• Chai Vegetarian Cuisine

  • (16)
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  • White Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Chinese
Take-out

Cook-to-order vegetarian and vegan dishes, including yum cha, sushi, noodle, tofu, and other Chinese food. Simple space. Prices moderate to slightly expensive. Confirmed March 2022. Open Mon-Fri 12:00pm-3:00pm.


Venue map for Chai Vegetarian Cuisine
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16 Reviews

First Review by Eeek.

Rawfilter

Points +100

Vegan
29 Jan 2023

Did the job

I've only visited 3 times, and after the first visit, due to the weirdness of lockdowns, managed to get them when open.
I found bane-marie fare, which was what I was after, and as you'd expect the mock flavours were tofu.
I enjoyed the dishes I had, so I guess it always depends the purpose you visit.
My needs were fried food with flavour - not a healthy focus - and enjoyed the dishes, hence repeat business.
The problem with lockdowns is that if you're a cafe situated in an arcade with low traffic, then hours and food availability will be hit.
Worth visiting to support them, because we need as many vegan options as possible.

Updated from previous review on 2023-01-29

Pros: Their menu looked interesting, Good price, Tasty

Cons: Opening hours

vegan_simon

Points +2456

Vegan
29 Nov 2022

Get Back to Your 'Green Roots'!

Update 28.11.22: All vegetarian, mostly vegan. Large choice (3 dishes and rice or noodle is now $19). Small plate is $16. Korean Noodles, etc, $22.

'Chai Gen Xiang' ('Roots of all Green'), better known as 'Chai' is found in Mathers Lane: a quaint strip of shops more like an arcade, located between Liverpool and Bathurst Streets, in the block between Murray and Elizabeth Streets.

The 'bain marie' lunch special includes a selection of various dishes, including curry pot & mixed vegetables. The cold selection includes sushi rolls, spicy gluten 'meat' rolls & rice paper rolls. The board menu includes 'Duo Dishes' for two people (Layer Tofu, Chai Wan, Sizzling Ginger Soya, etc), and 'Cook-to-Order' meals (for one person) like Chili Hot Ho Fan, Korean Noodles, etc.

Updated from previous review on 2022-11-29

LillyHooper

Points +338

Vegan
06 Feb 2021

Permanently closed

She doesn’t exist anymore which is a shame, seemed cool

KingP.A

26 Feb 2021

It is not closed!! They are open 12-3pm on weekdays. NOT CLOSED

Thrine07

Points +72

Vegan
12 Dec 2018

Absolutely delicious.

Despite their name they are essentially all vegan food. The Wheat meat they use for the BBQ stir-fry is to die for. I am yet to eat something of theirs that I don't like.

Pros: Reasonable price, very yummy Wheat meat

OliviaParker

Points +23

Vegan
13 Oct 2017

loved it!

Really yummy food, good vegan options. Polite and friendly service.

LuceCannon

Points +300

Vegan
08 Nov 2016

Tepid but tasty.

I arrived for lunch just after 1:30, and sadly the food in the bain marie was lukewarm, which was a real shame because the textures and flavours of the many mushroomed dish especially were great. I'd recommend ordering from the menu.

candybaaby

Points +336

Vegan
31 May 2016

If only it were open

I visited at 3:30pm on a Friday and there was a sign out front saying open however it was not. I came back at 5pm and the sign was gone. I called and no one answered so I suppose I got there just after it closed when I went at 3:30pm. I also went at 10am and 1pm the following Saturday and it was shut. There's no trading hours on the window. Sadly I didn't get to try this place but there are several other vegan restaurants within walking distance so if you don't get the chance to come when this place is open, don't worry, you can get Asian vegan further down the street - try Heart Food. Otherwise there are cafes nearby with vegan goodies and a vegan health food store around the corner from here.

Cons: trading times not provided

TasNN

Points +104

Vegetarian
06 Oct 2014

Great for lunch

Always nice, I usually go for the bain-marie for a quick lunch, but I've tried a couple of the cook to order options - they're worth the wait!

No matter what I'm eating, it's always accompanied by a drumstick, my absolute pick of the more snacky menu items.

Recommended!

Pros: Varied menu, Nice and quiet

ChickpeaKitty

Points +35

Vegetarian
03 Jun 2014

Wish it was open longer!

This was a great place to find and I was so glad we managed to find it open!

Unfortunately, we only managed to go here once during opening hours. (The review below seems to have accurate hours)

We tried their cold wraps (which was a strip of a rice paper/burrito wrap style bread, around a big serving of veggie protein. We tried both the peanut and BBQ flavoured. DEFINITELY recommend!).

We also took away two dishes for dinner that night.

I wish they had been open for dinner because I would have loved to have eaten there more often.

The lady who served us was also incredibly helpful, taking us through all of the meals and options. Plus, she was conscious of things like allergies to peanuts which was unneeded for us, but always good to see. Good priced food and lovely staff!

Pros: vegan friendly, Great food, friendly staff, Good value

Cons: Early Closing Times.

Vgan

Points +241

Vegan
13 Feb 2014

It's open

Don't know what the problem is with the phone (see review below) but I was there on February 12, 2014, and it was open, though definitely winding down and running low on food at 2.30pm. Got a decent enough vegan spicy noodles with a couple of mock meat dishes for $11, plus $5 for a pot of excellent organic green tea (leaf, not teabag). Several localoffice workers, who were on first-name terms with the staff and were obviously regulars, looked in for takeaway while I was there. I was told that opening hours are 11.30 to 3.30 Monday to Friday, and 11.30 to 2.30 on Saturday.

Coolman7528

Points +117

Vegetarian
26 Nov 2013

called a few times but no response, anyone know if they are still available?!

tried calling them a few times over a few days. no response at all. anyone know if they are still available?!

fearless

Points +161

Vegetarian
01 Mar 2013

a great place for lunch

This simple vego place is well worth a visit. They had plenty of GF options and the food was quite cheap - I disagree with the person that said it was dear, our dishes were $10... They do have to make some money somehow! The staff were also very friendly and had a sound knowledge of what went into each dish. Tasty, quick service and well priced.

Pros: tasty, well priced, service

syl

Points +114

Vegetarian
19 Jan 2013

Amazing

Not a mock meat fan normally, but this is the best I've had outside of China! There are plenty of delicious cook to order non mock meat as well. Family business to boot, could not recommend higher!!
Updated from previous review on Friday January 18, 2013

Pros: Amazing Food, Best Mock Meat, Family Owned

Cons: None!

aimeebound

Points +59

Vegan
24 May 2012

Tasty Food

This cafe has a huge range of tasty food, and very friendly staff. The bain marie options are always fresh, and contain a range of vegan and gluten free options.

Big range on the menu also :)

This place is one of my favourites!

Pros: excellent food, good value, friendly staff

Mr Veggie

Points +20

Raw
12 Mar 2010

Average

I have had some meal there before and I found the taste a little inconsistent and very greasy

Cons: greasy, inconstistent, dear

Eeek.

Points +470

Vegan
05 Dec 2008

Lunch-time Gem

This small eatery in Mathers Lane is a real find. Immaculately clean with tasty Asian-inspired meals,
including mock meats. Very friendly atmosphere.

Pros: tasty food, prices




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