We have been to Quezon City area a number of times for years without paying much attention to Mother Ignacia Avenue. That said, I had little knowledge of what exists along that avenueβuntil Louie brought us into this “secret” establishment at dinnertime on our fifth-year anniversary as a couple. Where? At The Vegetarian Kitchen, a house-turned-restaurant located on Mother Ignacia Street, right across St. Mary’s Academy.
Being raised in a vegetarian family, I am always in the lookout for vegetarian restaurants offering completely zero meat, not even seafood and dishes containing dairy products. According to Kiko Soliongco, son of The Vegetarian Kitchen’s owner, their menu has items for both vegetarians and vegans, as a result of suggestions raised by customers. Those with “V” at the side are vegan food, while those without are good for vegetarians. Anyway, we’re okay to try anything as long as they’re delicious and satisfying!
Review of The Vegetarian Kitchen (Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City)
Ambiance: β β β ββ
The vibe at The Vegetarian Kitchen was laid-back and a bit boring. Lighting was dim; no music was played in the background; and air conditioning was not sufficient. Simple yet clean and sturdy tables and seats occupied the dining area. The lack of tablecloths gave it a feel of a less than special place. Hence, I just kept reminding myself deep inside that we were here for the food, and you should be, too.
Service: β β β β β
The menu is available for viewing on blackboard on the wall, so customers must either stand to read and choose which to order. I guess that staffs are asked for recommendations often, since the meatless (vegetarian) food at The Vegetarian Kitchen aren’t those that most of people in Metro Manila are familiar with.
Given that the vegetarian segment in the market remains to be small, staffs in this vegetarian restaurant must be more patient in explaining their food repeatedly or as required. On that note, I commend the friendly workers for being hospitable and helpful. Food came to our table relatively fast. Our glasses were also refilled with water whenever they were seen empty. Operations run smooth from 11AM to 3PM and from 5PM to 9PM on Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Food: β β β β β
The Spinach and Cream Cheese Dumplings (PhP 160)Β is one of the most popular items on the menu, and it’s no surprise. Tasty spinach was layered inside an incredible crisp, fresh dumplings skinΒ that’s baked in-house. We decided to try it with the white sauce provided on the platter and scattered in small blobs here and there. If Dad were here with us for dinner, I’m sure he would be unstoppable and he’d take them all. π
Next was the Spanish Lengua (PhP 240) with cucumber salad and organic rice. The “lengua” was made from gluten, which arrived swimming in tomato and mushroom sauce sauce. Louie said it bears semblance to the non-vegetarian version. However, for how bright and colorful this dish was, I had initially dismissed it as dull but certainly not bland. (Sorry, I’ve just grown tired of eating this taste as cooked by my mom at home.) The Lengua was like classic Filipino recipe Beef Mechadoβbut one whose ingredients were mock meat.
Finally, we took a stab at the Rich Tomato and MalunggayΒ LasagnaΒ (PhP 270), which was a showstopper. Every bite of the square piece of vegetarian lasagna was heavenly. The globs of uncommonly delicious and sweet baked cheese on top was so good that you’d almost forget to notice how tender and perfect the pasta are. For the record, Louie said he would rather want to become vegetarian if food he’d be served every day are cooked like this.
Price for Value: β β β β β
The ingredients used were of high quality, and the presentation of food looked really good. Generally, the dishes at The Vegetarian Kitchen surpass one’s typical preconceptions of vegetarian food. So stop thinking that vegetarian food equates to just salads and greens. π With prices of foodΒ ranging fromΒ PhP 120 to PhP 250, you can definitely get yourself a decent vegetarian meal here.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
wow such a high rating for the food! I’d wanna try that if only it was nearer to manila =(
The Vegetarian Kitchen may not be a trendy hot spot – well, not as trendy as those ramen bars and milk tea houses in the city, but it might just be the next restaurant we’ll put to our favorite list. π
I also love trying out new places to eat. Luckily, I’m around QC a lot these days, I’ll make a note to pass by Vegetarian kitchen soon.
