A great place for asian-fusion vegan food. Heaps of labelled gf options which make life much easier for dietary requirements. The service is always wonderful as well. I always recommend this restaurant to my friends visiting Melbourne!
Had dinner here on a Sunday night without a reservation. Plenty of tables available. I really don't like the atmosphere, not cosy at all. We had the laksa and the satay - both were delicious. Also shared mango lassi which was nice. I believe all the food is vegan also! Spent $50 for the two of us. Will definitely go back!
Homely restaurant serving comfort food. The satay was delicious - definitely worth a try! Their seasonal strawberry lassi was also delicious.
Courtney (@rawpublic_)
+4
Visited Shakahari and tried the laksa and the satay. Holy moly! They were good! The laksa was “to die for”, exactly as the waiter had described. I was also told “I’d be back the next day for more” and I definitely would have if I hadn’t had to go to work. Amazing staff, amazing food and nice and chilled atmosphere- highly recommend ☺️👌🏼
Fantastic food. It was very comforting and homely whilst also being incredibly unique. The minimalist design of the restaurant itself juxtaposed the innovative nature of the food. From the moment I read the menu to the last mouthful, my time at Shakahari was a Novel, exciting experience. Were it not for the poor service we received this place would have been an easy 5/5. Food was reasonably priced, the range on the menu was also great. Would definitely return.
Amazing service! Food came out fairly quick. Ordered mushroom agnolotti, eggplant with paella, and a lasagna. Mushroom agnolotti had so much flavour especially the sauce. Great entree! Paella wasnt lacking abit of flavour but had great texture. Loved the cooked eggplant aswell
Asian fusion. The menu says it's vegetarian, but I think it's almost vegan. The fried skewer of beancurd in Legendary Satay is tasty. As for dessert, recommend the blueberry tart. A good place for vegetarian anyway.
This restaurant is such a lovely cozy place to have dinner. The food was very delicious and healthy with great presentation. We had hotpot with fungus and lotus, and rice and curry. They were absolutely beautiful in taste and look. The price is a bit high but for the location and the setup it is just right.
Went to this place with some friends on a Saturday night. Have to say it is some of the best veggie food I have ever had and very creative and well presented. My favourites were the 'scent of green papaya' (very much like a Thai papaya salad) and the 'legendary satay shakahari' which had a really nice Malaysian style peanut satay sauce with the veggie's on the skewers, yum! When we got there we were about the first in the restaurant but within 1/2 hr it was packed! After tasting their food I know why. Will definitely go back next time I am in Melbourne.
Soymilkisagoodbeverage
+5
checked it out with partner on vday. was a cosy place with eclectic design and decor - south east asian meets refurbished victorian. looked after by friendly staff during our meal. shared avo magic, quinoa croquettes, tofu caramel and a dish that included black rice and tofu (forgot what this last dish was called but it was incredible). i fell in love with the tofu caramel; the creme was not too sweet and absorbed the caramel flavour of the gula melaka and pistachio well. the staff were very attentive and lovely and the owner even gave us (what i presume were homemade) raw ball treats as a complementary vday treat. was a bit on the pricey side (to be fair i am just a pleb student on part time work), but im always more than happy to pay for quality and creativity, especially in vegetarian/vegan fare. loved it here!
Absolutely enjoyed myself! We booked ahead of time just in case but there were still tables available. We ordered three mains to share as we all wanted to try the different dishes. Although the mains are made to be single person, it all worked well and they provided us with an empty plate each. We ordered the satay skewers, the lasagna and the curry. My favourite by far was the lasagna. It had really good flavours and the pasta was really soft and delicate. The skewers were good but some of the bean curd pieces were abit dry. The curry was also good but nothing significant. I really liked how the lasagna and skewers were both served with perfectly cooked greens and potatoes. The broccoli was really well done and tasted great! We skipped desert as we were full but enjoyed a kombucha with our meal. Highly recommend!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Finally got to try Shakahari! I had originally booked the table for 14 people but in the end I had 18 people so I was really happy that Shakahari could accommodate for the extra people. Was really appreciated by myself!
