Vegan-Friendly Menus Everyone Will Love
Keep everyone happy with these options for vegans and vegetarians.
Updated 2 November 2021
Photography: Morgan Smith
Whether or not you follow a vegan diet, you probably know someone who does. For a whole host of reasons, people are making the switch and looking for cafés and restaurants who will accommodate them. Toowoomba has more and more menus that are either completely vegan or vegan-friendly (as in, they offer more than one measly garden salad). This makes it easier to find a restaurant that suits everyone and keep everyone happy. Yay!
We've rounded up some of our favourite local menus, including a couple that may surprise you.
el attar middle eastern grill
While this Egyptian restaurant serves meat, there are plenty of vegan options on the menu. There's the banquet, which is basically the ultimate Middle Eastern feast, with moussaka, kebab wraps, shared mezze plates, and of course, salads.
Recommendation: Koshari (traditional Egyptian street food of rice, pasta and lentils), or the trio of dips on flatbread if you’re after something lighter
Where: Cnr Neil and Bell Streets (near the bus station)
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Hello Harry
Hello Harry specialises in casual, group meals perfect for catch-ups with mates - and your vegan pals can join in too. They serve up four specialty, mouth-watering vegetarian and vegan burgers that just might be your new favourite take-away.
Recommendation: veggie-lover burger – a juicy stack of grilled mushroom, caramelised onion, and candied pumpkin
Where: 476 Ruthven Street (at Walton Stores)
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gelatissimo
This main street franchise serves dairy-free sorbets, perfect for vegans and anyone with a lactose intolerance. Refreshing and flavour-packed, forget going out for dinner – skip straight to dessert!
Recommendation: choc sorbet, all the way
Where: Cnr Ruthven and Margaret Streets
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URTH CAFÉ
Soak up the sunshine with a fresh, healthy-ish breakfast at Urth. As well as the menu itself, there’s a wide selection of gluten-free and vegan sweets, so everyone can enjoy a coffee catch up together.
Recommendation: the vegan big breakfast complete with avocado, potato rostis, and baked beans
Where: 195 Hume Street
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urban grounds
Beautifully situated across from Laurel Bank Park, this cafe makes for the perfect brunch spot and lucky for us, has a handful of vegetarian and vegan options on the a la carte menu.
Recommendation: garlic roasted mushrooms or avocado smash for breakfast, or sweet potato gnocchi for dinner
Where: 210 Herries Street (across from Laurel Bank Park)
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Zambrero
The place is designed as a build-your-own-adventure. Choose a base meal – such as nachos or a burrito – and then customise it exactly how you like. All the items have vegan or vegetarian options, and kids eat free on Mondays.
Recommendation: vegan burritos with vegan cheese and sour cream
Where: Walton Stores (which, now that we think of it, seems like the vegan menu hotspot!)
Know a local spot that caters for vegan diets? Let us know, and we’ll add it to our list!
