8 cafes and restaurants in Riyadh serving excellent vegan fare
A selection of restaurants offering meat-free, dairy-free, and plant-based options that are worth a try…
Satisfying your vegan tastebuds in the capital city may be a challenge. There might be a few unintentionally vegan options on a menu, but full-on vegan restaurants are few and far between.
However, as the vegan scene continues to grow, restaurants are offering more quality and crave-able vegan dishes, from salads and burgers to mock meats made of ingredients like vegetables, wheat gluten and soy.
Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or just a curious carnivore, we’ve compiled eight of the best restaurants that offer excellent vegan fare in Riyadh.
Blac
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A restaurant that specialises in burgers is hardly one that comes to mind when you think vegan. Yet, Blac boasts a pretty good vegan menu that’s as hearty as its meaty brethren. Check out the crispy jackfruit burger, made up of BBQ jackfruit, avocado coleslaw, and vegan mayo.
Blac Fine Burgers, Takhassusi St, Ar Rahmaniyyah, Riyadh 12344, Sun to Wed 11am to 1am, Thurs to Sat 11am to 2am. Tel: 054 209 7619. @blac.me
Moon Shell
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Originally from Jeddah, Moon Shell is a popular vegan cafe that features breakfast and brunch fares in a relaxed, boho setting. Try their smoothie bowls served in coconut shells – they are bound to pop up on your Instagram feed.
Moon Shell, King Abdullah Dt., Riyadh 12233, daily 7am to 11pm. Tel: 053 630 0962. @moonshell_sa
Naba’at
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Fans of this vegan restaurant claim that the drive here is worth it for its food. Dishes are vibrantly coloured, entirely plant-based, and extremely Instagram worthy.
Naba’at, Al Imam Ash Shafii, Al Manar, Riyadh 11564, daily 1pm to 10pm. Tel: 055 223 1338. @nabaat_sa
Operation: Falafel
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Who doesn’t love falafel? Order small plates of stuffed falafel and hummus before moving onto its Special Veggie sandwich (think falafel, eggplant, hummus, pickles, mint leaves, tahini sauce, fresh tomatoes, and lemon zest served in its freshly baked bread).
Operation: Falafel, 8476 Abi Bakr Al Siddiq Road, Ar Rabi, Alia Plaza, Riyadh 13316, Tel: 011 477 7790 & Rubeen Plaza, Hittin, Riyadh 13512. Tel: 011 246 5709. Daily 6am to 12.30am. @operationfalafel
Tree House Café
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As the first farm-to-table eatery in Riyadh, the Tree House Café serves dishes made with local organic produce. Nibble on crispy chickpea patty with avo spread, mixed greens and tomato. Even the desserts are deliciously appealing – Jazan mango cheesecake cup with roasted nuts, anyone?
Tree House Café, 3692, Prince Mohammed Ibn Salman Ibn Abdulaziz Rd, Ar Rabi, Riyadh 13315, Sun to Wed 8am to midnight, Thurs 8am to 1am, Fri 12.30pm to 1am & Sat 11am to midnight. Tel: 055 652 1220. @treehousecafe.sa
Vitanic
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This cosy café has a vegan menu, and its offerings sound completely delicious. We’re talking zucchini pesto pasta with avocado, a crispy tofu sandwich, and gluten-free dates cookies. The coffee is vegan, too.
Vitanic, Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Aldogathr, As Sahafah, Riyadh 13321, Sat to Thurs 12.30pm to 11pm & Fri 4pm to 11pm. Tel: 055 053 8525. @vitanicsa
WabiSabi
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WabiSabi promises globetrotting plant-based cuisine with the odd jokey dish names such as WS Lady and the Tramp Spaghetti (cherry tomato gluten-free spaghetti with oat balls infused with beans and tomatoes) and I Can’t Believe You Aren’t Burrata Cheese Salad. The fully vegan menu covers everything from beetroot hummus and jackfruit tacos to curry lentil stew with brown rice and a burger consisting of brown rice and mushroom patties.
WabiSabi, 8256 3851 King Muhammad V, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12223, daily 9.30am to 11.30pm. Tel: 055 228 8284. @wabisabiksa
Yogi
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There are quite a lot of options at Yogi, ranging from regular non-vegan foods to vegan, keto, dairy-free and nut-free foods. Just make sure you specify what you do and don’t want in your order. Signature vegan dishes include the Japanese noodle salad with toasted peanuts and sesame ginger dressing, the Yogi burger (which features quinoa, black beans, and brown bulgur with beets) and of course, its samosa wrap.
Yogi, various locations including Diplomatic Quarter, Kindy Plaza, Amr Aldamri St, Al Safarat, Riyadh 12512, Tel: 054 767 4187 & Anas Ibn Malik Rd, Al Malqa, Riyadh 13522. Daily 11.30am to 11.30pm. @yogi.sa
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