I ordered the Nonya Curry. At first it was a bit confusing because we got a small plate with rice, a pappadam and salad but no curry. Fortunately as the waiter placed the food down he did explain the second half of the dish was coming. I found it very strange that they didn't come out at the same time! There was a bit of a delay! Once everyone else had their dishes I got my curry.
The lasagna was definitely the highlight! Luckily my friend let me try it! I should have ordered this! Everyone who ordered it loved it. The curry on the other hand you could get anywhere so I regret my boring choice!
My friend is allergic to nuts so it was difficult to find something on the menu that didn't contain nuts. He ended up having a soup.
Another friend ordered gnocchi but it looked so strange! Looking at the menu now while writing this review it does say "gnocchi" with quotation marks so it looks like it wasn't meant to be actual gnocchi anyway. Maybe name it something else? My friend really wanted actual gnocchi but the dish still tasted good.
If you are looking for spicy food you probably won't find it here at Shakahari and that was something another one of my friends was disappointed about.
The raw chocolate caramel cheesecake was also popular! I wish I had tried that as well.... There's always next time :)
Shakahari is a sorted restaurant for the vegetarian s and vegans in Melbourne. I had been here for dinner with friends few weeks ago. We ordered Avacado Magic : these avacado eggplant fritters were amazing;loved it, and went for a second round
scent of green papaya: its a raw papaya salad and in my opinion not the best in town
Legendary satay: tofu satay smothered with peanut sauce ;while the taste was good, it was overloaded with peanut
Laksa hebat: japanese udon noodles in coconut gravy with veggies, yum
The starter and mains were good but drinks and desserts were absolutely disappointing ( choco cheesecake and pandan tarts). It came to ~$162 for four of us.
Itsbetterthanbaditsgood
+5
Shakahari never disappoints. The restaurant is set in a restored old house - with warm colours, polished floorboards and open fireplaces. The staff are friendly and attentive. I have never tried a dish I didn't like - everything is vegan friendly and delicious. Even my non-vegan sister said she could be vegan if she could cook food as good as Shakahari! Stand out dishes are Avocado Magic, and Quinoa Croquettes. The Avocado Magic is slices of avocado and capsicum in a light, crispy tempura batter served with an amazing green sauce that I can help but want to lick off the plate. The croquettes are fluffy inside and lightly crispy on the outside, served with an equally tasty orange sauce. I also really love the Dumplings - served in a gorgeous delicate broth and filled with corn and beans. Everything is great, that's why we keep going back.
The Gluten-Free Foodie
+5
One of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Delicious, innovative, well presented and tasty food. I loved the Avocado Magic and Legendary Satay.
Comfortable restaurant away from the bustle of Lygon St. The food was surprisingly very good quality, my expectations of Vegetarian restaurants are not normally high. I enjoyed everything I ordered, except for my gluten-free beer which is my fault as it was my choice. I couldn't give 5 stars because service was just barely enough to not get penalised further, our waiter looked bored and uninterested, didn't ask us if we wanted more drinks, he also forgot our bill when we asked for it. Good night overall though.
Very tasty food, great service and the food comes out really fast. The laksa is a great size and delicious, not stingy on any ingredients, highly recommend it. However the lasagne and cheesecake are too small for the price. They should be way bigger, or bring the price down quite a bit.
Shakahari is a great place to visit as they offer a range of vegetarian and vegan dishes that are well thought out. Their menu shows that they've tried to offer a different take on dishes so that they don't just offer the standard vegetarian fare. Even as a meat eater myself (who admittedly has an addiction to tofu) I'm always excited to try new items on Shakahari's menu. My favourite would be their noodles although I really can't stand the mock meat! The soup base (whichever one is on the menu at the time) is always really flavoursome and the noodles are always cooked perfectly. Service is good but you need to be proactive if you want dessert as they tend to leave you alone after mains are served. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area.
Very cozy place for a hearty vegetarian meals. The curry is great! Will surely return to try out more on the menu. Must try for all vegetarian out there.
