What does allium-free mean?

Alliums are the onion family: garlic, onions, scallions, chives and leeks. An allium-free or no onion, no garlic kitchen cooks without them. In Chinese Buddhist cooking this is the five pungent vegetables, or wu xin.

Is all Buddhist vegetarian food in Singapore free of onion and garlic?

Many Buddhist vegetarian stalls leave them out, but not all do, and most do not say so. This guide lists the 42 places that do state it or that we have confirmed. For any other stall, ask at the counter.

Are the places on this list vegan?

Not all. Most are vegetarian, which in Singapore often means no meat or fish but sometimes egg or dairy. Makan Vegan Catering, Mitu Rice and Lilac Oak are vegan, and Tracy Juice Culture states it uses no egg, dairy or meat. See our egg-free guide and our vegan guide for those.

Which area of Singapore has the most allium-free vegetarian places?

The central area has the most, including Chinatown, Marina Bay, City Hall, Bugis and Clarke Quay. Geylang has two hawker stalls that state no garlic or onion, Eunos has one, and the heartland towns of Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Bukit Batok and Yishun each have at least one.

Top 10 no onion, no garlic vegetarian food in Singapore you must try

42 places on OneHungryHippo · reviewed October 2026

Many vegetarians in Singapore also avoid the five pungent vegetables, known in Chinese as wu xin (五辛): garlic, onions, scallions, chives and leeks. Buddhist vegetarian kitchens often leave them out, and so do some people for health or religious reasons. The trouble is that a vegetarian sign on a stall does not tell you whether the kitchen cooks without onion and garlic, and most menus say nothing. This guide lists the places in our directory where the business itself says so.

We counted a place only when the statement comes from the business or a published listing of it: its own website, its Instagram or Facebook page, or a directory entry describing the menu. Examples are the "100% Vegetarian, No Onion, No Garlic" line on Ascend Vegetarian's Instagram, the "allium-free" description on Botanict's website, and the "No garlic or onion" note on listings for hawker stalls such as Jin Yi, Ru Yi Xuan, Su Yuan and Tang Leng Chay. A reviewer's comment was never enough on its own. We also include The Boneless Kitchen, whose website says its kimchi and sauces are allium-free and whose whole menu we have confirmed. That makes 42 places whose whole menu is allium-free.

They are spread across the island. In the city and central area, you will find the Ascend Vegetarian outlets at 18 Cross Street and Esplanade Xchange, Eight Treasures in Chinatown, Flavours by Saute at City Hall, Egg.plant and Mitu Rice at Marina Bay, Cookie Coffee Cafe Bar in Bugis, NomVNom at Clarke Quay and Nature Cafe at Alexandra and SMU. D'life has four allium-free outlets, at Orchard Gateway, Beauty World, Toa Payoh and Jurong West. In the heartlands there is Botanict in Clementi, Jin Yi and Nature Vegetarian Delights in Bukit Batok, San De in Yishun, Saute & Mee in Sengkang, Merle & Co and Baomaker in Ang Mo Kio, Saute Saranghae and Green On Earth in Tampines, and a string of stalls in Geylang, Eunos, Telok Blangah and Telok Ayer.

The list also covers several cuisines you might not expect: Daehwa Korean at one-north, The Boneless Kitchen (Korean) and Warung Ijo (Indonesian) at Tai Seng, Gopal's The Holy Cow for Indian and local dishes in Kaki Bukit, and Mitu Rice for Taiwanese rice balls. Four of them also state that they are vegan or free of egg and dairy: Makan Vegan Catering, Mitu Rice, Lilac Oak and Tracy Juice Culture.

Eight further places are partly allium-free: they state that some items are, or that you can ask for it. Bồ Đề Vegetarian in Lavender says most dishes are prepared without onion and garlic, Zuya Vegetarian in Tiong Bahru says all dishes except its kimchi are allium-free, Bodhi Deli lists allium-free local dishes, the two Living Wholesome Vegetarian outlets (Bukit Timah and Fortune Centre) say no garlic is used, Rya Bakehouse labels each item, Veganburg in Eunos marks dishes that contain onion, and Xuan Miao Vegan at Paya Lebar says no onion in its noodle dishes. Check these on the day.

