Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Western
Take-out
Breakfast
Australian
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. NOTE: Confirmed open, Nov '22. Open Mon-Fri 7:00am-5:00pm, Sat-Sun 8:00am-5:00pm.
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- Wheelchair accessible
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Last update on 03 Nov 2022 by SiobhanBanjo
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53 Reviews
First Review by vgough
Pabloontheroad
Points +50
Ordinary and Dissappointing - Edit
Ordered the Avo toast with ‘vegan fetta’ and the mushroom toast dish,
Read moreVegan fetta is dry and more like couscous or breadcrumbs, mushrooms were soggy and tasteless.
Came here for my wife’s birthday and were moved to sit in the doorway right where everyone pays, door constantly opening. It was difficult to find, would have been better if we didn’t find it to be honest
Pros: The walls
Cons: The food, The service and crowdedness, jammed seating, Luke warm coffee
Guest
RuthSharon
Points +984
Better than I had hoped - Edit
My family and I shared four meals and let’s just say all meals exceeded my expectations. We tried the pancakes, zucchini fritters, toastie (which was more of an open toast), and mushroom on polenta bread (absolute magic). Everything is vegetarian/vegan. Kitchen does use milk/milk products but vegan cheese can be swapped out for vegan. Cool location and coffee was 10/10.
Read morePros: Food coma good , Lots of options, Really cool vibe
Guest
NilsHeymann
Points +677
Nice vibes - Edit
This place has every right to be pretentious with its aesthetic, flavor profiles and service and yet it is not. Lovely lovely food on lovely plates served by lovely people. Shared table. We will be back!!!!!!
Read moreGuest
RumerMoriarty
Points +29
Yummy - Edit
I had a takeaway coffee scroll - so good!! Very kind staff 🧡. Will be back to try the pancakes!
Read moreGuest
veganbabe69
Points +164
Cute little cafe - Edit
Love the hole in the wall vibe of this place. Staff were kind and offered to remake my friends coffee. Lots of baked goods on offer.
Read moreGuest
NDVegan
Points +6100
Best chai. Best vegan muffins! - Edit
Monk chai is superior. Monk also does the best vegan fruit muffins. Vegan muffins are so hard to find and these are tasty and moist. The mushrooms are divine inspiration and my absolute fav. The fritters are awesome as well. Amazing food.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-12-11
Guest
Valeriazwow
Points +978
INSANE OMG - Edit
Such a cool hidden place! Love the decorations and vibe. What an amazing menu, I wanted to try everything! I ended up getting the mushrooms on pumpkin & Polenta bread! So yum and such a big portion! I also got a decaf soy chai latte which was good too- not too sweet and so many spices!! Especially love the face mugs hahha
Read moreI will be back soon :)) This place is my new obsession
Pros: Big portions, Amazing chai lattes
Guest
BereniceV
Points +68
One of my Melbourne’s all time favourite - Edit
I am a big hungry jimbo fan and have been for years, always want to try different things but always going back to this classic! Their acai is a great sweet options too. I love the facts that they have pretty much the same team for years, for me that say a lot with the way the business is run, for hospo staff to stick around for years, the business must be doing something right, and that make me love this business even more! Not to forget their coffee is on point, always have an outstanding cold brew there. Not sure if they still do, but they also used to have crazy inspired dinner degustation!
Read morePros: Great food , Great coffee , Great ethics
Cons: None
Guest
Tiggy
Points +13866
Nice food, makeshift tables - Edit
I hadn’t been here in years and it’s northside counterpart Admiral Cheng Ho disappeared a while ago now, so I was keen to revisit this place. I hadn’t missed the poky seating, and sure enough when we arrived we were seated at the makeshift bench on which your plate juts over the edge. We ordered the Hungry Jimbo and the zucchini fritters, both of which were absolutely delicious. The fritters were notable for their combination of spices - I detected anise and cardamom - giving them a flavour on the border of savoury and sweet. Keeping an eye out for a decent table becoming free we eventually managed to score one, even as somebody unfairly tried to dive on it before us. It’s everyone for themself in the hipster cafe jungle.
Read morePros: Delicious food
Cons: Poky seating and makeshift tables
Guest
PeterSimmons
Points +68
Best coffee - seriously - Edit
Comfy little brick building with awesome coffee and vegan avo.
Read moreGuest
jessicalovescows
Points +90
Mushroom dish is my fave - Edit
Love this place, amazing vegan options. The mushroom dish is my #1.
Read moreGuest
Ninnaskitchenbrighton
Points +148
Phenomenal! - Edit
Our weekly visit for the past 10 years!
Read moreBest chai & food.
Lovely staff.
We love the jimbo & avo… and rest of the menu!
A must go to if you are vego/vegan.
Pros: Chai & coffee, Food & cakes , Vibe & staff
Cons: None, Zlich , Nothing!
Guest
surfmatt
Points +65
Great vegan food/coffee/vibe but now over-priced - Edit
Been a regular patron to MBD since it started and always loved the food/coffee/vibe but went back recently after a couple of years living interstate and was shocked at the price hike- seriously what's the deal $22.50 for avo on toast and got stung $5.50 for a standard long black - as much as I like the place I definitely won't be a regular in future but maybe just a special occasion as just can't justify paying those prices especially when they roast their own coffee!