Positives:
Avocado fritters
- Crisp and creamy bites of delight
Nonya curry
- Filling
- A flavoursome, tasty and creamy curry
Negatives:
Green papaya salad
- Chalky after taste
- Dressing too sweet for my liking
Other mentions:
Satay skewers
- First time trying seitan, it was okay
- Might be that I'm not used to the texture of it but not something I'd reach out to try again
- Pickles were a good combo for this dish to help cut through the richness of the satay sauce
Overall:
- Not a bad experience, would be willing to try other dishes on their menu
a great spot to have modern indian vegetarian cuisine with vegan options available as well. brought my mum and a friend who are vegetarians to dine here and they enjoyed their food very much.
ordered the rice with stir fried vegetables on the side, a taro flavoured dish and seaweed rolls topped with well seasoned sauce.
could be hard at times to ask for the waiters but other that that, the portion of the food was alright, and the ambiance of the restaurant gives off a warm and cozy feeling! overall, a good dining experience here.
I have been here, of course, a long standing institution for vegetarians and vegans. It is admittedly some time ago since I last visited, but the experience was good. I had the Shakahari satay, which was absolutely scrumptious. The decor is, naturally, very 70s retro terrace house, with lots of timber and little passageways from room to room, though the last meal I had I enjoyed in the rear courtyard, which was very pleasant. Can't fault the menu - so much choice - and the food is wholesome and delicious. The service is friendly, laid- back and casual. Will go again, for sure.
This restaurant serves really tasty vegetarian food. There were 4 of us and we ordered the quinoa croquettes, saffron quinoa,rice + rice and the linguini secret...and shared the dishes. We also decided to share the tofu caramel for dessert, it's really light and refreshing. I wouldn't mind returning to try the other dishes if I decided to have vegetarian food again.
A fantastic meal! Couldnt recommend it more. Starter & mains were cooked perfectly. I used to think the Vegie Bar slop was good vegetarian! Now i know....visit & try!
I came here alone as I was just moving from Sydney to Melbourne and was in need of some gluten free and vegan cuisine.
I ordered the Legendary Satay which I have to say was legendary. It came with a bed of rice and some verges and the tofu came on skewers accompanied by onion and capsicum.
I also ordered for dessert the Banana Cassava which reminded me of banana bread drizzled with a delicious coconut based sauce.
Also as a connoisseur of Strawberry Daiquiris with the number one rating of a daiquiri is Kuletos in Newtown's variation called Red Corvette. This comes a second. It was sweet yet not overly and also it had the right amount of alcohol in it to taste.
I would recommend this place to anyone looking for guilt free option and maybe a little bit of a guilty option if wanting a cocktail ;)
EDIT: I forgot to mention how lovely the staff were. One of them was so accomodating she suggested me websites and Facebook groups to use for me to find accomodation.
Had my birthday dinner here with my friends 2 weeks ago, mind you none of us are actually vegetarian but the food are just amazing and we are really happy with it. The tofu caramel is my favourite for the night and I would recommend it to everyone cause who doesn't have a second stomach for desserts? 😜
Very healthy lol! A good place to come to if you are on a hard diet. The food was all nice enough, not very satisfying though, I was super hungry after. Perhaps there is some health benefits to the food and that's why people like it...
Tasty vegetarian food that makes it feel as though you never need meat in a dish. Satay skewers were probably a stand out followed by their curry. Very well flavored and generous portion sizes!
I’ve previously heard some great things about Shakahari, and with an eclectic menu and vibrant service it served as an excellent choice for a long overdue catch up dinner with friends following holidays, occupational changes and a baby arriving. The vegetarian dining experience at Shakahari was amongst the best I’ve had in Melbourne and I was thoroughly thrilled it lived up to its title. Stepping in to the low-fuss venue you might not think much of it at first, but it does carry a constant homely feel with a spacious dining floor and partial courtyard.
Full Time Wholesomeness
+3.5
Very nice South-East Asian oceanian fusion food in a hidden lane way right besides the Italian eatery street. The menu is short but with great descriptions about each dish. The food is exotic because it is really creative and nuance as never had anywhere else before.
Looks smaller from the outside but quite roomy inside with simple decor and pleasant ambience. For entree I had the avocado magic which was delicious and I loved the coriander purée. The papaya salad was very tasty and we shared these two entrees between 4 people.
For main I had the lasagna which didn't sound too exciting but tasted divine. The quinoa croquettes were quite good and the nonya curry was rated as "ok" by the eater!!
