One of my favorite things to do while abroad is visiting the local markets. They’re always the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and go souvenir shopping (I tend to lean toward practical or edible souvenirs for loved ones back home), and it’s also an ideal way to spend an afternoon. I love watching the way locals gravitate towards, what their favorites are, and what the individual vendors have to offer.
So when we were in Christchurch, we had to walk through Riverside Market. Overlooking the Avon River, this indoor market is open seven days a week and is filled to the brim with over 60 shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and more, and regularly hosts events and co-ops in its open floor plan. It was truly the perfect way to start our road trip on the South Island, especially because we needed a bit of a breather after all the driving we had already done up until that point. If you’re able to build in time to your itinerary to browse the market here, I highly recommend it.
As for my fellow vegans, you’ll have no trouble finding vegan-friendly food options here. For a list of vegan food options at Riverside Market, read below.
Base Woodfired Pizza
Founded in 2011, Base Pizza should be your go-to option, using only high-quality ingredients for their wood-fired pizzas, which have become a Christchurch staple. They even offer a gluten-free pizza base, but they have an entire menu of vegan pizzas, including margherita, mushroom and feta, pepperoni, and supreme. They use a variety of vegan cheeses for their mozzarella, feta, and parmesan. If the pizza wasn’t enough, they also offer vegan milkshakes with a coconut or soy milk base, available in a variety of flavors: chocolate, Oreo, vanilla, banana, and chocolate banana.
Black Burger
If you’re looking for the (self-proclaimed) “best damn cheeseburger in New Zealand”, look no further than Black Burger. Created by three friends who recognized the lack of an LA-style cheeseburger in the area, they started this restaurant and perfected their burgers. They offer a plant-based burger, complete with a vegan patty and vegan cheddar cheese, on a vegan bun with additional toppings, AND it costs the same as the regular burger. Their house sides should also be vegan-friendly, but I would first confirm what oil they’re fried in and if there’s a risk of cross-contamination.
Veggie Guy Bobby
Not quite food, but if you’re looking for fresh produce if you’re cooking on your New Zealand road trip, definitely hit up Veggie Guy Bobby in the market.
She Chocolaterie
Though I can’t find specific information, She Chocolaterie boasts an impressive selection of chocolates. According to the market’s website, “She is New Zealand’s only chocolatier and confiseur in that they craft both from the cacao bean and work with the finest full bean chocolate crafted by Trade Aid in Christchurch. The chocolate is made on-site, and all of their products are gluten-free and vegetarian, with a wide range of vegan and superfood chocolate options. This could be a great souvenir idea to bring back home alongside Whittaker’s Chocolate for any non-vegan family and friends.
Dosa Kitchen
If you’re looking for a wide range of Indian food, check out Dosa Kitchen. They have a few vegan options available upon request (the jackfruit masala, likely), but their dosas and idli should also be vegan-friendly. Their dosas are also gluten-free. When I was there, they had a vegan box for a lunch deal, so you can ask if that’s still available.
Herba Gourmet
For a lighter, healthier option, visit Herba Gourmet for salad bowls! The crispy falafel and BBQ-pulled jackfruit are vegan-friendly protein options, as are all eight of their salad and side options. The hand cut chips and kumara ribbons are also vegan-friendly.
Kaiser Brew Garden
If you want a more energetic atmosphere, head over to Kaiser Brew Garden. Their garden salad is vegan as is, and their margherita and mushroom & feta pizza pies can be modified to be vegan-friendly. Quite a few of their small plates are vegan as is or have a vegan-friendly option, including fried cauliflower, blackened broccoli, Brussels sprouts, agria potato fries, and kumara fries.
Cluck Cluck Slurp
You might assume that a place called ‘Cluck Cluck Slurp‘ wouldn’t have any vegetarian options, let alone vegan, but you would be wrong (just as I was). They have vegan veggie dumplings, a vegan-friendly mapo tofu roti, and a vegetarian ramen that can be made vegan.
Ramen Ria
For more vegan ramen options and a whole host of other vegan-friendly dishes to choose from, stop by Ramen Ria. They have two vegan ramen options: the miso ginger ramen and the spicy vegan tantanmen. However, they have so many vegan options to choose from: the tempura vegetable bao buns, seaweed salad, spicy stir fry and vegetable donburi, two brothless noodle dishes (ria’s stir fry noodles and vegan rice noodles), spiced edamame, and vegan dumplings. They even have a vegan bento box that comes with edamame kakiage, tofu, vegan gyoza, and vegan mayo alongside the other typical standard bento box items.
Midnight Shanghai
If you want food and entertainment, visit Midnight Shanghai for Shanghainese food and karaoke. They have an entire range of vegan-friendly options that are either vegan as is or can be made vegan (the menu is clearly labeled), including: edamame, steamed dumplings, tempura cauliflower, golden sand cauliflower, mapo tofu, eggplant fries, wok fried market greens, shanghai fried noodle, flat rice noodles, x.o fried rice, and sweet sour pork. All of their side dishes are also vegan-friendly. I’d recommend booking in advance.
Mediterranean Foods
Though nothing is vegan as is, if you’re craving Greek food, this is the spot to hit up. Their online menu isn’t clear, but I would ask in-person about what can be made vegan-friendly.
Gelato & Tea
For a sweet treat, don’t miss Gelato & Tea. They have many vegan-friendly gelato flavors (and not just sorbet, which is typical). As of this publication, these flavors include: black Hawaii, milk chocolate, mango, and passionfruit sorbet, Italian tiramisu, and vanilla. They also have seasonal flavors, so a few of those may also be vegan-friendly.
Bacon Brothers
Despite the name, the Bacon Brothers can make any of their burgers vegan! But they have four burgers that are vegan as is: Bryan the Fireman, Sweet Sweet Clo, Sass, and Big Jim’s Ex Girlfriend. They also have loaded fries that are vegan-friendly (called ‘First Date’), complete with coconut bacon.
Indo Tempeh
Most, if not all, vegans are familiar with the plant-based protein source called tempeh. If you don’t know what it is, tempeh is a fermented soy product that originated in Indonesia and is the star of Indo Tempeh’s menu. They are also a fully vegetarian restaurant with an ample amount of vegan-friendly options, including sushi, fried wontons, and more.
Did I miss any vegan food at Riverside Market? Let me know in the comments below!
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