Christchurch has become one of my favorite places in the world, thanks, in part, to the plethora of vegan options in the city. There are five vegan restaurants and 12 vegetarian restaurants with vegan options in the area, as well as numerous non-vegetarian restaurants that offer vegan options. You could spend a month here and still not eat your way through all of the incredible food. So, without further ado, here’s an inexhaustive list of places where you can find vegan food in Christchurch.
Welcome Chinese Vegetarian Cafe
Highly rated and located near the university, Welcome Chinese Vegetarian Cafe serves Western and Chinese comfort food. They have quite an extensive menu with most items being vegan-friendly. They also don’t use onion or garlic, so this is a Jain-friendly food spot as well. They’re open every day from 12-8 PM except on Sundays.
Waterdrop Vegetarian Cafe
This cafe is actually part of a Buddhist temple! It overlooks the walled courtyard and serves vegetarian Buddhist food, mostly hot dishes like fried rice, noodles, curry and more. They’re open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Pepe’s Mexican Grill
Pepe’s Mexican Grill is a Mexican fast-food chain with outlets throughout Christchurch. They have what you would expect from a Mexican fast food chain: burritos, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, burrito bowls, salads, etc. They, unfortunately, don’t have vegan cheese or sour cream alternatives but plenty of veggie toppings for your meal of choice.
You Hanoi Me
If you’re looking for traditional Vietnamese food, check out You Hanoi Me. The fresh spring rolls, tofu banh mi, dong salad, and sweet jungle curry are either vegan or vegan-friendlyoptions. They also offer a ‘vego banquet’ option, perfect for sharing with a large group (minimum of two). They’re open seven days a week with varying hours.
The Goldfinch
The Goldfinch is a cute restaurant located in the heart of Christchurch with European and Asian cuisine. Their menu is a fun, eclectic mix of different dishes with plenty of vegan-friendly options. Their lunch and dinner menus do differ slightly , but include spice cauliflower pakora (an Indian-inspired dish), beggar’s purse dumplings, flamed edamame, Sichuan soya mapo tofu, and fries. You can also ask if the spiced potato and lentil patty burger can be made vegan-friendly without the cheese, but they do have a vegan dessert! It’s a champagne poached pear, that includes sorbet, amaranth and rose brittle, and an orange sauce.
Tutto Bene
On our last night in New Zealand, we happened to be in Christchurch as we were flying directly out of the city. And despite how exhausted I was after two weeks, I knew I had to visit Tutto Bene, an Italian restaurant and Christchurch staple for over two decades. The atmosphere was great, and felt like a classic Italian restaurant with fun memorabilia on the walls, though the service was a little slow. It was packed, however, and I’d recommend reserving a table.
They have plenty of vegan options, including the baked Italian marinated olives, spaghetti puttanesca, gnocchi ai tartufo, fettuccine arrabbiata, ravioli raniero, sauteed seasonal veggies, della casa (insalata), a handful of pizzas, and dessert (that I wish I had been hungry enough for). I tried the fettuccine arrabbiata, which came with vegan sausage and parmesan, and it was delicious. If I hadn’t been flying out the following morning, I would have taken several other dishes to go.
Portershed
Portershed is a vegan cafe and bakery open from 8am to 5pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays with options for everyone! And it’s one of the places I wish I had been able to stop at. They’re a great spot to get any groceries and a solid cup of coffee, and both their menu and cabinet case have an extensive selection of vegan-friendly food and baked goods. You can also pick up snacks and sweets for your road trip!
The Apron Cafe
For breakfast or lunch with a South Asian flair, visit The Apron Cafe. They have a few vegan options, including vegan curries (though I wouldn’t consider daal a curry), soups and more. Labeled vegan options including a roti wrap, toasted sandwich, and breakfast. I would also ask about the paranthas because in theory, unless they’re using ghee or butter, the aloo/potato and vegetable paranthas should be vegan-friendly. They also have vegan muffins!
Mama Ree Thai Street Food
I feel like I look for Thai food in every city I visit, but in my defense, Thai food is amazing (in fact, it’s what I choose to eat for dinner every year on my birthday). I have yet to find a vegan Thai restaurant, but Thai food is already so vegan-friendly as it is that you won’t have any trouble finding it wherever you go. Mama Ree’s is a Christchurch favorite and it’s not difficult to see why. The staff is knowledgeable and knows what can be made vegan-friendly, including curries, stir fries, and noodle dishes. This is a great dinner spot as they’re open seven days a week from 5-9pm, but get there early.
Chiwahwah Mexican Cantina Bar
I’m wary about recommending Mexican restaurants outside of Mexico and Southern California, but I believe that every list should have at least one option. Chiwahwah’s is a Mexican Cantina Bar in Christchurch with very few labeled vegan options, but don’t let that deceive you. The only two labeled vegan options are the cauliflower steak and the plain crispy fried potatoes with aioli and ketchup, but according to HappyCow, many of their vegetarian dishes can also be made vegan-friendly. They don’t, however, offer vegan sour cream or cheese, or other alternatives.
Bohemian Bakery
One of my FAVORITE spots of the entire trip, we stopped at Bohemian Bakery for coffee and pastries before hitting the road to reach Lake Tekapo by dusk. They have several locations across Christchurch, so I hope you’re able to find one, but we went to the Central Ward cafe. They have non-dairy milks for coffee, and an amazing selection of vegan pastries and food. On the day that we went, they had vegan plain croissants, pain au chocolat, almond croissants, pizza, soft pretzels, and a tempeh pretzel sandwich. You can also get a four-pack of the vegan croissants! Breakfast: sorted. I had both the plain croissant and the pain au chocolat, which were so crispy and flaky, and downright delicious. And the soft pretzel was the perfect road trip snack.
Barefoot Eatery
If you’re looking for a plant-based, all-vegan, organic eatery in Christchurch that ALSO supports local farmers, you should check out Barefoot Eatery. It’s one of many establishments at the Welder, so there’s something for everyone. Their menu does change, but they always have excellent breakfast and lunch options, including toasties (sandwiches), bowls, and more. If you’re looking for a quick, light bite, this is your spot.
GG Bistro
If you’re an international visitor like me, you probably hadn’t heard of Grater Goods before, but they’re a Kiwi brand that sells vegan deli meats and cheeses. So, naturally, they also opened up 100% vegan/plant-based store and deli where you can get all sorts of delicious goodies. Their menu features so many classic dishes veganized like beef tartare, croquettes, caviar, etc. and they do have a brunch menu; you may not be able to find a better vegan croque monsieur outside of Paris. They even have a charcuterie board you can sample!
Catnap Cafe
One of the things I wish I did more of on trips was visit cat and dog cafes. I love animals (as vegans tend to), but it always seems like a low priority compared to everything else. If you do have time while you’re in Christchurch, spend some time with the rescue cats at Catnap Cafe. The playroom is separate and requires an entry fee (bookings are highly recommended), but it’s a vegetarian cafe and everything in the cabinet is vegan. They also have alternative milks for coffee.
The Origin
For more coffee, tea, and fantastic vegan food, visit The Origin. Their menu is a mix of Asian and European cuisine with both breakfast and lunch options.
Are you visiting Riverside Market? I wrote a blog post specifically for that! For even more vegan food in Christchurch, explore HappyCow.
Did I miss your favorite spot for vegan food in Christchurch? Let me know in the comments below!
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