Where To Find The Best Vegan Food In KL

Hello everyone! Today's blog post is dedicated to my all time favourite, vegan food in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! This is something that I have been putting off for a while because most of my favourite vegan food is at non vegetarian & non vegan restaurants. Some of the restaurants are the typical ones you'd expect to find when you google "vegetarian / vegan food KL", but most of them are not!

The list honestly consists of the places that I often go to for a yummy vegan feed. However, the majority of the restaurants are not vegan, and typically only serve a few vegan dishes. It's a mix of low key cafes, cocktail bars, casual dinners, and even some more formal restaurants.  In no particular order lets get stuck into it!

1. Joloko

An African Jamaican bar, this place is a great find in KL. Located in Chow Kit, this is a must visit for everyone! Vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, carnivores, tourists, locals, expats... you name it, this place suits you! The design of the whole space has been carefully put together, giving you a quirky Jamaican cocktail bar feeling throughout.

The menu consists of mostly meat dishes, but also caters for vegans. As a vegan you can try an array of veggie dishes for your starters and for your main I recommend you try the vegan kebab skewer. Its not a 100% vegan menu, but you certainly won't go hungry! This is my number 1 recommendation for vegans if you're looking to go somewhere with friends on a Saturday night, or for dinner and cocktails for a special occasion.

The cocktails here are a real knockout too, Make sure to try one!

Check out Jolokos menu here

2. Ekkamai

Similar to Joloko, Ekkamai is not a 100% vegan menu but there are plenty of delicious vegan options. The food at Ekkamai is actually at the top of my list for the most tasty vegan food in KL! Its a Thai restaurant located in the popular expat area Damansara in Plaza Batai. Open for dinner, Ekkamai is suitable for all occasions. Its one of the few places we can go to have a nice drink and a good vegan feed.

Vegan items on the menu include Samosas, Pomelo Tacos, Green Papaya Salad & a Pad Thai. I highly recommend you try the Green Papaya Salad & the Vegan Pad Thai. I also recommend that you save room for dessert. The Mango Sticky rice is unbeatable. Admittedly I have once ordered Mango Sticky Rice to take home and then had it for breakfast the next morning.... its seriously that good!

Check out Ekkamai's menu here

3. Sala

About time this list finally included a restaurant that is 100% dedicated to vegan food. And rightfully so it should be Sala! Sala is well known amongst locals and tourists as a must try vegan restaurant in KL. The food here is unquestionably tasty, with it even being a favourite among non vegans & non vegetarians.

The menu incorporates a real mix, from local dishes such as Nasi Lemak, Mexican tacos, and Westerner favourites such as burgers, nuggets, & salad bowls. My favourites include the shroom taco, the bagel burger, the mushroom nuggets, and their peanut butter brownie.

Sala has two stores, one in Mont Kiara, and one in Chow Kit on The Row. Mont Kiara is open for lunch only, whereas the The Row is open for lunch and dinner. If you are a visitor in town you may wish to go the the one at the The Row. This is a pretty area with cute coffee shops, clothes stores and bars. Sala is more a cafe / low key dinner style restaurant. Suitable for a catch up or night out with friends. If you are wanting to go somewhere with drinks, then I recommend you check out Joloko, Ekkamai, The Hungry Tapir, or Proof Pizza instead (all on this list).

Check out Sala's menu here

4. Proof

If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would probably be pizza. When I first decided to go vegan giving up pizza was definitely the hardest part! Luckily we found this absolute gem of a restaurant. Proof is located in a creative industrial space called APW, which was an old printing workshop in the 1950's. It is now a mixed used space for restaurants, cafes, shops and event spaces. When I first came here it reminded me of The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney before it went mental. 

Proof is a double story restaurant with the upper floor over looking the ground floor space. The full height bar is the focal point, with low lit lighting creating an edgy industrial vibe. There are two cheese-less pizzas on the menu:

• The Garden Veggie Ciccio (just ask for it without pesto)
• Verdura Ciccio 

My favourite is the Verdura Ciccio, but both are good! Just make sure to ask for the The Garden Veggie Ciccio without the pesto. I was skeptical of a cheese-less pizza until I tried these! Paired with a nice bottle of wine, this is the perfect spot for a date night, or a nice evening out with friends. 

