More Than Just Healthy: 9 Vegetarian Restaurants in Penang That ACTUALLY Serve Good Food
Growing up with a vegetarian mom, I couldn’t help but always look at her in a weird way when we eat out. As my favorite dishes were heavy on meat, I just could not understand why she’d choose a salad over a cheeseburger.
It wasn’t until I grew up that I realised that vegetarian dishes aren’t that bad—in fact, I’ve gotten a liking to them and they’re what I mostly get for breakfast here in Penang.
A huge part of this conversion, however, was the fantastic selection of vegetarian restaurants in Penang, and I’m here to share my favourite ones with you. These innovative spots helped me break the stigma of thinking vegetarian dishes can’t be good, so keep on reading!
Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant
– Media credit: woodlandsrestaurant
Address: 60, Lebuh Penang, George Town
Contact details: +60 4-263 9764
Operating hours:
- Friday to Wednesday: 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Woodlands Restaurant is among the most famous vegetarian spots in Penang, spanning multiple branches across the state and in China. They’re one of the first Indian vegetarian restaurants in the world as well, being around since 1981.
It’s not hard to see why people love this place too, as they made these dishes accessible price and taste-wise. For instance, dishes like dosas and banana leaf rice are offered extremely cheaply and feature authentic Indian spices.
They also offer a cosy and welcoming ambience that’s perfect for family dinners or even romantic dates! Also, you’ll be treated to fantastic aromas from the moment you enter their doors until you finish your meals.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something sweet to wash down your savoury vegetarian meals, we recommend ordering their mango lassi! It’s thick, refreshing and features just the right amount of sweetness.
The Garden Banana Leaf
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Address: 50, Jalan Free School
Contact details: +60 17-896 2331
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $
The Garden Banana Leaf is a hidden gem in George Town that’s highly regarded by locals as the best place to get Indian food in the city. It’s hard to dispute this claim either, as the restaurant’s methods are as authentic as they can be and the prices are superbly cheap!
One of their best offerings here is the titular banana leaf rice, which is served alongside various vegetarian-based dishes that change by the day. During our visit, we were treated to heaping scoops of fried cauliflower, mangoes, and bananas.
Yes, we were sceptical at first, but the fruits did go well with their authentic fried rice. Our verdict? Don’t knock on it until you try it! Also, each of these sets comes with naan, and of course, a bowl of their spicy curry—yum!
Pro tip:
We recommend getting either their masala tea or mango lassi to pair with your banana leaf rice set. Alternatively, you could just go for water, which is free, but where’s the fun in that?
Pinxin Vegan Cuisine
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Address: 38, Lebuh Tye Sin
Contact details: +60 19-481 7832
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re craving Malaysian/Chinese dishes but want to avoid meat at all costs, then Pinxin Vegan Cuisine should be on your radar! It’s one of those places that replicate meat-based dishes using vegetables (and other vegan ingredients).
One of the best examples of this is their satay, which is a beloved Malay street food that’s usually made with chicken or beef. Here, they replace the meat with hericium mushrooms but retain the iconic peanut sauce that the dish is known for.
If you’re looking for something that somewhat resembles a salad, however, then the rojak platter is the best option for you. This messy plate of cucumbers, mango, and pineapple, together with the sweet, sour and salty rojak sauce, will provide your tastebuds with a festival of flavours!
Pro tip:
You can make some of their amazing vegan dishes at home! (sort of). They offer some of their offerings in frozen form, so all you have to do is put them in a microwave for a couple of minutes, and you’re golden!!
Neko Vegan House
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Address: 375H, Chulia St
Contact details: +60 12-471 1150
Operating hours: Friday to Tuesday: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $$
Neko Vegan House is one of the most Insta-worthy vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Penang, featuring a cutesy and homey interior decor. It also features a welcoming vibe that will make you feel like you’re eating at a family member’s house instead of a restaurant!
Ambience and decor aside, the food in Neko Vegan House is worth highlighting as well! One of our favourite dishes to order is their vegetarian-friendly sushi platter, which tastes (and looks) just like the real deal!
We love pairing these bite-sized goodies with their delicious udon soup, which features some of the most springy noodles we’ve tried in Penang. Lastly, to add some crunch into the mix, we also love ordering their fried dumplings.
Pro tip:
While you’re here, make sure to explore Love Lane and discover the various charming shophouses turned cafes, restaurants and stores found in this street.
Plant a Seed Vegan
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Address: 72-1-29, Jalan Mahsuri, Arena Curve
Contact details: +60 18-400 2928
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Formerly known as SUPE, Plant a Seed Vegan is a great spot to check out if you’re craving guilt-free Japanese food. You won’t have to look further than their selection of handcrafted sushi to learn this, as they use traditional methods to create vegan and vegetarian-friendly variations.
