Brother Bon - Your Local Vegan Restaurant in Northcote — Restaurant in Melbourne

We reached out to Brother Bon to cater my partner’s 30th birthday event for 40 people. As we understand it, Brother Bon catering is new and still growing, but we couldn’t imagine a better option as the restaurant itself is our favourite, and we have had so many gatherings and special occasions there, and love the food.

The team was so lovely and flexible with their recommendations and in confirming our menu. The catering menu has mini options/platters of everything we LOVE at BB already - sushi platters, mini souvlaki’s, sliders, baos, and Katsu sandwiches are a must (basically just named everything we ordered)!! As well as bigger plates of food such as noodles and fried rice.

The party was largely non-vegan attendees (some very picky eaters) and everyone was raving about the food (and we don’t take this lightly)!! Again, KATSU SANDWICH IS LIFE.

Our home is a fair distance away from the restaurant (about 40 mins) and the food still arrived hot and ready to serve in containers where we simply popped off the lids, and everyone went to town. We even had fancy plates ready to lay everything out, but didn’t end up using these! The delivery fee was very cheap for the distance and volume of food involved, and again, we are very grateful to the BB team for this.

All in all, I cannot recommend Brother Bon Catering enough. It’s SO hard to find delicious fancy vegan party food that isn’t just a platter of frozen spring rolls or Simosa’s. We are already looking towards the next birthday in October, and for the current minimum spend on catering (not sure whether this will change in the future) there were even musings that split between a small friendship group/dinner party, the fee comes to a very reasonable amount per head with a FEAST between us all! Regular Saturday night eat your heart out.

A huge heartfelt thanks to Annie and the BB team. We were nervous to host a party in our small home and thanks to them, didn’t have to spare a second thought on food. They even gifted my partner a bottle of Prosecco on the night with a lovely handwritten card🥹

Cannot gush or recommend enough that you consider Brother Bon to cater your next event. Support the restaurants that you love! Your heart will be full of warm and fuzzies and your stomach will be full of Katsu sandwiches. What more could a...

This amazing vegan restaurant is run by two brothers who are carrying on their late father’s 20+ year legacy! Bon Van Pham was a quiet pioneer in shaping Melbourne’s plant-based food scene since 1996 and now his son’s have delicately crafted a mammoth vegan menu that replicates the flavours and textures off real meat, plus they have an amazing gelato bar too!

We tried: 🍟 Poutine 🍔 Big Mak Baos 🍝 Char Kway Teow 🍗 Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken 🍝 BBQ Char Siu Cheung Fun 🍝 Creamy Udon Carbonara 🍣 Unagi Dragon Roll 🍣 Wagyu Nigiri w/ Truffle Butter 🥭 Mango Sago Pudding 🍵 Mango Matcha Latte 🍵 Pistachio Matcha Latte

Before I even start reviewing the food, I have to talk about how BIG their menu is! There are options ranging from Chinese and Thai dishes, to Vietnamese pho and bbh, to Japanese sushi and onigiri, to pastas and steak frites, to burgers and dessert, plus their incredible gelato bar. There’s literally a dish for everyone! Their matcha lattes were perfection - really deep and fragrant matcha flavour infused with mango/pistachio and fluffy foam, one of the best matcha drinks I’ve had, period. Their poutine had really crunchy chips, but the gravy and cheese topping felt a little lacking. Loved the DIY big mak baos, which gave strong Maccas cheeseburger vibes and I genuinely couldn’t tell the patty wasn’t real meat. The popcorn chicken was well seasoned, while the char kuay teow had a nice bounciness to it and delicious flavours. Loved the chewy cheung fun and the bbq sauce with “pork” bits were so yum! We also loved the udon carbonara, which was really creamy. They made a good attempt at creating a wagyu nigiri and unagi dragon roll - the textures were more rubbery than beef and eel and didn’t quite have the tenderness of real meat, but the flavours were done really well. All of their desserts absolutely slapped! The mango sago pudding was super creamy and had a nice and fresh sweetness, plus we also tried some flavours from their vegan gelato bar and it...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Brother Bon with my family, and it was a hit with everyone. Our visit took place during a Sunday lunch, and right from the start, we were greeted warmly by the attentive and friendly staff. As a parent of two young children, I found it particularly delightful to discover a vegan restaurant that caters specifically to kids with its dedicated vegan kids' menu. To top it off, the restaurant provided our little ones with colouring pencils to keep them happily engaged throughout the meal.

We indulged in a variety of delectable dishes during our visit. The crispy 'chicken' pieces we ordered had a delightful crunch and a satisfying texture, while the vegetable dumplings burst with flavourful goodness. For our main courses, our kids relished the generously portioned schnitzel and chips, which proved to be a definite crowd-pleaser. On the other hand, the Bun Bowl Salad, a more traditional Vietnamese dish, offered simplicity yet an explosion of flavours that left us thoroughly satisfied. We couldn't resist trying the Bon's Chicken Burger, complete with vegan bacon, cheese, and a crispy chicken fillet. The food, in general, was not only tasty but also brimming with delightful flavours.

The restaurant itself boasts ample space, high chairs, and convenient change tables, making it a welcoming environment for families. However, it's worth noting that the prices at Brother Bon may be a tad higher in comparison to other vegan restaurants in the vicinity. To give you an idea, our bill for two main courses, two kids' meals, two sides, two ice creams, and a few beverages totalled approximately $150. Despite this, I would still recommend Brother Bon due to its exceptionally flavourful dishes and the family-friendly ambiance it offers. It was indeed a wonderful experience dining...