The Cape Town, South Africa vegan food scene is alive and thriving. If you plan to visit the city you will find a plethora of vegan dining options and it might be hard to narrow down the choices. Below are some personal recommendations based on a week long visit in July 2019.
Plant is a vegan restaurant on Buiten Street with a lengthy menu of nutritious food made without any harmful ingredients or preservatives. Their mushroom burger comes with homemade chips, and is actually a breaded patty of vegan cheese top with sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and vegan mayo on a sesame seed bun. They also offer enchiladas made with sweet potatoes and black beans, topped with a cashew cream sauce. Plant periodically offers a special Sunday brunch buffet, which is nothing short of amazing. A recent buffet menu included bagels, cream cheese, carrot lox, hollandaise, crispy “bacon” made from rice paper, baked beans, homemade sausages, potato rostis, cauliflower scramble, sauteed spinach with mushrooms and onions, muffins, and a fruit salad. And the buffet is all you can eat!
Included on any vegan food tour of Cape Town should be Lekker Vegan, a fast casual restaurant on Kloof Street that serves “gourmet vegan junk food” by their own description. Their Mincy Gatsby sandwich is easily large enough to feed four very hungry adults and comes overflowing with french fries on a huge fluffy bun. Their signature soya mince and Lekker sauce make this sandwich a delicious treat. You can also add jalapenos if you prefer a little heat. Their Crispy Burger is a “chicken” patty topped with melted cheddar and onion rings. The Nutty Garlic Chips, which come with Indonesian peanut sauce make a great side with their burgers. The Lekker Nuggy Salad, is a tasty choice if you a looking for a lighter option. They are open late on the weekends so you can stop in Lekker Vegan any time you are in need of some vegan comfort food for a very reasonable price.
The Kind Kitchen in Woodstock is a must when in Cape Town. Their 100% vegan menu is five pages long and includes some creative dishes. Some of the options I can personally recommend are their Von Diablo Poppers (whole jalapenos breaded and fried to perfection), Nacho Father (nachos with smokey cauliflower mince), and the Fegg n’ Awesome (their version of classic eggs benedict). The atmosphere is fun and friendly with Star Wars themed decorations in the small dining area. They are also located right next door to a great brewery if you want to grab a local craft beer before, during, or after your meal.
Prashad Cafe, which happens to be right next door to Lekker Vegan on Kloof Street, is an Indian restaurant that is entirely vegetarian with tons of vegan options. They have a great Bunny Chow sandwich, made with mixed vegetable curry stuffed inside a hollowed out hunk of bread. It is a filling and affordable meal that is a staple in South Africa. They also offer many curries, samosas, and varieties of naan, which are vegan and quite delicious. They have a number of vegan desserts as well in case you need something sweet. Prashad Cafe is a casual and affordable place to enjoy a meal. You can also enjoy food from all the restaurants mentioned here delivered straight to your door via the many food delivery services in Cape Town such as Uber Eats, etc.
If you are interested in doing a winery tour near Cape Town, African Story Tours is a company that will work well for vegans. Their tours visit wineries that only serve organic and vegan-friendly wines. The tour includes lunch and they were happy to provide a nice vegan pasta dish and homemade bread for us at one of the wineries on our recent tour with them. The tour is fun and unpretentious and a great way to take in the fabulous scenery of the Cape Town winelands while sampling local wines.
There is so much creative vegan cuisine to be enjoyed in Cape Town. The area is a haven for vegan foodies and wine lovers alike. Vegans will appreciate that they will never have to settle for any boring token veganized dishes in this city thanks to the many vegan-friendly dining establishments.
About the author: Kerry Heyer is a marketing professional who is passionate about travel and vegan food. You can read more about her adventures on her travel blog: AllOverThisPlanet.com and follow her on Instagram: @alloverthisplanet. Happy Cow User Name: WNCVeggie
