 7236
Vegetarian food is on their menu, with vegan food available when requested in advance
*
The Oasis Café
43 High St
Auckland CBD
09 359 9115
*
Oh Calcutta**
151 Parnell Rd,
Parnell
09 377 9090
Vegetarian dishes which can easily be made vegan on request
*
Palace of India
17 Huron St,
Takapuna
09 48 9911
This restaurant has a vegetarian and vegan menu available on request, with allergen info also noted. Recommended enthusiastically by a vegan member.

*
Ripe Delicatessen
172 Richmond Rd
Grey Lynn
09 360 5169
Deli and Café with a wide range of vegetarian and vegan salads and meals, including protein dishes
*

Rock Café
8 Carr Rd, Mt Roskill
09 624 5955
Peter Chaplin’s new café
website
*
Soul Bar & Bistro**
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland City
09 356 7265
Soul Bar’s vegetarian menu can be adapted to vegan easily, and a complete vegan menu can be arranged with a phone call in advance
*

White**
Hilton Hotel, Princes Wharf, 147 Quay St, Auckland City
09 978 2000
White’s vegetarian dishes can be made vegan, and to request more choices, phone in advance
*

** Denotes restaurants you may find suitable for special occasions

Hamilton

Salmas Rasoi
6 Garden Place, Hamilton Central
Ph. 07 839 7885

Other North Island areas

Thai Lemon Grass Restaurant
20 Seddon St
Waihi
Ph 07 863 3003

The Big Apple Restaurant
584 Main South Rd
Otorohanga
Ph 0 7 873 8753
bigapple@ihug.co.nz

Pimentos
17 Tamamutu Street
Taupo
07 377 4549

River
2/134 Grace Road
Turangi
07 386 6704

I would like to list ‘Pimentos’  and ‘River’ as vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurants (although for vegan or additional vegetarian options they may need notice). They are both run by the same chefs, and offer balanced vegetarian dishes, which incorporate flavour and nuitrition in exciting ways. They regularly update their menus, so there are always new options available, and they look to use ethically sourced, local (and in some cases homegrown) ingredients as much as possible.

Thai House Express

There are three branches of this restaurant in the North Island. They will prepare dishes without fish paste, animal stock or egg upon request.

Thai House Express
80a Broadway Ave ph 06 353  7841
Palmerston North
*
Thai House Express
194 Victoria Ave ph 06 345 8989
Wanganui
*
Thai House Express
79 Devon St West ph 06 758 1179
New Plymouth

*

Wagamama

There are Wagamama restaurants in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch

Wellington

Deluxe Expresso Bar
10 Kent Tce
Wellington
04-801 5455
Next to the Embassy opposite Courtenay Place
*
Fidel’s
234 Cuba Street,
Wellington,
04-801 6868
*
Midnight Espresso
178 Cuba Street
Wellington
04-384 7014
*
Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant
39 Abel Smith St
Wellington
04- 384 9085
www.thecross.co.nz

Christchurch

Dux de Lux
Arts Centre
cnr Montreal & Hereford Streets
Christchurch
03 366 6919
*
Oak Tree Café
03 382 6220
109 Brighton Mall, New Brighton

The Orange Tree
789 Colombo St
Christchurch
03 366 3030