It’s becoming easier and easier to eat out if you don’t like food derived from animal products, like dairy or eggs. Today, vegan eateries are popping up everywhere in the city, offering some creative meat-free options. Whether you’re a long-time vegan or just started your plant-based journey and are are looking for fresh ideas, these are our picks of the vegan restaurants in Johannesburg to try.
The Fussy Vegan
Launched in 2018, Fussy Vegan was founded to educate the public on veganism and stand up against animal cruelty in the food industry. They proudly uphold their slogan: ‘For the Animals, for the Planet, For Yourself.’
Voted the Best Vegan Restaurant in Joburg 2021, they provide well-rounded and nutritional meals determined to convince customers how delicious and comforting plant-based food can be without it having to be unhealthy.
Their menu consists mainly of vegan meals but also shares some room for vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free options. If you ever find yourself confused about what you can and can’t eat, their cute, easy-to-read icons are located next to each menu item to help you choose a meal that best suits your dietary needs.
When: Monday to Thursday, 10am to 7.15pm. Friday to Saturday, 10.30am to 8pm. Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Where: The Fussy Vegan, 34 Gleneagles Road, Greenside
Website: thefussyvegan.o.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 067 342 8604
Lekker Vegan
Often people associate veganism with a life of salads and wraps – and as healthy and delicious as these can be, sometimes we all crave a bit of junk food!
Fortunately, Lekker Vegan is dedicated to making you plant-based comfort foods with the best meat, cheese and dairy alternatives, so you won’t feel like you are missing out on those indulgent classics like a cheeseburger or gatsby. Most vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians choose plant-based living for health, environmental or ethical reasons so making vegan food taste like foods you are used to will hopefully make transitioning into a more plant-based diet a whole lot more lekker.
When: Monday to Friday, 11am to 7pm. Saturday to Saturday. 10am to 5pm.
Where: Lekker Vegan, 1159 John Vorster Rd Glen Dayson A.H, Honeydew, Roodepoort
Website: lekkervegan.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 072 834 3915
The Vegan Chef
Established in 2019 by Sue Gajathar, The Vegan Chef (TVC) is a proudly South African-affiliated franchise whose success paved the way for four branches throughout Gauteng, with an additional two in KwaZulu-Natal (Durban North and Umhlanga).
Their menu lists a broad selection of plant-based comfort and healthy foods, from vegan Southern Fried Chickn, battered Vish (vegan fish), sticky ribs and burgers, to healthy poke bowls. They are constantly attempting to push culinary boundaries and recipes for the benefit of the consumers.
You don’t have to take our word for this restaurant’s eminence. They boast accolades such as Best Vegan Restaurant Globally (voted by @Abillion -August 2021), Best Vegan Southern Fried Chickn, and Best Vegan Franchise in Africa (Lux Life UK).
When: Monday to Wednesday, 9am to 8pm. Thursday to Saturday, 9am to 9pm. Sunday, 9am to 6pm.
Where: The Vegan Chef, Shop 18A, Benmore Shopping Centre, Grayston Drive &, Benmore Rd, Benmore Gardens, Sandton
Website: theveganchef.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 072 117 8550
Vegetarian restaurants in Johannesburg
Jackson’s Real Food Market
Jackson’s Real Food Market is a small family-run restaurant and store that specialises in alternative food supply that is free of growth hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, chemically manufactured flavourings and pesticides while showcasing local farmers and producers.
You can enjoy their 100% real and organic produce at their eatery before picking up some groceries; it’s the perfect place for foodies who want to learn, taste and relax while shopping in a warm and friendly environment.
Shop online for your favourite vegan and organic brands from local suppliers and farmers with honest, old-fashioned, organic and biodynamic principles and ethos. All this to ensure that you get real food at prices that compete with other retailers.
When: Monday to Saturday, 07.30am to 6.30pm. Sunday, 7.30am to 5pm.
Where: 300 Bryanston Dr, Entry on St James Crescent, Bryanston | Kyalami Corner, Cnr Main + R55, Kyalami | 85 Boeing Rd E, Bedfordview
Website: jacksonsrealfoodmarket.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 463 1598
Fresh Earth Cafe
At Fresh Earth, creating a new understanding of health and sustainability so that a fresher earth becomes our reality is the desire that drives the business.
Their menu items are created, tried and tested by owner and nutritional chef Matthew Ballenden, who loves to create the best quality meals from scratch. Fresh Earth believes that food in its purest form, untainted by artificial additives, sweeteners, colourants and preservatives, is the best-tasting and most nutritious food there is.
