Student's Journey: The Challenge Of Being Vegetarian In Surabaya

Top 5 Vegetarian Restaurant In Surabaya By Durga Dewi Chowdry

It’s been a challenging journey for me to keep a vegetarian diet since I reached Surabaya. I became vegetarian due to lifestyle changes to maintain the diet and side effects of eating non-vegetarian food in an excessive way. My experience switching to vegetarianism six years ago proves empathy's transforming potential. I thought shifting to vegetarianism can shift my mindset to grow more stronger in every way after restricting myself on the diet. As a student at Universitas Airlangga, I made the decision to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle here for health reasons too. But it was also challenging for me, living in a city that is predominant in daily life for students like myself in facing difficulties of exploring vegetarian food around Surabaya. In this article, I will share my personal experience of different vegetarian restaurants in Surabaya for the past 6 months of my first semester at Unair. I will discuss the top six (5) restaurants that serve food with affordable and reasonable prices with good experience of mine. I will start the article with the challenge of meat-dominant culture, adapting to the environment and top 5 vegetarian restaurants.

Surabaya, one of the parts of Indonesia, which is known for meat-heavy cuisine. Meat is the central part of everyday meals. Being a vegetarian in Surabaya, Indonesia, has been harder than I thought it would be. Like most of Indonesia, Surabaya has a strong tradition of eating meat. Everyday meals include traditional fare like bakso (meatball soup), nasi goreng (fried rice with meat), and sate (skewered meat). In addition to street cuisine, there are also home-cooked dinners, neighbourhood eateries, and even university canteens where meat is the main course.This fact became more obvious to me while I was a student at Universitas Airlangga. Even though I made every effort to follow a vegetarian diet, I frequently encountered circumstances in which my dietary choices were either completely disregarded or not fully understood.Surabaya has limited vegetarian cuisine options, particularly in contrast to other cities where vegetarianism is more well-established. When there aren't many options, it can be difficult for college students like myself to find meals that are both filling and nutritious.

For example, I may request tempe or tofu in place of meat in well-known meals like soto (traditional soup) or nasi goreng. A few vegetarian-friendly cafes and eateries that only provide plant-based diets, such as Vegetarian Kedai Kungfu and Pho Ba Ba, are also hidden jewels in the city. When I needed a filling supper outside of my own kitchen, these restaurants became my first choices.

Top 5 Vegetarian Restaurants which I explored myself in Surabaya.

Lemoon Vegetarian Restaurant

Lemoon Vegetarian Restaurant- took by Durga Dewi Chowdry

The location was located at Jl. Raya Darmo Permai Utara No.66, Pradakalikendal, Kec.Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60226, Indonesia which is 55 minutes from Asrama Putri Kampus C. If you ride a Grabcar, the cost is approximately 77k IDR.

Their cuisine includes Indonesian, Japanese, Malaysian and Chinese options. This makes it a great spot for those that crave diverse flavors. The environment of the restaurant boasts a light pastel green interior that emphasizes a clean, calming, natural and humid environment as an ideal place for a relaxing meal in a nature-inspired setting.

The advantage of this restaurant is a wide variety of food choices, which satisfy different cravings and it's great to explore various vegetarian dishes from different cuisines that align with the natural-themed ambiance which enhance experience. The only disadvantage is the location which requires around an-hour of travel time due to traffic which might be inconvenient for those who have a packed schedule. There are also nearby attractions like Taman Angsa and Unesa Lake which are perfect to wind down and enjoy nature.

Loving Hut Restaurant

Loving Hut Surabaya- took by Durga Dewi Chowdry

The location was located at Jl. Sumbawa 37, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60281, Indonesia which is 15-20 minutes from Asrama Putri Kampus C. If you ride a Grabcar, the cost is approximately 22-30k IDR.

Their cuisine includes Western, Indonesian, Malaysian and Chinese options. There are more varieties of foods in this restaurant. They have western and traditional food most likely based on classic food. Each food of their dish has to be explored because they do have a signature dish too. On the top of it, their restaurant is based on vegan option not only focusing on vegetarian foods.

