10 of the best vegan and vegetarian dishes at Melbourne Night Noodle Markets

Even if you're a committed carnivore, in plant-based-food-obsessed 2018, the probability that someone in your crew is vegetarian or vegan is high. The good news is, some of the best dishes at this year's Melbourne Night Noodle Markets contain not a skerrick of meat or seafood. Here are some of the stand-outs.

Vegan

3ZY Duz it at Bao Brothers
The clue's in the name - street food eatery Bao Brothers specialises in gua baos - which literally means steamed bun in Taiwanese. For their first foray into Night Noodle Market territory, the brothers are doing a triple vegan bao. If this was a diving comp, that'd score big points. For vegans, it'll score even higher.

Golden Pan-Fried Vegie Dumplings at Oriental Teahouse x David's
There's not much about dumplings that Oriental Teahouse x David's don't know - they've been turning out delicious ones since day dot. Now they've turned their attention to the vegan variety. Take your pick from pumpkin, spring onion or soy bean and mushroom pan-fried dumplings - or better still, try them all.

Ramen Noodle Miso Tofu from Raijin
Everybody loves ramen, but how does this vegan version stack up? For one, it's not soupy. But that's not a bad thing as the noodles are dressed with soy tahini ramen sauce and topped with crushed crunchy tofu, seaweed, corn, sunflower seeds, sesame, pickled ginger, and shallots. Verdict: what meat?

Soba Noodles at Miso Fresh
The classic Japanese dish crams in all the colours of the rainbow, nutrients you know you need and bags of flavour too. It might have something to do with combination of soba noodles with mixed salad and endamame, pickled cabbage, seaweed salad and a good drizzle of soy and sesame sauce. A good palate - and conscious - cleanser between the fried dishes.

Vegetarian

Dumplings, buns and spring rolls at Chinese Dim Sum King
Everybody loves dumplings. Fact. But there's often limited vegetarian or vegan options available. No need to opt only for the vegie spring rolls (though there's those too), Chinese Dim Sum King will be steaming up mushroom and vegetarian dumplings, and fluffy red bean buns.

The Original Korean Twist Potato
Twist again like you did last summer, and the summer before, and the one before that. Okay the Korean Twist Potato isn't new, but it's still a crowd puller. Spirals of spud, twisted around a stick, deep-fried and topped with various seasonings - what's not to love?

Osaka Noodles at Donburi Station
It starts with garlic sizzling in butter, continues with noodles tossed through it, a swoosh of teriyaki sauce, given plenty of heat and a vigorous shake before being scattered with shallots, pickles, veggies and a squiggle of mayo. Who needs meat huh?

Grilled Corn Filipino style at Hoy Pinoy
It's corn on the cob, but not as you may know it. Sink your front teeth into the Inihaw Na Mais by the Filipino barbecue masters at Hoy Pinoy. Their version is grilled corn with a cheese glaze (keso), and kornik (a Filipino snack of crunchy corn pieces, similar to chicharron) and it's simultaneousy sweet, smoky, and savoury.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Pad Thai Tofu (vegetarian) or Long Potato (vegan) at Bangkok Street Food
Novelty dishes come and go, but Pad Thai is forever. This version may not win the market's most instagrammable dish award (not an actual award but maybe it should be), but it does come hot, fresh, with tofu and a good balance of veg-crunch and noodle softness.Long Potato is aptly named. Picture the biggest hot chip you'll ever eat. Now that's instagrammable, and sure to be tasty. #bighotchip.

Vermicelli Rice Noodle Salads (vegetarian and vegan) at Nem N' Nem
Inside tip: ask for Bun Thit Nuong, go for the tofu satay option, and thank us later. The classic Vietnamese staple is a fresh and zesty mix of vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, lettuce and nuoc cham dressing (vegan option available too). There's also a veganised Banh Mi on the menu too if you want to double-down on the Vietnamese.

Honourable mentions go to… the Shan Tofu at Red Spice Road (vegan), the Japanese Vegetable Curry at The Wagyu (vegetarian), Yakisoba from Teppanyaki Noodles (vegetarian), and Choi Bao from Wonderbao (vegan).

Two last tips: Don't be shy to ask the stallholders if they have other vegetarian and vegan options. They might be able to whip you up something special on the spot. And don't forget to bring your cards, all stalls are cashless.

Night Noodle Markets, Birrarung Marr, every night from November 8 - 25. Free entry.