10 places to try, one by one

1. Botanict
A restaurant that describes its Nonya and Western dishes as allium-free, meaning no onion or garlic.
Must try: Belachan Grilled Fish, Mala Shroom Congee, Ayam Penyet, Three Egg Congee
Diners enjoy a Nyonya vegetarian lunch with otah, lei cha soup and kangkung, calling the dishes unique.
- 352 Clementi Avenue 2, #01-123
- About 11 minutes on foot from Clementi MRT
- Tue–Sun 11am–10pm; closed Mon
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
2. Ascend Vegetarian (18 Cross) 蔬升
Its Instagram describes the restaurant as 100% vegetarian with no onion and no garlic. A second outlet is at Esplanade Xchange.
Must try: Malatang, where you pick your own ingredients ($3.50 per 100g plus a $1 base fee)
Diners rave about the mala, which is not overly spicy, a soup that tastes healthy with no MSG taste, and more vegan variety in soup and ingredients than a rival mala tang shop.
- 18 Cross Street
- About 2 minutes from Chinatown MRT
- Daily 10am–9pm
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
3. Daehwa Korean
A Korean vegetarian restaurant that says its kitchen avoids the five pungent ingredients, and that its kimchi and sauces do too.
Must try: Mandu guksu ($19.80), soondubu jjigae with rice ($17.25), bulgogi in a stone pot, kimchi jeon and housemade baechu kimchi
Diners praise the barley tea and a japchae with egg, and note the menu clearly states which dishes are vegan and which contain egg.
- 1 Fusionopolis Place
- About 1 minute from One-North MRT
- Daily 11am–8:45pm
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
4. The Boneless Kitchen
A Korean vegetarian restaurant near Tai Seng MRT. Its website says the kimchi and sauces are allium-free, and we have confirmed the whole menu is.
Must try: Japchae, Jajangmyeon, Dolsot Bibimbap, Classic Kimbap
Diners describe vegetarian Korean comfort food with vegan options clearly indicated, mention a steamed egg dish, and call it a go-to spot.
- 1 Irving Place
- About 3 minutes from Tai Seng MRT
- Daily 11am–9pm
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
5. Merle & Co
A Western vegetarian café that says everything it serves is meat-free, with no alliums and no alcohol.
Must try: Croissants, Fresh Pasta, Pizza, Burritos
Diners call the food impressively delicious, enjoy the laid-back vibe on weekday lunches, and say dogs are welcome.
- 1 Lentor Central
- About 1 minute from Lentor MRT
- Mon–Thu 9:30am–9pm; Fri 9:30am–10pm; Sat 8:30am–10pm; Sun 8:30am–9pm
- Mid-range ($$) · Cafe
See photos, menu and reviews →
6. Warung Ijo
An Indonesian vegetarian restaurant whose Facebook page describes the food as allium-free, alcohol-free and vegan-friendly.
Must try: Mee Goreng, Tahu Telor, Ayam Penyet, Lontong Sayur
Diners say everything is allium-free, mention adjustable spice levels, and note you can request no egg for eggless options.
- 601 MacPherson Road
- About 1 minute from Tai Seng MRT
- Mon–Fri 11am–3pm; Sat–Sun 11am–3:30pm
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
7. Gopal's The Holy Cow
A vegetarian restaurant for Indian and local dishes, and a published listing says no alliums are used.
Must try: Masala Dosa, Cheese Prata, Kottu Prata, Meal-Maker Biryani
Diners praise strictly no onion, garlic and chive vegetarian pizzas and fusion dishes, call it 100% allium-free and eggless, and mention vegan selections.
- Kaki Bukit Road 1
- About 9 minutes from Ubi MRT
- Mon–Tue, Sat–Sun 11am–3:30pm; Wed–Fri 11am–9:30pm
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
8. Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant
A Chinese vegetarian restaurant a minute from Maxwell MRT, and a published listing notes that no onion or garlic is used.
Must try: Veg Satay, Bamboo Pith & Asparagus Delight, Steamed Mock Fish Teochew Style, Olive Fried Rice
Diners describe a Chinese vegetarian restaurant with clear menu labels, food that arrives quickly and pleasant staff, and several say it suits vegans. A few call it a family favourite.
- 282 South Bridge Road
- About 1 minute from Maxwell MRT
- Tue–Fri 11:30am–2:30pm and 6pm–9:30pm; Sat–Sun 11:30am–2:30pm and 5pm–9:30pm; closed Mon
- Mid-range ($$) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →
9. Baomaker 包记得
A bao eatery described as fully vegan and allium-free, with buns priced under a dollar.
Must try: Vegetable Steamed Bun, Char Siew Bao, Black Sesame Bao, Fried Buns & Burgers
Diners call it the best vegetarian bao, with a vegan char siew bao, and recommend the char siew, black sesame and yam buns.
- Blk 447 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-1675, Singapore 560447
- About 11 minutes on foot from Ang Mo Kio MRT
- Daily 7am–3pm
- Budget-friendly ($) · Dessert
See photos, menu and reviews →
10. Mitu Rice 米兔饭团
A Japanese-style vegan restaurant that states it is 100% vegan and allium-free, and a weekday lunch stop near Shenton Way MRT.
Must try: Onigiri (fan Tuan), Inari Sushi, Mahjong Noodle
Diners praise the inari sushi with purple rice and beautifully wrapped, warm rice balls, say staff are friendly, and one Taiwanese diner who has eaten countless rice balls rates them highly.
- 3 Shenton Wy, #02-11 Shenton House, Singapore 068805
- About 1 minute from Shenton Way MRT
- Mon–Fri 10am–2pm; closed Sat, Sun
- Budget-friendly ($) · Restaurant
See photos, menu and reviews →

