Best of the Gold Coast 2019: the region’s best vegetarian and vegan restaurants as voted by you

If you didn’t know, it’s cool to eat your veggies. After tallying the votes, Best of the Gold Coast can reveal the top 10 vegetarian and vegan restaurants on the Gold Coast as voted by you.

If you didn’t know, it’s cool to eat your veggies. After tallying the votes, Amber Macpherson can reveal the top 10 vegetarian and vegan restaurants on the Gold Coast as voted by you.

10. Easy House Vegetarian

8/90 Markeri Street, Mermaid Waters

Easy House vegetarian Restaurant — Chinese parsley dumplings.

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What’s better than dozens of dumplings? Dozens of cruelty-free dumplings. Easy House Vegetarian is a yum cha restaurant for lunch and Chinese diner for dinner, serving a wide variety of Asian dishes with mock meats and plenty of crisp vegetables. A locals’ favourite in Mermaid, Easy House has been open for more than 10 years and prides itself on its fresh, made-to-order options, plus it’s BYO. The restaurant is currently closed as the owners take a well-earned holiday, but will reopen on July 6.

9. Nude Sisters Wholefood Kitchen

3/90 Markeri St, Mermaid Waters

Nude Sisters honeycomb pancakes.

After two years the customers are still loving the cruelty-free vibes at Nude Sisters Wholefood Kitchen. “It’s our second birthday (today), two years since we opened our doors,” manager Loren Telfer says. The milestone will be celebrated with live music, giveaways and coffee deals in store as well as a new winter menu launch. However — fans of the Nutella honeycomb pancakes will be relieved to know they aren’t going anywhere. “A new option will be a new vegan burger, and we’re also bringing in the option to have a vegan big breakfast,” Loren says. “We’re also bringing in a new style of porridge.”

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8. Greenhouse Canteen and Bar

1/140 Griffith St, Coolangatta

The jackfruit enchilada at Greenhouse Canteen & Bar, Coolangatta.

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There’s no need to feel apprehensive at Greenhouse Canteen and Bar — owner Natalie Evans says the food is all the modern Australian dishes you love, just plant-based. “Our main goal with our menu is to have a nostalgic feel to it,” she says. “We don’t want people to feel nervous. We try and make food that feels familiar and comfortable.” The jackfruit enchilada is a hit with regulars, as is the beetroot burger with two tempura mushrooms for a bun. Natalie says Greenhouse will soon drop a winter menu featuring vegetable stews, ayurvedic dishes and creamy polenta mash.

7. Tian Ran Vegetarian Restaurant

8/2462 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Tian Ran vegetarian and Jessika Howard and Eric Chang. Picture: John Gass

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Fans of sweet and sour pork or cashew chicken, rejoice — Tian Ran has your Chinese comfort meals covered, entirely sans meat. On this Mermaid Beach restaurant’s menu you’ll find all of your favourite oriental indulgences: stir fries, curries, hot pot and much more, made with substitute meats of soy, wheat, yam, seaweed and mushroom. Health-conscious vegans and vegetarians can rest easy knowing all dishes are free from MSG as well as alcohol, onion and garlic. Tian Ran was one of the first vegan restaurants to open on the Gold Coast 13 years ago, so the owners must be doing something right.

6. The Cardamom Pod

1/2685-2689 Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach

Cardamom Pod Broadbeach for Best of the Gold Coast: vegetarian restaurants.

This Broadbeach restaurant was part of the original Cardamom Pod mob but has since relaxed into its role as the causal counterpart. Owner Sean Pinnell says it’s the place to spend a chilled morning or evening in Broadbeach. “You feel like you could hang out for hours,” Sean says. “The food is ready to go with the hot food and salad buffet, vegan mylk bar and killer desserts.” The Cardamom Pod in Broadbeach is putting a healthy twist on cheap Tuesday — as much hot food and salad from the buffet as you can eat for $16.90.

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5. Doko Demo V

1908 Gold Coast Hwy Miami

Doko Demo V’s vegetarian burger.

