Chances are that if you’re traveling to New Zealand, you’ll be flying through Auckland. And if you’re reading this post, you’re probably looking for vegan food in Auckland.
Traveling anywhere as a vegan can be a challenge but it isn’t impossible. And as far as places to visit, Aotearoa is one of your best choices. So, is New Zealand a vegan-friendly destination to visit? Spoiler alert: it is. I LOVED eating on my trip and I didn’t fear it. I had no trouble finding options in most places we visited. I’m working on a series of blog posts focusing on vegan food options in the country, as well as my answer to the aforementioned question.
However, for now, here’s an inexhaustive list of places with vegan food in Auckland, whether they’re a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, or a non-vegan restaurant with options.
east
One of my favorite places that I ate at during my trip, east, is an Asian-inspired and plant-powered vegetarian restaurant. It was within walking distance from our hotel that night (the Auckland City Hotel, review to come). When I first started doing research for vegan food in New Zealand and began with Auckland, I moved east to the top of my list, and it did not disappoint. We had the gochujang cauliflower and fried, caramelized eggplant, both of which were excellent. It’s a shame we weren’t as hungry because I would have sampled half the menu. According to their website, 75% of their menu is vegan and I believe it; it’s also clearly labeled. And the atmosphere was incredible to boot.
Khu Khu
Khu Khu is a Thai-inspired, 100% vegan restaurant with three locations in Auckland, including one in the Central Business District. They offer gluten-free and allergen-free options on their menu, as well as a bottomless brunch. Their dishes are designed to share, so bring a group and try as much as you can. And don’t forget to top off your meal with dessert: deep-fried banana ice cream or peanut butter and jelly sago.
Revive Cafe
Revive Cafe is more than just a cafe. They also sell their own products, including nut butter and muesli, and they have a catering menu! Everything served at the cafe is accompanied by biodegradable cutlery and packaging. If you’re looking for a lighter bite or a warm home-cooked meal, this is the place to go.
Sunflower Thai Vegetarian Restaurant
Sunflower Thai is a Thai-inspired restaurant in Auckland and despite its name, serves a 100% vegan menu. It’s actually the only all-vegan Thai restaurant in the city. I’m still disappointed I didn’t get a chance to go because this was at the top of my list of places to try but it has such rave reviews from vegans and non-vegans alike that you should definitely stop by if you can.
Gorilla Kitchen
Gorilla Kitchen is another fully vegan restaurant that serves American and Western-style food (think burgers, pizza, and nachos) and has three locations across Auckland. They also have pancakes if you go early! Plus, I love that they have non-alcoholic drinks too. They’re an Auckland staple and great for a familiar, plant-based bite.
Wise Boys Burgers
Another one of the top places on my list, Wise Boy Burgers is a 100% vegan, plant-based burger stand. I would drink buffalo sauce straight from the bottle so I had to try the Spicy Buffalo Chick’n sandwich, which was a little messy but oh-so-delicious. You can get fries, tots or onion rings on the side (I love tots!) but it’s hard to find vegan onion rings so if you like those, definitely get them. They also do dessert, like ice cream sandwiches, but I stuck with a peanut butter choc milkshake. A little heavy for me but it’s expected.
Maison des Lys Patisserie
Another place that I regret not having a chance to visit is Maison des Lys Patisserie, an authentic French and VEGAN patisserie in Auckland. It’s also New Zealand’s first plant-based French patisserie. They have two locations, both of which are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; the Grey Lynn shop is also closed on Wednesdays. Because I landed on a Monday, I couldn’t go, but I would travel back to Auckland on a weekend JUST to try these pastries. I loved croissants before switching to a plant-based diet, and I still seek them out everywhere (the ones at Whole Foods were heaven-sent until I started boycotting). I highly recommend visiting this shop, even if I’ve never been there.
Little Bird Kitchen
With a 100% plant-based menu, Little Bird Kitchen is a charming cafe that offers a variety of options for a light bite. Their menu features fusion options, such as Vietnamese crepes, mochi waffles, and kimchi pancakes. They even make their own almond and hazelnut milks, and offer vegan protein powder to add to their smoothies!
Chur Bae
Chur Bae is a Western and Korean fusion non-vegan restaurant with vegan options, including smashed avocado or mushrooms, and bibim-myeon (a Korean noodle dish). These are clearly labeled on the menu and they offer soy, coconut or oat milks for drinks.
Ebisu
Ebisu is another non-vegan restaurant with options! As described on their website, Ebisu “serves up contemporary Japanese fare in a moodily dark space right on Auckland’s waterfront.” They offer a tasting menu, including a vegan option, as well as an extensive drinks menu featuring sake, beer, wine, and more.
The Coffee Club
New Zealand LOVES coffee, and they have plenty of it. If you’re looking for coffee in Auckland, look no further than The Coffee Club. Although founded in Brisbane, they have franchise locations all over the country. They have soy, almond, oat, and coconut milks as plant-based milk options, and have three vegan food options: the smashed avo, tomato, and roast pumpkin toast; the vegan chicken and cranberry ciabatta sandwich; and the grilled halloumi and maple roasted pumpkin salad.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of options. You won’t have any trouble finding vegan food in Auckland and if you’re looking for more, check out the app HappyCow.
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