Article
Where to Eat Vegetarian and Vegan on Carlisle Street (Balaclava & St Kilda East)
Share
Carlisle Street has a strong mix of vegetarian and vegan food options, from a fully vegan takeaway and vegetarian Indian dining to vegan-friendly cafes and bulk wholefoods shopping. Between Balaclava and St Kilda East, the strip offers enough choice to plan a full day of eating without relying on meat-based dishes.
This guide sorts the strip’s vegetarian and vegan options by what they actually offer. Each entry is labelled so you know whether a venue is fully vegan, vegetarian or simply offers vegan-friendly options.
Key Takeaways
- Vegetalist offers a 100% vegan takeaway menu.
- Gopi Ka Chatka, in St Kilda East, serves pure vegetarian Indian food with no meat on the menu.
- Dana Patisserie, Rufio, Charlong Melbourne and Jode’s Mediterranean Eatery all serve vegan or vegetarian options within a wider menu.
- The Source Bulk Foods stocks vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free pantry staples by weight.
- Carlisle Street runs its own vegetarian food hub listing more options across the strip.
Which Carlisle Street Venues are Fully Vegan or Vegetarian?
The strip includes everything from fully vegan dining to vegan-friendly options within larger menus:
- Fully vegan: Vegetalist
- Fully vegetarian: Gopi Ka Chatka
- Vegan-friendly dining: Rufio, Charlong Melbourne, Jode’s Mediterranean Eatery, Monk Bodhi Dharma
- Vegan pantry and desserts: The Source Bulk Foods, Dana Patisserie
Fully Vegan vs Vegan-Friendly: What the Labels Mean
Fully vegan means every dish on the menu contains no animal products at all, including no dairy, eggs or honey.
Vegan-friendly means a business has vegan dishes, or can adapt dishes to be vegan, but the wider menu still includes meat, dairy or other animal products. Most of the list below falls into this category.
Vegetarian is different again. It rules out meat and usually fish, but can still include dairy, eggs and honey. Gopi Ka Chatka follows the traditional Indian “pure vegetarian” style of dining, so check directly if you also need a dish to be dairy-free.
Where to Eat Vegetarian and Vegan on Carlisle Street
Vegetalist
Vegetalist runs a fully vegan takeaway in Balaclava, with a menu covering salad bowls, sandwiches and soups, plus a range of homemade sweet treats including brownies, bars and cookies.
Good for: vegan bowls, sandwiches, sweet treats.
Dietary notes: fully vegan.
Gopi Ka Chatka
For pure vegetarian Indian food, Gopi Ka Chatka is the pick in St Kilda East, running a weekend buffet and a menu that leans into Mumbai street food classics like pani puri.
Good for: Indian street food, weekend buffet, pure vegetarian dining.
Dietary notes: fully vegetarian, some dishes may contain dairy.
Jode’s Mediterranean Eatery
Jode’s Mediterranean Eatery combines Greek, Italian and Middle Eastern influences, with vegetarian options including falafel bowls and pita pockets alongside its meat dishes.
Good for: falafel bowls, hummus, vegetarian mezze.
Dietary notes: vegetarian options, not a vegetarian restaurant.
Visit Jode’s Mediterranean Eatery
Dana Patisserie
Best known for French-style pastries and bread, Dana Patisserie also bakes vegan cakes, savoury burekas and a chocolate-swirl babka.
Good for: vegan cakes, babka, savoury pastries.
Dietary notes: vegan options, not a vegan bakery.
Monk Bodhi Dharma
Tucked down a laneway off Carlisle Street, Monk Bodhi Dharma is a specialty coffee roastery with a menu that includes several plant-based breakfast and lunch options. Dishes such as chai porridge and mushrooms with almond feta make it a suitable option for vegetarian and vegan diners.
Good for: specialty coffee, vegetarian brunch options.
Dietary notes: vegetarian and vegan options available, not a dedicated vegetarian or vegan venue.
Rufio
Entirely gluten-free, Rufio offers a range of vegan options alongside its Latin fusion menu and rooftop bar.
Good for: gluten-free dining, vegan-friendly share plates, cocktails.
Dietary notes: vegan-friendly and entirely gluten-free, not a vegetarian restaurant.
Charlong Melbourne
Charlong Melbourne combines Thai-inspired dishes with French technique, and offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options that change with the seasonal menu.
Good for: Thai curries, vegetarian noodle dishes, gluten-free options.
Dietary notes: vegetarian and vegan options, not a vegetarian restaurant.
The Source Bulk Foods
For pantry staples, The Source Bulk Foods is a bulk wholefoods store on Carlisle Street, offering vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free products sold by weight.
Good for: bulk pantry staples, low-waste shopping, vegan snacks.
Dietary notes: vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free products available, not a restaurant.
Comparison Table: Scan and Choose Fast
| Name | Type | Best For | Vegan / Vegetarian | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetalist | Takeaway | Vegan bowls, treats | Fully vegan | 100% vegan menu |
| Gopi Ka Chatka | Restaurant | Indian street food | Fully vegetarian | Weekend buffet |
| Jode's Mediterranean Eatery | Restaurant | Falafel, mezze | Vegetarian options | Meat also on menu |
| Dana Patisserie | Bakery, cafe | Vegan cakes, babka | Vegan options | Not a vegan bakery |
| Monk Bodhi Dharma | Cafe | Coffee, vegetarian brunch | Vegetarian, vegan options | Not a dedicated vegetarian venue |
| Rufio | Restaurant, bar | Gluten-free, vegan share plates | Vegan-friendly | Also serves meat, seafood |
| Charlong Melbourne | Restaurant | Thai vegetarian dishes | Vegetarian, vegan options | Rotating seasonal menu |
| The Source Bulk Foods | Party supplies, souvenirs | Bulk vegan staples | Gifts, souvenirs, party goods | Kids' parties, last-minute |
Tips For Ordering Vegan on Carlisle Street
Carlisle Street makes it easy to eat vegetarian or vegan once you know where to look, and what to look for. Here are a few simple tips to make your dining experience a good one:
- Ask about oils and butter. Some kitchens finish otherwise vegetarian dishes with ghee or butter, so ask directly if you need a dish to be strictly vegan.
- Check dairy swaps at cafes. Cafes on the strip, including Monk Bodhi Dharma, offer soy or almond milk alternatives, but it’s worth confirming which alternative they stock.
- Look for menu markers. Rufio and Charlong Melbourne both mark vegan and gluten-free dishes directly on the menu, which makes ordering faster.
- Call ahead for allergies. If you’re managing a dairy or gluten allergy rather than a preference, call ahead rather than relying on menu markers alone.
For more options across the strip, browse the Carlisle Street vegetarian food hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find vegan food in Balaclava?
Vegetalist offers a fully vegan takeaway menu, including savoury bowls, sandwiches, soups and homemade desserts. It’s a Carlisle Street option for diners avoiding all animal products, while Rufio, Charlong Melbourne and Dana Patisserie offer vegan dishes within wider menus.
Is there a fully vegan takeaway on Carlisle Street?
Yes. Vegetalist runs a fully vegan takeaway on Carlisle Street, with savoury meals, baked goods and desserts all free of animal products.
Which cafes have vegan options near St Kilda East?
Monk Bodhi Dharma, just off Carlisle Street, has several vegetarian and vegan dishes on its cafe menu. Gopi Ka Chatka, in St Kilda East itself, serves pure vegetarian Indian food, though not everything there is dairy-free.
Where can I buy vegan pantry staples near Carlisle Street?
The Source Bulk Foods stocks a wide range of bulk pantry staples, including vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free items sold by weight. It has been part of the Carlisle Street strip since 2017.
Are there vegan desserts on Carlisle Street?
Yes. Dana Patisserie bakes vegan cakes alongside its regular pastries, and Vegetalist’s dessert range includes vegan brownies, bars and cookies.