For dessert I had the raw matcha "cheesecake" which was a bit dry and tasteless but the best dessert was the orange pudding. The buckwheat macqui was sickly sweet but the plain vanilla ice cream was a success.
Overall I enjoyed it very much- more so than the other three I was with. This restaurant would appeal to vegans and there are gluten and dairy free options available. Service was efficient and friendly.
Avocado magic entree was very good if a little small, and the main courses were delicious. We ordered the satay shakahari and the lasagna, both were amazing.
Melbourne is the place where you don't get food only vegetarian food easily. So for people like me who is here for a short visit, this place is a blessing. 😊 loved the place food desserts and staff was just amazing. Worth a try!!! However it is in bit expensive side. But it's okay to treat yourself now and then with good veg./vegan/ gluten free food now and then.
We hadn't made a booking at Shakahari, but got a table towards the back of the restaurant easily enough when we visited on a Friday evening, although the front section was quite busy. From the outside the modern paint job and signage contrasts with the pair of old terraced bungalows that house the restaurant. The melange of styles continue inside with some foliage to soften the lines. the one downside of being near the back, were the drafts from the tricky to open door to the toilets which require a trip outside.
Lovely vegetarian restaurant. Food is always delicious, the receipes are well elaborated and the dishes are quite creative. I recommend the avocado, a real crunchy pleasure in month !
Expect small portions, in addition the dishes are quite pricey.
ive been coming to this place for a number of years - menu never changes, but consistency of food always remains the same; tasteful and authentic! service and ambience is great for any occasion!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
I came here the other day with a vegetarian and a meat eater. We shared the mushroom dumplings and avocado magic for entrees. Loved both of these dishes! The mushroom dumplings had a beautiful, delicate skin, flavoursome filling and awesome tasty broth. The avocado I was initially skeptical about. I've never been a fan of avocado that wasn't in the form of the usual hipster smashed avo... But this was different. It was crunchy and soft and daaayyyummmm that sauce. In that moment I turned into Manu. So good. I had the laksa for main which really hit the spot. Heaps of tofu, mushroom, tempeh, veggies... Just yum. Slightly put off by the fake meat though (even the meat eater was scared), I feel like that should be optional as it features in a number of dishes.
We all shared dessert and went for the raw matcha cheesecake. It was interesting! A little on the solid side but had some nice texture and flavour. It was overall my least favourite of everything we had. I would definitely recommend this place for vegans and veggo's. Id like to try some more of their dishes in the future :)
My first visit to this lovely place with high ceilings and umber/burnt orange walls. Couldn't decide what to order; so many interesting options. Went with the 'Sonam, chum chum' and wasn't disappointed. The red rice, brown basmati and sweet corn pilaf was a real treat and I loved the cucumber and goji berry salad.
this is a good vegetarian staple, the meals are inventive and a little exotic, making it tricky to decide what to have (I am saying that's a good thing). I had the satay, which was hearty and delicious. Service was nice and there was a roaring fire in the front dining area. Its a little austere inside, I thought last time I went they had more art work?I'll definitely return
We came back here after a long time between visits to catch up with our favourite vegetarians. The croquettes as always were lovely, and would definitely get these again. The Sohan Chum Chum, however, was a bit of a mess and the mixture of hot and cold foods pushed together didn't quite work out. Great individual flavours of the various items though. Maybe they were short-staffed on the weekend but if the service was a bit faster it would bring them up to a 4.5.
I appreciated the warm, homely ambience of Shakahari - a very welcoming presence as you walk in. Our meals came out pretty quickly which was great. I got the quinoa croquettes which I really enjoyed with the macadamias inside, although I would've loved a bit more kimchi! The coconut ice cream was delicious, not overly sweet and perfect for a light dessert. I tried a bit of the tofu caramel dessert which was a real winner. The staff were very accommodating and friendly. I'd be happy to try this one again.
I came here with a group of friends a while ago and this place was packed. The menu was quite broad and the menu items looked quite creative. I ordered the vegie curry and for starters had the avocado fritters both of which was very delectable. The sauce that came with the fritters was absolutely amazing. Service was good.
Service is nice and fast!
