The best breakfast places in Kuala Lumpur for vegetarians and vegans
All the best breakfast places for vegetarians and vegans in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, so you can keep your ‘hanger’ at bay.
It’s no secret that I love breakfast. Actually, that isn’t entirely correct. I don’t just love breakfast. I am obsessed with it. It is, without doubt, my favourite meal of the day.
Travelling to other countries also provides me with a great excuse to try out different kinds of breakfasts. From elaborate Turkish kahvalti with its countless dips, spreads, cheeses and breads, to the rich carb heavy Sri Lankan hoppers and milk rice, breakfast is a chance to explore not just a country’s cuisine but also its culture.
Before I moved to Kuala Lumpur, I already knew that breakfast in the city was going to be good. Why? Because Malaysia is a country where people love to eat. The most common question that you will be asked in Malaysia is “Dah makan?” or “Have you eaten today?” (this happens throughout the day, even when mealtime isn’t anywhere near).
New restaurants open in KL all the time, there are food bloggers aplenty and the restaurants are pretty much always heaving.
Clearly, KL was the perfect place for a foodie like me. However, one question remained: would it be possible to find vegetarian breakfasts in Kuala Lumpur?
As someone who eats a mostly vegetarian diet (with some occasional lapses - like an amazing chicken kebab in Penang - in my defence I was ILL AND DELIRIOUS!) I always look for a place that has decent vegetarian options.
There’s nothing worse for me than having to opt for a slice of toast for breakfast because I can eat nothing else on the menu. Disappointing food experiences make me sad.
Over the four years that I lived in Kuala Lumpur I took it upon myself to find out which cafes had the best vegetarian and vegan breakfast and brunch options. This involved me sacrificing (cough) a lot of time to (ahem) ‘research’.
We also researched the best Sri Lankan restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, which you can find here.
Okay, I basically just went out and did a lot of eating.
And now I’ve whittled all my research down to this list! My criteria? Tastiness and creativity. (Basically sad fried eggs on toast don’t make it).
Ready to tingle your tastebuds? Read on for the 13 best breakfast places in Kuala Lumpur for vegetarians and vegans.
1) Huckleberry Food and Fare
Imagine the scene: freshly made pastries, steaming loaves of bread, exquisite cakes, baked eggs, homemade granola, freshly squeezed juices…basically a breakfast lover’s wet dream.
You get all of this and more at Huckleberry, a famous institution in Damansara Heights that has a reputation for serving the best breakfast in KL.
Huckleberry is considered to be one of the best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and with good reason: the restaurant is well known for its delicious cakes and pastries (I met the pastry chef once and was amazed that he was really French - like from the ACTUAL land of croissants).
Bear in mind that this place is also super popular: if you don’t reserve a table, you are lucky to get a seat on weekends.
With dishes like roasted aubergine shakshuka (22.90RM) topped with feta and served with house-baked bread; banana french toast (25.90RM) made with brioche bread dipped in a rich custard, then topped with bananas, walnuts and house-made apple syrup; and the huckleberry breakfast burrito (24.90RM) which consists of scrambled eggs, potato hash, avocado, shredded cheese, jalapeno sour cream and black beans in a tortilla wrap, this is one place that you will definitely not leave hungry.
Huckleberry is definitely the place to head to if you are craving a Western breakfast in Kl.
Huckleberry’s popularity has led to the opening of another branch in Bangsar Shopping Centre (open for lunch and dinner) so that Bangsar-ites no longer have to travel so far to get their cake and pastry fix.
Address:Huckleberry Flagship Cafe, 2G & 4G, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Mondays to Sundays 7.30am to 10.00pm
Summary: Vegetarian options, dishes can be made vegan on request
2) Ganga Cafe
Ganga cafe is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Everything on the menu is vegetarian (a lot of it is vegan too), freshly made, wallet friendly and delicious.
