I have to admit, I haven’t been a very good vegan here in Auckland (I’ve had a bit of cheese here, and a bit of butter there, and the occasional veggie pie…), but things are going to change. I’ve been feeling under the weather, and I know that eating clean helps me out in these situations, so I’m committing to eating vegan full time once again.
So while I’m thinking about it, I’ve decided to document my favorite places to eat as a vegan in Auckland. While I mentioned I’d had some dairy here and there, for the most part, I always elect to eat vegan when I’m out and it’s easy, or when I’m home and doing my own cooking (which doesn’t happen much right now due to the present state of my shared kitchen!)
I’ve always enjoyed exploring different cuisines, restaurants, cafes, markets and festivals, and I’ve selected my best of vegan eats so far. Some of them are from dedicated vegan establishments, others are just accidentally vegan, but no less worthy of being on the list!
So, in no particular order, here’s a wrap up of some of my favorite vegan eats so far … If you don’t have time to read on now, then why not pin it here for later!
Kaiaroha
Located just off Parnell Road, this little spot is a delight. As well as having a cafe serving a complete vegan menu, they have a cabinet full of ready to go items, and they also make their own vegan cheeses. I need to get back here with someone committed to trying the cheese board with me!
The Midnight Baker
Only open on the weekends, the Midnight Baker on Dominion Road was one of my most recent discoveries. It’s got a simple, but delicious menu, with a focus of loaded toasts made with their house made gluten free bread (which they also make into delectable crackers!).
Duck Island Ice Cream
I believe there’s a couple of outlets of Duck Island Ice Cream around town. I went to the one of Ponsonby Road, and rewarded myself for walking all the way from Parnell by indulging in not one, but two scoops. Check out the list of vegan flavors ….
Ika Bowl
Not specifically vegan, but easily adaptable, this cute little Polynesian influenced poke bowl place was a great find. They have a vegan bowl suggestion, or you can simply make up your own bowl. So delicious and refreshing – I’ll definitely be back there again! Bonus points for being located right on Snickel Lane – an adorable little arcade between Fort Lane & Commerce Street.
Tart Vegan Bakery
This one’s on my bus route into the city, so while not super conveniently located, I have stopped off there to test out the pies once. I had some kind of roast veggie concoction, which was great, but I need to get back and try some of their other flavors. As with any bakery worth its weight, they do vegan sausage rolls as well. I need to get back to try them for inspiration to improve my own vegan sausage roll recipe!
Gorilla Kitchen
This place is a little hidden away in Eden Terrace, but it was worth the walk up from K-Road to try it out. I indulged in some Cauliflower Wings and Loaded Fries the night I was there, and it was more than enough for me (I had LO’s!) I did see some of the other food coming out to tables, and it all looked good, so of course I’d love to go back and have another crack at this place as well!
Mimosa Cafe
This cosy little cafe in Takapuna was a great spot to stop for lunch. I could definitely see it being really busy on a weekend (luckily I was there on a Monday!). The fully vegan menu is complimented by some baked goods on the counter. I had a lovely bowl, with tofu, veggies and rice. If it weren’t so far away, I’d be back in a heartbeat.
Good George Craft House
I nearly forgot to include this one – the Good George Craft House has a couple of locations around the city, and seemingly a few great vegan options on the menu. I was in Mission Bay, and had a great window seat overlooking the beach, where I tried these fabulous Beer Battered Banana Blossom Tacos. These banana blossoms had a similar texture to jackfruit, and with a little slaw, pickled onion, and fried caper, they were the perfect bite – filling, but not overwhelming. I would love to go back, as there were a few other vegan items on the menu that I was keen to try out (and I’m sure a couple of beers to test as well!!
Mesob
This totally unassuming food truck just outside the entrance to the Grey Lynn mall serves some kick ass Ethiopian cuisine. This one’s not totally vegan, but they do make all of the veggie dishes vegan I believe. The gals are gorgeous, and while I’ve had to wait for my food a couple of times, it’s only been because they’re making a new batch of whatever it is I want to eat, fresh as I arrive. It’s never more than a 5-10 minute wait, and I generally just go and wander the mall, or buy some groceries while I wait. I wish I had a photo to include, but it seems that I just dig in and inhale each time I order from there!
What else is on the bucket list?
Forest – I’ve read about this place in a couple of articles, and it sounds interesting, so it’s up on the vegan food bucket list
The Butchers Son – I don’t even know where Herne Bay is, but they have a delicious looking bao set up on the front page of their website, so I’m going to have to figure out how to get there!
Khu Khu Eatery – a totally 100% vegan Thai eatery on Ponsonby Road. It looks like a great menu for sharing, so I really wanna head there with someone who’ll appreciate it, and share a few dishes with me!
Giapo – the crazy ice cream place – I believe they have some vegan options, so I might schedule a visit before I leave…
What else do you recommend?
I’ve had a few randomly good accidentally vegan meals – some dumplings at a food festival that were pretty lit, and the vegan pizza from Hell is worth a mention as well (better than the one from Dominos!). I love my food, so I’m always on the lookout for more recommendations. If you’ve got a favorite vegan spot in Auckland, then please let me know!