Good to know

What "allium-free" covers: a kitchen can say it uses no onion or garlic and still serve a sauce, chilli paste or pre-made ingredient from a supplier. If you avoid them strictly, ask about the chilli and the sauces when you order.
Some places state other limits that matter to different diets. Jin Yi notes that liquor is used in some of its soups, and San De adds carnation milk to its mock fish beehoon. These are not onion or garlic, but they are good examples of why asking is worthwhile.
Hawker stalls on this list are mostly morning and lunch places, closed one day a week. Check the listing for hours before going, and aim before 1pm.
For dinner, look at the restaurants on the list, such as D'life (open until 10pm at Toa Payoh and Jurong West) and Botanict (Tuesday to Sunday until 10pm), and check each listing for its hours.
If a stall you like is not on this list, it does not mean it uses onion or garlic. It means we have no statement from the business. Many Buddhist vegetarian stalls cook without them, so ask.
We keep this list under review. If you know a place that states it is allium-free, or a place on this list that has changed, use the report link on its listing.

All 42 places in the directory

Makan Vegan Catering 斋这里

5.0(5)

营业中 · $ · 餐饮服务 · 纯素

Mandai

Ascend Vegetarian (18 Cross) 蔬升

4.9(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Chinatown

Cookie Coffee Cafe Bar

4.8(3)

营业中 · $ · 咖啡馆 · 烘焙 · 素食

Bugis

Ru Yi Xuan Vegetarian Stall

4.8(5)

已打烊 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Woodlands

Saute Saranghae

4.8(5)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Tampines

Veggie 121

4.8(3)

已打烊 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Telok Ayer

Ascend Vegetarian (Esplanade Xchange) 蔬升

4.7(6)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Esplanade

Botanict

4.7(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Clementi

Green On Earth (Tampines)

4.7(4)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Tampines

Lilac Oak

4.7(3)

营业中 · $$ · 甜品 · 咖啡馆 · 烘焙 · 纯素

River Valley

Mitu Rice 米兔饭团

4.7(3)

已打烊 · $ · 餐厅 · 纯素

Marina Bay

Mother Earth Classic Vegetarian (Balestier) 大地之素

4.7(5)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Balestier

Baomaker 包记得

4.6(3)

已打烊 · $ · 甜品 · 烘焙 · 素食

Ang Mo Kio

Daehwa Korean

4.6(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

One-North

Merle & Co

4.6(3)

营业中 · $$ · 咖啡馆 · 素食

Ang Mo Kio

Su Shi Jia Xiang Wei 素食家乡味

4.6(4)

营业中 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Geylang

Warung Ijo

4.6(3)

已打烊 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Tai Seng

D'life (Orchard Gateway)

4.5(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Orchard

Egg.plant

4.5(3)

已打烊 · $ · 餐厅 · 素食

Marina Bay

Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant

4.5(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Chinatown

Flourish Cafe 繁榮素食坊

4.5(8)

营业中 · $ · 餐厅 · 咖啡馆 · 素食

Jurong West

Friendly Vegetarian Food Supplier 善缘素食斋料供应商

4.5(4)

已打烊 · $$ · 供应商 · 素食

Ang Mo Kio

Nature Cafe (SMU)

4.5(4)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 咖啡馆 · 素食

Bencoolen

Original Greens

4.5(4)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Balestier

Tracy Juice Culture

4.5(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 咖啡馆 · 素食

Rochor

Yum Yum Yummy Vegetarian

4.5(3)

已打烊 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Telok Blangah

Featured on Daniel Food Diary

Flavours by Saute

4.4(7)

营业中 · $$$ · 餐厅 · 素食

City Hall

Gopal's The Holy Cow

4.4(3)

已打烊 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Kaki Bukit

Saute & Mee

4.4(6)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Sengkang

The Boneless Kitchen

4.4(4)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Tai Seng

D'life (Beauty World)

