The eternal search for a restaurant that offers more than just fries or salad without dressing – vegans know the problem. But Cologne makes it easy, with over 30 completely vegan restaurants and a whole range of vegetarian options making the city a paradise for anyone who avoids animal products. To ensure that your search doesn’t turn into a culinary odyssey, here are the best places for vegan feasting on the Rhine.
Chum Chay – Vietyum, yum!
Chum Chay is no longer an insider tip, and rightly so! However, it is still a hidden gem. The Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant on Friesenwall is located in a backyard. But it still has a firm place at the forefront of Cologne’s gastronomic scene. Here, everything revolves around fresh ingredients, aromatic spices, and plant-based moments of pleasure.
Summer rolls that couldn’t be crispier, steaming pho with plenty of depth, or addictive crispy bánh xèo – Chum Chay shows that Vietnamese cuisine can be delicious even without fish sauce and meat broth. Even die-hard meat lovers will be tempted by the vegan and vegetarian side of life here.
Chum Chay, Friesenwall 29, 50672 Cologne
Maki Maki – Fresh Without Fish
Sushi without raw fish? It may take some getting used to, but at Maki Maki in the Cäcilien district, it tastes so good that even hardcore sashimi fans will be left wondering. Here you’ll find creative, plant-based sushi creations that prove that avocado, cucumber, carrots, and seaweed are a damn good combination.
Highly recommended: the buttery avocado maki and the crispy veggie rolls, which are packed with flavor thanks to sophisticated sauces. And for those who want to become sushi masters themselves, there are workshops where you can learn how to roll sushi perfectly, even without fish.
Maki Maki, Mauritiussteinweg 2, 50676 Cologne
HaldiSpoon – Don’t Worry, Eat Curry
Indian cuisine without butter, yogurt, or ghee? Sounds like a challenge, but at HaldiSpoon in Mülheim, it tastes simply heavenly. That’s because Mama does the cooking here – and if anyone knows how to make flavors dance on the palate, it’s her!
The dishes are authentic, homemade, and naturally vegan: spicy curries, steaming rice, and freshly baked naan. The naanizza—a fusion of naan bread and pizza—and the roti rolls with their delicious fillings are particularly ingenious and truly addictive. Thanks to fresh ingredients and great attention to detail, every dish here is a real comfort food moment.
HaldiSpoon, Dünnwalder Str. 49, 51063 Cologne
Trash Chic – Vegan Home Cooking That Fills You Up
Cozy, rustic, and guaranteed no frills – Trash Chic in Cologne-Kalk serves vegan cuisine that fills you up and tastes really good. There are no fancy superfood bowls here, just honest home cooking that simply makes you happy.
Particularly legendary: the soy gyros with fries or rice, served with creamy vegan tzatziki and crisp salad. If you fancy something different, try the vegan burgers or crispy spring rolls – because here, fast food classics are plant-based and damn tasty. A place where you feel at home – and where no one claims that vegan food is just salad.
Trash Chic, Wiersbergstraße 31, 51103 Cologne
