Here's 6 of our favourite vegetarian lunches in Warrnambool
In case you're sick of cheese pizza.
Ilana Bean
March 12, 2025
Where can a vegetarian find a good lunch around Warrnambool? It sounds easy (Google it), but the thing about searching “Vegetarian lunch near me” is that a restaurant can list itself as having a vegetarian option without really having a vegetarian option.
Half of the challenge is just filtering out the wrong places: ones that charge you the same amount for a sandwich with the meat removed, or offer the exact brand of frozen veggie burgers you already have at home.
But fear no longer: I have removed the duds and come to you with my guide for hearty, reasonably-priced vegetarian lunches around Warrnambool that actually taste good.
Day Kitty
Day Kitty is, of course, at the top of our list. The rest of the lunches listed are in no particular order, but this one deserves specific recognition. It’s Warrnambool’s only explicitly vegetarian/vegan cafe, serving organic juices, various veggie bowls, soups, and sandwiches. It’s fast; it’s healthy; it's run by people who know that mushrooms are not technically a protein; it’s full of fresh sunflowers in jars — and it’s also very cute.
Here’s my Gado Gado bowl, which cost $15.
Bohemia Cafe & Bar
If you're happy ordering eggs and corn fritters from the breakfast menu which runs till 1:45 pm. (I am), Bohemia offers a pretty wide range of options. For lunch purists, there are basically two dependable vegetarian choices, but both are heavy hitters.
You can go with the $24 sushi bowl with tofu, edamame, and veggies—which can be made vegan pretty easily — or the $22 quinoa salad with halloumi and egg. It’s not the most wide-ranging menu, but I think they’re both solid—so I’ll give this Warrnambool institution a stamp of veg-friendly approval.
Penang Alley
What can I say? I just like when I have to go down a little alley to get to a lunch spot. It makes me feel like I’ve stumbled upon a secret. Penang Alley has a short, simple menu. For mains, you can choose between the Nasi Lemak and Laksa, which are both about 20 dollars, and both available with tofu. You can also get two popiah (steamed, Fujianese vegan rolls) for $9.50 if you just want a little snack.
Rafferty’s Tavern
This spot earned its place on the list not because it's my go-to for a typical weekday lunch, but because it fills a niche. Rafferty's is the pub you head to when you're with a large group craving pub food and you don’t want to miss out.
What sets it apart is their dedicated plant-based menu featuring proper vegetarian pub classics — eggplant parma, mock chicken options, and various curries.
Is the vegan schnitzel going to change your life? No, it’s pub food. That’s the point — you finally get to participate in the Australian pub experience without just ordering a bowl of chips. Sometimes, being able to order something substantial alongside your beer is all you actually needed.
Sri Lankan Rankey's Zone Restaurant Cafe & Bar
Rankey's Zone offers a fusion of Sri Lankan and Australian cuisine in a cosy spot on Liebig Street. Their menu features vegetarian noodles, egg kottu, and curry omelettes, but I opted for the rice and curry set menu at $19.50. I didn’t see it explicitly listed as a vegetarian option, but I just asked for extra veggies instead of meat. The food was great, the portion was generous, and next time I go back I’m getting like three giant containers of the lentils,
Noodle Box
Aesthetically, morally, philosophically, I wanted to only mention local, Warrnambool-specific venues, but, when push comes to shove, this is my truth. One of my favourite quick vegetarian lunches in Warrnambool, or basically any Australian town is Noodle Box. I'm personally obsessed with the Korean Fried Tofu ($14) so I've barely tried anything else on the vegetarian menu—but it's large and plentiful with both tofu and mock meat options.
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Voila! Six reasonably priced vegetarian lunches in Warrnambool that won't leave you with a sad pile of lettuce or an empty wallet.
Thumbnail image: Author / Day Kitty.