Vegan
Chinese
Japanese
Thai
Salad bar
Take-out
Asian
Vietnamese
Vegan cafe with dishes like salad bowls, Asian dishes, and sweet treats. Fully vegan from September 2020. Open Mon-Sat 10:30am-2:30pm. Closed Sun.
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Shop C/82 Lake St, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 4870
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- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 26 Nov 2025 by YohanⓋ
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Added by craigmc on 13 Jan 2020
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77 Reviews
First Review by wishiwasbornvegan
Guo Duomi
Points +111
Nice little place - Edit
A little tricky to find down a laneway. A range of Asian vegan dishes available each day. Service was great. There is a vegan plant store (nursery) and tearoom next door.
Read moreGuest
laurenkelly.g
Points +133
Hands down nothing compares - Edit
Root is my absolute FAVOURITE spot to eat.
Read moreFully vegan which is still quite rare in the FNQ region.
Incredibly tasty food, like…. “mouth watering, could eat there every day” type of tasty 🤤 Loveliest staff, cutest little spot to dine in. Did I mention how freakin delicious it is?
Updated from previous review on 2022-04-15
Pros: Fully vegan , SOOOOO DAMN TASTY, Friendliest staff
Cons: Not open on the weekends :((((
Guest
JoJoHerbivore
Points +16
Always 10/10 - Edit
All vegan. Amazing home cooked food with great, friendly service. They do the BEST sushi and everything is very reasonably priced. Never had a bad meal here 💚💚💚
Read morePros: All vegan , Great service , All house made
Guest
corney
Points +40
Amazing food and frozen meals! - Edit
Would recommend dropping in when you’re in town. The food here is outstanding. It felt like coming home, prepared with care. The best part is they freeze up portions of their popular dishes - so if you need to stock up for time away or your trip, they have you covered.
Read morePros: Vegan and vegetarian options, Frozen meals of their popular dishes for takeaway
Guest
jonte
Points +112
Bloody goood !!! - Edit
Just amazing food all vegan, friendly stuff all amazing !! Go check it out !!
Read moreGuest
Diggity
Points +91
The only place in Cairns for all vegan or vegetarian. - Edit
I have lived in Cairns for a number of years and despite finding many vegan cafes all over the world in the smallest towns, vegetarian cafes in Cairns are rare. Most open and then close shop with a year.
Read moreThis cafe is fantastic and consistently serves delicious meals. Typically you order from the pre-made meals with a choice of 2 or 3 per bowl. There are also many delicious snacks to choose from suck as a steamed bun or veggie fritters.
Guest
KayVic
Points +119
Delicious - Edit
Delicious food, nice alleyway location with seating inside & outside.
Read moreVery friendly staff, rotating menu
Definitely worth a visit
Pros: All vegan , Friendly staff
Cons: Short business hours
Guest
theNumberOfTheBeast
Points +4925
Rooting for Root! - Edit
Beyond expectations. Stellar. Root Vegetarian is the paragon of Pan-Asian vegan cuisine in Australia. Open since Jan 2020, this cute cafe at the end of a small alley off Lake Street in central Cairns offers perhaps the best vegan dining I've had the pleasure of eating anywhere, can't express it enough. This place is tops. I tried Panang Curry, Sinagpore Noodles with Salt and Pepper Tofu from the staffed lunch buffet warmers with a selection of options, noodles, rice, curries, satays and fried savories. They were all perfection. Not to be missed are the soft and fluffy Baozi stuffed with textured veg. Enormous Japanese style sushi rolls with veg, bbq mocks, avocado served with wasabi and soy were irresistible, so I tried one of those too. Incredibly impressed. It was enough food for three people for $25. Best lunch out in ages. To top it off, chopped chilis made this stop unforgettable. Root Vegetarian is completely vegetarian, which is the proper way to use this term, nothing lacto-ovo, not to worry, everything is vegan and I love that they are helping reclaim this term. I'm still dreaming about Root Vegetarian. If you love food, you'll root for root to run forever. Congratulations to the creators of this delicious small business!
Read morePros: Ethical Vegan Owned, Wow that Food, Generous Pricing
Guest
cassowary
Points +75
Wow! - Edit
All vegan, delicious food! I usually want to order everything, it's that good... The menu is small but the mains vary regularly so it doesn't get boring, even eating there regularly. Entrees are fantastic, especially the 'chicken' skewers and veggie fritters, it's hard not to fill up on them before I eat a main meal. They're making an effort to reduce plastic waste too... You can really tell there is a love of good food as the foundation here.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-05-08
Pros: All vegan menu, Friendly owners, Delicious
Cons: Nothing, it's just good
Guest
JamesDrew
Points +99
I agree Best vegan food in Cairns - Edit
Few options but similar style to vegan places in Malaysia and Thailand. Very good price for what you get and lovely quiet alley way.
