LIST: Best Restaurants in Iloilo for a Meatless Dining Experience

Location: Q. Abeto Street, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Eat well. Live Well. Be Well. You will instantly see these words on the wall entering Healthy Kitchen Cafe. The cafe emphasizes the importance of good food choices to feel good inside and out. With this goal in mind, Healthy Kitchen Cafe offers an array of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Their falafel salad with hummus and garlic yogurt is a must-try. Those who love pizza can try plant-based vegan or vegetarian pizza.

Those who love breakfast can also have it at this vegan restaurant in Iloilo any day. Their Herb Omelet (PhP200) is a must-try, made of organic spinach and served with tomatoes and a sourdough slice. You can also choose a hearty rice meal like their Tofu Sisig (PhP170) or a low-carb version like their Chili Maple Cauliflower Meal (PhP225) served with tofu quinoa salad and vegan teriyaki wings.

They have Vegan Cakes (PhP140 to PhP1,300) sold in slices or whole for desserts. They have healthy smoothies and fruit juices to choose from for the drinks.

The cafe also serves non-vegetarian options with fish and lean meat.

Besides the healthy food options on the menu, they also have a mini grocery with guiltless food options. They have kombucha sold in small and big bottles. They also have milk kefir on the shelf with several flavor options. Healthy snacks such as dried fruits and nuts are also displayed in the shop.

Location: Diversion Road, Brgy San Rafael Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Operating Hours: 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM

Located along the busy Diversion Road is this 100% vegetarian coffee shop in the city, Monkey Grounds Coffee. There's a long list of options you can try, and since they are purely vegetarian, you will always go with every option you choose. They have an all-day Vegan Breakfast Meal (PhP185 to PhP235) with Adlai, quinoa, or a mix of both as an alternative to rice. Of course, those who love rice can still have it. The newest addition to their menu is the Faux Crispy Bacon Meal (PhP199), served with two eggs and garlic rice. Another alternative to rice is cauliflower rice. They serve Seoul Cauliflower rice with carrots, shiitake, tofu, onion, and Tauge in fermented chili paste topped with fried egg.

This vegan restaurant in Iloilo is also best known for its mushroom burger. A new addition to their burger menu is the Jalapeno Bacon Cheeseburger (PhP265) with faux bacon, patty, jalapeno, mozzarella, onion rings, and pickles. Pasta Roquette (PhP235) is new on the menu if you're into pasta. It's pasta with sauteed arugula, sunflower seeds, tomato, and parmigiano reggiano. Vegans also have Spaghetti Aubergine (PhP185) made with tomato sauce, grilled aubergine, and caramelized onions. Also famous for Monkey Grounds Coffee is their Buddha Bowl (PhP220 to PhP350), which consists of whole grains, quinoa, fresh and roasted vegetables, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts, plant protein such as tofu, and chickpeas.

Visiting Monkey Grounds Coffee is never complete without trying their coffee. They have the Monkey's Blend (PhP90 to PhP125) option. They also have nitro and cold-brew coffee infused with food-grade nitrogen gas. Their coffee offerings also include pour-over specialty coffee. Non-coffee drinkers can also try native cacao and several tea options.

Location: Jalandoni St., Jaro, Iloilo City

Operating Hours: Weekdays, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday, 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Visiting Green Pantry 5000 will likewise give you another dose of guilt-free goodness. The restaurant cafe has an exciting list of vegetarian food. They have the vegetarian version of Salpicao (PhP199), Tofu Teriyaki (PhP199), and even Inasal (PhP170). Even vegetarians can now eat Batchoy (PhP180).

Those who love a good bowl of ramen can try the GP Chef's ramen. GP Chef's Ramen (PhP215) offers a comforting bowl of noodle soup with rich vegetable broth, sweet corn, and miso. Green Pantry 5000 likewise provides different versions of the Burgers (PhP150 to PhP165). Green Pantry 5000 also has Salads and Wraps (PhP140 to PhP170).

Besides the mouthwatering menu, Green Pantry 5000 also offers a daily meal plan. Those who want to follow a strict diet can do so with the help of Green Pantry. They prepare a set of menus for lunch and dinner with options such as plant-based, vegetarian keto, and whole food.

Those who love to cook can also stock up their fridge with Green Pantry's Frozen Plant-Based Delights, including savory tapas, flavorful salpicao, classic adobo, and sweet tocino.

Location: #26 Huervana Street, Lapaz, Iloilo City

Operating Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

When it comes to healthier choices, NutriVege is also a famous one. They are one of the first vegan restaurants in Iloilo. The restaurant offers all-time favorite Vegan Filipino dishes at reasonable prices.

These include vegan versions of local favorites such as Vegan Sisig (PhP68), Vegan Lumpia (PhP65/3 pcs), Vegan Steak (PhP65), Vegan Bulalo (PhP68), and BBQ (PhP45). They likewise serve sandwiches, pasta, ramen, and batchoy.

NurtiVege also serves natural Fruit Smoothies (PhP105 to PhP130), like strawberries, papaya, and banana. It also serves different Health Juices (PhP40 to PhP85), such as beet, carrot, and vegetable blends. NutriVege also offers Frozen products (PhP165 to PhP175), such as tapa, tocino, bistek, and siomai.

Visit Yoorekka for more healthy dining options in the country!