In the wake of cancer surgery, food writer and yoga teacher Jill Alphonso transformed her diet overnight, adopting a vegan lifestyle focused on whole foods and optimal nutrition. Her journey led her to discover that while vegan options are proliferating across Singapore, truly healthy vegan dining—free from excessive frying, refined grains, and processed ingredients—remains relatively rare. Here are five establishments that meet her exacting standards for nutritious, inspiring plant-based cuisine.
1. Sarai Fine Thai
Location: Tanglin Mall, 03-122, 163 Tanglin Road
Hours: Daily, 11:30am-3pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm
Price Range: $$$$ (Experience menus: $78 lunch, $98 dinner)
The Experience
Sarai elevates vegan Thai cuisine to fine dining status with white tablecloths, impeccable service, and a meat-free menu that explores lesser-known regional Thai flavors. This isn’t your typical neighborhood Thai joint—it’s a sophisticated culinary journey through northern Thailand’s botanical bounty.
Standout Dishes
The mieng mak ($16) showcases the restaurant’s commitment to authenticity: lime and wild ginger wrapped in betel leaves, delivering a burst of fresh, complex flavors. The Thai sweet fern salad ($22) with tamarind palm sugar dressing demonstrates the kitchen’s ability to balance sweet, sour, and herbal notes with finesse.
For those less concerned about fried foods, the deep-fried corn fritters and Thai-style tacos with stir-fried tofu offer textural variety. The vegan pomelo salad, Pad Thai, and vegetarian green curry all earn high marks for tasting clean and fresh rather than heavy or greasy—a common pitfall in Thai cooking.
Value Proposition
The Experience menus provide the best value, offering a complete journey from amuse bouche through dessert (think pandan coconut pudding or mango sticky rice). While prices reflect the upscale setting, the quality and innovation justify the investment for special occasions.
Verdict
Best for: Special occasions, business dinners, exploring authentic regional Thai flavors
Health Factor: High—emphasis on fresh vegetables, herbs, and balanced preparations
Rating: ★★★★½
2. Delice Asan
Location: Private home setting (email [email protected] for details)
Hours: By appointment only
Price Range: $$$$ ($115 lunch, $150 dinner)
The Concept
Anne Schot brings Le Cordon Bleu London’s plant-based training to Singapore in the most intimate way possible: her own home. This botanical gastronomy experience represents the pinnacle of personalized vegan dining, where every detail is crafted for a small group of discerning diners.
The Menu
Each meal is a bespoke multiple-course tasting menu that can lean Western or Asian depending on the occasion. Signature preparations include seed cups with cashew nut cheese and mushroom dukkah, spicy heart of palm, and ajo blanco (a Spanish cold soup). Schot’s versatility extends to vegan sushi and Thai cuisines, demonstrating technical mastery across culinary traditions.
The smoked tofu pasta with edamame and celeriac disc with soft zucchini and Romanesco cauliflower showcase her ability to coax maximum flavor from vegetables. Desserts might feature vegan ice cream with fresh fruit and housemade truffle balls.
The Experience
This isn’t just dinner—it’s an immersive culinary event. The intimate home setting allows for conversation with the chef and understanding the philosophy behind each dish. Expect whole foods, plant-based preparations that educate as much as they delight.
Verdict
Best for: Special celebrations, culinary enthusiasts, intimate gatherings
Health Factor: Exceptional—whole foods focus with sophisticated technique
Rating: ★★★★★
3. Afterglow by Anglow
Location: 24 Keong Saik Road
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 12pm-10pm
Price Range: $$ ($11-24 per dish)
The Philosophy
Afterglow has earned its reputation as a vegan stalwart by committing to raw and minimally processed foods. Raw foods support gut health and immune function—particularly important for those recovering from illness.
Signature Dishes
The vegan lasagne ($24) reimagines the Italian classic entirely: zucchini sheets replace pasta, filled with crispy dehydrated cherry tomatoes, marinated baby spinach, shiitake mushrooms, walnut “minced meat,” cashew cream cheese, and pesto. It’s a masterclass in how raw food can deliver complexity and satisfaction.
The Afterglow kimchi avo rolls ($15) feature almond sushi “rice” and housemade kimchi (crucially, without fish sauce) topped with creamy avocado. This dish exemplifies the restaurant’s commitment to authentic flavors without animal products.
Even their take on comfort food impresses: salted “egg”-less sweet potato fries ($11) are baked rather than fried, topped with a moreish housemade sauce that mimics salted egg yolk without the cholesterol.
Accessibility
Located in the heart of Keong Saik, Afterglow offers consistent quality at moderate prices. The fully vegan menu means no cross-contamination concerns, and many raw options provide maximum nutritional benefit.
