Japanese food is a truly unique and delicious cuisine that everyone can appreciate. However, it can be hard finding vegan substitutes for your favourite dishes when you can’t shake that craving! Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of our top vegan lunch (and dinner) spots around Australia. With locations around Australia’s major cities, hopefully you can try at least one of these fabulous vegan lunches!

Vegan Lunch in Sydney

Lonely Mouth

Photo via Lonely Mouth Ramen on Facebook

Lonely Mouth is Sydney’s only 100% plant-based ramen bar. This restaurant features unique broth flavours to transform their soup bases into the rich and flavour-dense ramen broth that we know and love. Their main flavours are creamy hempseed and sunflower “tonkotsu” ramen, spicy sesame and soymilk tantanmen, and a classic rich miso. Highly rated sides also include cauliflower karaage, housemade Japanese pickles and corn tempura. The name “Lonely Mouth” comes from the Japanese phrase “kuchi sabishii,” which describes the feeling of when your mouth is lonely, so you eat even if you are not hungry. So if your mouth is feeling lonely, this restaurant is sure to leave you satisfied!

【Address】 275 Australia St, Newtown NSW 2042

【Website】https://lonelymouth.mobi2go.com/

【Phone】(02)9519 2465

【Opening Hours】 Mon-Tue: Closed, Wed: 5-9pm, Thurs: 12-2:30pm, 5-9pm, Fri: 12-2:30pm, 5-9.30pm,   Sat: 12-9:15pm, Sun: 12-8pm

O’uchi

Photo via O’Uchi on Instagram

O’Uchi is an Organic Japanese restaurant specialising in seasonal tastes and using fresh Australian ingredients. While the lunch menu is amazing, the atmosphere at night transforms into a romantic hideaway in the city which is perfect for date night! The menu offers a variety of vegan-friendly and gluten and soy-free dishes, which are all clearly labelled on the menu. Vegan dishes include miso eggplant don, Japanese curry, sesame ramen, and sticky rice shiitake tofu gyoza. They also feature some uniquely Japanese cocktails such as yuzu highball, umeshu soda and sweet potato shochu. They even have in-house organic flavoured sake including lychee with chamomile, apple with yuzu and passionfruit and mango. If you’re in Sydney, this place is a must!

【Address】 80 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000

【Website】https://ouchi.com.au/

【Phone】(02) 9299 3237

【Opening Hours】 Tues-Fri: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-8pm, Sat: 5-8pm, Sun-Mon: Closed

Vegan Lunch in Melbourne

Neko Neko

Photo via Zomato

Neko Neko offers a variety of rainbow colours and hearty flavours with their vegan options. While the menu is not 100% vegan, all their options are clearly labelled for your convenience. Favourites include croquettes, agedashi tofu with miso eggplant, Japanese curry and a selection of vegan ramen. Their side dishes for each meal are like a colour palette of nutrition-dense goodness and are alone worth coming for. If you’re a fan of presentation and flavourful food, make sure you check out Neko Neko!

【Address】 83A Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

【Website】https://www.mryum.com/nekoneko

【Phone】(03)9415 6026

【Opening Hours】 Mon-Sat: 5:30-8:30pm, Sun: Closed

Chocolate Buddha

Photo via Chocolate Buddha on Facebook

Chocolate Buddha is an express sushi and casual Japanese restaurant. It was newly renovated by award-winning architect Peter Maddison and now features two high tech sushi trains. You can try their many vegan options delivered straight to you via their new bullet train system for a fun dining experience. Vegan options include green tea soba noodle salad, rice paper sushi and grilled vegetable nigiri. All dietary options are clearly labelled on the menu for peace of mind. For an aesthetic and culinary experience, don’t miss Chocolate Buddha!

