Irish cuisine was not traditionally renowned for being vegan friendly, with black pudding, boiled bacon and cabbage, and Salmon with Carrageen Moss (red algae), being among its top ‘traditional dishes’. Oh have times changed, the rise of plant-based eating in Ireland, particularly Dublin, well on the move. Although meat and dairy are Ireland’s largest agricultural exports, there has been a slow and steady move away from meat and milk based consumption. If you look at the stats, delivery giant Deliveroo saw plant based food orders increase 187% during the COVID-19 lockdown period, with Dublin and Cork being the most popular locations. Dublin, has also been touted as one of the best vegan-friendly cities in the world, showing that there are amazing vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin, Ireland, so that vegans and vegetarians alike don’t have to miss out.
Although veganism, and plant based eating really only took off in 2020, Dublin has become a hot spot for incredible vegan restaurants, vegan cafes, vegan bars, and vegan hangouts, where people can eat, chill and hang out. Need more evidence? Research from the chef’s group ‘Chef’s Pencil’ analyzed Google search trends data and placed Ireland 8th in the world for popularity of searches for vegan and meat free recipes in 2018. However, despite the impressive, and surpising stats, eating out in Ireland, can still be a challenge, as it is in any country around the world. Vegan meals are often more ‘expensive’ than non-vegan meals in restaurants, and finding convenience food that fits in with vegan eating habits remains difficult. That being said, vegan interest remains high, and the population of vegans in Ireland now stands at 4.1 %, and 8% for vegetarians. When it comes to finding a beautiful UK staycation, where vegans, vegetarians, meat eaters, and flexatarians alike can frolic, Dublin is the place to go.
Irish classics like ‘Irish Stew’, Coddle and ‘Sunday Roast’ are being veganised by popular demand, while international cuisine such as Indian, Italian and Thai, are becoming a staple in the Dublin gastronomy scene. All cuisines that are renowned for being vegan-friendly, there is an increasing amount of choice, even for vegans and vegetarians like myself, who have several allergies. Take the incredible Indian restaurant Taza as an example, which has a dedicated vegan menu, with food and drinks clearly marked as being vegan. With incredible Indian classics such as chickpea curry, jalfrezi and Aloo Tiki being veganised, who says plant based eaters, or dedicated vegan eaters have to miss out on delicious international food?
Italian food comes out on top as the most popular international cuisine in Dublin, food which is renowned for using dairy, meat and shellfish in its cuisine. That being said, there are plenty of vegan friendly Italian restaurants that will have your mouth watering. La Caverna Italian Restaurant and Bar in Dublin, has its own dedicated vegan menu, including wine, starters, mains, desserts and sides, while Toscana Dun Laoghaire has some vegan options including a homemade vegetable soup, Spaghetti Primavera and Risotto Vegetariano. Pacinos is another fantastic shout with Lentil Spaghetti Bolognese and Vegan Pizza Garlic Bread. Dublin is also renowned for its incredible vegan street food eats, like Vish Shop (vegan fish and chips which are UN-BELIVE-ABLE) and Vegan Sandwich Co, that will have your tastebuds drooling.
Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or searching for plant-based dining options, here are the best vegan-friendly restaurants in Dublin Ireland, that will please even the fussiest of eaters. Question is, what will you choose? Will you dine at an ethically motivated restaurant like Tang Cafe, and be spellbound by its focus on sustainability, or will you eat out at vegan friendly cafes like Urbanity, where the atmosphere is welcoming, the food is a bowl of nourishing comfort, and the staff feel like family, welcoming you into their infamous abode? Whatever your ‘vegan’ dining tribe, there are dublin restaurants, cafes or delivery joints to suit you!
Ethical Vegan Friendly Restaurants
Now more than ever, eaters are conscious about their eating habits, searching for restaurants that are sustainable, use organic produce, and are 100% fairtrade. It can be difficult to find ethical restaurants no matter where you are in the world, but Tang Cafe, Kale and Co and Cornucopia certainly hit the spot. With soothing soups, delicious pancakes, energizing smoothie bowls and tasty enchiladas, these ethically conscious restaurants, cafes and eateries are well worth the splurge.
Tang Cafe
When it comes to vegan food, I like to think of it as happiness on a plate. It feels good, it tastes good, and it makes you smile without fail. A ray of sunshine, the food that we put into our bodies, gives us the nourishment that we need to feel energized throughout the day. When we eat badly, poor nutrition can contribute to stress, tiredness, and our capacity to work. It can make us feel as though we have brain fog and lack the mental clarity to get on with our day. Over time poor eating habits can lead to health problems such as fluctuating weight, tooth decay, and high blood pressure. Which is why the food that we put into our body should be ‘value-laden’ packed with the nutrients that we need to live and eat well. Tang Cafe, a vegan friendly cafe in Dublin, is a firm believer in eating well.
Tang Cafe is the perfect spot for healthy lunches and dinners. You should definitely add it to your list of vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin to visit!
At Tang they take great pleasure in making people happy with their food, with good, punchy food that is served the nutritious way. If you need to kickstart healthier eating habits, you will love the sustainable, quality led breakfasts, lunches and dinners that Tang Cafe serve, so that their customers feel all warm and fuzzy inside. With sustainability in focus, Tang is aiming to become an environmentally regenerative, and socially progressive company. But what does that mean? Put simply, environmental regeneration is processes which restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials. Social progression involves being deeply concerned with justice, equality and tolerance, ensuring that you employ a diverse workforce, educate yourself on social issues, and contribute to creating socially progressive change.
Vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin, Ireland like Tang Cafe, are great eateries to support after lockdown. A social enterprise, they have established that they need to place equal focus on the needs of their employees, and their community, as well as making a positive impact on the life giving planet upon which we all live. Speaking of the planet, their ethical range of food, uses all natural ingredients, harnesssing the power of delicious plant-based food. So what would I reccomend? The Leek and Sumac soup is comforting on a cold, gusty day, brimming with delicousness. A hug in a bowl, it tastes divine paired with an energizing carrot, kale, lemon and ginger juice, that is chock full of the vitamins you need to conquer the day.
Looking for something sweet? The Buckwheat Pancakes are exceptional, with a vegan option available. Buckwheat and banana pancakes are served with seasonal fruit, toasted pecan nuts, and house nut butter. The vegetarian option is available with Greek yoghurt and honey, but the vegan option is just as tasty. If you want a fresh and healthy vegan lunch feast that isn’t just a falafel wrap and crisps, Tang Cafe has got your back. You can get a Lebanese bean flatbread, and add toppings such as carrots, cabbage, pickles and salad leaves, drizzled with mild salsa, and Tzatziki. Salad plates are also available with Mixed leaves, red chicory, picked beetroot, french beans, fresh orange and sunflower seeds, for a summer side or main plate, that makes you look, and feel right.
Cornucopia
Cornucopia is renowned in Dublin, for being a socially conscious, sustainable restaurant, that encourages its customers to be environmentally responsible. Opened in 1986 as Cornucopia Health Food Shop, by Deirdre and Neil, the couple have taken Cornucopia from strength to strength. What started as a passion for raw vegan food (which they found healing and inspirational) has transformed into a sustainable, successful business, where being eco-friendly is at its core. With a move to compostable, and biodegradable packaging, including food containers, straws, and even disposable gloves, they encourage their customer to bring in their own containers. The customers are even rewarded for having eco-friendly initiative, and get a 5% discount if they bring in their own cup.
Conscious of their impact on the environment, they have also introduced an exciting range of zero waste products such as ‘chilly bottles’ and Ecoffe cups’ which are sustainable, stylish and practical. They believe that it is important to respect our planet, and therefore recycle and compost almost all their waste, wherever possible. With a fully plant-based menu, Cornucopia uses organic produce when the can, and make sure that none of their food is genetically modified. While there is nothing wrong with meat substitutes ( I eat them regularly, and find they give me the energy I need), they choose to use natural foods only, to nourish, sustain, and energize their customers, mind, body and soul. Packed with delicious vegetables, fruits, and oodles of taste, when it comes to sustainable vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin, Cornucopia is worth every single penny.
Due to COVID-19, Cornucopia is currently doing delivery only, but has just as much fresh and flavoursome food available online. My personal favourites? I absolutely love the rich Enchilada with Roast Pepper, Black Bean and Quinoa, which is topped with tangy scallions and vegan cheese. Surprisingly meaty in flavour (despite the lack of meat), the black beans pack a protein punch, while the roast peppers are sweet and chargrilled to perfection. The vegan cheese tastes different to normal cheese, but not in a bad way, surprisingly moreish. The Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie) is another cult classic, layered filo pastry with marinated tofu, wilted spinach and fennel, with sauerkraut and fresh herbs. An explosion of flavour, the aniseed taste of the fennel brings out the sourness of the sauerkraut beautifully.