The advantage of this restaurant is the location which is nearer to Unair Campus C. This restaurant was larger in space and students can even study with them and get access to their wifi connection. This makes a great spot to study and explore food.

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant

The location was located at Raya Mulyosari No. 121, Ruko Central Park Blok AA-11 60112 Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60281, Indonesia which is 10 minutes from Asrama Putri Kampus C. If you ride a Grabcar, the cost is approximately 15-30k IDR. The students can also walk to this restaurant by using walking distance and the duration would be 15-20 minutes.

Nature Vegetarian Restaurant- took it from TripAdvisor, Website

Their cuisine mainly focuses on Chinese,Indonesian, Malaysian and Japanese options. Their foods are mixed option foods. There are more varieties of foods in this restaurant based on self comfort meals. Their food is more warm and healthier. Their opening hours differ from other restaurants because they have two opening hours and break time.

The advantage of this restaurant is the location which is also nearer to Unair Campus C. This restaurant is also a good place for students to dine and can study while enjoying the food. Other than that, this restaurant usually won’t be packed with many people. It is a less crowded restaurant.

Kedai Kungfu

The location was located at Jl. Kapasan Dalam II No.1, Kapasan, Kec. Simokerto ,Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60281, Indonesia which is 30-35 minutes from Asrama Putri Kampus C. If you ride a Grabcar, the cost is approximately 30-50k IDR.

Kedai Kungfu- took from their Instagram page @kedaikungfu

The advantage of this restaurant is the location which is also nearer to Unair Campus C. This restaurant is also a good place for students to dine and can study while enjoying the food. Other than that, this restaurant usually won’t be packed with many people. It is a less crowded restaurant. For students missing the taste of home-cooked Indonesian meals, Kedai Kungfu delivers familiar flavors in a vegetarian format. This Kedai Kungfu is my top favourite restaurant.

Their cuisine mainly focuses on classic Chinese and Indonesian. Their foods are mixed, which is really worth-trying. There are more limited food options in their restaurant but their food taste comes from the warmth of the dish itself. Kedai Kungfu is renowned for fusing classic Indonesian flavours with inventive plant-based twists. They provide a wide range of dishes on their menu, such as bakso vegetarian, nasi goreng jammian, and jammian bakso.

Pho Ba Ba

The location was located at Galaxy Mall, a popular shopping center in Surabaya, at Jl. Dharmahusada No.35-37, 60115 Surabaya, Jawa Timur, Indonesia. For UNAIR students, especially those who spend time in the neighbourhood or need a brief break from studying or shopping, its central placement within the mall makes it a convenient meal option.

Pho Ba Ba Vietnamese Restaurant- took it from Pacific Place Jakarta,Website

Pho Ba Ba is a Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in authentic pho, a flavorful noodle soup. Despite being generally a meat-based restaurant, Pho Ba Ba is a great alternative for vegetarians because it offers vegetarian pho with tofu and fresh vegetables, among other vegetarian-friendly options. Other Vietnamese favourites like banh mi (a sandwich) , goi cuon (spring rolls) and vegan Vietnamese noodles which can be altered with plant-based ingredients, are also available on the menu.

The advantage is for UNAIR students already in the region, Pho Ba Ba's location inside Galaxy Mall makes it a great place to go for lessons, study, or shopping. Students don't have to go far to get a filling supper because of its close vicinity.

For UNAIR students who seek a tasty, wholesome, and vegetarian-friendly dinner without going too far from campus, Pho Ba Ba is an excellent dining choice. It is a great option for students wishing to experience a little bit of Vietnam in Surabaya because of its fresh ingredients, affordability, and ease of use.

In conclusion, It's noticeable when I reflect on my experience as a vegetarian in Surabaya that it hasn't been easy. the difficulties of surviving in a culture that values meat, starting with the scarcity of dietary options. However, I've come to realise that being a vegetarian in this setting involves more than simply what I eat; it also involves adjusting to my surroundings and making morally sound decisions. I've also discovered that being a vegetarian in Surabaya has helped me grow personally. I've improved my patience, resourcefulness, and open-mindedness.Even if there are still obstacles in my way, I am confident that I can overcome them and encourage others to achieve the same with perseverance and ingenuity.