Besides vegetarian and vegan options, they also offer banting-friendly and gluten-free menu items, including a ‘Table of Abundance’ buffet-style harvest table with fresh bakes, curries, wild rice, beautiful salads, fritters and interesting sides. You can also stock up on fresh produce in-store or order from their online shop.
When: Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5pm. Saturday, 7am to 5pm. Sunday, 7am to 3pm.
Where: Delta Central, 74 Hillcrest Ave, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg
Website: freshearth.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 646 4404
Annapurni
Annapurni serves a meatless take on South Indian cuisine such as the thali, dosas, idlis, vades, and a few others that are beginning to become more recognisable to the average Joburger. This restaurant in Sandton has expanded its menu to include a South Indian Bakery and Café, one of the very few spots where you can get bakes from South India which a particular clan called Iyengars picked up from the British.
You’ll find vada (a savoury fried lentil snack similar in appearance to a doughnut), wheat roti with a delicate potato curry, and a few hearty North Indian dishes.
When: Daily, 9am to 9pm
Where: 17 11th Ave, Edenburg, Sandton
Website: annapurni.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 083 445 2080
Fruit & Roots
Since it began in 1985, Fruits and Roots wholefood emporium has become an institution of healthy eating, providing the freshest, tastiest and absolute best that Mother Nature has to offer.
They are especially proud of the in-house vegetarian restaurant, which is an integral part of the shop, flowing out into a light and airy courtyard. It is the ideal venue for a meal with like-minded food-conscious friends (or even more sceptical friends). You can enjoy a daily vegetarian buffet featuring a selection of dishes that can even inspire your cooking.
They also offer an extensive range of products that cover all aspects of leading a greener lifestyle, including an extensive range of supplements, body care, and house cleaning products. Just pick up the ingredients you need from their natural and organic foods store, and you’re ready to go!
When: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Saturday, 8am to 3.30pm. Sunday, 9am to 2pm.
Where: Hobart Corner Shopping Centre, c/o Hobart & Grosvenor Rd, Bryanston
Website: ruitsandroots.co.za | Email: [email protected]| Tel: 011 463 2928
Asian Herbivore
Asian Herbivore brings the bold, comforting flavours of Asia to diners’ plates, without relying on meat.
The restaurant adopts Asian culinary habits by incorporating vegetables, spices, and plant-based ingredients that are naturally vegetarian or vegan, featuring tofu, soy, or other plant-based substitutes. Using the freshest ingredients they can source, Asian Herbivore becomes a space where meat-free foods are exciting but also a welcoming space where people of all dietary preferences can connect.
When: Daily, 11.15am to 9pm.
Where: Asian Herbivore Restaurant, Shop U6, Melrose Crossing, 83 Corlett Dr, Birnam
Website: www.asianherbivore.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 067 073 6592
Nature’s Finest
A vegetarian restaurant with a strong Taiwanese influence, Nature’s Finest serves wholesome meatless meals.
In addition to the meat-free options, Nature’s Finest also serves vegan options, including scrambled tofu, as well as vegan burgers and even vegan milks.
When: Wednesday to Monday, 7.30am to 6pm. Closed on Tuesday.
Where: Nature’s Finest, 24 Bradford Rd, Bedfordview, Germiston
Website: www.facebook.com/naturesfinestsa | Tel: 067 073 6592
Shayona
Shayona is a vegetarian restaurant with a few branches across Gauteng, offering authentic traditional Indian vegetarian and vegan cuisine, including flavorful curries, fresh rotis, and extensive sweetmeats.
While the menu is rooted in traditional Indian meals, some branches offer a more diverse menu featuring vegetarian and vegan-friendly pizzas and pastas.
When: Daily, 11am to 9pm (Illovo); Monday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm, Friday to Sunday, 8am to 9pm (Centurion); Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to 8pm, Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 9.30pm (Northriding); Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm, Sunday, 10am to 8pm (Mayfair West)
Where: Shayona, Thrupps Centre, 204 Oxford Rd, Illovo | Shayona, 294 Jewel St, Laudium, Centurion | Shayona, BAPS Hindu Mandir & Cultural Complex, 4 Dexter Rd, Northriding | Shayona, 76 St Gothard Ave, Mayfair West, Johannesburg
Website: shayona.co.za | Tel: 071 938 3184 (Illovo); 071 938 3184 (Centurion); 078 028 1384 (Northriding); 078 028 1384 (Mayfair)
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