Most of the time I would visit Ganga for dinner, because their standard thali (an Indian meal made up of a selection of various dishes) is only 10RM. 10RM! And this comes with rice, three vegetable curries, rasam and poppadoms. Now that's what I call eating out on a budget.
However, it’s the Ganga brunch that I really want to talk about. On Sundays the cafe holds an Indian buffet brunch (costing 25RM per person) which usually consists of at least five different curries, breads, salads, sauces and Indian snacks.
Over the years, the buffet has offered up everything from onion and banana pakoras to chickpea dhal and pumpkin curries, chapatis and parathas. There is also usually a dessert on offer too - mostly it’s kesari (a semolina pudding made from ghee, saffron, nuts and sugar) which is damn good.
The quality of the food at the buffet is amazing and everything tastes homemade.
You can basically eat as much as you want until you’re full (or until the elastic in your trousers gives way - whichever is first I suppose). For the price, this really is the best budget-friendly brunch in Kuala Lumpur.
I also love the Ganga brunch because I basically get to try a lot of the dishes on the Ganga menu and I also don’t end up eating anything for the rest of the day. Result!
If you don’t want to gorge on a Sunday brunch (like seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?) then you’ll be pleased to know that Ganga also offers Malaysian breakfast favourites from Monday to Saturday.
The Ganga nasi lemak with mock chicken, fish or mutton (6RM) and various types of fried rice and fried noodles (between 6RM-8RM) are all good breakfast options.
Ganga Cafe really is the best vegetarian restaurant in KL!
Address: Ganga Cafe, 19, Lorong Kurau, Taman Bukit Pantai, 59100,Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Monday - Saturday 8am - 10pm, Sunday 10am - 3pm
Summary: Pure vegetarian and vegan restaurant
For more on vegan food read our post on where to find the best vegan Turkish breakfast in Istanbul here!
3) Nutmeg
Nutmeg has a reputation for serving the best brunch in Kuala Lumpur and looking at the menu it’s easy to see why.
Nutmeg’s menu features iconic breakfast favourites, from a luxurious tasting brioche french toast (from 13RM - topping options include chocolate hazelnut praline ganache and lemon passion fruit sauce) to vegetarian frittatas (19RM) made with a choice of mushrooms, mozzarella and tomato, or spinach, onions and sundried tomatoes.
These mouthwatering dishes plus many others are the reason why Bangsar locals always make sure that there isn’t a spare seat available at Nutmeg on weekends.
Nutmeg also bakes its own sweet treats so if you aren’t feeling a savoury breakfast, I would definitely recommend their mini pecan tarts and apple pies. They also have a wide range of cakes in unusual flavours from watermelon cake to banana yogurt cake!
If you are looking for a breakfast that is tasty but also good for your digestive system, you could try their kefir smoothie bowl (15RM) made with blueberries, raspberries, oats, raisins and chia seeds or their kefir parfait (14RM) which is a delicious mix of kefir, roasted strawberries and homemade granola.
Nutmeg is also the best place in Kuala Lumpur for an all-day breakfast. So if their baked eggs (18RM) with all the trimmings is what takes your fancy at 7pm, you can still have it. Get in.
Address: Nutmeg, UGF-28A, Bangsar Village II 2, 2, Jalan Telawi 1, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 10.00am - 10.00pm
Summary: Vegetarian options
4) Aunty Manju's Home of Banana Leaf
A banana leaf rice breakfast simply has to be on this list and Aunty Manju’s in TTDI is one of the best. The queues are out the door on a weekend and this isn’t really surprising, given how tasty, cheap and delicious the food is.
New to the concept of banana leaf? Basically instead of your food being served on a plate, it’s served on a banana leaf! Simples. This is a common way of serving rice and curry dishes in South Indian cuisine.
At Aunty Manju’s, the banana leaf brunch consists of rice, three vegetables, a fried vegetable dish, toufou sambal, chutney and pickle, papadum, rasam, a choice of gravies (dhal, chicken or fish curry) and an Indian dessert. Whooo! And all of this for 8.50RM!
