Top image: Song of India
Annalakshmi
Pay what you want at this buffet (daily 11am-3pm; Tue-Sun, eve of and PH 6-10pm). Like sister restaurant Annalakshmi Janatha, all proceeds go to the Temple of Fine Arts. Here, vegetarian dining is a cultural experience, not just a culinary one—you’ll feel it in the ambience and service. So enjoy the dosai and oothappam (rice and lentil pancakes) while giving as much as you can. #01-04 Central Square, 20 Havelock Road. Tel: 6339 9993
Classic Lao Di Fang Vegetarian Restaurant
The a la carte buffet’s good for dim sum, like meatless xiao long bao and beancurd fries; and the Nyonya mock fish and sweet potato leaves with sambal. Things to note: a minimum of four pax to dine ($15.90+, Mon-Fri 11am-3pm; $18.90+, Sat-Sun, eve of and PH 11am-3pm; $19.90+, Mon-Thu 5.30-9.30pm; $22.90+, Fri-Sun, eve of and PH 5.30-9.30pm); and an additional $1 applies on the first and 15th day of the lunar calendar. #B1-12 Park Mall, 9 Penang Road. Tel: 6535 2513 / 6533 8959
Gopal’s Vegetarian Restaurant
Strictly no onions or garlic used. The nightly dinner buffet ($11.90, daily 6pm-late) offers up mock mutton curry, vegetable curry, and unlimited chapatti to customers. The menu’s an easy read for those unfamiliar with Indian dish names. Call before going as opening hours can be erratic. 517 Serangoon Rd. Tel: 9853 3353
Graces Court Cuisine
The a la carte buffet lunch ($15++, Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm; $16++, Sat-Sun, PH, first and 15th day of lunar calendar) comprises unlimited items like braised taro, vegetarian assam ‘fish’, and tom yam pumpkin. Premium items like the monkey head mushroom with shredded ginger, cereal ‘prawn’, and deep fried mixed fruit roll, are limited to two servings only. #02-03 Hotel Royal @ Queens, 12 Queen Street. Tel: 6238 5085
LingZhi Vegetarian
This 23-year-old restaurant uses only the day’s freshest ingredients so there’s no set menu. You’ll find a selection of dim sum with their mushroom hotpot buffet (11am-3pm, Mon-Thu $22.80++, Fri-Sun, eve of & PH $24.80++; 6-10pm, Mon-Thu $24.80++, Fri-Sun, eve of & PH $26.80++, min. two to dine). Choose from clear vegetable soup, spicy and sour tom yum, or a weekly special soup (additional $2/pax) like a cooling papaya yam which also improves digestion. #03-09/10 Velocity@Novena Square, 238 Thomson Road. Tel: 6538 2992
Lotus Vegetarian
It’s hard to generalise that vegetarian restaurants offer less variety when this born-in-Taiwan restaurant serves both a steamboat buffet ($18.80++, Mon-Thu 11.30am-3pm; $22.80++, Mon-Thu 6-10pm) and an Asian buffet ($22.80++, Fri 11.30am-3pm; $24.80++, Sat-Sun and PH 11.30am-3pm, Fri-Sun and PH 6-10pm). Enjoy home-style brewed soup bases in spicy Szechuan and Chinese herbal and over 70 items to choose from, including dim sum. Level 2 Quality Hotel Marlow, 201 Balestier Road. Tel: 6254 0091
Song of India 
At this upscale restaurant, lunch ($38++, Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm) and brunch ($48++, Sun 12pm-3pm) include four to five vegetarian items, clearly indicated on the buffet placards. On rotation: blue cheese naan, vegetable biryani, fried okra, paneer in gravy, aloo and kulfi; Sunday brunch includes a live station which doles out apom, chaat or chole bhature, and more dishes to choose from. 33 Scotts Road. Tel: 6836 0055
Tiffin Room
At this colonial-style restaurant, the all-curry Northern Indian buffet ($60++, daily 12pm-2pm; $75++, daily 7-10pm) includes a good portion of vegetable curries alongside a salad section with varied condiments like coconut chutney. Try the dahi kebab, a deep fried yoghurt dumpling, or fresh cheese naan that goes with the vegetable curries. For dessert, the gulab jamun, fried milk dumpling with saffron sugar syrup, will be a treat. Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Street. Tel: 6412 1816
Xin Man Yuan Vegetarian Restaurant
The lunch buffet (daily 11am-2.30pm; $18.80++, Mon-Fri; $23.80++, Sat-Sun & PH) comes with a selection of dim sum like barbecue gluten puff pastry and delicate chestnut siew mai. You’ll also find rice and noodle dishes, curry, vegetables, and desserts like almond cream, green/red bean soup, ice-cream and eggless cakes. #03-32 People’s Park Centre, 101 Upper Cross St. Tel: 6438 0048 / 6536 5517
Yantra
Relax in the chic restaurant and partake in inventive dishes which include vegetarian options broccoli cheese tikki, Delhi papdi chaat, tandoori gobhi (cauliflower) and vegetable makhni. As you savour your lunch ($25++,Mon-Thu 12pm-3pm; $30++, Fri-Sat 12pm-3pm; $49++, Sun 12pm-3pm), watch chefs prepare fare through the open concept kitchen which displays four large custom-made tandoors. #01-28/33 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Rd. Tel: 6836 3088