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Variety is the spice of life at Doko Demo V, the Miami vegetarian restaurant open from morning to night. Most meals feature plant-based meat replacements so you can enjoy chow down on a bacon eggs benny, a lamb souvlaki gyros or pepperoni pizza guilt-free. The menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner options inspired by cuisines from all over the world. One of the most popular daytime dishes is the Tapei 101, a towering works burger with “chicken”, wedges, onion rings and chips. Most meals can be converted to vegan and the staff are more than happy to accommodate other dietary requirements.

4. Govindas

1/20 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Govindas Burleigh Heads uses produce from local suppliers and its Hare Krishna farm in Murwillumbah.

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There’s always a buzz at lunch and dinner time at Govindas in Burleigh Heads, probably because its customers are full of vitamins. While similar to the Surfers Paradise Govindas, this restaurant is run by separate owners from a local Hare Krishna community in Murwillumbah. It serves up a healthy mix of curries, salads, pastas and desserts, sourced from local suppliers and its Murwillumbah organic farm. “Currently sweet potatoes and pumpkins are in season and you will find these roasted in our tofu broccoli salad and our avocado and pumpkin green salad,” manager Nitai Durr says. “People love Govindas in Burleigh because we offer freshly prepared healthy meals, fast and affordable.”

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3. Govindas

3120 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise

Govindas at Surfers Paradise offers a healthy buffet alternative with every option plant-based.

You haven’t lived until you’ve stuffed yourself silly on Govindas kofta balls at Surfers Paradise. The buffet Hare Krishna restaurant serves up all-you-can-eat vegan cuisine, from warming curries to potato bake and fresh salads. “The kofta balls are the most popular of course, but other than that it’s all of the above,” Govindas owner Zardi Manning says. “We do try and keep it simple with a home-cooked style of flavouring. And loads of options with all the hot food buffet, fried food, quite a few Indian inspired dishes, and six different salads to choose from.” Whoever said vegans are underfed was seriously deluded.

2. Giri Kana Cafe

82 Marine Parade, Southport

Giri Kana is under new management and offering new options on the menu.

This Southport vegetarian haven has developed a loyal following since opening in 2012 with its simple yet delicious plant-based fare. The restaurant was ahead of the herb when it began operating, however once the Gold Coast caught on to the conscientious lifestyle the business boomed. New owner Prema Bath was a former customer and is now looking to freshen up the restaurant’s offerings. “We’ve been going to Giri Kana for six years,” Prema Bath says. “I would describe the food as a fusion of east meets west, with good old fashioned Australian cuisine. We’re completely revamping the breakfast menu for the winter, and then we’ll bring in a new breakfast menu for the summer. We want to do cauliflower wings, and much more variety of vegan cheese cakes.”

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1. The Cardamom Pod

3/3 Brolga Ave, Southport

Pumpkin protein pancakes from Cardamom Pod. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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Herbivores everywhere give a nod to the Pod, a plant-based cafe creating the most artistic vegan breakfast and lunch meals you’ll ever lay your green eyes on.

A regular winner in our best brunch and best vegetarian eatery votes, the cafe’s fan club isn’t quiet in its appreciation with more than 25,000 followers on Instagram.

“Cardamom Pod Brickworks has an a la carte set up and is famous for the fancy breakfasts and great food styling,” Sean says.

“It’s somewhere you would go to treat someone on a special occasion or on the weekends. It’s also a very popular place for great Insta pics — you may even spot someone famous.”

Southport Cardamom Pod head chef Vijay Krishna. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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The menu takes inspiration from international food trends as well as Sean’s Hare Krishna upbringing in northern New South Wales.

“Our lasting inspiration comes from the community we grew up in where we learned to create blessed food along with our friends from the popular Govindas restaurants who learned in the same tradition,” Sean says.

“We keep a close eye on healthy global food happenings to keep the kitchen super creative and well stocked with good ingredients.”