Make sure you order a masala tea (tea with Indian spices) or a teh-tarik (tea made with sweetened milk) to round off your banana leaf brekkie perfectly.
Address: Aunty Manju’s Banana Leaf, 18, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 7am - 10pm
Summary: Vegetarian options, check which dishes are vegan
5) Breakfast Thieves
The twin sister cafe of the original neighbourhood cafe in Fitzroy in Melbourne, Breakfast Thieves opened a second branch in KL in 2016.
The menu is spectacularly inventive and plays with a range of unusual flavours e.g. the Leprechaun vegetarian breakfast (25RM) consists of corn zucchini fritters, creamy sweet potato, basil tapenade, cherry tomatoes, avocado, buttered corn kernels and poached eggs. My mouth is literally watering right now.
Breakfast Thieves have several other creative options for vegetarians including brioche french toast with coconut jam and raspberry cream (26RM) and a bircher muesli (26RM), made with vanilla panna cotta, greek yogurt and homemade muesli. Some dishes can also be made vegetarian on request.
With its inventive menus and delectable flavours, it’s no surprise that Breakfast Thieves is featured on the best brunch in Kuala Lumpur lists time and time again.
Address: Breakfast Thieves, Lot M, 29-5 Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 9.00am - 5.00pm
6) Lankan Cafe
If I could choose a breakfast to have every day, it would be a Sri Lankan breakfast.
Firstly because there are so many different options - you can have rice cooked in different ways, a range of different breads, eggs, fruit and CURRIES!
Secondly, my parents’ are Sri Lankan, so yeah, I am biased. Sue me.
Lankan Cafe is a reasonably priced Sri Lankan restaurant in Petaling Jaya and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The restaurant offers breakfast deals (between 7.90RM to 12.90RM) which includes a cup of tea or coffee and to my delight, most of the options are vegetarian!
My favourite thing to order is appam (basically a delicious cross between a pancake and a crumpet) - at Lankan cafe it is served sweet with coconut milk on top, savoury with no topping or with a cooked egg in the middle. Because I don’t like to choose, I usually order a mixed appam set (8RM) with one egg and one plain appam.
Other vegetarian breakfast joys include pol roti (12.90RM) - a type of round bread stuffed with grated coconut, onion and chillies); idiyappam aka ‘string hoppers’ (9.90RM) which are made from rice flour pressed into noodles and steamed and puttu (9.90RM) which is comprised of steamed cylinders of ground rice and grated coconut. All of these dishes are served with a spicy condiment/‘sambol’ and a curry side dish.
Lankan Cafe also serves a special breakfast at weekends which is kiribath - rice cooked in coconut milk and accompanied by a side dish of curry and sambol (12.90RM).
All these vegetarian options combined with super reasonable prices make Lankan Cafe one of the best cafes in Kuala Lumpur for vegetarians.
Lankan Cafe’s breakfast deal is available until 12pm but after that you can order the same dishes from the lunch and dinner menus, although it is slightly more expensive and doesn’t come with a drink.
Speaking of drinks, I would definitely recommend ordering a pot of ginger milk tea (12.90RM) - it gives you a spicy caffeinated kick like no other.
A note for vegans: Sri Lankan food is actually pretty vegan friendly as most of the curries contain coconut milk and the breads don’t usually contain animal products. The staff at Lankan Cafe are friendly and so you can always double check which items are vegan.
Address: Lankan Cafe, 388, Jalan 5/59, The Scott Garden, 46000, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 08.30am - 10.00pm
Summary: Vegetarian and vegan options
7) Raju's
Looking for the best local breakfast in KL? The you should look no further than Raju’s.
Another famous KL establishment - Raju’s is known for serving some of the best Malaysian breakfast dishes in the city. We visited Raju’s in 2013 with a friend of mine from work - I still remember the crispy and flaky roti canai...mmmm. There was also an amazing tomato curry that came with the banana leaf rice - we just kept asking for further helpings until we were stuffed!
