2024 Guide to Healthy Vegetarian Food in Penang

It’s difficult for picky eaters to find healthy Penang vegetarian food to love.

I was one. I stopped eating pork in March.

My family asked if I would regret my decision – since most Chinese hawker foods contain pork or have lard oil.

I stoically pressed on.

I knew that the end of eating pork was the beginning of discovery.

My eyes opened up to the variety of vegetarian and vegan options available for me to try.

Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just someone like me – searching for plant-based dining options, I’ve compiled this list based on the outlets I’ve tried.

My vegetarian friends are happy that I am moving from Meatless Mondays to eating a meat-free dinner several times a week.

How do I find these gems? I asked Google and searched for vegetarian food near me! LOL, that’s a Smart Dory.

I will slowly but surely learn to make better and healthier food selections.

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Penang Vegetarian Food And Vegan Restaurants

If you have thought of becoming a vegetarian but hate the thought of giving your choices of dishes that are non-vegetarian?

While we all know that adopting a vegetarian diet can help prevent obesity and improve metabolic rate, it also keeps our bodies healthy and our minds afresh.

I think about lowering cholesterol levels and lessening stroke risks, too.

It’s always nice to have personal recommendations.

If you have some, please share them with me!

From breakfast to brunch, dinner to late-night snacking, and every meat-free meal, let’s find the best veggie dining experiences together and build on this list.

Vegan Restaurants Penang

When I started my research, I found many excellent vegan restaurants centrally located in George Town.

There are some great vegan restaurants in other areas of Penang, a little further away from the tourist belt.

Penang vegetarian food outlets believe that healthy vegan nourishes the mind and body for a well-balanced life.

If you need recharging and rejuvenating moments, try a vegetarian meal and see how your tummy feels.

Indian Style Penang Vegetarian Food

Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant (Pure Vegetarian)

American friends recommended that I loved Woodlands when they discovered my vegetarian journey.

Now you know how popular and memorable the restaurant is locally and with tourists.

Woodlands is a pure vegetarian restaurant.

Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant on Penang Street is known for its spicy and delicious South Indian cuisine. It is a pure vegetarian restaurant.

The food at lunch is served on banana leaves, giving you an authentic experience of South India.

You can also opt for breakfast and tea time items such as Dosa, Samosa, Vada, and many other delicious vegetarian things here.

You can also try some Indian sweets from a counter outside the restaurant.

The place is usually filled not just with Indian and international tourists.

Recommended: Thalis meals, Channa Bhatura, and lots more.

You can explore different Indian dishes, such as dosa, idli, naan, butter naan, Kolhapuri sabzi, and dal makhana.

Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant
60, Lebuh, Penang.

Sri Ananda Bahwan Pure Vegetarian

There are two Sri Ananda Bahwan restaurants on Penang Street.

My friend and I have gotten confused and waited at different restaurants before.

Lunch is self-service, so you’ll get to load up your plate while dinner is order-only.

Food is top-notch, and you’ll be impressed at how delicious vegetables can taste when cooked without garlic and onions.

Sri Ananda Bahwan Pure Vegetarian
Address: 25, Penang St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang.
Hours: 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM Daily

Annalakshmi Temple of Fine Arts (Buffet & Ala Carte)

The Temple of Fine Arts in Penang is not a vegetarian shop per se but a beautiful place where you can learn about the richness of authentic Indian culture and art.

Penangites love the vegetarian buffet lunch at Annalakshmi.

All cooks, servers, and workers here are volunteers.

The buffet includes rice and chapati, served with delicious vegetables and dhal curries.

There is rasam, too, and for dessert, don’t forget the sweet Payasam.

The best part of this restaurant is that it only accepts donations and pays by donation.

Annalkshmi is a pure Indian vegetarian food enclave with a pure thought to serve food and take price as per their will.

The restaurant has a policy of not wasting food, so be mindful of finishing whatever you take from the buffet.

The peaceful environment and a cooling breeze make this a little sanctuary.

Annalakshmi Temple of Fine Arts
Address: 1, Lebuhraya Babington, 10450 George Town, Penang.
Hours: Closed Mondays

NR Thali Vegetarian Cafe

In a simple, no-frills café in the heart of Little India, excellent Indian cuisine is served on a thali (round silver platter).

Other items, such as thosai (a thin crepe-like pancake), samosas, naan, and pav bhaji (a thick vegetable curry with a soft bun), are also available.

Prices are reasonable, and you can expect to spend less than RM15 ($3.80) for a good meal.