If the weather’s nice (not too hot), request a table outside. You won’t be disappointed. π
Nice food discovery. I like to try Spinach and Cream Cheese Dumplings and the Malunggay Lasagna. I haven’t eaten delicious vegetables for a long time.
If vegetarian food appeal to you, you’ll love it here. If it doesn’t, then find a way to like them because your life will be better for it!
I recommend splitting orders here with a friend or two as serving sizes are for good for sharing.
Oh, I love veggies! Thanks for sharing this. I wanna try this resto soon.
You’re welcome! Their dishes are a must-try for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. π
Can’t wait to try this place.. Healthy is the new Yummy!!
Ohhh I like that! Healthy is the new yummy, indeed. π
wow! what if we go here later for mom’s day celebration? could be! im with the elders. lol
It’s not only the elders who’d love this place. The youngster (ahem, us) will also love the tastes as they’re non-conventional veggies. π
I love everything about this article! Wanna try this place
Thanks, Rubbie! If you’re visiting the Philippines and want to grab a bite of vegetarian food, The Vegetarian Kitchen in QC is a good stop. π
I agree, you really come to restaurants for the food, plus when you have a friend with you the ambience doesn’t really matter as much since you’ll be talking so much! Haha! Anyways, I LOVE vegetarian food, I think it just has so many surprises π Will definitely check this place out if I’m in the area π
Yup, Jason, even if the ambiance is too noisy and cramped, I would rather dine in that restaurant rather than waste my time and money in a restaurant offering better ambiance but with poor quality of food. π Sure, this one is a winner!
I agree with you about going to a restaurant for the food. you gave this resto 3-star sa ambience. care to share some insights on how to improve the place’ interior. Medyo hindi kasi maganda para sa akin ang dating.
Better lighting, cooler air-conditioning (just enough to compensate for the heat this summer), better pieces of furniture. Those are all I ask for. π If you’re thinking of more frills, then maybe I’ll add some indoor plants, aromatherapy and water fountain just to uplift a zen vibe or organic way of living for this vegetarian restaurant.
lasagna looks very yummy! i tried to be a vegetarian but living with my husband who is a carnivore is such a hard thing to do especially when i need to cook the meat hehe
Ahh hehe yup, it’s hard to be a vegetarian when people living in the same house do not prefer to be one. If you can spend more time in the kitchen and have helpers to cook with you then maybe you can have both vegetarian and meaty viands in one go. π
I really love reading food blogs it gives me tips where to go if i;m looking for something to please my taste buds. The place looks nice and vibrant. I really wanna try that vegie lasagna :] I have a question, do the use organic vegies there?
Yes, this place serves organic food. π
This one is really recommendable. The place looks nice and the food are very healthy!
Yeah, eat here if you feel that you’ve consumed a great amount of unhealthy stuff already! π
gotta try this healthy restaurant soon!. It’s so near lang pala from my place! perfect! heheh
Wow! Feel free to share your dining experience here or post it on your blog. π
Why is it that all restaurant that I want to try are located in QC. It’s pretty difficult to go there. π
Looking at the photos, I want to try the Malunggay Lasagna. I like my Tinola with malunggay so I wonder how it will taste with lasagna.
As far as I know, malunggay offers a great assortment of health benefits. Eating malunggay on a creative recipe like this is such a good way to encourage everyone to stay and choose to eat healthy. π
Nice one i must say, their plates are cool and awesome.
Yes, The Vegetarian Kitchen is one of the vegetarian restaurants that I recommend best in the city.
Really like the dumplings and lengua. Hope for other menu for the future.
They are changing items on the menu so you’d see that there are differences next time you visit. π
They do have a lot of variety with veggies here.
Yup. I’d like to try the desserts next time! π
Oh yeah, the dessert would be interesting.
I’d like to find out if the vegan desserts are as good as the non-vegan versions.