4.3(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Bukit Timah

Jin Yi Vegetarian

4.3(7)

营业中 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Bukit Batok

Nature Cafe (Alexandra)

4.3(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 咖啡馆 · 素食

Alexandra

Nature Vegetarian Delights (NVD) 大自然 (Bukit Batok)

4.3(3)

已打烊 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Bukit Batok

D'life (Toa Payoh)

4.2(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Toa Payoh

Su Yuan Vegetarian

4.2(3)

已打烊 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Bukit Merah

D'life (Jurong West)

4.1(4)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Jurong West

Ju Fu Yuan Vegetarian Delight 聚福缘

4.0(3)

营业中 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Eunos

Tang Leng Chay 東龍齋

4.0(3)

营业中 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Geylang

Origanics 启点素食

3.7(3)

营业中 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Buangkok

San De Vegetarian (Yishun) 三德

3.6(3)

营业中 · $ · 小贩中心 · 素食

Yishun

NomVNom

新上线(3)

营业中 · $$ · 餐厅 · 素食

Clarke Quay

Common questions

What does allium-free mean?: Alliums are the onion family: garlic, onions, scallions, chives and leeks. An allium-free or no onion, no garlic kitchen cooks without them. In Chinese Buddhist cooking this is the five pungent vegetables, or wu xin.
How do you know these places are really allium-free?: We only list a place when the business, or a published listing of the business, says so (or when we have confirmed it ourselves): its own website, Instagram or Facebook page, or a directory entry describing the menu. Reviews alone were not enough. A statement is still not a guarantee for every sauce, so ask if you avoid alliums strictly.
Is all Buddhist vegetarian food in Singapore free of onion and garlic?: Many Buddhist vegetarian stalls leave them out, but not all do, and most do not say so. This guide lists the 42 places that do state it or that we have confirmed. For any other stall, ask at the counter.
Are the places on this list vegan?: Not all. Most are vegetarian, which in Singapore often means no meat or fish but sometimes egg or dairy. Makan Vegan Catering, Mitu Rice and Lilac Oak are vegan, and Tracy Juice Culture states it uses no egg, dairy or meat. See our egg-free guide and our vegan guide for those.
Which area of Singapore has the most allium-free vegetarian places?: The central area has the most, including Chinatown, Marina Bay, City Hall, Bugis and Clarke Quay. Geylang has two hawker stalls that state no garlic or onion, Eunos has one, and the heartland towns of Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Bukit Batok and Yishun each have at least one.

More guides

Browse the full Singapore directory →

Top 10 no onion, no garlic vegetarian food in Singapore you must try

10 places to try, one by one

1. Botanict

2. Ascend Vegetarian (18 Cross) 蔬升

3. Daehwa Korean

4. The Boneless Kitchen

5. Merle & Co

6. Warung Ijo

7. Gopal's The Holy Cow

8. Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant

9. Baomaker 包记得

10. Mitu Rice 米兔饭团

Good to know

All 42 places in the directory

Makan Vegan Catering 斋这里

Ascend Vegetarian (18 Cross) 蔬升

Cookie Coffee Cafe Bar

Ru Yi Xuan Vegetarian Stall

Saute Saranghae

Veggie 121

Ascend Vegetarian (Esplanade Xchange) 蔬升

Botanict

Green On Earth (Tampines)

Lilac Oak

Mitu Rice 米兔饭团

Mother Earth Classic Vegetarian (Balestier) 大地之素

Baomaker 包记得

Daehwa Korean

Merle & Co

Su Shi Jia Xiang Wei 素食家乡味

Warung Ijo

D'life (Orchard Gateway)

Egg.plant

Eight Treasures Vegetarian Restaurant

Flourish Cafe 繁榮素食坊

Friendly Vegetarian Food Supplier 善缘素食斋料供应商

Nature Cafe (SMU)

Original Greens

Tracy Juice Culture

Yum Yum Yummy Vegetarian

Flavours by Saute

Gopal's The Holy Cow

Saute & Mee

The Boneless Kitchen

D'life (Beauty World)

Jin Yi Vegetarian

Nature Cafe (Alexandra)

Nature Vegetarian Delights (NVD) 大自然 (Bukit Batok)

D'life (Toa Payoh)

Su Yuan Vegetarian

D'life (Jurong West)

Ju Fu Yuan Vegetarian Delight 聚福缘

Tang Leng Chay 東龍齋

Origanics 启点素食

San De Vegetarian (Yishun) 三德

NomVNom

Common questions

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