Vegan
Western
Beer/Wine
Asian
Vietnamese
Gluten-free
Licensed cafe and restaurant serving vegan food, hot and cold drinks, and desserts. Dishes include stir fries, rice dishes, noodles, burgers, soups, salads, bao and dumplings, as well as sweets, including several flavours of gelato. Beer, wine and cocktails available. Business operates on solar power. Open Tue-Sat 5:30pm-9:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-3:30pm, Sun 5:30pm-9:00pm. Kitchen stops 30 mins before closing. Closed all Public Holidays.
128 Reviews
First Review by chantea
Llobby
Points +253
Always a good vibe - Edit
I’ve been eating here since it opened as Loving Hut and it’s always had a great atmosphere, staff are always friendly, service good, food comes out quickly, plus there’s always interesting and varied food choices and specials. And yes, it is definitely expensive. However it’s a vegan restaurant that’s stood the test of time that is always a good time, so I’m happy to support Brother Bon.
Read morePros: Tasty dishes, Great atmosphere , Food comes out fast
Cons: Can be expensive
Guest
Rachael17393
Points +191
Best Laska - Edit
Food was amazing! Highly recommend a visit.
Read moreCons: Service, Price
Guest
Jay13
Points +214
Best in Melbourne!! - Edit
If I could give this place 6* I would! The food is so damn good. And the portions are very generous too!
Read moreSo much flavour, and there are plenty of gf options too. I visit here at least twice every time I visit Melbourne.
Updated from previous review on 2022-04-30
Pros: Gf options, Bun Bo Hue, Portion sizes
Cons: Book ahead, can get busy, Not much else
Guest
whichezra
Points +347
Not cheap, but good - Edit
It's taken me forever to get around to coming here and I'm glad I finally made it. I got the pho and my friend and I shared the green papaya salad and they were both great. The papaya salad was so fresh and delicious, it's not easy to find a good vegan papaya salad so I'm glad I've discovered this. The pho was pretty enormous and had a great fragrant flavour, the herbs and bean shoots on the side were also super fresh. Somehow our two soups, two drinks and one salad came to over $100 so it isn't the cheapest meal you're going to get, but I couldn't fault the food or service at all.
Read morewhichezra
Yeah I'm absolutely happy to pay for good working conditions, and I think the food is worth the price
Read moreKittybiscuit
You both inspired me to go here for lunch today. It’s worth it!
Read moreGuest
YohanⓋ
Points +6789
One of my all time favourites! - Edit
I’ve been coming here for many years, and have never been disappointed! The new mushroom baos are off the charts! The service is always great and the restaurant is very clean.
Read moreThe prices are a bit too expensive for what you get. The value for money isn’t great these days imo.
Updated from previous review on 2019-11-28
Pros: Great variety of fully vegan food, Nice staff, Delicious food
Guest
Jackfruitie
Points +238
Super tasty - but a bit pricey - Edit
Very nice food - however, for what you get - it definitely did feel slightly more on the expensive side. Still well worth a visit. I’d particularly recommend the bang bang cauliflower.
Read morePros: Tasty food
Cons: Slightly pricey
Guest
blovessummer
Points +362
One of our favourites - Edit
It’s on the expensive side but the food here is always amazing, the atmosphere and staff are great and it’s just an overall lovely experience.
Read moreGuest
jessicalovescows
Points +626
Yummm - Edit
Sooo delish! I'd heard so many good things and it exceeded my expectations. The vegan egg - omg. I'd eat here every day if I could. 😂
Read moreGuest
Sarilein
Points +25709
Not as good as others - Edit
Update
Read moreFood was delicious again - the pho is really intense
Unfortunately it was the 2nd out of two times that food came 10min apart which is really annoying especially without saying anything
Also expensive for what you get
So either one finished eating or you have cold food that’s why only 4 stars
This restaurant was on my list for quite a while. Extra plus: fully vegan and nice family history behind the actual restaurant
Great interior, larger than expected and service superb.
Menu is huge - which made me question the quality first but quickly got convinced otherwise
Food was superb
Bao bun with crispy chicken was decent as were the steamed rice cakes. Banh Cuon is one of my fav viet dishes and I had it multiple times in Vietnam. If you have tried this place you know what’s it like in Vietnam. Love it when places create authentic dishes!