Food: Entree-avocado tempura is nice, but not as good as reviews. I would prefer Japanese tempura .
But the dumpling is really cool! Lemongrass soup and mushroom fillings!
Main: prefer the quinoa one! The wasabi sauce is a nice hit!
I really loved this place! I ordered the Urban Spaghetti dish; it was tasty, fresh and a good portion. I also shared the cheesecake which was also delicious. The service was attentive and friendly. Will definitely be back!
Delicious food, large servings, quite expensive. Lovely home restaurant vibe, especially when sitting near the fireplace. The setting can be a little intimidating when the place isn't busy, however - almost like restaurant theatre. The laksa and tempura fried avocado rolls are hard to look past. As a vegetarian, I love being able to eat anything on the menu!
Pretty yummy food. I tried the avocado fried in tempura. Love the location and was treated to very friendly service too. Great experience overall
Enjoyable and tasty. The Quinoa croquettes were a real standout. Would highly recommend, but beware on a hot night as there is limited ventilation.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
As a significant other to a vegetarian, finding a truly exceptional dining experience where both herbivore and carnivore can be equally happy is a rare thing. So much vegetarian cuisine revolves around the same ingredients, the variations on pasta and protein balls, rice and quinoa, that a stand out menu is hard to find.
Shanghai, in Faraday Street then, is like a shining light in the dimming evening. The menu is simple, yet bold, and full of delicious fusions of Asian and Mediterranean cuisines that sound interesting and taste unbelievably good. Standards have to be the corn and chestnut ravioli and the avocado magic, but each and every time I return to this place I find something else that surprises and delights the taste buds.
The decor is a little fusty, and could use a touch up, and on a hot evening even the wide spaces between the tables seem to shrink and become close from the lack of air, but the service is friendly and genuine and the menu more than reasonably priced considering the mastery behind the food that is presented and the astonishing flavours and aromas.
Shakahari truly is a hidden gem of Melbourne's restaurant scene, for any and all diners. Certainly not to be missed.
Had dinner here with my boyfriend and the service was absolutely amazing from all the waiters. They were very polite and accommodating, even when we wanted to change seats.
The courtyard was a nice dining space with chill vibes running throughout the restaurant.
Food was great; we had the avocado magic, satay skewers and the hemp agnolotti. We also had the chocolate cheesecake for dessert.
Thanks for a great night 👌
Great option for vegetarians. Absolutely loved Avocado Magic. We were hoping to try lasagna but it wasn't on their menu anymore. Enjoyed the food anyway. Definitely worth a visit.
Fantastic food. Ambience a little old school considering the contemporary menu items, but brilliant, tasty and creative upscale veg dishes. +++
Food was delicious, staff were friendly, decent atmosphere. I would recommend it to non vegetarians and people who cant eat gluten as well as other vegetarians/vegans :)
Great indian vegetarian dishes. Had a get-together after a successful project. Portions are reasonable, but expects it to be on the expensive side. Waiters were friendly and it was not crowded.
Eat And Be Merry Crew
+4.5
With so many enticing dishes on offer, we decided to share an entree - a signature dish called Avocado Magic (vegan, non-dairy and gluten-free). These are wedges of avo, red capsicums and eggplant that have been fried in a tempura-like batter and served with a green sesame coriander puree ($14.50 for a standard serve - note that the above pic is bigger than a standard serve but I forgot how much the price was). This was delicious, buttery (from the avo), crispy and not greasy.
Absolutely amazing place, would recommend to any vegetarian, people who enjoy eating vegetarian (aka me) or even people trying to start trying vegetarian products! Fantastic service and food.
We got the urban spaghetti, the laksa and the avocado entree. All were great in flavour, with a good mixture and serving size.
Would definitely recommend the laksa! Good pricing
Shakhahari is a legendary place to dine at. A place which is more for love for food than any fancy thing.
People there are sweet and trust me they ensure you have a nice time.
Food is presented beautifully , taste just right.
I found a lil too expensive , but then there are some places that are worth an experience.
Simple and elegant dinning. Serving interesting food shakahari celebrates flavoursome combinations of food and spice. Good seating options and spacious. Going to this place is an event.