If it’s been a hard year, and you are in need of a delicious treat to tickle your fancy, then you will love ‘The Ultimate Vegan Products Hamper’. Treats include BBQ jackfruit, vegan pate, tempeh, a bottle of vegan and organic red wine, and even vegan smoked bacon, to give your tastebuds a treat hamper, that you enjoy in moderation. You will even get your own Cornucopia organic tote bag, as well as vegan salami slices, vegan marshmallows, and a bottle of vegan and organic white wine. As if that wasn’t enough, get ready for the BBQ season with ‘Just Wholefoods Burger Mix’ and Just Wholefoods Sausage Mix’ for all the vegan hamper favourites you could possibly want. While it is different to the vegan menu offerings that they offer, a treat or two can’t hurt!
If you are looking for vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin that do delivery, Cornucopia offers great dinners, and hampers.
Kale + Coco
Kale is one of my favourite vegetables to cook with, because I love how versatile it is. Boiled, steamed, fried or baked, kale contains fiber, antioxidants, calcium, vitamins C and K, iron, and a wide range of other nutrients that can help prevent various health problems. Rich in antioxidants, kale can help remove unwanted toxins from the body, and leave you feeling detoxed, in a healthy, and nutritional way. Which is why Kale + Coco is one of my favourite Vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin, because it uses this superfood in abundance! Kale is the IT food that you need in every recipe, and is one of Ireland’s most widely available and commonly grown crops, which explains the name. The ‘Coco’ in the brand name comes of course from coconuts, as well as their love for the many places the founders have travelled to with more tropical climates.
Kale + Coco represents ‘coming home’ and travelling abroad, the founders two favourite things , and is a way of bringing the tropics to Ireland. What started as a widely acclaimed ‘pop up’ at festivals, has become a delicious vegan eatery, with a permenant home in Stoneybatter, Dublin. Opened in 2019, Kale + Coco’s aim is to create a ‘conscious eating culture’, building a brand where they can get people to try new foods, that are fast, healthy and on the go. Whether you like to lounge and chill, or need a pick me up, Kale + Coco’s delicious healthy food range is super-food tastic. With fresh smoothie bowls, nourish bowls, and fresh smoothies, this will leave you feeling fuller for longer. If your body is in need of some TLC, this ethical vegan restaurant focuses on natural, raw ingredients that will help you lead a more abundant life.
You can’t go wrong with The Classic Açaí, if you are looking to try a smoothie bowl. Rich in flavour and nutrients, it contains frozen banana, with Amazonia Organic Açaí & coconut water in a revitalizing infusion.Topped with potassium dense bananas, crunchy granola and juicy strawberries, it is garnished with moreish coconut chips, and fragrant rose petals. Beautiful to look at, and just as delicious to taste, this isn’t just an ‘Insta-worthy’ snap, but a proper breakfast or brunch classic that has all the vitamins you need to be full of energy. You will feel motivated, and ready to take on anything that life has to throw at you.
I also adore their ‘Nourish Bowls’ which as the name suggests is healthy, nourishing food that uses the freshest vegetables, salads and dressings you could possibly want. While its hard to choose just one, the two most tasty nourish bowls has to be ‘Peas & Love’ and ‘#Gainz’ which will leave you wanting more, more, more. Peas & Love has all the green goodness you need to leave Kale + Coco glowing, with iron-rich spinach, infused with tri-colour quinoa and pea falafel, which is a lot tastier than it sounds! With thirst-quenching cucumber, red cabbage and carrot slaw, slathered with lentil sprouts and toasted seeds, this green sensation is exceptional. Dressed with tahini, sharp lemon, and toasted garlic, this nourish bowl is EVERYTHING. #Gainz is great for a protein packed lunch or dinner, with spinach, tri-colour quinoa and marinated tempeh. Paired with roasted sweet potato, tenderstem broccoli and roasted chickpeas, Gainz is gorgeous to look at and eat. The avocado, pomnegranate seeds and toasted almonds, drizzled with kale and walnut pesto, is the cherry on top of this delicious bowl.
Kale + Coco’s smoothie bowls are a great way to brighten your morning. That’s why it is one of the healthiest vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin.
Vegan Cafe Eateries
Vegan cafes are the most welcoming of gastronomical abodes. Unpretentious, definitely not fancy, and super chill, vegan cafes feel like a community that is waiting to be discovered, From artisan producers, to bakeries, brunch eateries, and anything in between, finding the right vegan cafe, can be a hard one. Luckily for you, I have managed to scoop up delicious eateries like Urbanity, and Veginity, who are putting vegan casual food, and healthy eating back on the map in an unexpected way.
Veginity
Want to lose your vegan cherry? Veginity, is a multi-award winning restaurant cafe, that serves ‘international inspired fine dining dishes’ at a fraction of the price. Fusing gourmet flavours, plant-based ingredients, and creative food science technique, this is an amazing quirky dining experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Dublin. Challenging the idea that good food needs to cost squillions of dollars, the team serve breakfast, brunch and a-la carte dinner, that is often a ‘themed dining affair’ complete with delicious paired wine. So treat your tastebuds the right way, with international dishes created by Australian Chef Mark Senn, with the option to bring your own booze!
They are award winning for a reason, with incredible street food, fine dining options, and vegetarian and vegan options that will make your mouth water. After being nominated for both ‘Best Vegetarian Establishment’ and ‘Best Street Food’ at The Food Awards Ireland in 2019, they won the ‘Best Vegetarian Establishment’, and their sister store Vish.Shop (which you will find out more about below) won the ‘Best Street Food’ for the first time. This follows previous awards including ‘Best Street Food’ in 2016 and again in 2018. Whether you are looking for a more casual affair, or a fine dining experience, you will find something delish to make your grumbly belly happy.
At Veginity Brunch is done a little differently. Forget tofu scramble on toast, pancakes, and smoothie bowls. You can enjoy fast food favourites like burgers, fish and chips, and cauliflower wings done the vegan way.The Big Kahuna Burger and Chips, Beans and Soy Patty is so delicious, with charred pineapple, swathed in thousand island dressing. Creamy coleslaw is mouthwateringly good, and the fresh tomato and lettuce on the brioche bun, is paired with triple cooked chips. Nothing short of perfection, it seems to be one of Veginity’s most popular dishes, and it is easy to see why. If you are looking for a healthier, lighter brunch option, the Chick’arnt Caeser Salad is pretty darn fine, with baby cos lettuce, herbed croutons and confit garlic puree. An explosion of taste, its light, fresh and protein packed all at the same time.
Looking for something fancier? Here at Veginity, they take fine dining seriously, and this month’s theme is Cambodian. 39 euros per person, or 45 euros with a glass of wine, the Cambodian dining menu is made from scratch, and with plenty of passion, to celebrate the natural flavours of plant-based cuisine. With a rolling menu that changes with the seasons, you can expect flavours, and ingredient combinations that you won’t experience elsewhere. For starters, why not enjoy a zesty, and juicy Pink Grapefruit Salad, with pickled Red Cabbage, Cucumber, and Red Pepper, coerced with fresh basil and mint. Think grapefruit and pickled cabbage is an unexpected flavour combination? Their signature ‘Vish sauce dressing (fish inspired, made vegan), is topped with coconut and peanut for a tasty crunch.
Looking for a vegan main that is comforting, filling, but still healthy? The Yellow Curry with Puffed Tofu is insane, a medium spiced curry, with pickled bean shoots, pickled mustard greens and rice noodles, in a heady concoction. Topped with dill, coriander, fresh mint and crispy Banana Blossom, it is perfectly paired with Montepulciano d`Abruzzo DOC, Donatello Jasci, ITALY 100% Organic wine. The curry compliments the tartness of the wine, while the dessert is the absolute cherry on top of a pretty fantastic tasting menu. Banana Fritter with Candied Pumpkin is divine, with a hint of Pumpkin liquer, while the steamed Coconut and Banana Rice Cake is surpringly moerish. Want something different?Try the Cambodian Doughnuts with Fruit Mousse, it is utterly heavely! Veginity is by far, one of the best vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin.
Urbanity
A speciality cafe, small-batch roaster and all day dining venue, Urbanity is a beautiful open space restaurant with amazing food, and exceptional coffee. Even if you are allergic to caffeine like I am, you can enjoy a gorgeous decaf latte, that feels as though the staff freshly plucked the coffee beans that very day. Taking inspiration from Nordic cafes, Urbanity is a hipster joint, turned adult cafe, that is swarming with inspiration. Want to write an amazing blog post? When you are surrounded by fresh food, delicious drinks, and friendly staff, you can feel motivated to do anything! Need some time away from a hectic lifestyle, and are on the cusp of burn out? Urbanity is a beautiful cafe, located just off Dublin’s largest public square.
Urbanity is one of Ireland’s best vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin for a chill vibe.
With locally sourced ingredients to create wholesome, interesting and delicious dishes, all the menu items are seasonal, with specials changing daily, and tempting delicious cakes for a sweet treat you can’t resist. But what should you try? The smoothie bowl is an absolute belter, packed with fresh strawberries, banana and blueberries, lovingly laced with cashew butter, and in house granola. It might sound simple as far as smoothie bowls go, but trust me, it is well worth selling your soul for. I might be a little biased, as berries make me wild, but this smoothie bowl makes me feel like I can run a 10 mile marathon. I would say I am joking since I can’t even run a mile, but that is how DAMN GOOD this smoothie bowl is. Washed down with a tumeric and ginger decaf latte (steamed oat milk and tumeric and ginger syrup with cinnamon), you will feel on top of the world.
Need something savoury? The Hummus Focaccia is a gorgeous specimen, with basil foccaccia layered with red pepper and cardamon hummus. Paired with tenderstem broccoli, mangetout, green peas, beetroot and confit tomatoes, vegetable superheroes are here to save the day. Sprinkled with flaked almonds, this takes foccacia to the next level, in the best way. A good source of Vitamin K, Calcium, Vitamin C, Zinc, Folate (Vitamin B9), Vitamin A and Vitamin, this explosion of nutrient dense ingredients, is fresher that Captain Fresh himself. Sup it down with Mulled Cider, laced with calvados, orange, ginger and rosemary, and feel your summer nights get a little warmer. Or if you want a non-alcoholic hot drink, Urbanity’s hot chocolate is heavenly, with a vegan option available and your choice of milk substitute. Zested with orange it is a firecracker.
Vegan Friendly Indian Restaurants
Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in Dublin, because Indian cuisine has a rich history in Ireland. The first Indian restaurant opened in 1908 called the India Restaurant and Tea Rooms, and closed a few years later. Despite its closure, Indian food leapt into popularity, and has remained a huge part of Irish cusine. From the spices used, such as cloves and AllSpice, to following Ayurvedic principles (which is about balance between hot and cold), Indian culture has had a huge influence on vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin.
Taza
Taza, meaning fresh in Urdu is a gorgeous vegan-friendly restaurant in Dublin, that serves mouth-watering Indian food. While not exclusively ‘vegan’ it does have a dedicated vegan menu, including starters, mains and desserts, making it the ultimate vegan Indian dining experience in Ireland. Created by Chef Arshad, Taza’s menu is innovative, yet comforting, warming yet energizing, and has modern twists on Indian classics. Pakistani cuisine is renowned for being vegetarian friendly, but vegan versions are increasingly becoming popular, with vegetable curries, vindaloos, and chana masala’s, laced with sumptous flavour.
So what does Taza have to offer? For starters, you would be supporting an amazing charitable enterprise, as they make regular contributions to Sultan Ul Hind Trust who help homeless people in Ireland and Pakistan. From supporting children, and their education in Pakistan, to providing aid for workers on the frontline during the pandemic, you can feel good knowing that you are supporting a restaurant that has kindness at its core. For me personally, I donate to a charity every month (particularly animal charities), and love supporting restaurants that help out others too. The food is equisite too. The starters are supreme, with Aloo Tikki cradled in deliciousness. The griddled potato patties are mouthwatering, ladled with red cabbage, sundried tomatoes and spring onions, drizzled with homemade tamarind sauce.
Golgappa is another stand out starter, crispy shells stuffed with potato, chickpeas and red onion. The real surprise though is the medium spiced soya yoghurt and tamarind chutney, that is paired with the Golgappa. Washed down with a classic Mojito (my favourite cocktail!), the flavours are sublime, a taste of authentic Pakistani cuisine in the heart of Dublin. The starters might be exceptional, but the mains are on another level, especially the ‘Haleem’s Channa’. A scrumptious chickpea and tomato stew, it is sizzzling with garam masala, and finished with coriander. Created by Chef Haleem, chickpea curry is my favourite meal of all time, so I had high expectations going into the tasting. My expectations were well and truly blown, the perfect blend of spice, and citric infusion in a punchy vegan curry.
Want an Indian vegan dish where seasonal vegetables take centre stage? The Vegetable Jalfrezi is another delicious vegan main, a medium spiced tomato-based curry with more vegetables than you can shake a stick at. Finished with roasted cashew nuts, ginger julienne and fresh pomegranate, the blend of vegetables, spices, and nuts packs a hell of a lot of flavour. If you love lentils as much as I do, then you will also be intrigued by the Taza Dal. With red and yellow lentils that are simmered with toasted cumin seeds, it is cooked with freshy, juicy tomatoes. Garnished with cripsy fried onions, and coriander, the Dal has an earthy, nutty taste that is incredibly scrumptious. To finish, have the vegan raspberry sorbet, which is a welcome palette cleanser after all that spice. Fresh raspberries are mixed with sweet syrup and lime juice, which is frozen, and then topped with nutrient rich cashew nuts.
Taza is one of the top Indian vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin that you must try!
Ananda Restaurant
Speaking of excelllent vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin, Ananda Restaurant is the perfect place to indulge in Indian food. A multi-award winning Indian restaurant, it has been listed in the 2021 Michelin Guide for restaurants as a ‘comfortable restaurant’, with ‘good cooking’. It’s easy to see why, the culinary approach at Ananda is revolutionairy, with classic dishes reinterpreted without losing their authenticity. All ingredients used in the Indian cuisine is truly Irish, with fresh produce that they select themselves at the market every morning. With daily specials inspired by seasonal ingredients , the weather and how they are feeling, you can expect the menu to change regularly.
Bridging cultures through food, Chef Karen, and Chef Sanish (two pivotal chefs at Ananda) love to fuse ‘Irish produce’ and Indian Cuisine tradition, and this shows in Ananda’s menu. With vegan variations available for most vegetarian dishes, you can enjoy gorgeous Indian-Irish food to your hearts content. Want a selection of Pan-Indian vegetarian meals? The Ananda Shakahari Thaali is utterly divine, with leafy seasonal greens, soft potatoes, lentils and fresh vegetables, paired with rice and bread. A hearty meal, Thali’s are the perfect way to enjoy Ananda’s selection of vegan meals. If you want something that is a little out of the box, the Khumani Kofta is incredible, seasonal vegetable and apricot dumplings, simmered in a sage korma sauce with toasted pistachios. The combination of flavours is a little wild, but well worth the culinary foray.
The apricot and sage shouldn’t work, but they complement each other perfectly. The slightly sour sweetness of the Apricot is embalmed in the earthy, slightly peppery taste of the sage, in seamless marriment. Looking for a vegan wine pairing? The Sweet Raquel Late Harvest Chile wine is organic and delicious, an elegant Sauvignon Blanc. With heady aromas of candied orange and honey, it is intense with a long finish that is simply sublime. If you prefer cocktails Ananda’s Elderflower Daiquiri is definitely worth it, a French twist on a Cuban classic, with Bacardi, elderflower liquer and fresh lime. Alongside an innovative A’La Carte menu, Ananda also has a ‘Dine at Home’ menu, so you can enjoy your favourite Indian classics, from the comfort of your living room. My personal favourite? Yep, you guessed it, the Pindi Chana Masala has me feeling some type of way. Grandma’s traditional recipe, the chickpeas are pressure cooked with tea leaves, tempered with ginger, tomatoes, and dried gooseberry.
I had mine without the tea leaves, as I am allergic to caffeine, but it tasted just as fantastic. The dried gooseberry in particular was a welcome surprise, resembling raisins in texture, and grapes in taste. Sweet, with a tart almost savoury flavour, its a contradiction of tastes that meld together wonderfully. The chickpeas are soft and tender, while the ginger gave a pungent and spicy aroma to the Chickpea curry. Paired with several sides including Urulai roast potatoes with mustard, and a veganized Tarka Dal, our bellies were wonderfully sated after a rich, yet satisfying vegan Indian spread. With one last cocktail to add to the list, which vegan tipple would get us feeling fruity? Angel Fruit, was a cool cat, a mix of Bombay Sapphire, Martini Bianco, raspberries and apple juice.
Italian cuisine is the number one most popular international cuisine consumed in Dublin, and it is easy to see why. Versatile, simple, yet incredibly delicious, real authentic food is packed full of flavour. But with an abundance of shellfish, meat, and dairy in its cuisine, is it hard to find vegan Italian cuisine in Dublin? Hard yes, but not impossible, as Toscana, and Da Mimmo, have some delicious vegan options that will make your tastebuds salivate. It’s a cuisine that needs work in the Irish gastronomy scene for sure, but one that still has some vegan friendly options.
Toscana
Toscana is one of Dublin’s most infamous Italian restaurants, famed for incredible panoramic sea-views overlooking Dublin Bay and Dún Laoghaire harbour. Located on the beautiful Dún Laoghaire seafront, Toscana prides themselves on creating menus that are centred around fresh, organic produce from their Wicklow Garden. With a relaxed dining experience, and an emphasis on excellent Italian food, Toscana is a must visit restaurant for vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters alike. Since opening in 2001, Toscana has won award after award cementing its status as the top Italian restaurant in Dublin.
Voted in the ‘Best Places to Eat in Dublin’ for eight consecutive years, the Good Eating Guide Award in 2017, and the ‘Best Restaurant Award’ for seven consecutive years, you would be crazy to miss out. So what can vegans have at this famous Italian restaurant, that isn’t just a salad and chips? Well for starters Toscana’s rustic style Vegetable soup is to die for, made from Toscana’s own organically grown seasonable vegetables. It’s fresh, packed with flavour, and on a windy, rainy cold Irish day, its a bowl of hugs that is waiting to envelop you in its warming arms. Paired with Bruschetta Con Pomodoro, toasted Tuscan bread with sun-ripened beef tomatoes, it is best washed down with Tommasi Prosecco Spumante, a vegan friendly Prosecco. Full-bodied, it is pleasantly and intensely dry, with a log almond aftertaste that is rich in flavour.
Looking for incredible authentic Italian mains that will put a big smile on your face? The Penne Primavera and Spaghetti Aglio Olio Pesto are two of my favourite pasta dishes and are completely vegan! The Penne Primavera, is tossed with homegrown seasonal vegetables, layered with fresh basil, and garlic, in a tangy pomodoro sauce. Gluten-free as well as vegan, the penne is simple but incredible to taste, the seasonal vegetables always changing, so you never know what you will be served next. Well, that is unless you are like me who has allergies! The Spaghetti Aglio Olio Pesto might be the best dish at Toscana however, with fresh garlic, olive oil and chilli, smothered generously with a basil and pesto sauce. Its fresh, its rich, but well-balanced, a culmination of fresh, and pungent ingredients that make Toscana’s pasta out of this world. Paired with an Aperol Spritz, enjoy an infusion of Prosecco, Aperol, and soda water, that will make you feel like you have wandered back into Italy.
Da Mimmo
Looking for a family- run Italian restaurant in the heart of Dublin? Da Mimmo is another famous Irish restaurant revered by locals and tourists alike. Known for its homemade wood-fired pizzas, pastas, desserts, and huge range of Italian Wines, it is well worth a gander. An Italian gem that has been listed in the ‘Top 10 Italian Restaurants in Dublin’, it is located on the North Strand, and has been around for 11 incredible years. While it does not have a huge vegan selection, what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. It is rustic, laid back, yet elegant and sophisticated, packaged in beauty. The Bruschetta Al Pomodoro, with chopped vine tomatoes is seasoned with oregano, drizzled in extra virgin olive oil. Garnished with cooked garlic, and fresh basil, it feels clean, yet 100% tasty.
Love Arrabiatas as much as I do? The Penne Arrabiata is one delicious pasta dish, served with tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, and garlic. I have mine with spaghetti instead of penne, and it is a real treat, peppered with fresh chilli and parsley. While traditionally served with parmesan, you can forgo that, and still have an incredible tomato pasta dish, with a hint of heat. Trust me, it is the best vegan dish that Da Mimmo has to offer, and well worth the discovery. Paired with Patate al forno, roast potatoes seasoned with rosemary, black pepper, garlic and parsley, you will leave Da Mimmo with a huge smile on your face. I like my roast potatoes with spicy tomato sauce, as it makes me feel like I am having Batas Bravas, but you could also have it with basil pesto, if you would prefer.
There are a couple of other vegan dishes that you might enjoy which I can’t have (due to allergies), but a friend said she really enjoyed her Penna Alla Contadina, with tomato sauce, aubergines, courgettes and wild mushrooms, tempered with peppers, chilli, garlic and parsley. She said that it was a healthy pasta dish, chock full of vegetables, but still felt like an Italian classic, that was comforting and rich. Paired with a glass of apple juice, she felt content whittling away the hours gulping down delicious Italian food. For me I had a can of San Pellegrino, in an orange flavour that was sparkling and refreshing.
Vegan Fast Food Restaurants In Dublin
Ah the moment you have been waiting for, vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin that offer ‘vegan fast food’. And what a selection there is, from vegan fish and chips which tastes scarily like the real thing, to feel-good vegan sandwiches, burgers, and kebabs, you will be spoiled for choice. While eating healthy is important, it’s fun to have a day off, and treat yourself to some comfort classics that are well worth every bite. Question is, what will you choose?
Vish Shop
Vish Shop is the store store of the incredible Veginity and has won awards in its own right. The 2019 winner of Best Street Food in The Food Awards Ireland, the concept was created by Aussie Chef Mark Senn. Born out of a breakout dish from their original food truck days, the Vish Shop is currently operating from Veginity due to COVID-19. Pre-pandemic it is normally operating in a standalone shop, and is also based seasonally at Eatyard. With incredible unique vegan fish, cauliflower wings, and delicious carrot dogs, you have never tried vegan fish like ‘Vish’ before. A plant-based alternative made from Cassava, and wild Irish Seaweed, it is battered and cooked to sublime perfection.
