The Best Vegetarian Restaurants to Get Great Food in Manila

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Date Published

January 7, 2025

Last Updated

3 weeks ago

Aran Davies

A full-time traveler whose entire lifelong possessions fit in two small backpacks, Aran has been traveling since handing in his final dissertation. While he moves around so much that even Google tracker struggles to keep up, you can be sure that he is out there somewhere.

I’ve been coming to the Philippines for more than a decade. I will be honest: as a vegetarian, it is a real challenge to find good food in the Philippines.

Fortunately, things are getting better for us vegetarians and vegans very quickly. Great little vegetarian restaurants are springing up all over the place. I even met my first Filipino vegetarian last year, something which highlights that a big change is underway.

Vegetarian Food including tomatoes, avocado, and rice on a wooden table with chairs — *(Credit: Aran Davies)*

As the capital of the Philippines, Manila is leading the charge. Today, Happy Cow lists 19 vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Metro Manila, though there are even more. This is a huge change from the zero just over a decade ago. While I have not yet managed to visit them all, I have been to 11 of them, so I feel qualified to give you my personal best vegetarian restaurants in Manila.

1. Cosmic

I went to Cosmic after reviewing all the restaurants on Happy Cow. It stood out due to its 5-star feedback and diverse menu. Cosmic is located right in the heart of Makati, just off the main thoroughfare, and so is central for most tourists.

Cosmic restaurant dish with glasses on wooden table. — *(Credit: Yelp Cosmic Restaurant)*

All the food is 100% vegan and really full of flavor. During the several times I have been here, I have had sisig (which I highly recommend), miso soup (delicious), spring rolls, and tempura.

The restaurant has a cool vibe and never seems to get that noisy, even when quite busy. This is a great place for a date or to meet friends, as you can easily sit here for hours, basking in the chilled ambiance. The staff are very friendly, too. Overall, due to the extensive menu and quality of the food, Cosmic has to be my number one best vegetarian restaurant in Manila.

2. Likha Diwa Sa Gulod

This quaint little restaurant is actually located near Quezon City. While it might not have the most top-notch food in terms of outright flavor, I like it because it is far less expensive than Cosmic.

Spaghetti with potato side dish — *(Credit: Likha Diwa Sa Gulod – Happy Cow)*

Likha Diwa Sa Gulod, as you might guess from the name, is focused on providing vegan and vegetarian Filipinos with an affordable place to eat. While I have only been here twice, I will say that they put on a good spread. There are plenty of food options to choose from, including every major Filipino dish, from sisig to pancit canton.

If any of you have read my previous articles, you probably know that I don’t travel to hang out with foreigners, so I love that Likha Diwa Sa Gulod is all Filipinos.

3. Veggie Guys

Not far from Likha Diwa Sa Gulod is Veggie Guys. This is a restaurant find that I also owe to Happy Cow. It is a tiny little restaurant that I don’t think you would ever normally find. While you are looking at between 250 PHP and 500 PHP for a main dish, the food is really flavorful.

They have a really great vegan shrimp that I highly recommend. For those of you who like a taste of home, their menu is about a 60/40 split between Filipino food and Western dishes. They also have an interesting range of desserts if you have a bit of a sweet tooth.

4. Green Bar

For those of you seeking Western veggie and vegan food, get yourself over to Green Bar in Makati. I have only been here once and have to say that it lives up to its five-star reputation. For mains, you can get everything from burgers to burritos, while for dessert they have a huge selection of donuts (a Filipino favorite) and cakes.

Green Bar Veggie Dish of Rice, Vegetables, and Side Dish — *(Credit: Green Bar)*

I had the chicken tacos and have to say that they were superb! The veggie meat was full of flavor, and they had added a nice mix of rice, vegetables, and sauce. The table next to me had the burger, which also looked delicious, except that they serve it with (American) chips and not (British) chips or French fries. If you are looking for great-tasting Western vegan food, Green Bar is the place to go.

5. SHAKA – Salcedo Village Makati

SHAKA is another nice and relaxed restaurant where you feel you can waste the whole day away. I love that they serve good coffee, which usually means I am here shortly after opening. They also have some really fantastic smoothies which is why it’s one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Manila.

Image of vegetarian dish Grilled mushroom and veggie rice bowl — *(Credit: Happy Cow Shaka)*

I like this place more than Green Bar due to it serving a mix of Western and Asian dishes. No matter what mood you are in, SHAKA will have something for you. I have tried the Pad Thai, veggie burger, and veggie lasagne, all of which are definitely worth trying if you can make room.

6. Bodhi – Vegetarian Only

For all of you who want no-frills veggie food, Bodhi is a good pick. Bodhi is dedicated to vegetarians and does not serve any meat. However, it is not suitable for vegans as some of the dishes have egg in them.

Vegetarian Roll over Grill — *(Credit: Happy Cow Bodhi)*

They offer all the usual Filipino dishes like kare-kare, tofu, adobo, and Peking “duck,” along with mushroom lagoon. Bodhi is inexpensive, with dishes costing around 150 PHP each. It is also located in Malate, so it is very convenient for any of you staying there.

The food is pretty good. I found some of the sauces to be a little watery, but other than that, the food is good. Their food is precooked and put in trays in the classic Filipino diner style. It might not be to everyone’s taste, especially if you like freshly cooked food, but if you want low-cost, quality veggie food, Bodhi is it.

7. Greenery Kitchen

Greenery Kitchen is another vegan restaurant that you would never find without a recommendation or the Internet. I love this place. It has really tasty food that is not too expensive which is why it is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Manila.

Greenery Kitchen Sign on Wooden Fence — *(Credit: Yelp The Greenery Kitchen)*

I generally make it a goal to come here really hungry and then order three or four dishes at a time. My favorites are Kare-kare, malunggay dilis (anchovy), lechon kawali (which I have not found anywhere else), and chicken nuggets. I am told they use Greenery Kitchen veggie meat, which I have not found anywhere else, and I do have to say it is delicious.

I definitely recommend Greenery Kitchen if you are staying in Manila. It is a little out of the way, so you will need to take a taxi to get there. So, top tip: avoid heading there during rush hour. Head there earlier or later.

8. iVegan

Last but not least is iVegan. If food presentation were enough to count as good food, then iVegan would be on this list anyway. Luckily, iVegan serves incredibly delicious food. I love the sushi here. It will blow you away. I’ve also had the vegan sisig bowl and the burritos.

Veggie Burger on Table — *(Credit: iVegan)*

iVegan’s menu is a little more Western-oriented, though it has a good Chinese veggie food section too. The salads look delicious, though I have yet to try one. It is located in Makati, so it is again very convenient.

While I love all the restaurants above, I honestly can’t help you pick between them. Time for you to take the plunge and see what you think!

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