(Dinner at Yong Green Food)
The vegan and raw food scene seems to be growing rapidly of late, and it’s not just fuelled by vegans and Miranda Kerr but those with severe allergies, as well as people seeking to treat their bodies a little better.
From café’s, restaurants to raw goods stores, juices and more our part 1 Raw and Vegan Guide features some of the best places to get started (please note that this is a Melbourne based guide.) In part 2 we delve into raw beauty, raw and vegan influencers and a whole lot more.
(Dessert at Yong Green Food – the green tea Ganache was unforgettable!)
Restaurants and Café’s
Vegie Bar, Fitzroy – a Melbourne Institution for breakfast, lunch, dinner and juices brimming with raw goodness.
Monk Bodhi Dharma, Balaclava – coffee, breakfast, lunch, occasional dinners.
Third Wave Cafe, Prahran – offer a heap of vegan friendly items, they also cater to paleo diets as well.
Yong Green Food, Fitzroy – exceptional raw menu with mock meat and fish options as well. All very eye opening, food is filling, hearty and impressively flavoursome. Desserts are very tasty!
Shokuiku, Northcote – raw, organic, plant based health food. Join them for breakfasts, lunches, desserts, Saturday Dinners, teas and smoothies.
Sister of Soul, St Kilda – Raw desserts, vegan burrito’s and raw lasagna.
Wabi Sabi Garden, St Kilda – for something a little bit special try their raw vegan degustation dinners.
Smith & Daughters, Fitzroy – officially opened March 21, Latin inspired vegan cuisine that is organic when possible.
Shu Restaurant, Collingwood – offering Sichuan cuisine with organic Vegan set menus on Wednesdays.
Green Press, CBD – A cafe specialising in salads, smoothies and cold pressed juices.
(Inside The Staple Store)
Raw Goods Stores
Whole Foods, Fitzroy, Brunswick and Flemington – stock a decent range of vegan products that you can also buy online.
Pana Chocolate, Richmond – raw, organic, handmade chocolate makers now have their own cafe!
Glo Health, Elsternwick – this cafe/health store has been around for years and they’ve just recently expanded. Their cafe/foodstore offers some raw and vegan items, in addition to juices and smoothies. A little expensive but the quality is up there.
The Staple Store, Ripponlea – home of the raw-eo (raw Oreo biscuit), legumes, make your own mueslis, pickled veggies, gluten free breads and more, TSS has your staples covered, not to mention delicious raw and vegan treats.
The Common Good Store, Hawthorn – a gorgeous grocer with an ethical and fair-trade practice. They stock vegan friendly products, as well as fresh fruit and veggies.
Aunt Maggie’s, Balaclava, Fitzroy, Malvern, and Brunswick (opening soon) – an impressive organic food store laden with goodies. Find fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy free ice-cream, yoghurts and cheeses, raw cereals, juices, smoothies and soups.
Take Away Lunches/Deliveries
Good Freakin Food – fresh vegan and gluten-free lunch boxes delivered to your work, they also do catering.
Online Stores
Loving Earth – an amazing brand with exceptional products to help you cook and eat better. They have a huge amount of stockists but you can also buy online. We love their Raw Cacao, Maca and Camu Camu powders for smoothies. Dying to try the Caramelised Buckini’s but they are always sold out!
Sunnybrook, Ormond – these guys have an impressive vegan dedicated site so you can buy vegan products online, and they deliver worldwide!
(The gorgeous feature wall at Pressed Juices)
Juices
Orchard St Cleanse – organic juice cleanses beautifully packaged and delivered to your door.
Finn Cold Press – another delivery/order based cold press juice cleanse company with stunning design and packaging.
Pressed Juices, Armadale, Brighton, Hawthorn, South Yarra, CBD – delicious but quite pricey pressed juices, offerings include plant based juices, fruit based and milk based (almond milk), as well as smoothie style juices. They also now stock 2 raw food products: New Young Coconut Parfait and Smooth Radiance: Pineapple, Coconut, Lychee and Lime.
Greene Street Juice – juices and elixirs with amazing names and of course great design and packaging (you guessed right!). They also deliver.
The Nutrition Bar, Richmond – Juices and Smoothies, and they also stock vegan treats and desserts.
Credits: Thank you to the following lovely ladies for their tips and suggestions.
@amylmartin, @PetitMiam_x, Trish Hevern, Riki Edelsten.
Note: If we have missed somewhere or you would like to make a suggestion please email us at info@decisivecravings.com.au.