NR Thali Vegetarian Cafe
Address: No 75 Lebuh Penang, 10200 George Town, Penang,
Hours: 8.00 AM to 10.00 PM Daily

Book the best hotels within walking distance 

JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La

Cititel Express Penang

Sunway Hotel Georgetown

Whole Food And Other Penang Vegetarian Food

Wholey Wonder

Wholly Wonder is a Penang-based vegetarian cafe that serves homemade whole food, a healthy plant-based option for those seeking a healthy vegan meal.

Whole food is unprocessed, only a little processed, and does not include hazardous sugars, artificial flavors, food coloring, or preservatives.

Wholly Wonder also serves healthy Waffles, burgers, falafels, pizzas, and Instagram-worthy desserts.

Sit on-chain swings at the bar counter, or take your edible nibbles to the green space in Hin Bus Depot.

Most customers give this restaurant five-star reviews on many food review websites.

Wholey Wonder Penang
Address: 61, Jalan Gurdwara, Georgetown, Penang
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Fa-laugh-Ely

Fa-laugh-Ely is a Middle Eastern street stall selling falafel and hummus in wraps, plates, or burgers.

Fa-laugh-Ely
361 Chulia Street, Georgetown (at Reggae Club Penang), Penang.

Idealite 品味舒食 Gurney Plaza, Penang

Popular with vegetarians, Idealite is the go-to if you want a good vegetarian meal in a Mall.
For a vegetarian, Bak Kut Teh is cooked with more than ten varieties of herbs. The taste is sweet, light, and not greasy compared to the meaty versions.

Idealite keeps to its 8 NO in food preparations.

• No MSG
• No synthetic coloring
• No preservative
• No canned food
• No vegetarian gluten meat
• No peanut
• No microwave
• No coconut milk

The menu indicates Garlic, Onion, and Egg.

Their staff are friendly locals and will explain the menu and make recommendations.

Idealite 品味舒食 Gurney Plaza, Penang
Address: 3F-60, Gurney Plaza 10250 George Town, Penang
Hours: 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM

Malaysian, Asian, Fusion Style Penang Vegetarian Food

Bock Garden Meatless Cafe 家园素食

Bock Garden is a Chinese Buddhist restaurant in George Town.

They serve primarily Chinese and Malaysian dishes, featuring soups, noodles, and wontons.

You might not expect other surprising items on the menu – a vegan fish & chips.

Bock Garden Meatless Cafe 家园素食
Address: No. 24, Kedah Road, 10050 George Town, Penang
Hours: 10.30 AM to 8.00 PM (Closed Fridays)

Brown Poodle Café

Brown Poodle Cafe is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the Pulau Tikus enclave.

It has a cozy atmosphere.

Even non-vegetarians will start loving vegetarian food after a few visits.

The cage serves burgers, pizza, coffee, vegan food, cakes, matcha lattes, and frozen drinks.

Like many other vegetarian restaurants, Brown Poodle Restaurant is operated and managed by vegetarians only.

The menu includes Malayasian clear soups, cheese, and butter and indicates vegan options.

Youngsters love to visit here and hang out here.

Brown Poodle Café
80, Persiaran Midlands, 10250 Penang

Coya Vegetarian Cuisine古雅素食料理

Coya Vegetarian Cuisine specializes in vegetarian and gluten-free foods.

You can get Japanese, Chinese, Peruvian, and Spanish dishes with world-class cooking techniques.

There are several types of Korean yuzu tea and Japanese green tea available.

The place is good, and the surroundings are tranquil.

Recommended: Coya pineapple fried rice and different types of Spaghetti.

Note: the restaurant serves wines, drinks, and unique seasonal beverages on the premises.

Coya Vegetarian Cuisine古雅素食料理
Address: 4A, Lorong Selamat, 10400 George Town, Penang
Hours: 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM, 5.00 PM to 9.00 PM (Closed Mondays)

Ee Beng Vegetarian Food (Economy Rice Buffet)

Ee Beng Vegetarian Food is a few doors from Bee Hwa on Lebuh Dickens, a small street linking Jalan Penang and Jalan Transfer.

The economy rice buffet offers a cheap, decent meal. It includes a few fried noodles and rice varieties, steamed buns, curry, and other dishes.

Drop by for a quick and hearty lunch today!

Ee Beng Vegetarian Food
20 Lebuh Dickens, George Town, Penang.

Evergreen Vegetarian House (Buffet & Ala Carte)

Evergreen Vegetarian House’s buffet-style menu offers various Asian, Malaysian, and Chinese cuisines. It is ideal to have different vegetarian foods in Penang.