Hi. This is Tita Soliongco, the owner and kusinera of The Vegetarian Kitchen. Just to let you know, the restaurant will undergo a major face lift/renovation in June. We will surely take note of your suggestions. May we invite you to our re-launching in July with a bigger and brighter restaurant plus a menu with new recipes.Thank you.
Hi Tita Soliongco, thanks for noting my suggestions. I’m looking forward to see and dine in your renovated space! π More power to The Vegetarian Kitchen!
Looks interesting! I remember my first time trying out mock meat in a vegetarian restaurant in Singapore, it was mind blowing *LOL*! We have one (yes, just one) famous vegetarian restaurant in our town, sadly the foods weren’t nice in my opinion, still it’s pretty successful probably because there aren’t many other choices!
I have explored the vegetarian restaurants in Singapore. Week after week (almost every Saturday or Sunday) for an entire year, I had been on the lookout for the top most rated vegetarian eats there. There are really a few that outshone among the rest. π Now that you brought back the memories, I miss eating at Singapore vegetarian food stalls! Whaha π
You know, what i most like about you doing restau reviews is your honestly to deliver the words based on your experience. Hence, the ambiance in Vegetarian Kitchen. π But you’re right, for foodies like myself, sometimes we see most about how we are going to be WOW-ed with the food much less about how the place looks like. More power to your blog, Roch! π
Thanks, Yamito, as always! Your comment is greatly appreciated. π
OMG! I’m sure my mom would love to try those stuffs! She’s a vegetarian and those foods look yummy!
Tell her about it. She’ll be excited to dine in here, too! π
The place is looks so ordinary and the things of this restaurant is so simple but the food is so yummy and so delicious…I love the lasagna…I want to taste and try those food…thanks for sharing this place and restaurant…
Yup. You’re welcome! This restaurant deserves the raves. π
I love the chairs. They are so colourful and so happy. I like that. Also, I think Rich Tomato and Malunggay Lasagna it’s the best. It looks so delicius that I want a plate right now π
It’s good to hear that vegetables that are colorful appeal to you. The most colorful vegetables are often the most nourishing.
The furnitures are looking more beautiful than the place here.
They are simple and colorful.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of vegetable dishes but I would love to experience how his Vegetarian Kitchen in QC serves their healthy offers!
Congratulations for being positive. π This one is a good try. Once you start, maybe you’ll come back for more.
I posted on my personal FB account na gusto ko na ng healthy diet pero ang hirap iwasan ng mga nakasanayan kong high fat diet. Mukang makakatulong to sakin since yung mga foods are nutritious and really looks yummy at the same time.
Hehe yup I think eating healthier food with less fat will help you enrich your life. Maybe adding ashitaba to your diet as well is a good consideration. π
But your review makes me want to try this out. I probably would not have entered based on how it looked from the outside. The cheap-looking ambience would not have readied me for expensive price tags though.
Actually the prices here are okay versus the quality and good ingredients you’d get. π Yeah, I think most people would not find its exterior alluring enough to get them to enter and try. This is one of the testaments to the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
a vegetarian restaurant is something that i’d love to visit at any given time. i hope i can try this one out soon. those food sure looks really yummy!
Yeah, in addition, eating vegetarian food will make you feel less guilty about eating more. π
Craving for the Spinach and cream cheese dumpling after seeing the photo. Hope we can dine there one of these days.
It’s just easy to get to the address. π Book one day and spend time with your family dining here.
Roch, I didn’t know you were oriented towards vegan/vegetarian food especially that you’re a foodie. It’s great finding hole in the wall restaurants serving delicious and healthy food π
Yup, I eat vegetarian food every day from breakfast to dinner. Only when I’m invited to blogger events and some restaurants that do not offer vegetarian-friendly food when I push myself to eating a bit of meat. π
I just live nearby and I haven’t even noticed this. It is indeed a secret place. I want to try their Spanish Lengua yummy
They are renovating their space until end of June, per Facebook page announcement. Make sure to visit by July. π
I am totally stunned by your lovely pics of vegetarian menu in this restaurant. Will take in mind if I visit Quezon City