5. Common Man

Common man makes it on the list purely because of 1 dish they serve for breakfast / brunch / lunch, The Veggie Wonderland. Once you have tried it you will understand! The Australian in me loves and misses cafe food. This one hits the spot real good. Typically it comes with eggs, but if you ask for it without you can top up with something else instead.

6. Ganga Cafe

Ganga Cafe is an Indian Vegetarian & Vegan restaurant located within a cozy row of shops on Lorong Street in Bangsar. Introduced to Ganga by friends, it immediately became my go to for Indian food. The meals are outstanding! There is a vast range of vegan food to choose from as well. Just let the staff know you are vegan and they are more than willing to point out recommended dishes, as well as change some of the vegetarian dishes to vegan for you.

I honestly can't rave enough about Ganga Cafe. The service is fantastic, and its the best Indian food I've ever had. My favourites are Meeta's Special Chaat, The Palak Ladies, & a Pranic Juice without honey.

7. The Hungry Tapir

The only vegan bar in KL, The Hungry Tapir is well worth a mention. With hanging planters, rattan furniture and splashes of pink, The Hungry Tapir is a jungle oasis for vegetarians and vegans.

The menu is extensive, with an array of vegan options. My favourite dish is the arancini balls! These are honestly unbeatable. Perfectly cheesy on the inside and 100% vegan! The cocktails here are also amazing. Make sure to book because it gets busy.

8. Supe (Formerly Sushi Kitchen)

Vegan sushi? Yes please!! You might think that vegan sushi would be rather tasteless. Can you really do sushi without fish? These guys prove that you can. Not only can you do it, but it can be amazing too. 

We used to frequent the Bukit Bintang Supe all the time when we lived nearby. My favourite things to order are the fresh tempura hand rolls, avocado maki, and the climate change. 

9. Super Saigon 

Super Saigon is a Melbourne style cafe that captures the Australian Asian food scene perfectly. To say I love it would be an understatement. I used to live next door the Super Saigon cafe at Menara Hap Seng and I would walk down there for dinner several times a week.

I have since turned vegan and moved to Bangsar, which means I now frequent the Bangkung Street location. The vibe here is similar to Lorong Street, with a small row of cozy shops ranging from cafes to restaurants & bars.

The go to vegan items to order from Super Saigon are:

• The vegetarian pho 
• Fresh vegetarian rice paper rolls 
• Vegetarian spring rolls
• Vegetarian fried rice without egg 

All of these items are vegan, but be careful with the sauces you choose. They have Sri Racha as an option which is 100% vegan.

There are several locations around KL, making it the perfect lunch or dinner spot if you are a vegan tourist looking for a feed.

10. Bedouin 

Arabic food is always a great option for vegans & vegetarians, and there are hundreds of these in KL. Bedouin is a short drive from our home and one that we love. We have since become loyal to Bedouin when it comes to Arabic food. Our favourites are the falafel, fatoush, and hummus. 

A perfect spot to go for a hungry vegan. We always walk away stuffed from here! Of course its not a 100% vegan menu and they don't serve alcohol. 

11. Fittie Sense

Fittie Sense is a cafe tucked away upstairs on one of the Telawi's in Bangsar. Open for lunch and dinner, this is a great low key restaurant with tasty health food to cater for almost any diet. All of the food is mostly whole foods, with a prime focus on health (hence the name!).

Vegan options on the menu include a burger, a chilli con carne, and a spaghetti bowl. You definitely won't go hungry here. They will also let you buy a bottle of wine from downstairs and bring it up to have with your dinner in you want.

12. Veggielicous Thai

Located in PJ, Veggielicous Thai is a 100% Vegan restaurant serving some seriously spectacular Thai food! They are well known for their mock meats but do serve plenty of vegetable only dishes.

My favourite here is the lions mane mushroom green curry. I prefer to stay away from the mock meats, and fill my plate with veggies. The lions mane mushroom is 100% a whole food and has a similar texture to chicken. If you go here make sure you try it!

And that's it for now!

And that is all for my favourite vegan food in KL. Of course there are many more, but these are the ones I keep going back to time after time again. If you think I have missed somewhere, or you have any recommendations for places to go, then please reach out in the comments below or via my Instagram. Im always looking to connect with like minded vegans, as well as find new vegan food and places to try!