Where and how to find vegan and vegetarian food in Dublin

The easiest way to find good vegan and vegetarian food in Dublin is to look in three places: fully vegan or vegetarian spots, cuisines with long meat-free traditions (Indian, Middle Eastern, Japanese and Thai especially), and independent cafés that build plant-based dishes into the menu rather than adapting one at the end. Before you go, check the menu and photographs other plant-based diners have posted, so you know whether vegetarian means a proper dish or pasta with vegetables.

Dublin's plant-based options have grown a lot, and the gap between the good and the token is wide. Here is how to tell them apart.

What has changed for plant-based eating in Dublin?

Not long ago, vegetarian in most Dublin places meant one dish, usually the same one. Today there are fully vegan kitchens, plant-based sections on mainstream menus, and chefs who treat vegetables as the main event rather than a substitute. Oat and other plant milks are standard in specialty cafés.

What has not changed is that quality varies enormously. A place can list three vegan dishes and still have nothing a vegan would choose twice.

Fully vegan and vegetarian places

A fully plant-based kitchen removes the guesswork: everything on the menu is an option, and cross-contamination with meat is not a question.

The Saucy Cow is a fully vegan place in the city centre known for burgers, wraps and salads in a colourful, casual setting. It is a good answer to somebody who thinks vegan food is not filling.

The make-up of fully plant-based places changes over time, with openings and closures, so check a place is current before travelling across the city for it.

Cuisines with deep vegetarian traditions

Some of Dublin's best vegetarian eating is in places that are not vegetarian at all, because the cuisine itself has centuries of meat-free cooking.

Indian. Dal, vegetable curries and paneer dishes are central to many regional Indian cuisines. Pickle on Camden Street serves contemporary Indian food with plenty of vegetarian choice and careful spicing.

Japanese. Tofu dishes, vegetable rolls, miso soup and edamame. Yamamori has several places in Dublin with vegetarian options across its menus.

Middle Eastern. Mezze is naturally plant-rich: hummus, falafel, salads, grilled vegetables. Shouk in Drumcondra is known for generous vegetarian mezze.

Thai and other Asian kitchens. Many dishes can be made with tofu or vegetables, though fish sauce and shrimp paste are common in sauces, so vegans should ask.

Cafés that take plant-based food seriously

Brother Hubbard has places in Dublin with strong vegetarian breakfast and lunch options and good baking.

Kaph and 3FE are part of Dublin's specialty coffee scene, with plant-based milks alongside carefully made coffee.

Lemon Jelly Café is a budget-friendly city centre café popular with students.

Many other independent cafés across the city now have a proper vegan breakfast or lunch dish. Good places to start looking are the city centre, Camden Street, Rathmines and Ranelagh on the southside, and Drumcondra on the northside.

How can you tell if a place really caters for vegans?

A few quick checks before you go:

• Count the real dishes. Are there several plant-based mains, or one, plus sides?
• Look for protein. Lentils, beans, tofu, tempeh or seitan suggest the dish was designed, not stripped down.
• Check the photographs. What other plant-based diners actually received tells you more than the menu wording.
• Ask about hidden animal products. Butter, cheese, egg wash, honey, fish sauce and stock are the usual ones.
• Ask about shared fryers and surfaces if that matters to you.
• For allergies, ask every time. Recipes and suppliers change. Our guide to eating out with allergies in Dublin has more.

Using Mosey to find plant-based food in Dublin

When people rate a place on Mosey, they can tag it, and the dietary tags include Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free. Those tags come from people who ate there, so a vegetarian tag means the menu suited somebody eating that way, not just one side dish.

• The Dublin vegetarian page lists places people tagged for vegetarian after eating there. See vegetarian in Dublin.
• Search for the dish. Searching for a specific thing, a vegan curry or falafel, often finds better options than searching by cuisine. See dishes.
• Check the photographs. Every rating carries photographs of what the person ate, so you can see the vegan option before you order it.
• Keep a list. Save the places that got it right, with a note about which dish to order. Share it with friends who eat the same way.

And rate the places you go. A plant-based rating with a photograph and one line about the dish is exactly the information the next vegan in Dublin is looking for.

Planning a meal with mixed diets

Most plant-based diners eat with people who are not. Some practical tips:

• Choose a cuisine that suits both. Indian, Middle Eastern and many Asian menus work well for a mixed table.
• Sharing plates help. Everybody can eat most of the table.
• Tell the place when you book if several people are vegan, particularly for a group set menu.

For plant-based food beyond the capital, see our guide to vegetarian and vegan food across Ireland.

Try it on Mosey

Look at the places people have tagged vegetarian or vegan near you, check the photographs of the dishes, and tag your own ratings so the next person finds them.