Numerous vegan restaurants and cafés in Helsinki serve a wide variety of lunches, but if you expand your search to include all of the city’s restaurants, your choices are multiplied many times over. The culinary spectrum is also huge: Balinese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Levantine, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Finnish, Thai, Vietnamese, American... and many others, because the selection is constantly getting richer.
Here we present some delicious choices that represent a diverse range of food cultures. We also recommend checking out the list at the end of the article, which suggests many other great vegan lunch options. This list is also inevitably incomplete: I have tried all the restaurants recommended here, but there are dozens of places yet to be tested. Helsinki has become quite a travel destination for those looking for vegan food, offering something new and interesting on every visit.
Döner Harju
Having originally opened in Kallio, Döner Harju has become quite an institution and now forms a chain of five restaurants. This kebab restaurant was the first in Helsinki to introduce its own own seitan döner years ago, and it still remains among the best despite the growing competition. You can order seitan in a pita or meze version with delicious side dishes.
Fleminginkatu 23, Alppiharju
Shopping centre Citycenter, Kaivokatu 8, Kluuvi
Töölöntullinkatu 4, Taka-Töölö
Iso Omena, Piispansilta 11, Espoo
Fat Ramen
Fat Ramen is one of the city’s best ramen restaurants that has also focused on vegan dishes and especially creative uses of tofu right from the start. The ingredients used in the noodle portions are diverse and the flavours subtle in the style of Japanese cuisine. If you dine at the restaurants, you can also sample excellent Japanese-style alcoholic drinks, including yuzu sake.
Mikonkatu 8, Kluuvi
Fly Fusion Cafe
This design-oriented café and restaurant serves some of the best Vietnamese food in the city, including pho soups, salad bowls and spring rolls. Fly Fusion uses an exceptionally versatile range of vegetables in its dishes, and the service is friendly. For dessert, you can often find vegan pastries.
Luotsikatu 5, Katajanokka
Hills Dumplings
Dumplings representing various East Asian food traditions have finally found their way to Finland, and Hills Dumplings was one of the leading pioneers. Dumplings are served in many varieties and with Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Nordic influences. In addition, you can enjoy soft “fluffy steamed” bao buns and burgers, also vegan.
Kalevankatu 17, Kaartinkaupunki
Kolmas linja 6, Kallio
Noodle Master
The popularity of Chinese noodle dishes exploded in Helsinki a few years ago, and the selection of restaurants serving them is already quite impressive. Among them, Noodle Master is definitely among the best. The restaurant’s most popular dish, dan dan noodles, can be ordered with either tofu or mushrooms – and the spicy version is really hot. There are also a couple of other vegan noodle dishes on the menu for those who are not so keen on chili. The various side dishes and starters are unique.
Eerikinkatu 20, Kamppi
Koivu-Mankkaantie 1, Espoo
Onda
Onda serves a versatile buffet lunch with a plentiful and varied vegan selection. In addition to the buffet, there is the option of a main dish of the day. The style of the main dishes varies from one international cuisine to another, and you can buy delicious desserts at the counter. The restaurant's dinner menu also has plenty of vegan dishes.
Hämeentie 13 B, Sörnäinen
Petiscaria
This Portuguese restaurant inside Hietalahti Market Hall has become famous among vegan food lovers for its excellent seitan, which is among the best in the whole country. The selection has expanded to include a vegan version of the feijoada bean stew. Petiscaria’s cosy restaurant can be found in the heart of the market hall, and it also hosts live music events in the evenings.
Hietalahti Market Hall, Lönnrotinkatu 34, Kamppi
Sen Chay
This vegetarian restaurant near Hakaniemi Market brings together dishes from various Asian cuisines, and the vegan selection is plentiful. Sen Chay can be found in the courtyard of the building on Siltasaarenkatu.
Siltasaarenkatu 3–5, Kallio
Twisted Street Kitchen
Drawing its inspiration from East Asian and especially Thai cuisine, Twisted Street Kitchen specialises in curry dishes, of which there is always one or more vegan versions, usually with tofu. The dishes emphasise the subtle aromas of spices and vegetables.
Fredrikinkatu 58, Etu-Töölö
Zen sushi
Zen Sushi is one of the best sushi restaurants in Helsinki, if not the best. The tiny establishment boasts exquisite skills combined with a peaceful atmosphere. It also offers a nice range of vegan sushi, and new varieties are being developed all the time. You can even order exceptionally good umami miso soup on the side.
Snellmaninkatu 16, Kruununhaka