Sarawak, Malaysia’s largest state on Borneo Island, offers an intriguing travel experience. And the state’s second city Miri, a booming oil town, combines history and culture with a distinct small-town feel. Discover our top restaurants in Miri for vegetarian and vegan-friendly food and healthy eating options.
Located near the airport a few kilometres to the south of Miri, Village Veg Food centre is a hit with locals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu offers a selection of vegetarian food including curries, rice, noodles and vegetable-based dishes. Friendly staff, fast service, high-quality and affordable health food are some of the reasons why this is one of the more popular vegetarian restaurants in Miri.
The Vegetarian Hawker Stall along Teo Chew Road in the heart of Miri can be tricky to find. Identified only by a small yellow sign with two Chinese characters and the word ‘vegetarian’, the vendor can easily be missed. The menu includes basic vegetarian-friendly dishes including mee goreng (fried noodles), tomato mee (tomato noodles) and mee kolo goreng (Sarawak-style fried noodles) costing between RM5 ($1.30) and RM6 ($1.50). Ask the woman preparing the food for vegan options.
Restaurant, Food Court, Vegetarian, Malaysian, Street Food
Pelita Food Court is among the top places to eat in Miri. With a variety of vendor stalls and different kinds of Sarawakian and street food, tourists should consider dining here. Some stalls offer vegetarian Chinese and Malay options. Expect the likes of fried rice and noodles costing less than RM6 ($1.50) a dish. Just be aware that the food court’s vegetarian stall sometimes has inconsistent opening hours.
One of the latest additions to Miri’s culinary scene: FuduBa. The Japanese restaurant, a short walk south of the centre, offers a slice of the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ in Sarawak. Favourite dishes include ramen noodles washed down with Japanese beer, sake and cocktails. While this isn’t one of the fully vegetarian restaurants in Miri, it does offer a vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu. Culture Trip recommends the vegetable teriyaki and vegetable kare.
The Chinese-style vegetarian restaurant in Miri provides a decent selection of food including seaweed tofu soup, fried sweet potato and stir-fried vegetables. The menu includes clear pictures and English translations. An air-conditioned interior creates a comfortable space to dine and escape the heat. Despite the name Vegan House, the cooks do use eggs in their meals so it might be wise to double-check before ordering
CGS Vegetarian Café, located in the heart of the city centre, offers a selection of both vegetarian and vegan-friendly Chinese food. Options include spinach noodles, mapo tofu and Penang-style char keuh teow (fried rice noodles). This is among the more popular local vegetarian restaurants in Miri for its affordable food and extensive menu inside an air-conditioned space.
Located in the Commercial Centre, Qing Xiang Vegetarian serves a mixture of both Chinese and traditional Malay dishes. With a menu offering dozens of vegetarian dishes, customers are often spoiled for choice. Any vegetarian tourist who wants to sample some of Malaysia’s and Sarawak’s culinary delights should consider dining here. Vegan options are available upon request.
For a mid-range vegetarian dining experience near Bulatan Park, head to Healthy Vegetarian Restaurant. Options include a selection of Chinese-Malaysian cuisine with the usual choice of noodles, rice and vegetable-based dishes. Friendly staff can answer questions about the food such as its origins and cooking methods–so don’t be shy to ask. Customers often rate this as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Miri for its variety of food and combo specials.
Vegetarians and anyone looking for a healthy lunch will appreciate the food at Bodhi Vegetarian. The small open-air restaurant has a selection of self-service veggie options on the buffet counter. Diligent and careful food preparation cuts cooking oil use to a minimum, offering something refreshingly healthy in Sarawak. Expect a filling meal to cost less than RM10 ($2.50) per person.
Spring Café Vegetarian Food is a small restaurant located a few kilometres north of the city centre near the Baong River. While tourists rarely visit, it is worth stopping by for a healthy lunch. Expect a spread of Malaysian and Sarawak favourites on the menu at reasonable prices. Locals often give this vegetarian restaurant in Miri a five-star rating for taste, quality and the overall dining experience.