I have been here a few times and have always been happy with my food. There are always so many good dishes to choose from and they seem to update the menu regularly. The atmosphere & decor is great (especially the fireplace in winter). The service is always good despite usually being pretty busy
Great place to take Vegos and even your more sceptical meat eating friends. Great atmosphere and delicious food, always a hit.
The staff are friendly. Would recommend booking
Enjoyed dinner here tonight. Had the potato, veggie and chestnut pie . Very warming on a cold night , really delicious. Tasted Hubby's curry, also really yummy. Service was super fast even though the place was jammed packed. I love the fact that everything in the menu tells you what you want to know , whether it contains; Gluten/ dairy/ onions/ garlic. Glad we booked, people were lined up waiting for a table. Will definitely go back to try some other men items. It was hard to choose just one tonight. There were so many I wanted to try and you just know you are eating wholesome food. Awesome place.
Great Place!. Always a pleasant experience! They have a courtyard too, which is nice in summer
Shakahari seems to be doing rather well given they also have one in South Melbourne and it isn’t surprising because they’ve managed to make vegetarian food rather interesting even for meat eaters like myself. Their menu is extensive and they make it rather clear which items are vegan, non-dairy, gluten-free etc. They offer fresh vegetarian food utilising many different elements from a range of cuisines.
Oh my. I ate one and a half desserts today. I’m so stuffed. But it was worth it. Shakahari has it all: great food, friendly service and a relaxed vibe. For the meat eaters, don’t be put off by their vegetarian tag. The food here is seriously tasty and the servings are filling...
Shakahari is quite an unassuming restaurant. Appearing as if it’s been converted from a Carlton house, it’s easy to miss if you’re walking along Lygon Street. Booking doesn’t appear to be necessary, as every time I’ve been here I’ve gotten a table immediately, despite clearly being a popular vego hub. The interior is pretty stereotypical for an Indian-Asian inspired vego joint. With warm orange hues abound and Buddhist motifs subtly placed everywhere, I have to say that the atmosphere lowered my expectations. Not to mention the wooden floors that made it very loud and impossible to have a quiet conversation. How good could this hippy place be? But I found that my hesitance was unwarranted when I saw the menu. As with the Vegie Bar, everything here is completely vegetarian, with options to go vegan or gluten free. The menu isn’t as extensive as Vegie Bar’s, but each meal is packed with protein and flavour. I’ve been here twice and while I’ve heard good things about the other menu items,
Entrees this evening was a hard decision within itself. The tables favourite of the evening would have to be the Kerabu. Here they combine a salad of fresh green lentils, watercress, slices of fennel, beetroot, walnuts and goji berries all coated blissfully with a wasabi chilli onion dressing and crisp kale.
A table of four was blown away in amazement with the flavours, and all I want now is this dish. I will dream many dreams about this one dish. For a hot summers night it could be that dish you could enjoy when you're not too hungry or can't decide cause it's just so hot. A perfect balance of flavours.
This bowl came with braised turnip, ginkgo nuts, spicy tofu and braised seitan. It takes me back to Asia, very asian influenced. No strong sauces like soy sauce, a gentle yet subtle dish.
It has a very homely feeling. To start off with we had drinks. They do have wines and beers on offer as well as non alcholic drinks such as lassi.
Melbourne Lifestyle Blog
+4.5
The space is a converted home with polished floor boards and yellow walls (infusing the relaxed and casual feeling that typifies the university suburb of Carlton).
Shakahari is one of Melbourne's vegetarian instutitions, having been around for over 18 years. The menu definitely has a slight Asian skew to it, but there is variety, with some fairly experimental and innovative dishes, along with some fairly basic and e
Simply Delicious!. As a masterchef judge would say " Food made with love". Had some laksa for a team get together and the experience was awesome. Three of us ordered the same dish and we almost licked the bowl :)....
One of the best laksa that I have ever had..
It's so great to have a place to eat where all but two options on the menu are vegan !! the ambience here is great, the food is divine and the waitstaff are really pleasant. the meals are huge and very affordable. I will definitely be coming here again and recommending it far and wide :)
Awesome quality food!. Had a really good meal at this place and the prices were very affordable. The menu offers alot of variety. Only problem was the service lacks and the decor is a bit outdated.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes