Vegan heaven: eight of the best spots for vegan food in Moreland
Plant based food continues to increase in popularity and businesses in the inner north are matching the growth. A local vegan spills the beans on the best spots to eat.
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Vegan food is more available than ever in Moreland as businesses move quickly to keep up with those who shun animal products either for life or just for the day.
Pascoe Vale South resident Faye Michael captures the best plant-based food she comes across on Instagram through her profile @veganopoulous and said vegan food has spread throughout the inner north in recent years.
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“There’s been a definite increase in the number of vegan products, not only sold in vegan or health stores but also in supermarkets,” she said.
Brunswick’s iconic pub The Cornish Arms has installed a ‘Vegan Jackpot’ on Tuesdays for years and owner Tom Mahoney said mixing it up each week allows for a bit of creativity in the kitchen and can open customers up to trying something new.
“It forces us to come up with something new and if it is well received it can make it onto the menu,” he said.
“We get plenty of experimental vegans that come in to try it out. We also get a lot of people who come in to try a vegan snack and eat a steak for their main meal.”
Faye Michael’s top eight venues in Moreland for a vegan hit.
This Brunswick East eatery specialises in noodle and curry dishes but its signature is far different. The Zinger Tower burger features a patty and vegan bacon, which pairs perfectly with the mock popcorn chicken.
“The Origin Tales in Brunswick is my current favourite place to eat. Their Singapore char kway teow has a delicious smokiness that makes for an excellent dish and their Zinger Tower burger features a vegan version of fried chicken”.
41 Lygon St, Brunswick East. Phone: 8383 9061
The baked goods are a standout at this friendly cafe, particularly a cookie cupcake. For those looking for a bigger feed, the schnitzel burger and Big Mac-style Big Burger are sure to fill any vegan stomach.
104, Kent Rd, Pascoe Vale.
Ray’s rock-inspired vegan menu has all the basics but for those who like a bit of sugar with their breakfast, the Black Maple Society will hit the sweet tooth. Banana chocolate mousse and black tahini maple on french toast alongside a miso ice cream sandwich is enough to give anyone their energy fix.
332 Victoria St, Brunswick. Phone: 9380 8593
A Coburg institution, True North’s deep vegan menu includes jalapeño scrambled tofu and a special Reuben sandwich featuring vegan pastrami to satisfy cold cuts cravings.
2A Munro St, Coburg. Phone: 9917 2262
This ever-reliable pub has a regular vegan menu to go with its Tuesday jackpot.
“It’s unashamedly a homage to greasy pub food,” Mr Mahoney said. The vegan souvlaki and ‘chicken’ Kiev are two popular main dishes ordered, while those after a snack will find it hard to go past the vegan bacon mac and cheese.
163A Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Phone: 9380 8383
This socially conscious venue focuses on female empowerment and social responsibility so the Penny Wong — a pumpkin and hummus marriage on toast — will taste even better. Handsome Her doesn’t provide takeaway cups to customers, those without a reusable mug are offered a chance to pick from the ‘emergency mug wall’ to carry out their brew.
206 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Phone: 8383 7360
This gelato spot offers a range of vegan flavours for an after dinner treat. The flavours change daily so it can be hard to keep up but ‘Blue Pom Pom’ featuring pomegranate and blueberries is a sweet choice, while Ms Michael said the dark chocolate flavours are worth a lick.
71 Melville Rd, Pascoe Vale South.
The stout is the hero here usually, but The Snug claims to have developed the first Irish Vegan Menu. Standard been snacks apply here of course but to warm wintry souls how can you go past a vegan roast chicken or mushroom and Guinness stew? The pipes are calling …
68 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Phone: 9388 8756
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