Wondering what roti canai is? Basically it’s a layered flatbread of Indian origin (similar to a paratha) and is usually served with some kind of gravy - dhal, fish or chicken gravy are most common. The best roti canai are fluffy, flaky and crunchy on the outside but softer in the centre.
In Malaysia, roti canai isn’t a side dish (as you’d expect from a flatbread) but actually constitutes a main meal.
You can find all sorts of roti canai served in mamak (Indian muslim) restaurants - such as roti telur (egg); roti bawang (chopped red onion); roti telur bawang (can you guess what this is - have you been concentrating?!); roti tissu (where the roti canai is stretched so thin is goes super crispy and then is shaped into a huge cone and drizzled with condensed milk); roti banjir (the roti canai is shredded and then mixed up with loads of gravy); roti cheese (yep this one is obvs)...and so many more.
My best tip? Find your fave mamak restaurant and work your way through the roti menu.
And also go to the gym. Cos you’re gonna need it.
Anyway, back to Raju’s. A regular plain roti canai at Raju’s starts off at 1.80RM, with fancier versions being a bit more expensive. Raju’s also serves thosai - a thin fermented pancake made from various pulses and rice flour that is then cooked on a hot tava (like a flat griddle pan).
As with roti canai, there’s a huge range of thosai options at Rajus! For a light breakfast you can have it plain but my favourite is masala thosai, where the pancake is stuffed with a spicy potato masala and then served with various chutneys. Super yums.
Address: Raju’s Banana Leaf New Branch, 383, Jalan 5/59, Bukit Gasing, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 7.00am - 8.00pm
Summary: Vegetarian option, check which dishes are vegan
8) Antipodean
An Australian chain with a great selection of vegetarian and vegan breakfast and brunch options.
A lot of things at Antipodean can also be vegetarian/veganised. For example, their avocado on toast (24RM) comes with grilled tomatoes and bacon - I usually replace the bacon with a side of extra mushrooms. Recently they added a halloumi cheese option to this, which gets a huge thumbs up from me!
Other menu highlights include french toast with caramelised banana (24RM). This usually also comes with bacon but you can order it without this. There are other french toast options too e.g. with poached pears or berry compote (seriously, their french toast is gooood hence the number of different options).
I would also recommend their scrambled egg on toast with feta and spinach (22RM), the coconut pancake with rhubarb ice cream (24RM) or akaroa crepes with a range of toppings from lemon and sugar to nutella (24RM).
If you are in more of a brunch than breakfast mood, the pumpkin, sage and feta pasta (24RM) is super tasty and gives you a nice mid-morning savoury carb hit.
The great thing about Antipodean is that it also serves fantastic coffee and juices, so you can stay both caffeinated and hydrated.
Address: Antipodean Midvalley, GE-011(A), Grd Floor, Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 07.30am - 11.00pm, Friday to Saturday 07.30am to 12.00am
There are also other Antipodean branches in Bangsar and in Menara Tan & Tan in Kuala Lumpur city centre - you can find their addresses and opening hours on the Antipodean website.
Summary: Vegetarian options, dishes can be made vegan on request
9) Sala
During a recent trip to KL, one of my friends advised me to visit this Latin inspired, tex mex vegan restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas and when we found ourselves in the area (very randomly as I had gone to fix my camera) we decided to pop in. I am soooo glad that we did!
Whilst Sala doesn’t strictly have a breakfast menu, there are a lot of dishes that could be eaten for breakfast. For example, I tried the protein packed falafel wrap (24RM), which comes with hummus, harissa, tahini sauce, cucumber salad, pico de gallo and pickled purple cabbage, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla. Delicious!
There’s also a completely vegan nasi lemak (9RM) with mushroom ‘anchovies’, a vegan sambal and spicy tempe with peanuts.
We also tried their scrumptious BBQ jackfruit taco (11RM), with vegan sour cream and nacho cheese plus roasted chipotle salsa.
Everything tasted really fresh and nutritious at Sala and although their prices aren’t the cheapest, we found that the generous portions for some of the dishes, such as the burritos, meant that we could share, thereby making the meal a lot cheaper for the two of us.
Sala is fast becoming one of the best vegan restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, so if you are vegan and visiting the city, make sure you pay a visit.
Address: Sala, A-G-03A Galeria Hartamas, No 21, Jalan 26a/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Monday to Wednesday 11.00am – 7.00pm, Thursday to Saturday 11.00am – 9.00pm, Sunday 11.00am – 5.00pm
Summary: 100% vegan restaurant
10) Yellow Brick Road
Yes it’s trendy. Yes it’s pretty expensive. But the food here is also damn tasty. Located amongst some expensive shops and the very posh Ben’s Grocer’s in the uber-affluent area of Damansara Heights, YBR takes breakfast seriously and there are no less than 6 vegetarian options on the menu.
Whilst I intended to try everything on the menu that I possibly could, I kept coming back to the same dish: The Sweet Mash of Mine (22RM). I can forgive a Guns N Roses pun for the delectable spread that was served in front of me of sweet potato mash, basil pesto, ricotta cheese, and avocado topped with two poached eggs served with rye bread and black sesame and sunflower seeds.
Despite my dedication to The Sweet Mash of Mine, I did cheat on it with YBR’s version of french toast which I loved. Malaysian flavours have been incorporated into this dish so the french toast is paired with coconut mascarpone cheese, caramel kaya sauce (kaya is a rich coconut jam) and mixed nuts (all this goodness for 22RM).
There’s also the Gardener's Brekkie (24RM) which consists of two poached eggs, sliced avocados, cherry tomatoes, sweet potato fries and creamy mushrooms served with a side of rye bread.
And if all of this sounds way too healthy (trust me the French toast isn’t) and you want something greasier, then you can easily vegetarianise YBR’s Big Breakfast (30RM) which comes with mixed beans, sweet potato, tomatoes, mushrooms, hashbrowns and eggs done your way.
YBR serves pancakes for breakfast too - they’re just on the dessert menu. The Breakfast Pancake (22RM) comes with crunchy granola, creamed yogurt and honey, dried cranberries and fresh mangoes, blueberries and passionfruit.
Address: Yellow Brick Road Cafe, Plaza Batai, 8-7, Jalan Batai, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Monday to Sunday 09.00am - 10.00pm
Summary: Vegetarian options, dishes can be made vegan on request
11) BMS Organics
Located in Midvalley Megamall, BMS Organics was honestly a total surprise for me. I’d passed the restaurant many times while trying to rush around this literal ‘mega’ mall and I’d never bothered to look at the menu.
One day, when we’d made the rookie mistake of visiting Midvalley on a Saturday and at midday (which basically equals Malaysian shopping mall hell), we got fed up and decided to look for something to eat instead.
The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was the vegetarian nasi lemak. This seemed like the perfect antidote to a stressful mall day involving too many people. I needed serious carbs to be able to even psych myself up into going back into the melee.
Both of us decided to opt for the BMS Signature Nasi Lemak (14.90RM) with all the trimmings. And when I say all, I mean ALL. There were fried pumpkin cubes, cashew nuts, red cabbage, vegan sambal, mushrooms, egg...the list went on and on. Given that I would be eating Vincent’s egg as well (such an egg hater is he), I opted for the healthier option of multigrain rice instead of the traditional coconut milk rice.
The whole thing was filling and also tasted like it was good for you, which is unusual with nasi lemak (traditional nasi lemak tastes damn good precisely because it is so bad for you).