It comes with a higher price as well though. Reading other reviews I think it’s kinda sad to make prices go up for 10$ in one year each dish, but it is what it is
Food was stunning. Certainly serving a whole lot of different cuisines from Chinese to Thai to viet to Mongolian - but the viet dish I had plus the bao: amazing (maybe I’ll ask for sauce on the side though next time) overall a great meal and will be back because I need to try more dishes
Updated from previous review on 2024-04-20
Pros: Service!, Bao chicken and banh Cuon , Atmosphere
Cons: Expensive , Food does not come same time
Guest
Caitlee
Points +412
Amazing for vegans with allergens! - Edit
So worth it, especially if you are GF or require foods with low fodmaps. Always really pleased and massssssive menu that could satisfy anyone’s needs!
Read moreGuest
MadeleineSchoech
Points +72
Delicious, fast, friendly service - Edit
Everything we ordered was sensational, the food came quickly and the service was lovely. We had a great time and already thinking about what we will order when we come back
Read morePros: Delicious food, Fast, Good service
Cons: Expensive
MadeleineSchoech
We had the big mak baos, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, sweet and sour pork with coconut rice, and hazelnut roti for dessert 🤤
Read moreGuest
hcdelamusique
Points +45
Delicious but small portions and exxy - Edit
Excellent service, epic menu and I love that it's solely vegan.
Read morePros: Delicious food , Epic variety of dishes
Cons: Small portions , Expensive
Guest
Neth
Points +1107
Simply the best - Edit
A wide range of different dishes, all taste pretty good. My go to for bringing non vegans as there's something for everyone. They also have a good range of ice cream and Iced teas now. My favourites would have to be crispy Noodles with duck or Japanese curry with duck. Not always drawn to their burgers/souvlakis but they are still really good. Nice staff and good atmosphere too.
Read morePros: Good staff, Lots of dishes, Mock meat and tofu
Cons: Priced higher
Guest
Ryadasu
Points +13
Some of the best vegan food in Melbourne - Edit
Absolutely amazed with the meal I had at Brother Bon, everything was super delicious and they have such a great range of meals!
Read moreGuest
Seatown_vegan
Points +9005
Plenty cuisines to choose from - Edit
This restaurant is serving up multiple different Asian cuisines. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted. I ultimately decided to go with the steamed rice paper rolls and Laksa. The rice paper rolls came out with way more accompaniments than I was expecting from seeing a pic on here, which was welcomed. I enjoyed mixing it all together and pigging out. The laksa was amazing. So flavorful and the broth was thick. Also enjoyed the mock meats that were in there.
Read moreYohanⓋ
Welcome to Melbourne brother 🙏🏽
Read moreSeatown_vegan
I appreciate it. Lovely city.
Read moreGuest
LC70PZJ70
Points +746
Tasty! - Edit
Great food and a great atmosphere. They went above for a birthday on our table. We would return.
Read morePros: Selection, Great flavour
Cons: Some dishes are expensive for what they are
Guest
Kotty
Points +242
Bon appetit - Edit
Delicious fried rice, hit the spot 👌🏼 Just a bit pricey
Read moreGuest
RudiDarran
Points +569
So good - Edit
A great place in Northcote worth the visit. Menu is huge and has so many completely vegan options!
Read morePros: Completely vegan , Katsu Chicken Sando in fluffy bread, Gelato
Cons: A bit rushed to get out of the restaurant at close
Guest
OskG
Points +284
Love love love - Edit
Our family loves brother Bon. Great food, service, vibe, space etc.
Read morewe almost come weekly!!
Pros: Bao buns and edamame , Service , All vegan and good variety
Guest
alexandradewinter
Points +64
Always so good - Edit
They have great food, the ambience is nice, and the staff are lovely.
Read moreGuest
EmiEats
Points +1154
Decent! - Edit
The dining experience at Brother Bon was fantastic. Very friendly customer service and the food was tasty. I came for the Japanese curry with veg duck (staff recommended) and it delivered. The mocktail was yummy and the choc mud cake was just right (not too sweet). We didn’t know we had to prebook a table so we were placed on the bench table (walk-ins).
Read morePros: Good food portions , Delicious food, Close to train station
Cons: Can be pricey, Have to prebook table, Can be full at dinner time
Guest
JackRock-ThatVeganDad
Points +262
Great menu for a variety of tastes! - Edit
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Brother Bon with my family, and it was a hit with everyone. Our visit took place during a Sunday lunch, and right from the start, we were greeted warmly by the attentive and friendly staff. As a parent of two young children, I found it particularly delightful to discover a vegan restaurant that caters specifically to kids with its dedicated vegan kids' menu. To top it off, the restaurant provided our little ones with colouring pencils to keep them happily engaged throughout the meal.
