The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word ‘brunch’ is a platter of bacon, ham, and eggs. Sadly, none of what we typically associate with this meal happens to be vegan, making it challenging for some of us to find options that are both accessible and delicious. So, for awhile now, I have been on the lookout for restaurants that serve vegan brunch options. Several months and multiple meals later, I have finally managed to compile a list of my favourite ones. So, in no particular order, here are 10 must-visit restaurants for vegan brunch in Hong Kong:
1. KNEAD
You knead to visit this restaurant if you haven’t already. Located on a quiet neighbourhood in Sheung Wan, you have the option of ordering either a DIY sandwich or salad. The starting price for sandwiches is $40 HKD, with your own choice of bread, toppings and sides. As for the salad, the base price is $45 HKD, and the choice of salad, dressing, toppings and sides are also up to you. Everything that’s vegan is clearly labelled on the menu, making the process extremely straightforward and enjoyable.
Address: G/F, 28 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit A2, Sheung Wan MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri: 8:00-20:30
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 10:00-17:00
Links:
2. WHY 50
The “50” Bowl from Why 50
A hidden gem tucked away on the streets of Sheung Wan, at first glance, Why 50’s menu resembles that of an ordinary brunch place. That is until you reach the end of the menu, where you’ll lock eyes with a category wholly dedicated to ‘green options’. This includes three vegan options, including the “50” Bowl pictured to the right, which is a brunch bowl consisting of sweet potato, kale, chickpeas, and quinoa.
Address: Shop E, G/F, Fu Fai Commercial Centre, 27 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan
How to get there: 3-min walk from Exit A2, Sheung Wan MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri: 8:00-15:00
Sat, Sun, & Public Holidays: 8:30-15:00
Links:
3. Kale
Contrary to what some might assume, Kale actually offers many other dish options other than…kale. In fact, their menu may strike some as a haven for simple, healthy vegan food—which explains its popularity among fitness lovers and health gurus alike. Not everything they serve is vegan or even vegetarian, but most of it is (including their risotto!). Their menu consists of enticing dish names such as “SexyBeet Patty”, and they use experimental ingredients such as jackfruit to mimic conventional meat. Most portions are decently sized, but I would recommend ordering a combo with the choice of two sliders and either a salad or fries.
Address: G/F, 26 Lee Yuen Street West, Central
How to get there: 3-min walk from Exit C, Hong Kong MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri: 10:00-21:00
Sat-Sun: 10:00-17:00
Links:
4. Le Pain Quotidien
At first glance, Le Pain Quotidien’s menu may not appear very vegan-friendly, but what I realized a long while after is that you can ask them to replace regular milk with soy or oat milk in many of their dishes. For example, in the image to the right, whereas the Papaya Salad was selected from the lunch menu, the Coconut Berry Muesli and Organic Steel-Cut Oatmeal from the breakfast and brunch menu were transformed into vegan dishes by the simple request to use plant-based milk. The same goes for beverages, as evidenced by the hot chocolate pictured at the bottom—which was blended up with soy milk. This place exudes a classic Sunday-brunch-with-family atmosphere and is a great place if you’re looking for a more posh dining experience.
Opening Times:
Mon-Thu: 8:00-22:00; Fri-Sat: 8:00-23:00; Sun: 8:00-22:00
Mon-Sun: 8:00-22:00
Mon-Sun: 8:00-22:00
Mon-Sun: 8:00-22:00
Address & Directions:
Shop G40-41, G/F, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai; 4-min walk from Exit B2, Wan Chai MTR Station
Shop G38, G/F, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; 3-min walk from Exit P1, Tsim Sha Tsui / East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station
Shop 1089C, 1/F, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui;
Links:
5. SloFood (by slowood)
A spread of food from Slofood, Slowood
While Slofood has never advertised itself as a ‘brunch restaurant’, they do offer a range of options that could qualify as brunch food. This includes their falafel sandwich pictured above and range of sandwiches and salads as pictured to the right. What’s more, they recently confirmed a collaboration with Mayse Artisan Bakery—a plant-based bakery selling Latvian and Northern European style sourdough in Hong Kong—who will be selling their homemade vegan pizza every Tuesday and Friday from 11am-4pm. Who says you can’t eat pizza for brunch?!
Address: Shop 1-3, G/F, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street, Western District
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit C, Kennedy Town MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon-Thu: 10:00-22:00
Fri-Sat: 10:00-23:00
Sun: 10:00-22:00
Links:
6. Second Sip by Studio Caffeine
Another hidden gem—especially for those who don’t often traverse the Tai Hang neighbourhood—Second Sip caught me by surprise when I first walked past and managed to identify several items labelled ‘vegan’ on their menu. They have a veggie all day breakfast (with the option of compensating for the lack of scrambled egg with a different vegan item—which I very much appreciate), a meatless burger, an avocado kale salad, and even dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free muffins. Since their speciality is coffee, they also provide the option of switching to Oatly as a base.