One of the best examples of this is their kanpyo maki, which captures its savoury flavour thanks to its use of calabash gourd. They also offer healthy variations that don’t skimp on taste, like the refreshing kappa maki, which features fresh Japanese cucumber and vegan mayo.
However, the standout from their menu is undoubtedly their vegetarian ramen noodles. Usually, we love a bit of pork shoulder in our shoyu ramen, but we were surprised to discover that smoky eggplant, sprouts and mushrooms go better with this flavour.
Pro tip:
Regardless of what dish you order, you MUST try their green tea because this is as authentic as it can get! Plus, for only RM3, you can enjoy a refillable glass!
Evergreen Vegetarian
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Address: 39 A, Jalan Cantonment
Contact details: +60 4-226 0209
Operating hours: Thursday to Tuesday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $
Evergreen Vegetarian offers the best win-win situation for foodie and vegetarians alike because of their delicious and dirt-cheap prices. This no-frills eatery offers a buffet, and the spread is impressively varied with different meat-free Malay dishes taking the forefront.
Out of all these mouthwatering choices, however, our favourite has to be the curry mee. It’s hard to find a flaw in this dish, as it features the perfect amount of kick while also being overloaded with springy noodles, mushrooms and other fresh vegetables.
Best of all, they also serve a variety of vegetarian desserts, among which is our go-to bean curd stick, which features the silkiest tofu. Moreover, they also offer steamed buns with sweet bean fillings—the perfect way to end a savoury meal.
Pro tip:
Getting here is easy via commuting! All you have to do is ride the bus and depart at the Pangsapuri Festival bus stop, and from there, you only have to walk straight down the block to reach the restaurant.
Lily’s Vegetarian Kitchen
– Media credit: tamchiakdiary
Address: 98, Lorong Madras
Contact details: +60 4-226 3810
Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 7:45 PM
Cost: $
Indonesian and Malaysian food go together like peanut butter and jelly, and Lily’s Vegatarian Kitchen impressively proves this without using meat! A great way they showcase this is through their vegetarian assam laksa, which tastes just as good, if not better than the regular version.
They also offer a hearty bowl of dry wonton noodle that we’ve tried time and time again during those rare rainy days in Penang. From the texture of the noodles to the abundance of bok choy and other ingredients, everything about this dish is slurp-worthy!
Lastly, we also love their wide selection of drinks like lime juice, sour plum juice and jasmine tea because they go well with their dishes. Personally, we love drinking their milo, as it doubles as a dessert and a refreshing drink!
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something other than Milo to wash the flavours from your mouth, we recommend getting their tau hu ha. It’s a classic Malay sweet that consists of silken tofu and a unique brown sweetener.
Zen Xin Vegetarian
– Media credit: dawnrose_jamie
Address: 42, Jalan Nagor
Contact details: +60 4-228 6828
Operating hours: Wednesday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:15 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Zen Xin Vegetarian should be on your radar if you love Chinese and Cantonese food, regardless of whether you eat meat or not! For starters, they offer a cosy dining experience in their beautifully preserved Nyonya-style interior.
Moreover, they offer spectacular dishes from the aforementioned cuisines, among which is the fish soup, which is our personal favourite. This dish, paired with their amazing spinach tofu, is a lightning in a bottle—the combination of flavours is simply unbelievable.
If you’re looking for something local, however, we recommend getting their char kway teow! This classic stir-fried noodle dish cuts back on the meat while retaining the iconic smoky and soy sauce-y taste.
Pro tip:
If you’re done eating but still want to spend some time with your loved ones, you can head to the Urban Artisan Cafe just down the block! This place offers a cosy spot for hangouts, and an amazing selection of coffee and non-coffee drinks.
Sincere Co.
– Media credit: sincerelypg21
Address: Unit 6, Level 1, 9-01-01, Jalan Moulmein
Contact details: +60 10-267 2018
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing spot that offers cute and delicious vegetarian food, then Sincere Co. is your best bet! This place features a minimalist interior that’s perfect for taking Insta-worthy pics.
The same can be said about their dishes too, as they’re beautifully presented. They perfectly showcase this with their miang kam, which is essentially a crunchy salad consisting of betel leaves, ginger and fresh nuts.
They also serve a variety of traditional Malay sweets like sweet corn cendol, which is the perfect treat on a summer day. Of course, they also offer healthy dessert options like their oatmilk and cinnamon ice cream.
Pro tip:
If you’re coming with picky eaters, we recommend ordering their quesadillas. This follows the traditional Mexican-style recipe, complete with delicious homemade guac on the side.