Read moreWe indulged in a variety of delectable dishes during our visit. The crispy 'chicken' pieces we ordered had a delightful crunch and a satisfying texture, while the vegetable dumplings burst with flavourful goodness. For our main courses, our kids relished the generously portioned schnitzel and chips, which proved to be a definite crowd-pleaser. On the other hand, the Bun Bowl Salad, a more traditional Vietnamese dish, offered simplicity yet an explosion of flavours that left us thoroughly satisfied. We couldn't resist trying the Bon's Chicken Burger, complete with vegan bacon, cheese, and a crispy chicken fillet. The food, in general, was not only tasty but also brimming with delightful flavours.
The restaurant itself boasts ample space, high chairs, and convenient change tables, making it a welcoming environment for families. However, it's worth noting that the prices at Brother Bon may be a tad higher in comparison to other vegan restaurants in the vicinity. To give you an idea, our bill for two main courses, two kids' meals, two sides, two ice creams, and a few beverages totalled approximately $150. Despite this, I would still recommend Brother Bon due to its exceptionally flavourful dishes and the family-friendly ambiance it offers. It was indeed a wonderful experience dining with the family!
Pros: Family Friendly, Expansive menu to suit a variety of preferences, Good Flavours
Cons: A tad pricier to other vegan restaurants
Guest
Mikacreative
Points +30
Good foods and drinks - Edit
All the meal we had were really tasty.
Read moreThe staff were very friendly and helpful😊
Pros: Food, Service
Guest
lisaelvis
Points +159
Feast! - Edit
We had such a terrific meal & delicious dessert! Wish I lived closer. I’d be there every day!!!
Read morePros: Food, Layout of restaurant , Dessert
Cons: None!
Guest
chatreuse
Points +4832
Delicious but SO pricey! - Edit
I've always thought Brother Bon was pretty pricey, but now I can't believe just HOW pricey it's gotten.
Read moreThe food is delicious, but I find myself not wanting to go too often due to the price.
We popped in for a late lunch and ordered the Bam Bam cauliflower. I've had this before and really loved the creamy spicy sauce. I still very much enjoyed it, but it seems like they deep fried it before the oil was hot enough, the batter was a little bouncy and still retained a bit too much oil.
My partner chose the netted spring rolls, I didn't think I would enjoy it but it was nice and crispy, although the nuoc mam was quite spicy.
The chilli scramble was SO good, very creamy, but it tasted mainly of the butter they used,
could have used with some black salt. The feta was delicious on it's own, but was overpowered otherwise. The bread was perfectly toasted with a beautiful crust. The sausage was a really good texture, and the chilli oil they drizzled around was really delicious.
Pros: Delicious food, Huge variety
Cons: PRICEY
Guest
RuthSharon
Points +1340
My mouth is very happy - Edit
We had the chicken dumplings, the wontons, crispy chicken bao buns and some gelato (pandan coconut and Thai tea). I can’t believe I haven’t had the chance to try brother Bon before because my tastebuds are on fire (in a good way). The menu describes the food perfectly, the spicy food was spicy, the crispy chicken was crispy and the flavours were incredible.
Read morePros: Gelato is made there. Awesome, Delicious food
Guest
PotatoesTho
Points +13680
It's been a while - Edit
June 2023
Read moreFirst visit in over three years and interestingly the menu hasn't changed too much but the prices (like everywhere else) have risen considerably. Noticed the addition of a cocktail menu and gelato menu which looked interesting.
Vegetable dumplings - (described as large on the menu, but they're pretty small). They were okay.
Udon carbonara - quite good but very rich. Got to give them credit for nailing the smoky, creamy sauce.
Char kway teow with tempeh - very good
March 2020
Rice paper rolls - good
Japanese Curry - pricey for the quality and size. Deep fried tofu made this dish heavier and more oily than ideal.
Vegetable dumplings - not bad, but not noteworthy
Satay skewers - very well presented but the flavour didn't deliver unfortunately.
Vietnamese iced coffee - very good
All of the above dishes were a few dollars more than they probably should have been, all things considered.
Feb 2020
Revamped space and refreshed menu! The mushroom bao were quite tasty and the diy presentation was an interesting point of difference. I found the Aussie burger a touch oily for my liking although the fillings were varied and the bun better than most. The satay udon with tempeh was quite good. Will definitely be back to try other options.
....
Updated from previous review on 2020-03-08
Pros: Plenty of variety, Friendly staff
Cons: Pricier than expected
Guest
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