There is an old joke that chicken is classified as a vegetable in South Africa. This is a country where braai (barbecue) is a national symbol and meat plays an important role in all cuisines of the country. But as people seek healthier lifestyles and ways to reduce stress on the planet, the vegan lifestyle is on the rise – and the Mother City is no exception when it comes to culinary trends. So let him stay behind. Here are some of the best vegan restaurants in Cape Town.
Jesse’s Waffles
Located on the corner of delightful Dunkley Square, Jessie’s Waffles is a sweet cafe that specializes in waffles, would you believe it. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and gluten-free, but the emphasis on health precautions doesn’t get in the way of a little decadence. The cafe is all about the flavors, with waffle toppings including homemade caramel sauce, vegan chocolate chips and dollops of unframed ice cream. There are also some delicious waffles on the menu, including one with guacamole and smoky ‘fake bacon’ coconut chips.
The plant
One of the longest running vegan restaurants in the Mother City, plant Specializes in comfort food, including hot dogs, mac and cheese, nachos and burgers, as well as crunchy salad and poke-style bowls of chopped ingredients over rice. Vegan cheeses and mayo are made on site, and the plant even smokes its own ‘bacon’ made from tempeh, a soy-based product. It’s not all super clean living though. You can wash down your plant-based lunch with a cocktail, craft beer or a glass of local Tex-Mex.
Spontaneously
Again, eating vegan doesn’t have to be all about beans and quinoa. Frameless is one of the best places in town to scoop up ice cream – and many scoops are vegan. Ten flavors will be available at the Clough St shop at any given time, with at least three vegan offerings. Chocolate, beetroot and ginger ice cream made with coconut milk will ensure you never miss dairy again.
Ra and Roxy
When switching to a raw, plant-based diet cleared up many health problems, Danish-born chef Beatrice Holst wanted to share her findings. Raw and Roxy specializes in raw, vegan cuisine in its impressive new premises in the city centre. Most people are surprised by how many things on the menu tickle their fancy, so Beatrice has added a tapas platter, which lets you choose from Thai curry, lasagne and sushi (with raw cabbage instead of rice). Crunches on many dishes. Sweet treats are decadent — but you have to replace your coffee with a superfood smoothie or matcha latte.
Honest Chocolate
While not everything on Honest Chocolate’s menu is vegan, there are plenty of dairy-free treats to choose from. The sweet potato chocolate brownies come with a rich coating of dark, dairy-free chocolate, and the banana bread bani chow (curry in a loaf of bread) also comes in a vegan version. Coffees can be ordered with an option of almond milk or try the Coconut Dream, a refreshing blend of coconut milk, cocoa and dates.
Delicious vegan
When you think of a vegan diet, your mind probably conjures up a ‘body is a temple’ type of meal: piles of raw vegetables sprinkled with sprouts and seeds and superfoods. Lekker Vegan offers another option – vegan junk food, because vegans get hangovers too. The menu features faux meat burgers with vegan cheddar, fried onion rings and jalapeños. soft serve ice cream; Chip Rolls; Nuggets and vegan versions of one of South Africa’s favorite junk foods, Gatsby. The Gatsby is a large roll filled with salad, chips, spicy sauce and some form of meat, or in this case, a well-seasoned meat substitute.
High T in the Twelve Apostles
Ah high tea. So beautiful, so wonderful, yet usually filled with egg and deli meat and whipped cream. Luckily Bara Rasool Hotel and Spa has introduced a vegan version of its hugely popular High Tea. The three-tiered stand offers fried aubergine sandwiches with dukkah (an Egyptian blend of herbs, spices and nuts), slabs of rich chocolate cake and even vegan scones with fruit compote instead of cream.