Northside Vegan Guide

Wazzup Felafel

Delicious Palestinian style falafel, hummus and salads - everything is vegan and all gluten free except for the pita bread.

These are some of the best falafel balls I've ever had - crispy on the outside, soft and spicy within plus the staff generously share them to munch on while you choose your order. All the flavours are fresh and vibrant, and you can tell everything is made freshly and made with love.

This is a take away order, but eat in is also available, and the team are super friendly and welcoming.

They also have a food truck (check their facebook for current location).

343 High Street Northcote

Brother Bon

A vegan take on traditional Vietnamese dishes and fast food treats. We love the Roti Chennai, Rainbow Salad and Bun Bo Hue noodles.

They recently expanded to lunch and brunch on the weekends and serve up a fabulous scrambled tofu!

377-379 High Street Northcote

Shimbashi Soba

Handmade soba (buckwheat) noodles and an all gluten free menu with lots of great vegan options. It feels like a little extra love goes into everything made here. They have great take away sushi options for lunchtime and a delicious soba ramen menu.

257 High St Northcote

Tahina

Delicious vegan and vegetarian falafels, hearty salads, smoothies and desserts. I love the carrot hot dog and vegan chocolate souffle and they also do a fabulous platter of assorted savoury treats.

223 High Street, Northcote and 362 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Mesob

We always get the herbivore platter here - ask for vegan and gluten free if required. Mesob also serve meat but all the vegan options are very clearly marked including wines.

Everything is served up on a delicious piece of slightly sour, spongy Ethiopian bread, with more bread for scooping and dipping. In my photo everything looks a bit brown, the flavours are really diverse, ranging from mild to spicy, and everything delicious. The staff are super friendly and welcoming and we were able to eat in there was often live music adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

213 High Street, Northcote

Northcote Fish and Chips

Wondering how a fish and chip shop ended up on a vegan guide? They have an extensive plant menu of all types of Vish, onion rings, pumpkin and potato fritters - even salt and pepper faux calamari and prawns.

341 High Street, Northcote

Red Door Corner Store

Elevated brunch and lunch options in a converted corner store with a cute courtyard out the back. They have quite a few vegan options (alongside meaty and eggy brunch options) but I can't go past the corn, quinoa and zucchini fritters, served up with achiote beans and zingy salsa. It's a popular spot so reserve a table on weekends.

300 grams

300 grams looks meaty from the outside but they actually have a great vegan selection including Southern fried Cauli bites, a Southern fried mushroom burger and ice cream sundaes.

313 High St, Northcote.

Yuni's Kitchen

Authentic Indonesian flavours - including a fabulous vegan laksa!

Meat dishes are also served but there are plenty of veggie options.

251 High Street, Northcote - on the grounds of the Northcote Uniting Church

Ginger and Chives

Authentic Vietnamese flavours and super friendly service. Ginger and Chives serve meat as well as veggie dishes but the vegan options are clearly marked and delicious! We love the vegan pho, Bun Bo Hue and salt and pepper tofu. There's a calmer vibe than a lot of the other Vietnamese places on High St - this a great place to with a group of friends.

338 High Street, Northcote

Shamiat

Syrian food with lots of vegan dishes marked. This would be a great place to cater a party or picnic with lots of dips, falafel, salads and Mediterranean favourites.

64 Victoria Road Northcote

Merah

Elevated and handcrafted Malaysian food with some great vegan options! The mushroom Char Kway Teow and tofu nuggets are extra delicious. Everything is beautifully presented and their interior design is gorgeous - this is a great spot for a special night. Good for gluten free too!

238 High St Northcote

Ballards

Did you ever go to A Fans Notes, Melbourne's best dive bar with the ever evolving food themes and concepts? Yes? Then you are probably lamenting its passing. However, all is not lost, the Sunday roasts, the unbelievable degustations, the Tour de Cuisine nights and the all you can eat BBQ have been distilled and refined and moved into Ballard’s.

Now that we can go out again we can expect an interesting vegan menu from Ballard’s and if we’re lucky, the Gnocchi nights and the degustations might start up again soon... How can a degustation be that great and still be so cheap?

You need to get to Ballard’s, NOW! Call them on 0406 095 604 and book in at your earliest convenience. Incredible food and drink as cheap as feasible.

Review by Adrian Wallace.

