Coffee and tea house also serving food like all-day breakfast, daily soup/stew, enchiladas, smoothies, raw snickers and desserts. Also operates Admiral Cheng Ho in Abbotsford. Open Mon-Fri 7:00am-5:00pm, Sat-Sun 8:00am-5:00pm.
Categories: Vegan-friendly, Lacto, Western, Take-out, Australian
28 Reviews
First Review by vgough
Contributions +20
The best! - Edit
Easily my favourite cafe. Everything I've had their had been delicious and everyone I've taken there, veg, vegan or otherwise has loved it too.
Contributions +727
Small Place, Good Coffee! - Edit
Did not disappoint to visit Monk Bodhi Dharma to try their "unbeatable" coffee and their coffee is indeed great! The place is small, I haven't had the chance to try any of their dishes but I will... soon!
Contributions +52
Best coffee in Australia - Edit
The best coffee in Australia.
If you enjoy coffee and are prepared to pay to try something special just ask the staff.
The vegan avo is good.
Pros: The dinners are amazing when they have them
Cons: Gets very busy of course, get in early
Contributions +112
I love it here - Edit
The staff are always lovely and chilled. The cafe itself is very intimate and vibes are great. Basically everything can be veganised to my knowledge and everything I have tried has been delicious. Coffee is great too!! Highly recommend the zucchini hot cakes.
Pros: staff are great, chill atmosphere , food is the bomb
Contributions +595
great service and food - Edit
Was so happy that all their great looking sweet treats were vegan. We got a delicious muffin, croissant, and bircher muesli. Wish they had outdoor seating.
Contributions +43
Hidden gem - Edit
You know a place is doing well when its clientele is drawn principally by word of mouth rather than slick advertising.
MBD has carved out a niche for itself: a humble abode off a bluestone laneway offering veg*n food (predominantly vegan) with coffee selections their speciality.
Their sweets range is all vegan. Whilst they don't go out of their way to promote that they are a veg*n establishment, the meals are prepared without garlic and onion and yet don't suffer from lack of taste.
Pros: Groovy, rustic ambience, Excellent coffee, Predominantly vegan
Contributions +1156
Delicious brunch! - Edit
We had a delicious brunch consisting of zucchini and mint hotcakes with pickled cucumbers, beetroot relish and chili almond feta and the 'hungry Jimbo' - polenta bread with avocado, vegemite, almond feta, roast tomato and chili oil. Yum! Coffee and chai latte were good too. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. If I lived closer I'd be there all tbe time!
Contributions +16
A wicked find! - Edit
Pancakes were unreal, coffee was awesome. Seemed like a small serving but it was SO filling that it was the perfect amount. Went with my non-vegan uncle and had no objections from him!
Pros: great food, friendly staff, good coffee
Cons: not heaps of seats
Contributions +48
PLENTIFUL always spot on! - Edit
Awesome meals
Great service
Best coffee
Fun and really lovely set up
Never a complaint, love wait for a table on a nice sunny day
Pros: great food, full flavour, interesting, awesome service, coffee perfection!
Cons: small and you may need to wait but it's well w
Contributions +194
Delicious vegan brunch - Edit
I had a delicious vegan brunch here and had a takeaway vegan croissant, which was yummy if a bit oily.
The only downside to this place is how small it is! You may have to wait for a table and then cram in to which ever seat is available. I think the cool atmosphere, greats coffee and good food make it worth it though.
Pros: Vegan food, Good coffee
Cons: Small space, limited seating
Contributions +761
Great food in a small space - Edit
I've eaten here several times and always enjoyed it. The menu is creative and often uses unusual ingredients, but in a way that enhances rather than detracts from the flavour of the final product. The only downside is that I've had to wait for a table every time I've come.
Pros: Delicious, creative food
Cons: Long wait for table, Hard to find
Contributions +184
come for the coffee! - Edit
The coffee here is unbeatable. They roast it themselves, so the whole room smells heavenly. The house made almond mylk is creamy and delicious.
The food is great, and reasonably priced for the quality of the ingredients. The banana bread was great, and the icecream was fantastic!
Contributions +99
Some of the best coffee in Melbourne - Edit
I am in two minds about writing this review... the place is excellent with some of the best coffee in Melbourne but on the other hand, if I tell too many people about it, I won't be able to get in!
This is one of the best vegetarian breakfast places full stop. Excellent coffee (which is roasted on the premises), amazing food and friendly knowledgeable staff.
The pour over coffees are rich, full bodied and well balanced. The staff understand their coffee and you can learn a lot from them.
The food is also good wide a mixture of sweet (apple pancakes with vegan icecream), savoury (mushrooms on polenta toast) and filling (mexican beans). There are also lighter options such as slices, toast and pastries.
It is a busy happening place so if you want a Sunday breakfast, you need to be in well before 9am.
Prices are reasonable for the quality of food and coffee.
Pros: Excellent coffee, Knowledgeable staff, Variety of tasty food
Cons: Can't always get in, Can be loud
Contributions +34
Amazing Food! - Edit
Wow! This place has some creative and knowledgable chefs! Food not only tasted amazing but also so well presented! The space was cramped and far too loud it's almost anxiety producing.
Pros: taste and presentation
Cons: space too small and too loud
Contributions +69
Fantastic - Edit
In a week of gorging myself on vegan food while on holiday in Melbourne and Daylesford I can honestly say the single dish I had at this restaurant was the best. Mushrooms with homemade almond paste on pumpkin polenta bread. Simply to die for. Well worth the trouble to find it. Get there early for lunch as the place has a good reputation and fills to capacity.
Pros: Good selection of food, can be made vegan, Friendly staff, Very tasty and worth the cost
Cons: Not that easy to find the cafe, Limited seating, Very busy
Contributions +88
Best brunch I've had in Melbourne - Edit
Beautiful venue, the toilet is awesome!!
I had a soy cappuccino and the avo polenta beard with tomatoes. It's called the 'hungry..' - something. Just order it, it's outstanding. Best brunch and not just because its VEGAN AND GLUTEN FREE
Pros: They offer so many gluten free option and vegan nu
Cons: There are no cons
Contributions +5870
Frenetic and fiercely popular - Edit
A hustling, bustling tiny cafe...
Always packed to the rafters, the trade is steady, the food is somewhat hit and miss. Finding a good seat is a challenge; too close to the door means an extra chill factor on a wintry Melbourne morning. The seating is shoulder to shoulder, communal style which makes for a friendly but not so intimate setting.
The food has potential for greatness however often falls short by being too rich eg the Umami Mushrooms while tasty in their own right, could really use a serve of some greens to cut through the heaviness. Saying that, I have previous enjoyed the Veganised Avignon Apple Pancakes.
Worth a visit.
Contributions +56
Gorgeous food (and decor) - Edit
Even though it's hidden away it is always busy which goes to show how good it is. The apple pancakes are amazing and the coffee is beautiful. Absolutely love the decor too.
Contributions +6124
Hidden away - Edit
Very busy so they must be doing something very well!
Small menu, but with a few specials on the blackboard, the food did not deliver what we were hoping for. Cramped (cosy?) and a little chilly by the door.
Cons: Pricey
Contributions +1434
Encapsulates Melbourne's food love - Edit
Monk Bodhi Dharma is a great place to catch up with friends that aren't vegan as it does offer vegetarian food that is full of flavour and would satisfy even the most hardcore meat eater. It has a great vibe with friendly staff and the food is delicious! The sweet desserts are all vegan, I unfortunately didn't get to try any but there's always next time! It gets quite busy and there's minimal seating so I'd recommend booking a table if going on a popular day.
Pros: Delicious food, Large portions, Good vibe
Cons: Minimal seating, Hard to locate
Contributions +44
Amazing food/fresh juices/ coffees - Edit
Firstly it's off 202 Carlisle street near st kildas down an alleyway near KLP health. A small brick building. Don't give up its worth finding!
All vegan with a few vegetarian options. Breakfasts great..fresh fruit etc and dishes such as mushrooms with a vegan sauce on polenta bread fab. A few specials each day.
Guess what the staff are AAA..friendly, helpful and they mean it. As a visitor to melbourne it's a funky little place to visit. I keep going back. Not a coffee connoiseur but others tell me they go just for that. They have different green teas which are really good.
Pros: Fab wholesome food cooked with love, The staff care and are friendly, Consistently good
Cons: Not easy to find, Get's busy!
Contributions +251
Superrr delish lunch!! :) - Edit
I went here for lunch with my boyfriend and four friends today as we are in Melbourne for the weekend and I read about it on Lola Berry's (Aussie nutritionist) Instagram.
I am the only vego in the group and everyone loved their meals as much as I did! :)
My boyfriend and I ordered the vegan gluteb free sundried tomato & Chilli herb cornbread with mixed mushrooms and creamy sauce - it was incredible! Our coffees were great! Our friends ordered the Mexican nacho bean lunch special and corn fritters - they all loved their meals! The early grey & orange iced tea was also delish :)
It was a Sunday late lunch (around 1.30-2.30) but still had a line up out the door! It's a funky place but just admit it us pretty tiny and swishy! - only downfall! Also a little hard to find as it's off an alleyway off Carlisle street near Safeway. Worth the find and the wait if you love your food :)
Pros: Sensational food!!! , Coffee and iced tea!
Cons: Very small! , Very popular - long line up to get in :(
Contributions +40
Great place - Edit
Amazing coffee and great breakfast. I love also the artisan tea making.
Pros: excellent food, great coffee/tea
Cons: Small space
Contributions +390
Seems to be a hit - but not with us! - Edit
We decided to try out the dinner menu at this venue which serves dinner only on some Thursday and Friday nights (their website is totally out of date - you need to be on Twitter to be in the know or read their tweets on their webpage). There are two formal dinner sittings: at 6.30pm and at 8.30pm. We booked for the first round, got in at around 6.35pm and the place was almost full.
"Full" means that all 34 or 36 seats were taken. We were placed at the end of a massive wooden table with 11 other diners, sitting on heavy wooden stools that were pretty much impossible to lift and to move. There was nowhere to put our coats (it was a cold Melbourne evening), and there was nowhere to stretch; my knees were squashed in for the next 90 minutes. We also had to share our conversation with the couple next to us; intimacy was out of the question with this sort of setup.
The menu is not that long, but the prices are on the high side, reaching $24 for a mains dish. We chose an Indian rasam soup and some Mexican enchiladas. The soup was absolutely tasteless! It had no overtones of "Indian", other than being served with some lovely basmati rice, a chapati and some excellent chilli jam. The enchiladas were a good size, but their filling was mushy and lacked flavour also. Neither dish was piping hot.
The desserts were all vegan and sounded quite amazing. We tried the vegan mock Snickers concoction and a vegan creme brulee. Both items were handcrafted and expertly presented, and made up for the uninspiring mains. While they weren't cheap - $14.50 and $15.50 - they were worth the novelty and the imagination that had gone into them.
Unfortunately, the waitress we had on the night seemed to be a beginner and was lost at times. Our total for the dinner (2 mains + 2 desserts) was $74 and which has put Monk Bodhi Dharma at the top of our "Expensive Veg Restaurants of Australia" list.
In conclusion, if you would like to check out the creativity of a vegan chef and don't mind paying for it, then dinner at Monk Bodhi Dharma is the way to go. However, be prepared for a lack of comfort and intimacy. If we ever do return, we'll go for a hot drink with one of the desserts. They were truly something memorable.
Pros: Chef-crafted food, Excellent desserts
Cons: Squashy, Expensive, Not intimate
Contributions +184
The best! - Edit
If you can find your way there it's worth it. The staff are all very pleasant it's busy but no one is stressed. It's small and urban but the food has massive fresh flavours.
We have been for breakfast and lunches and never been disappointed, the guys that run it are imaginative and passionate. So far this for me is the best in Melbourne. Presentation beautiful, ingredients top class and the soy chai is amazing.
The place is filled with coffee aromas and a good mix and flow of people make the atmosphere.
If your looking for vegan food top class in Melbourne head here it's worth it.
Pros: Vegan choices are amazing, Soy chai nice and spicy, Great energy
Contributions +84
Delightful Monk - Edit
Monk Bodhi is a great little hidden away cafe behind an alley and supermarket in the Balaclava shopping strip. There are a few tables for 2 people, a few seats at the coffee bar and one large table for sharing during busy times... which is quite often now that the word is out about the dharma kitchen! On nice days there are some little stools outside for the smokers, or while you wait for a table inside.
The coffee is always delicious and the soy chai is a definite... quite spicy and comes in a gorgeous Japanese styled tea pot. Everything is vegetarian and most items can be done vegan. My favourites now that I'm a 'regular' are the brushetta and 'The Avo' which both come on toasted sourdough bread. The baguettes are also a delicious and healthy option for a lighter meal and the vegan choice often comes with Tofutti cream cheese in place of feta. You must keep enough room in your tummy for the coffee and chocolate brownie or a sweet little cupcake. All baked goods are vegan too.
A quaint little building restored from an old bakehouse, now a prime position for some alternative dining and a nice clean bathroom around the back too!
Pros: Great Food, Great Staff, Great Baked Goods
Cons: Small Area, Back-less Seats
Contributions +81
The monk has funk! - Edit
MBD is sooooo good~been twice now and not dissapointed~cool vibes ,hot curries and amazing cupcakes!!!!Excellent coffee and chai~the place is mostly vegan but you can get a bit of organic milk in your latte or honey in your chai if you bend that way.Love it!
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