Address: G/F, 23 School Street, Tai Hang
How to get there: 13-min walk from Exit B, Tin Hau MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon-Thu: 8:00-18:00
Fri-Sat: 8:00-20:00
Sun: 8:00-18:00
7. Elephant Grounds
While there isn’t a tremendous number of vegan brunch options offered at Elephant Grounds, if you’re looking for something simple such as avocado toast or muesli cereal, then this is the place to go. Their prices are definitely on the higher end of the spectrum (especially when you’re paying the same amount to remove certain ingredients from the dish), but considering its widespread appearance in several districts across Hong Kong, it makes locating options much easier. They do also allow plant-based milk alternatives as opposed to regular milk, as seen by the cup of oat milk pictured to the left.
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri: 8:00-20:00; Sat-Sun: 10:00-20:00
Mon-Fri: 8:00-20:00; Sat, Sun, & Public Holidays: 9:00-20:00
Mon-Thu: 10:00-22:00; Fri-Sat: 10:00-23:00; Sun & Public Holidays: 10:00-22:00
Mon-Fri: 8:00-21:00; Sat-Sun: 9:00-21:00
Mon-Fri: 10:00-21:30; Sat-Sun: 10:00-22:00
Address & Directions:
Shop 200D, 2/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; 3-min walk from Exit F, Admiralty MTR Station
G/F, 61 Caine Road, Mid-Levels; 12-min walk from Exit D2, Central MTR Station
Shop 609, 6/F, New Town Plaza Phase 1, 18 Sha Tin Centre Street, Sha Tin; Exit A3, Sha Tin MTR Station
G/F, Win Fung Building, 8 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai; 5-min walk from Exit F, Admiralty MTR Station
Shop C, G/F, 42-48 Paterson Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay; Exit E, Causeway Bay MTR Station
Links:
8. Infiniti C
Located in Kennedy Town, just a street away from Slowood, Infiniti C is a tiny cafe that specializes in gluten-free food and specialty coffee. Naturally, many of their dishes also happen to be vegan—ranging from Fruit Yogurt and Pudding to Pea Tofu Salad to Avocado Toast with Tomato Salsa. Pictured above is the Tofu BLT Sandwich, which I enjoyed, but I must admit that the highlight of this restaurant is undoubtedly their dessert. While some might disagree with having dessert for brunch, their Homemade Avocado Brownie with Vegan Happy Ice Cream is absolutely irresistible.
Address: Shop 6, The Hudson, 40 Forbes Street, Kennedy Town, Western District
How to get there: 2-min walk from Exit C, Kennedy Town MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon: 8:00-21:00
Tue-Thu: 8:00-22:00
Fri-Sat: 8:00-22:30
Sun: 8:00-22:00
Links:
9. Mak Mak
I’m not usually one to crave a savoury breakfast or brunch, but when there’s a full-fledged menu of Thai vegetarian options, then it becomes a different story. At Mak Mak, you can order a free-flow brunch for $298 per person/$180 per child between 4 to 12, and this includes free-flow juices, soft drinks and select cocktails. While the photos I’ve included here are from a time I visited for lunch, all of those dishes—Yum Som O (Pomelo salad), Pad Thai, and Phad Bai Ka Pow (Wok-fried tofu)—can be ordered for brunch as well.
Address: Shop 217A, 2/F, Atrium, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central
How to get there: Exit G, Central MTR Station, Exit C, Hong Kong MTR Station
Opening Times: Mon-Sun: 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00
Links:
10. MANA! CAFE
MANA! Cafe (the branch located in Poho, Sheung Wan), is known for its charming environment and comfortable setting—a brunch-style hideout unlike any other. Out of the three branches of MANA!, this is the only one that serves open flats. These are much easier to eat compared the signature flats, and they’re also perfect for sharing. Alternatively, you can also order their signature burgers, salads or desserts. I would also highly recommend trying the Kinda cookie, which was designed by the one and only 6thshare (Cheryl)!
Address: 8 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan
How to get there: 8-min walk from Exit A1, Sai Ying Pun MTR Station
Opening Times:
Mon-Sun: 8:00-18:00
Tue: CLOSED
Links:
That’s all for now, but as always, I will continue to add to this post as I discover new restaurants that offer vegan brunch options. Be sure to tag me @vegan.hk on Instagram if you end up visiting any of these places. I’m always open to new suggestions, and I’d love to hear your thoughts!