Earth Walker & Co offers a selection of delicious vegan options. Photo: Earth Walker & Co.
Being vegan shouldn’t mean going hungry or having to eat a sad-looking salad. We know the struggle, so we’ve put together a list of our favourite spots across the Illawarra and South Coast that don’t just “cater” to vegans, they do it well! From cosy cafes to fancy dinner spots, these are the places to go when you’re eating plant-based.
Earth Walker & Co
749 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale
If the name didn’t give it away, Earth Walker is all about seasonal, wholesome food. Walk in and you’ll be greeted by a table of fresh produce, giving you a preview of what might end up in your meal. The menu offers a selection of vegan staples that are colourful, nourishing and, most importantly, delicious. Favourites include the rustic avo, piled high with house-pickled veg, hummus and turmeric dukkah, and the Earth bowl, a long-standing hero with torched pumpkin, falafel, crispy kale and quinoa, served on sourdough.
Moore Street General
38 Moore Street, Austinmer
Up in Austinmer, Moore Street General is the community’s daytime go-to. It’s the kind of place that makes everyone feel welcome, especially if you have dietary requirements. The coffee is consistently good, the menu thoughtful and seasonal, and there’s always a seat in the sun. The vegan offerings are packed with big flavour, like the pumpkin toastie with crispy kale and cashew cream, and the sabich, a flatbread dish layered with fried eggplant, pickle, tahini and hummus. Even the bircher is vegan, served with coconut yoghurt, spiced almond milk and a crunchy buckwheat topping.
Pickled Poet
368-370 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul
Part deli, part wine bar and always vibing, Pickled Poet in Thirroul might just be one of the best date-night spots going, especially if you’re vegan. The kitchen takes a flexible approach to food, meaning most dishes can be made plant-based if they’re not already. You can start with something snacky, maybe smoked hummus with house lavosh and a hunk of focaccia, and build your meal with dishes like the Buddha bowl, packed with kale, sprouted grains and herbs, and the four-cheese pasta (yes, they can even make this vegan). With live music and great wine, it ticks a lot of boxes.
Lower East
70 Crown Street, Wollongong
Lower East is one of Wollongong’s best casual cafes, with cool-kid energy and a kitchen that delivers. The coffee is Single O, the menu is full of vibrant, delicious dishes, and the vegan options are more than just an afterthought. Options include the Summer Fruit Tapioca with lychee and passionfruit, and a crunchy, chilli-laced vermicelli noodle salad. Of course, you’ll also find your go-to brunch classics like a Superfood Bowl and Smashed Avo, but here, even the basics feel considered.
Balinese Spice Magic
130 Keira Street, Wollongong
Balinese food is one of the great underrated cuisines when it comes to vegan dining. It’s packed with flavour and vibrant ingredients, and doesn’t lean on meat or dairy to make a dish delicious. Balinese Spice Magic is a warm, transportive space, the kind of restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve been dropped straight into Denpasar. For vegans, there are plenty of standouts, like the tempeh lalah manis, a homemade, sweet and spicy stir-fry, and the lawar jukut, a tangle of steamed green and snake beans with roasted coconut.
Samaras’ fatoush salad is packed with flavours. Photo: Samaras.
Samaras Lebanese & Mediterranean Cuisine
Corner Market and Corrimal streets, Wollongong
Samaras has been feeding the ‘Gong since 2008, and it remains one of the best spots for a generous, flavour-packed dinner, especially if you’re going meat-free. Lebanese food is naturally kind to plant-based diets, and the team here knows how to make those flavours sing. The fatoush is bright and herbaceous with crispy Lebanese bread, while Macey’s Mediterranean salad brings the smokiness of charred capsicum and eggplant to the table, tossed through with Za’atar and the signature dressing. And it wouldn’t be a vegan Lebanese dining experience without the falafel platter featuring six golden chickpea croquettes with tabouli, pickles and a side of creamy (and vegan-friendly) tzatziki.
Diggies
1 Blowhole Point Road, Kiama
Diggies Kiama is all coastal vibes and sunny plates, the kind of breakfast and lunch spot that feels like a little holiday. The menu has something for everyone, including a few excellent vegan dishes that go beyond the basics. The zucchini flower tacos are a must, filled with wombok slaw, pickled onions and a silky cashew cream. The butternut burger is another favourite, with a carrot and coconut-spiced patty, vegan aioli, and beetroot relish.
Hanoi on Manning
1/10 Manning Street, Kiama
Vietnamese food lends itself beautifully to vegan cooking, and Hanoi on Manning does it better than most. The plant-based options are generous, fragrant and thoughtfully balanced. The chả giò chay, crispy spring rolls, are a standout, especially when dunked into the tangy tamarind sauce. We also love the green papaya salad, loaded with tofu, mushroom, herbs and peanuts, and the bánh xèo, which is a golden, lacy pancake packed with mung beans and fresh herbs, served with lettuce for wrapping and dipping.
Whether you’re a full-time vegan or just love a plant-packed meal, the Illawarra and South Coast have no shortage of excellent options. These spots go above and beyond, making sure no-one misses out on a flavourful, satisfying feed.
Just keep in mind that many of these menus change with the seasons (especially the vegan-friendly ones), so dishes might look a little different when you visit, but that’s part of the fun!
