Best vegan cafes in South Australia revealed from the city to the beach
With SA’s new plant-protein industry set to take off, we checked out what’s on the Adelaide vegan food scene menu. Search the map to find your next plant-based hit.
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At a time when small businesses are shutting their doors, one locally grown business is thriving.
Staff at Richmond cafe Cherry Darlings, formerly located in Forrestville, have been run off their feet since rebranding in November and owner Tim Salmon says it has been overwhelming.
“This was originally just a side business to my piercing business but food has always been a passion of mine,” Mr Salmon said.
“I ended up never going back to my piercing studio.”
Known for their outrageous desserts such as the maple bacon doughnut or the deep dish brownie, Mr Salmon and his bakehouse have continued to break the stigma of vegan food and it’s reputation of being minimal.
“I’m trying to break the stereotype, there’s no rules in my eyes about what works and what doesn’t,” he said.
“We just bought out a sausage roll, I trailed it at my kitchen in Kilkenny where there are a lot of tradies and they all said if I hadn’t told them it was vegan they would never know.
“Even my dad who isn’t vegan swears by our vanilla slice.”
In terms of advocacy, Mr Salmon hopes his food will do the talking and encourage those to seek a vegan option now and again.
“Veganism isn’t scary and it’s not what it used to be, it isn’t just boiled tofu,” he said.
“I try to keep everything we have as accessible as we can because to me that is activism, making it available to everyone but not having them feel like I have ripped them off.
“Just try to eat something vegan now and again, your doing something good for you and you’re doing something good for the animals.”
Crux
Since 2018, Crux has captured the heart of not only Adelaide’s west but the whole city with their vegan poached eggs and unapologetic stance on veganism.
Now comes a new dawn for the beloved cafe as new owners take the reigns.
Anna Walker, manager of Crux, said she hoped to put a new twist on the fan favourite.
“We are hoping to trial some seafood options at some stage,” Ms Walker said.
“Our main goal is to still appeal to everybody, you can come in as a vegan as a non-vegan or if you’re on the fence, something here will appeal to you.
“So many time people say ‘I couldn’t tell that was a vegan meal’.”
Two-Bit Villains
Not many can pass up the opportunity to have a parmy with their mates and now those practising veganism won’t have to either.
Two-Bit Villains hosts vegan pub night on the first Thursday of every month in a pub built for all tastebuds.
“When we started over 10 years ago, there was no comfort, Americana style food around for vegans,” Owner Liam Hughes said.
“We’re not a vegetarian or a vegan restaurant were just a restaurant that doesn’t have meat.
“We’re just fun food that everyone can enjoy and be comfortable eating.”
Staazi & Co
It’s hard to not associate a kebab with some greasy yet delicious meat. But for the team at Staazi & Co, they are breaking that very bias.
Owner Anastasia Lavrentiadis brought her Greek background and love of vegan activism together.
“Our food is super delicious and that comes down to using fresh ingredients,” Ms Lavrentiadis said.
“Our customers are open minded and people who have to follow dietary requirements.
“But at the core of everything we do is animal rights and to not cause harm.”
Have we missed your favourite vegan cafe? Let us know in the comments.
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