【Address】 Federation Square, Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

【Website】https://chocolatebuddha.com.au/

【Phone】(03)9654 5688

【Opening Hours】 Tues-Sat: 11:30am-10pm, Sun-Mon: 11:30am-9:30pm

Brim CC

Photo via Rebeccapotato on Happy Cow

Brim CC is a homely Organic Japanese eatery with a minimalist interior. They offer a few options for vegans and a lot of the vegetarian dishes can easily be swapped to vegan friendly alternatives. Satisfying vegan meals include a tofu don, vegetable Japanese curry and vegan bento box alternatives. The portions are very generous and you can feel good about eating the fresh organic ingredients!

【Address】 Shop 2/601 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000

【Phone】(03)8672 9934

【Opening Hours】 Mon-Fri: 11am-7:30pm, Sat-Sun: Closed

Vegan Lunch in Gold Coast

Izakaya Midori

Photo via Izakaya Midori on Facebook

Izakaya Midori is the Gold Coast’s first all-vegan Japanese restaurant. The restaurant uses innovative and modern techniques to create delicious dishes that anyone could enjoy. Rather than trying to create fake meat substitutes, the dishes celebrate the produce in a way that is not only pleasing to the eye – but also to the taste buds! You’re spoilt for choice with everything from karaage curries and gyoza to nigiri sushi and ramen. The Izakaya doesn’t disappoint with a variety of hot, cold and sparkling Japanese sake and beers for you to enjoy with your meal. If you’ve been craving the authenticity of Japanese cuisine with a plant-based twist – look no further than Izakaya Midori.

【Address】 Shop 7/50 Woodland Dr, Reedy Creek QLD 4227

【Facebook】https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Izakaya-Midori-2615552705130915/

【Phone】(07)5645 6625

【Opening Hours】 Sun-Thurs: 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-9:30pm, Tues: Closed

Vegan Lunch in Adelaide

Ginza Miyako

Photo via babelovevegan on Instagram

Ginza Miyako is a fine dining establishment specialising in Japanese and French fusion cuisine. The focus of this restaurant is to highlight the fresh flavours of Japanese food with the technique of French cuisine. Vegan dishes include an assortment of vegan sushi and hibachi grill pumpkin, okra and king abalone mushroom with ponzu sauce. You also can’t go past the slow braised daikon and vegan tempura with matcha salt. You can even complete your meal with their signature vegan dessert of soymilk pudding with mochi, fruits and azuki. If this sounds up your alley, make sure to treat yourself to a vegan fine dining experience with Ginza Miyako!

【Address】 Stamford Plaza Hotel, 150 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000

【Website】https://www.ginzamiyako.com.au/

【Phone】(08)822 16147

【Opening Hours】 Mon-Sat: 12-2:30pm, 6-8:30pm, Sun: Closed

Vegan Lunch in Perth

Ramen Ichiraku

Photo via Ramen Ichiraku on Instagram

Ramen Ichiraku has an entire menu dedicated to vegan-friendly meals. Their highlight is their Shoyu Truffle ramen, a rich soy broth with delicate truffle and tofu. They also feature flavours such as curry, sesame and peanut, miso, dark shoyu and the incredibly spicy “Red Dragon” for brave eaters. You also can’t go past their vegan sides of faux popcorn chicken, “cheeseburger” gyoza and lotus chips. Their unique drink menu makes for a complete meal with sodas including vegan strawberries and cream, sakura lychee and pina colada. So if you’re looking for plant-based Japanese food in Perth, look no further than Ramen Ichiraku!

【Address】 43 Monger St, Perth WA 6000

【Website】https://www.ramenichirakuperth.com/

【Phone】(04)508 72128

【Opening Hours】 Mon-Fri: 4-9pm, Sat-Sun: 11:30am-9pm, Tue: Closed

Japanese cuisine should be enjoyed by all, regardless of dietary restrictions! We hope you can enjoy at least one of these delicious restaurants in your area. Didn’t feature your favourite vegan Japanese restaurant? Let us know your favourites in the comment section below!