915 High St, Thornbury

Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow is awesome! The menu is all vegan, with so many types of delicious vegan cheese, even the dough itself has great flavour and texture (even the gluten free dough!). Our favourites are the Bianco potato + leek and pepperoni pizzas. This is quality vegan junk food at it's finest!!

406 Smith St. Collingwood

Shu Restaurant

Eating at Shu is an event - and they are currently take eat in bookings.

The decor is part art installation, part New York loft, with projections and chains dangling from the ceiling, and clear ghost style chairs (although still warm and cosy). The owner Shu’s quirky creative flair was everywhere,  our drinks were served in laboratory beakers, there were industrial thermometers in the flower displays and the many of the dishes looked like miniature works of art. 

The menu is based on seasonal produce and organic where possible, so changes regularly and they are also accommodating to different dietary requirements, especially if you let them know in advance. Many of the dishes are already gluten free, and while it’s very vegan friendly, Shu also has a meat menu, so it would be a great place to visit with a diverse group of people.

147 Johnston St, Collingwood

Smith & Daughters

A Melbourne Vegan institution!

Smith and Deli + Smith and Daughters have merged into the one building - giving night and day vibes. The restaurant section is glam and indulgent - when we went it was set menu only and we had to take the last couple of course home (so glad we did - that tiramisu was incredible). The set menu has fabulous gluten free alternatives.

For breakfast and lunch head to the deli and cafeteria section - which has a rotating selection of hot dishes and delicious sandwiches, including hot breakfast sandwiches, amazing bakery creations- like vegan almond croissants, and lots of take home deli treats including house made 'meats' and 'cheeses'. It's just like a New York Deli, but better and vegan!!

107 Cambridge St Collingwood

Madame K

Vegan Asian fusion - choose from Japanese, Indian, Thai, Indonesian and Laotian offerings. There are a lot of rich curries, deep fried snacks and faux meat on the menu, but also fresh salads and light soups - you can really choose your own adventure here.

367 Brunswick St Fitzroy

Veggie Bar

A Melbourne Vegetarian institution. Currently offering delivery, pick up and prepackaged ready meals. A global mix of flavours and great gluten free options.

380 Brunswick Street Fitzroy

Girls and Boys

Plant based ice creams, smoothies and desserts from the Veggie Bar crew.

382A Brunswick Street Fitzroy

Transformer

An upscale offering from the Veggie Bar crew - this is a great venue for a special event. Even their brunch offerings are deluxe!

99 Rose St, Fitzroy

Neko Neko

You can see and taste the love that goes into the food here. Their menu isn't 100% vegan but there are lots of options and they all clearly labeled. Their vegan ramen is fabulous - succulent noodles, hearty broth, a rainbow of colours and textures - it's delicious and great comfort food!

83A Smith St, Fitzroy

Trippy Taco

All vegetarian. Anything ‘tofu asada’ is awesome (especially the burrito) and they have multiple gluten free options. The Nachos are great and they do a majestic vegan breakfast too. Great value and a good balance between convenience, nutrition and deliciousness.

234 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

La Panella

A vegan take on classic bakery favourites like pies, vanilla slices, hedgehog and jam tarts - even cream buns!

465 High St, Preston

Juanitas Kitchen

Fresh Mexican vegan and vegetarian food made with love! Juanita hand presses the tortillas herself every day and they are deliciously soft. There is also meat on the menu so this is another good spot for a mixed group. Great for gluten free options too!

They also sell a range of vegan Mexican and West African marinades, sauces and dips including vegan chorizo.

219 High St, Preston

Tammy's Borek

A vegan run Turkish bakery in Preston Market - with traditional and vegan Borek and other treats. The boreks are great, pumpkin or spinach and onion are my favourites and they are a great picnic lunch or eat on the go option since the filling is folded up in tidy bread/pastry envelope.

29 Mary St Preston

Drums Preston Market

Authentic and great value Sri Lankan food with a dedicated vegan menu. They serve a variety of combo platters which are a great way to try different flavours. Make sure to get a hopper too! Yum!

Shop C245C The Strand, Preston Market Preston

Eat Cannoli

Woah! Gluten free Cannoli - with at least two vegan flavours a day. They often use locally grown ingredients that their customers bring from their home gardens to create new flavours.

132 Wood St Preston

Just Falafs

Fabulous falafels, hearty salads and zingy dips. Everything is vegan or vegetarian and there are lots of gluten free options. Generous serves of healthy meets tasty and conveniently located just by Edinbourgh Gardens.

207 St Georges Rd North Fitzroy