Vegetarian & Vegan Guides

Meat-free eating made easy: vegetarian hawker stalls, Indian thali, Buddhist kitchens and plant-based cafés.

This section helps you find vegetarian food in Singapore, whether you skip only meat or eat fully vegan. It covers Chinese vegetarian stalls at hawker centres, South Indian meals such as dosa and thali, and plant-based cafés. Use it to learn what to order, which hidden ingredients to watch for and which areas make meat-free eating easy.

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Vegetarian food in Singapore: what to expect

Vegetarian food in Singapore is easy to find once you know where to look. Two food traditions help a lot. Chinese Buddhist cooking has a long history of meat-free dishes, and South Indian cooking includes many vegetarian meals. Cafés and modern restaurants add more plant-based choice. Vegans need a little more care, as egg, dairy and hidden seafood are common.

Where to find vegetarian food

Chinese vegetarian stalls

Many hawker centres have a vegetarian stall. Look for the word 'vegetarian' or the Chinese character 素 (su) on the sign. These stalls often sell economy rice, with many vegetable dishes to choose from. They also serve noodles and mock meat made from soy, wheat gluten or mushrooms. Some Buddhist vegetarians also avoid onion and garlic, so these stalls may leave them out. See How to Order Economy Rice and Keep the Bill Low.

South Indian meals

South Indian cooking offers some of the easiest meat-free meals in the city. Try dosa, a crisp rice and lentil pancake, or idli, soft steamed rice cakes. A thali is a set meal of rice, bread and small bowls of curry. A banana leaf meal is similar, served on a leaf. Read Banana Leaf Rice in Little India: How the Meal Works.

In Little India, Komala Vilas and Saravanaa Bhavan serve South Indian food. Ananda Bhavan is in the same area. Ask staff if the whole menu is vegetarian, as some Indian restaurants also serve meat.

Cafés and fine dining

Many cafés offer vegetarian dishes, and some mark vegan options on the menu. Browse our Cafés & Bakeries list for ideas. Many Fine Dining restaurants can prepare a vegetarian tasting menu. Tell them when you book, as menus are planned ahead.

Hidden ingredients to watch for

Some dishes that look meat-free are not. Ask about these:

Oyster sauce and fish sauce in stir-fried vegetables and noodles.
Belacan and dried shrimp in sambal, a chilli paste, and in many curries and soups.
Ikan bilis, small dried anchovies, served with nasi lemak.
Lard and meat stock in some noodle soups and fried noodles.
Egg in egg noodles, cakes and kaya, a coconut jam.
Ghee and yoghurt in Indian breads, curries and sweets. Ghee is clarified butter.

Laksa is a good example. Even without prawns, its soup is usually made with dried shrimp.

Tips for ordering meat-free

Be specific. Say 'vegetarian', then add 'no meat, no seafood'. Vegans can add 'no egg, no milk'.
Point and ask. At economy rice stalls, some vegetable dishes are cooked with meat or dried shrimp. Ask before you choose.
Mention allergies clearly. Read Eating at Hawker Centres With Food Allergies for useful phrases.
Know the busy days. Many Chinese Buddhists eat vegetarian on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Vegetarian stalls can be busier then.
Expect fair prices. A vegetarian hawker meal often costs around S$4 to S$7. Prices change, so check the board.

Best areas for meat-free eating

Little India

Little India has a wide choice of vegetarian meals. Little India MRT station is the easiest way in. Tekka Centre is a hawker centre with many Indian stalls. If you visit a temple nearby, such as Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes.

Chinatown and the city

Hawker centres around Chinatown and the CBD have a mix of stalls, including vegetarian ones. Read Best Hawker Centres in Singapore for Tourists for places to start.

Orchard and Dempsey

These areas have many cafés with plant-based dishes. Wild Honey is a café in Orchard and River Valley. PS.Cafe (Harding Road) is a café in Dempsey, Tanglin and Holland.

FAQs about vegetarian food in Singapore

Is it easy to be vegetarian in Singapore?

Yes, fairly easy. Vegetarian stalls and South Indian restaurants are common. Vegans need to ask more questions, especially about egg, dairy and dried shrimp.

Is mock meat vegan?

It is usually made from soy, wheat gluten or mushrooms. Some products contain egg or milk, so ask if you are strict.

Are hawker vegetable dishes vegetarian?

Not always. Greens are often cooked with oyster sauce, dried shrimp or meat stock. Choose a vegetarian stall to be safe.

Are there vegan local desserts?

Some, yes. Chendol uses coconut milk, palm sugar and rice-flour jelly, and is often vegan. Some versions add condensed milk, so check first.