Read morePros: Great tasting plus savoury snacks!, Mock meats
Guest
grantackroyd
Points +26
Best Vegan food in Cairns - Edit
Beautiful food and friendly service. Highly recommend
Read morePros: Great food, good price
Cons: Only open mid day 😪
Guest
MeaghanTheVeaghan
Points +84
Favourite in Cairns - Edit
Root is hands down my favourite restaurant in Cairns. It makes for a perfect lunch option, being so quick and easy. The sweet and sour “chicken” is fantastic and they always come up with new things to add to the menu - the Honey Cauliflower special was awesome. Moving away from Cairns this will be one thing I miss the most. Jess and Pao are so kind and welcoming - this and their delicious food goes a long way to promote vegan food and culture in our community.
Read morePros: 100% vegan , Delicious , Kind and friendly staff
Cons: None
Guest
lianemills
Points +2054
Nice vegan restaurant - Edit
Options are limited - just a plate of what they have cooked that day or rice paper rolls. No coffee. Decor is okay and overall okay for a quick meal. The rice paper rolls were the best I’ve ever eaten - so delicious!! The mixed plate was okay but we aren’t into the fake meat.
Read morePros: All vegan options. , Quick service
Cons: Expensive, Limited menu, No coffee!
Guest
AscendingVegan
Points +60
Gorgeous vegan bliss - Edit
What an absolute gem! A true slice of Eden in beautiful, tropical North Queensland. The staff, amazingly friendly, warm, welcoming and informative. The decor, cosy, earthy, organic and not overly done, a perfectly calm atmosphere. And the food, gorgeous! Real food, it’ll take anyone back to their kinder roots. I can’t wait to come back to this bliss.
Read morePros: Truly vegan , Lovely staff, Calm, earthy atmosphere
Cons: None. Nothing.
Guest
BelindaBall
Points +109
So stoked to find this beauty - Edit
Completely vegan & so delicious!
Read moreGuest
SimonLeigh
Points +52
Great food, lovely staff - Edit
So happy to find this great little vegan cafe in Cairns. Very tasty food at very reasonable prices. I'll be back.
Read morePros: Great food, Lovely staff, In town
Cons: Too far from my house in Port Macquarie NSW
Guest
dothehamsa
Points +300
Family recipes - Edit
Always delicious food, great value, and a few dishes to choose from. The friendly owners explained to me that the recipes originated from their grandma, hence the name of the restaurant, referring to their own ancestral roots. The times that I've visited the entire menu has been vegan, including the bubble tea. They serve everything in biodegradable bowls to take away, but also provide a few tables to sit and enjoy the food and stereo, which tends to play acoustic covers of top 40 hits.
Read morePros: All vegan, large serves, good value.
Cons: A bit hard to find unless you know where it is.
Guest
Lar-Ni
Points +59
Just do it - Edit
Yummy selection of food using seasonal products from the local market.. Staff was exceptanly friendly and helpful.. I'll definitely be returing... 🥰🙏
Read moreGuest
HappyDe
Points +341
Root Vegetarian - Edit
Tried this new cafe for first time today was very impressed. All options were vegan. Large portions, fresh produce and spices. Very tasty and lovely staff. It is one of our favourite places in Cairns
Read morePros: All vegan
Cons: Inexpensive good variety
Guest
Periquitos
Points +24
Delicious food! - Edit
Wonderful options. Generous portions. Friendly service. Will definitely eat here again.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Delicious , Value for money
Guest
LewisEatsPlants
Points +1532
Cairns needed this - Edit
I’m so glad to see Cairns finally has an accessible vegan restaurant, and I’m even happier that it’s tasty.
Read moreThe servings sizes are food, staff are friendly and the food is delicious.
Today we had the vegan fried rice with the curry tofu and sweet and sour “fish”. Of the two the tofu was the better option, but the “fish” is still great. It’s got a strong mushroom flavour from an incredible amount of enoki.
The bun wasn’t the flavour I expected, but it’s still very nice. Tasted a bit more like a large, round spring roll.
In the past they’ve had a mock chicken meat, which was excellent.
The menu changes regularly, so come back often!
Pros: Easy local vegan , Delicious , Rotating menu
Cons: Not open every night
Guest
BrittGatto
Points +43
Amazing food good value - Edit
I love this place. The food is delicious and the girls are lovely. It's good food for the price compared to a lot of vegan foods in Cairns. Although it's a vegetarian place all of the food is vegan whenever I have been :)
Read moreGuest
wishiwasbornvegan
Points +24
Great variety - Edit
I had lunch there today with my son for the first time and they have a wide variety of tasty food that catered for the both of us. Will be a my regular go to when I’m in town .
Read moreGuest
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