Made from ethically sourced produce with minimal ecological impact, Vish Shop use natural ingredients without preservatives or alternatives. Eco-conscious eaters will also be pleased to know that each meal comes in eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging, that is packaged with love, and kinder to the planet. But what dishes are my stand outs. Well for starters the Smoky Vish is insane, vegan fish caressed with mustard aoli, that is creamy yet sharp, with fermented kim chi, and lemon, for a sourness that complements the vegan fish deliciously. It should be illegal for vegan fish to taste this good!
The Cauliflower Wings are another treat worth tucking into, with smoky BBQ sauce, that is surprisingly paired with dill pickle aioli, pineapple salsa and sriracha sauce. Utter divinity, you have never tasted cauliflower wings the way that Vish Shop does them. It is nothing short of a baby Jesus miracle. Want something different? The Korean Hot Dog is pretty special, a battered and smoked Carrot Dog, with earthy kimchi, and smoked vegan bacon. With assortments including lettuce, tomato, and mustard aoli, this is a dish that sets your tastebuds alight. It’s nothing short of spectacular. Served with Loaded Triple Cooked Chips, and a small salad, this is what vegan fast food should look like. Got a sweet tooth? Try their Warm Peanut and Caramel Nougat Cake, a fudgy cake with crunchy peanut butter, rice crispies, and caramel.
Vegan Sandwich Co
Want to try vegan sandwiches like you have never tried them before? Sam Pearson, owner of Vegan Sandwich Co is about to shake things up. After one too many encounters with terrible vegan sandwiches, he made the decision to leave the corporate world behind and set up Vegan Sandwich Co. From a tiny market stall, to opening their first shop in 2020, Vegan Sandwich Co have gone from strength to strength. Made in their own kitchen in Smithfield, this vegan restaurant serves burgers and kebabs, as well as baguettes, toasties, sandwiches, and sides.
The Club is a delight, roast Chick*n Pieces and Bac*n Strips served with lettuce, tomato, and garlic mayo on sliced sourdough. The chicken is surprisingly realistic, given my allegiance to This, who make the most amazing vegan chicken, and bacon, and it’s well worth the splurge. It might be pricey for a sandwich, but when you take a bite, you will realize that you have been missing out! Speaking of delights the B**f Burger is pretty darn good, a handmade vegan patty with lettuce, tomato, fried onions, pickles, and their special burger sauce in a sesame seeded bun. If you want to try another BBQ classic, might I suggest the Chick*n Kebab, Roast chick*n pieces with red cabbage, lettuce, tomato, garlic mayo and sriracha in a toasted flatbread. Washed down with apple and dandelion juice, this is a very tasty vegan kebab.
Want a Breakfast treat on the go? The Breakfast Buritto is super delicious, a Toasted wrap with bac*n, hash brown, tofu scramble, spinach and cheese with taco sauce and tomato salsa. It’s like the vegan version of Taco Bell, that is way cooler, and tastes wonderful with a vegan hot chocolate. Or if coffee is more your hot drink to go, choose from coffee and tea, to put a pep in your step, bright and early. Want a toastie that reminds you of being in New York? The Reuben is out of this world, sliced sourdough with pastr*mi, sauerkraut, melted cheeze and Russian dressing. You will be spellbound by its tantalizing magic. As far as vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin go, this is one of the best casual spots in the city. The food is delicious, the vibe is chill, and the staff are super nice!
What Are Your Favourite Vegan Friendly Restaurants In Dublin, Ireland?
*Disclaimer
Please note this is a collaborative post but all thoughts are my own and are not affected by monetary compensation. I would love to know whether I have missed any amazing vegan friendly restaurants in Dublin, let me know in the comments below!
That’s so cool! I just finished reading Ulysses and really really want to visit Dublin. As long as I don’t have to eat Bloom’s favorites liver and other inners 😂 that is. This list of vegan restaurants will come in very handy!
Wow the food looks beyond delicious!!! Thank you for sharing! I’ve always wanted to visit Dublin! 🤩
Wow! There really are a lot of options! I can’t wait to start traveling again! These are all on my list now!
I want to visit Dublin! Wow! Your descriptions and pictures are amazing. My mouth is watering.
These all look so delicious. I almost want to visit just for the food!
Going to Ireland is one of my dreams! I am on a health journey and it is good to know that there are eating establishments that are focused on eating healthy!
Dublin is definitely on my bucket list. All these dishes look amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Thank for sharing each of these delicious dishes found in Dublin. Looks like a beautiful place to visit.
Pastor Natalie