They serve mock meats, noodle soups, dumplings, and fried noodles.

They do not use any garlic or onion in the dishes.

The atmosphere in the restaurant is usually lively and filled with locals and tourists.

Self-service and pay for food by weight/size of the plate.

Evergreen Vegetarian House
39-A Cantonment Road, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

JanxDen Greenlife Cafe

Located on the quaint Chow Thye Road, JanxDen Greenlife Cafe offers a wide variety of vegetarian dishes, including Asian and Western dishes, including salads, sushi, pizzas, porridge, and soups.

The dishes are served in a contemporary Western style and are made with vegan oils.

The place has a quiet atmosphere with wooden round tables and stools.

JanxDen Greenlife
50, Jalan Chow Thye, 10050 Georgetown, Penang.
Hours: 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM (Closed on Wed unless it’s a vegetarian day)

Lily’s Vegetarian Kitchen

At Lily’s Vegetarian Kitchen, Penang, you can find a variety of Nyonya, Fusion, Oriental, and Western dishes.

You will get a healthy choice of wholesome vegetarian food.

Recommended: Penang Laksa, Pizza, Vegan Cake.

Lily’s Vegetarian Kitchen
98, Lorong Madras, 10400 Penang

Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant

You can easily spot the bright yellow exterior of this restaurant on Madras Lane.

This eatery is popular with the locals and serves the best vegetarian Assam Laksa in town!

Other unique dishes include vegetarian Bak Kut Teh and Nasi Lemak.

Aside from that, over 30 vegetarian dishes are available for takeaway (economy rice style) or just for dining in!

Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant
33, Lorong Madras, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
Hours: 6.00 AM to 9.00 PM

Pinxin Vegan Cuisine

Established in 2016, Pinxin Vegan Cuisine stays faithful to its values.

The restaurant aims to create healthy, cruelty-free, and enjoyable food.

Pinxin Vegan Cuisine serves vegetarians and vegans with affordable Asian, Malaysian, Fusion, and continental meals, all cooked with natural ingredients.

The cafe uses natural and organic ingredients to serve local traditional snacks and favorites, like Asam Laksa, Hokkien Mee, Jawa Mee, and Loh Mee.

You can taste Asian, Chinese, Nyonya, Malaysian, and Western delights with a twist of fusion cuisine.

Recommended: Green Curry Hotpot, Hokkien Noodles, and Oh My Berry Vegan Cake once.

The restaurant also provides catering and delivery services.

Pinxin Vegan Cuisine
38, Lebuh Tye Sin, 10300 George Town, Penang.

The Leaf Healthy House

Since its inception in 2011, the restaurant has had a motto of cooking diligently using natural ingredients.

Eat food with less oil, less salt, and less sugar at the Leaf Healthy House.

The café has tasty tonic herbal soups, Spaghetti, organic juice, roselle tea, and soy milk.

There is a section in the café that sells vegetarian products.

The Leaf Healthy House
5, Lebuh Penang, 10200 George Town, Penang

Zen Xin Vegetarian

Zen Xin, A local vegetarian restaurant, is a beautifully preserved pre-war home converted into a restaurant like its neighbors.

The restaurant is known for its delectable Chinese and Cantonese cuisine.

Some of their signature dishes are Kung Pao Aubergine and Nyonya Fish Curry.

The fish is made of Tofu and Seitan.

Tofu is made from soybeans, and Seitan is made from wheat gluten.

The restaurant has excellent reviews and serves delicious vegetarian dishes.

I wanted to try, but it was closed the night I went.

Zen Xin Vegetarian
42, Jalan Nagore (off Jalan Burma), Penang

The Garden Banana Leaf

For vegetarians who love South Indian home-cooked cuisine, food at The Gardens is something they enjoy to the fullest.

The Garden’s chef uses many leaves, herbs, bark, and roots traditionally considered a nutritional powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.

You will meet Chinese and Indian vegetarians from all walks of life out for their lunch here.

Some regulars come by daily, such as the lunch thali set, which changes daily.

The Garden Banana Leaf
50, Jalan Free School (Free School Road),11600 Penang,.

Conclusion Penang Vegetarian Food

We hope you will enjoy your dining experience with Smart Dory’s list of healthy Penang vegetarian food.

Help recommend veg-friendly restaurants by sharing your own dining experiences.

If we missed out on your favorite restaurant, leave a comment below.

Happy Eating!