The extensive menu at BMS Organics is one of the reasons I think it is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. There are over 50 pages of vegetarian and vegan dishes, so if you are feeling overwhelmed, flip to the back and you will find that some of the dishes are categorised into ‘vegan’ and ‘low carb’.
They also have a huge drinks menu with lots of dairy-free alternatives. If you are in the mood for a more ‘western’ breakfast, they have smoothie bowls (17.90RM) made with coconut milk, yogurt and a panoply of fruits, nuts and seeds.
Address: BMS Organics, T-013B, Level 3 Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, 59200, Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Monday - Sunday 10.00am - 10.00pm
Summary: Pure vegetarian and vegan restaurant
12) The Carpenter's Daughter
Freshly baked loaves? Check. Homemade pastries and cakes? Check. Hearty, filling meals? Check. Cosy cafe atmosphere? Check. The Carpenter’s Daughter is an artisan bakery and cafe that definitely has it all.
Of course you could just walk in and buy a loaf of freshly made bread and be on your way (and they have all types, from focaccia to sourdough) but this would be remiss of you because their menu is well worth a look.
There are a few mouthwatering vegetarian options for breakfast, including omelettes (15.90RM) cooked with a choice of cheese, mushroom, pepper, onion or tomato (you can select three) and french toast (15.90RM) with agave honey, butter, jam and baked apple with cinnamon. You can also vegetarianise most of the options - for instance, the Morning Brekkie pancake (15.90RM) and the egg’s benedict (15.90RM) come with beef bacon and chicken ham respectively, which can easily be taken out.
The vegetarian version of the Carpenter’s Choice (13.90RM) breakfast includes sauteed mushrooms, mixed greens and scrambled egg: you can pimp this up to a full English breakfast by adding any of the vege add-ons for 3RM each.
If you prefer something sweeter and lighter, check out the cafe’s pastry selection: the plain and chocolate croissants are particularly yummy.
Address: The Carpenter’s Daughter, No. 46G UEP Subang Jaya, UEP, Jalan USJ 10/1e, 47620 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8.00am - 9.30pm, Saturday to Sunday, 8.30am - 9.30pm
Summary: Vegetarian options, certain items can be made vegan on request
13) RGB and the Bean Hive
This little restaurant serves vegetarian and vegan food plus excellent coffee, smoothies and juices. Combine that with a selection of freshly baked cakes and a relaxing environment surrounded by trees and with outdoor seating and you know that you are onto a serious winner.
There’s plenty of tasty options on here for vegetarians and vegans alike. I’ve tried the vegan breakfast (28RM) which comes with scrambled tofu, tempe bacon (made from soy beans), homemade baked beans, vegan fried egg and toast which was simply delicious.
There’s classic breakfast menu items like smashed avocado with hummus on toast (22RM); oven baked egg frittata (22RM) and eggs benedict (25RM) but what I love about RGB is that it isn’t afraid to get creative as well.
For instance, their vegan pink oatmeal (15RM) made with rolled oats, oat milk, beans, lentils, flaxseed, beetroot, banana, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and blueberries is a super nutritious way to start your day.
For those looking for that sweet treat, RGB’s menu also offers brioche toast with coconut kaya and butter (10RM) and vegan waffles (22RM) with berries, bananas and syrup.
You can also customise any of your main dishes through a range of add-ons - they’ve now introduced a whole section of vegan-only add-ons too.
Choices galore!
Address: RGB and the Bean Hive, 35, Jalan Damai, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 55000, Kuala Lumpur
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 5.30pm, Friday - Saturday 8.00am - 11.00pm, Sunday 8.30am - 9.00pm
KL has one of the best foodie scenes in the world and it was really nice to live in a city that is increasingly becoming even more accommodating to vegetarians and vegans.
So if you are vegetarian/vegan and coming to visit KL, get excited! There’s plenty of places you can have breakfast and start your day the right way!
Have you travelled as a vegetarian or vegan in Malaysia? Are there any places in Kuala Lumpur that you would add to this list?
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