Verdict
Best for: Health-conscious diners, raw food enthusiasts, casual weeknight dinners
Health Factor: Outstanding—emphasis on raw, enzyme-rich foods
Rating: ★★★★
4. Loaded Gun Kitchen
Location: Private event space (express interest via website)
Hours: Weekend bookings only
Price Range: $$$ ($117 per person for Disco Diner)
The Evolution
What began as a popular dips company during COVID-19 has blossomed into a plant-based event space. The Disco Diner concept brings communal dining energy to whole foods, plant-based cuisine, with bookings for groups of four.
The Food
Owner Lynn creates fun, funky dishes meant for sharing. Current offerings include Vietnamese sandwiches featuring her famous Midnight Gospel shiitake mushroom burger patties—mushrooms being rich in anticancer compounds. The portobello and king oyster pad grapow showcases umami depth, served with housemade pickles that support gut health. Her Szechuan mapo tofu brings heat and complexity.
While some menu items include cheese, Lynn accommodates fully vegan requests through direct communication. The customizable approach means dietary needs are genuinely addressed rather than worked around.
The Experience
This is dining as celebration. Book out the entire space for birthdays, networking events, or girls’ nights. The communal, party atmosphere distinguishes it from typical restaurant experiences. Don’t leave without grabbing signature dips like the Umami Bomb Cashew Cream or Sexy Green Goddess ($16+)—an avocado-cilantro creation perfect for chips, pasta, or paratha.
Verdict
Best for: Group celebrations, adventurous eaters, social dining experiences
Health Factor: High—whole foods focus with fun preparations
Rating: ★★★★
5. iVegan
Locations:
- Thomson Plaza, 01-109, 301 Upper Thomson Road (Daily 11:30am-9:30pm)
- i12 Katong, 02-20, 112 East Coast Road (Hours vary by day)
Price Range: $ ($5.90-16.90)
The Mission
iVegan proves that healthy vegan food doesn’t require a premium price tag. This no-frills eatery focuses relentlessly on nutrition: low salt, oil, and sugar, with zero MSG—even in umami-rich dishes like the mala veggie medley ($7.90+).
The Menu
The extensive menu spans Asian and Western preparations. Asian options include tofu and vegetable dishes, while Western offerings feature beetroot hummus ($9.90), a housemade black bean burger ($13.90), portobello steak ($16.90), and pasta ($8.90+).
The crispy veg maki ($5.90 for four pieces) with housemade BBQ sauce demonstrates how flavorful healthy food can be. Crucially, sushi can be ordered with brown rice, and grain-based sides include quinoa—thoughtful touches that maximize nutritional value.
Transparency
iVegan clearly indicates when refined sugar (brown sugar) appears in dishes, though use is minimal. Housemade condiments like mala sauce and BBQ sauce taste wholesomely fresh rather than processed. This transparency empowers diners to make informed choices.
Accessibility
With two locations and wallet-friendly prices, iVegan makes healthy vegan eating accessible to a broad audience. Available on GrabFood with free delivery through GrabUnlimited.
Verdict
Best for: Budget-conscious diners, families, everyday healthy eating
Health Factor: Exceptional—stringent nutritional standards at every turn
Rating: ★★★★
Final Thoughts
Jill Alphonso’s selections reveal a maturing vegan scene in Singapore that goes beyond token salads and fried mock meats. These five establishments understand that vegan food can be simultaneously nutritious, delicious, and inspiring. Whether seeking fine dining elegance at Sarai, bespoke artistry at Delice Asan, raw food vitality at Afterglow, communal celebration at Loaded Gun Kitchen, or everyday accessibility at iVegan, Singapore’s vegan landscape now offers options for every occasion and budget.
The common thread? A commitment to whole foods, thoughtful preparation, and flavors that celebrate vegetables rather than merely substituting for meat. For anyone navigating dietary changes—whether for health, ethics, or curiosity—these eateries prove that plant-based eating in Singapore has evolved far beyond compromise.
- Limited Information: Most establishments appear to be dine-in focused
- Takeaway Available: Several hawker stalls and coffee shops
- No Delivery Mentioned: For most locations
Tourist Accessibility:
- Highest Value: Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Ah Eating House, Original Katong Laksa, Atlas Bar
- Moderate Accessibility: Most hawker centres and established restaurants
- Advance Planning Required: The Ampang Kitchen, Burnt Ends reservations
Cultural Significance:
- Historical: Tong Ah (1939), Singapore Zam Zam (1908), Song Fa (1969)
- Heritage Preservation : Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Tan’s Tu Tu Coconut Cake
- Modern Innovation: Burnt Ends, Cloudstreet, % Arabica
Cooking Techniques Highlighted:
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