Read morePros: great vegan food , great coffee, nice vibe
Cons: Over-priced , 10% surcharge on weekends
Guest
tammikest
Points +40
Go-to Vegan breakfast - Edit
The best chai latte I’ve ever had! Please get the acai bowl , it’s ridiculous. The vegan muffins are also delicious.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan breakfast/lunch options
Cons: $10 for a chai latte 🤭
Guest
ShaunK
Points +67
Best cafe in St Kilda - Edit
Amazing brunch food and pastries. Coffee is excellent! Incredible chai.
Read morePros: Great vegan food options, Amazing coffee and chai, Friendly staff
Guest
YohanⓋ
Points +5448
Amazing! - Edit
One of my favourite places for brunch! The best mushroom dish ever, although it can be dry at times. The atmosphere is great and so it’s the coffee. It can be had to get a table.
Read morePros: The best mushroom dish I’ve ever had! , Nice ambiance and staff, Great coffee
Guest
kafca
Points +202
A great nook - Edit
This converted little factory In the back lane near a carpark may be hard to find, but it is a cozy little get away from the craziness of nearby Carlisle Street. It prides itself on its range of ethical coffees and has a menu that is surprisingly extensive. It is vegetarian and mostly vegan but everything can be made vegan usually just by swapping yoghurt into coconut yoghurt. The Hungry Jimbo is their specialty as is the mushroom on polenta which features more types of mushrooms than I could count. A great spot!
Read moreGuest
KristenCampbell
Points +633
The best! - Edit
Most (if not all) meals are vegan/can be made vegan. Their vegan pancakes are hands down the best in Melbs, with the açai bowl not far behind. Their chai is also unbeatable. Service is always excellent.
Read morePros: Best pancakes/chai, Affordable , Good location
Cons: Some dairy options.
Guest
pinkjjj
Points +114
Best Vegan Pancakes - Edit
I come here whenever I am in Balaclava and have the most amazing vegan pancakes. Sensational!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Pancakes, Great coffee
Guest
WalescaZanonato
Points +93
Yummy chocolate brownie in this stylish hidden gem - Edit
For nourishing savory meals, or indulgent sweets. If you make it to this place, you’ll have it all.
Read morePros: It’s all vegan, Plenty of pastries, It has character and a chill atmosphere
Guest
miclgael
Points +11
Delicious - Edit
Beautiful coffee selection, and really flavourful vegan/vego/gf meal options. It’s a small, Cosy space; one big shared table, a bench and 4 or 5 two seater tables.
Read morePros: The avo on toast is like. best in class., Coffeeee!
Cons: Slightly more expensive Vego breakies
Guest
jordocon
Points +71
Hungry hungry jimbo - Edit
You must try the hungry jimbo dish, it's amazing. The housemade bread and almond ricotta are huge winners. Love the coffee but if you want almond milk, you're paying about $7 for an almond latte which is CRAZY! The almond milk is also housemade but wow that's a hefty price tag.
Read morePros: So many yummy dishes
Cons: Expensive coffee
Guest
danhosk
Points +736
Real good - Edit
Great little spot for coffee, pancakes and tofu. Will be back.
Read moreGuest
SteveTownshend
Points +281
Best Cafe in Melbourne!! - Edit
This is my favorite cafe in the world (as a 747 international long haul airline pilot, I have been to hundreds of cafes all over the world). The only reason they aren’t 100% vegan is because they have cows milk for coffee [they also have lots of plant-based milks for us vegans!] and they have two menu items with optional Cheese. Otherwise everything is 100% vegan. They even have vegan croissants and muffins and baked goods!!
Read moreThe Avocado Toast is the best I’ve had (photo doesn’t do it justice. All the current photos on Happy Cow are not very good. If you go here, please add some better photos!).
If you order Vegan Avo Toast, it comes with Almond [Vegan] Feta!! And so much Avocado and so so much flavour! The coffee is unbelievably good too! They have many different types of coffee, and they roast it themselves in-house! In the coffee capital of the world (Melbourne), this is the best coffee shop I’ve been to. All the other food I saw other people eating was also outrageously amazing looking (there’s currently no good photo’s on Happy Cow, but don’t let that discourage you!)
This is the first cafe/restaurant I’ve ever given a 5 star review to that isn’t 100% vegan (serves some milk & cheese). They deserve it! Plus they are 99% vegan.
A little hard to find, it’s in the alley beside Woolworth Grocery store, just off Carlisle Street; no big sign outside. 1 block walk from Balaclava train station. Easy to get to from the CBD on the train.
Pros: 100% Vegan except 2 items have optional cheese. , Amazing Avocado Toast! Vegan baked goods! , Amazing coffee (roasted in-house)
Cons: Serves Cheese in two menu items, Optional cows milk in coffee for non-vegans
Guest
mimgal
Points +49
Delicious and cozy - Edit
One of my favourite places to eat. Delicious food in a cool, cozy space.
Read morePros: Flavourful vegan options , Great atmosphere, Great cooked vegan food
Guest
Primuz
Points +57
Delicious vegan banana pancake - Edit
The best vegan banana pancake I've ever tried. Very delicious.
Read morePlace is abit small. Go early to secure seats.
Pros: Plenty of options, Friendly staff
Cons: Small space
Guest
v.rach
Points +78
Doesn’t get better - Edit
The coffee, the umami mushrooms, the pancakes, the Tim tam ... these are a few of my favourite things. And if you get the chance to go to one of the sporadic degustation nights, DO NOT MISS IT. They are phenomenal.
Read moreGuest
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