I tried the most popular app for vegan travelers and went meat-free for a day. Going vegan was just as hard as I thought.

Marielle DescalsotaNov 2, 2022, 09:03 IST

The author trying out Happy Cow.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I tried HappyCow, the top paid travel app, to help me eat only vegan food for a day.
I found vegan food to be hit or miss and not as tasty as meat-based dishes.

As a foodie, I eat all kinds of food — and that includes a lot of meat. But a diet full of meat may not be healthy or good for the environment.

Me with a tray of meat.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

After doing my research on the benefits of going vegan, I decided to try eating only plant-based meals for a day. I found an app called HappyCow, which helps vegan travelers find eateries all around the world.

Happy Cow.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

After doing my research on the benefits of going vegan, I decided to try eating only plant-based meals for a day. I found an app called HappyCow, which helps vegan travelers find eateries all around the world.

I wanted to eat solely at vegan eateries, so it was helpful that the app differentiated between vegan and vegetarian options.

Vegan restaurants on Happy Cow.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

It was pretty easy to sift through the dining options from looking at the map. I spotted a brunch spot in central Singapore which served cafe food, and I figured that was where I'd be having my first vegan meal of the day.

Brunch options on HappyCow.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

It was pretty easy to sift through the dining options from looking at the map. I spotted a brunch spot in central Singapore which served cafe food, and I figured that was where I'd be having my first vegan meal of the day.

I headed to Loving Nature Fortunate Coffee Cafe for brunch. The cafe was small but had a cozy and inviting vibe.

Loving Nature Fortunate Coffee Cafe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

The cafe had a limited menu which included baked goods, waffles, vegan rice dishes, and dumplings. I opted for the dumplings, which cost SG$6, or $4.25, and a strawberry milkshake, which cost SG$5.

Breakfast at Loving Nature Fortunate Coffee Cafe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

The cafe had a limited menu which included baked goods, waffles, vegan rice dishes, and dumplings. I opted for the dumplings, which cost SG$6, or $4.25, and a strawberry milkshake, which cost SG$5.

The dumplings, which were made up of seven ingredients including shiitake and enoki mushrooms, were absolutely delicious.

Vegetarian dumplings from Loving Nature Fortunate Coffee Cafe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

My next stop was Ichigo Ichie, a co-working cafe owned by sushi chain Sakae Sushi. I was surprised to find that the establishment wasn't exactly vegan, as was listed on the app, but just had plant-based options.

Ichigo Ichie Cafe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

My next stop was Ichigo Ichie, a co-working cafe owned by sushi chain Sakae Sushi. I was surprised to find that the establishment wasn't exactly vegan, as was listed on the app, but just had plant-based options.

Because there were meat-based options, I was tempted to order those over vegan food. I ended up ordering the vegetarian bento, which comprised of shimeji mushrooms, pumpkin croquettes, Japanese rice, and vegetarian salmon sashimi, for SG$14.50.

Vegetarian bento at Ichigo Ichie Cafe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

Because there were meat-based options, I was tempted to order those over vegan food. I ended up ordering the vegetarian bento, which comprised of shimeji mushrooms, pumpkin croquettes, Japanese rice, and vegetarian salmon sashimi, for SG$14.50.

The vegetarian salmon sashimi was a let down — it had an uncannily similar texture to raw salmon meat, but it had no flavor.

Vegan sashimi.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

My last stop of the day was VeganBurg, a vegan restaurant that claims to be "the world's first 100% plant-based burger joint." It has chains in Singapore and San Francisco.

Veganburg Restaurant.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

My last stop of the day was VeganBurg, a vegan restaurant that claims to be "the world's first 100% plant-based burger joint." It has chains in Singapore and San Francisco.

I opted for the chili krab burger with seaweed fries and lemonade for SG$17.80. The burger is inspired by a popular dish in Singapore that comprises stir-fried crab smothered in a spicy tomato-based sauce.

Chili crab burger by Veganburg.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

I opted for the chili krab burger with seaweed fries and lemonade for SG$17.80. The burger is inspired by a popular dish in Singapore that comprises stir-fried crab smothered in a spicy tomato-based sauce.

After eating only vegan food for a day, I realized how hard it was to dine out and go meat-free. The options can be truly hit or miss, and I needed to be meticulous when planning where to eat — but at least I had HappyCow to help me in the process.

Eating dumplings at Loving Nature Fortunate Coffee Cafe.Marielle Descalsota/Insider

After eating only vegan food for a day, I realized how hard it was to dine out and go meat-free. The options can be truly hit or miss, and I needed to be meticulous when planning where to eat — but at least I had HappyCow to help me in the process.

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I tried the most popular app for vegan travelers and went meat-free for a day. Going vegan was just as hard as I thought.

As a foodie, I eat all kinds of food — and that includes a lot of meat. But a diet full of meat may not be healthy or good for the environment.

After doing my research on the benefits of going vegan, I decided to try eating only plant-based meals for a day. I found an app called HappyCow, which helps vegan travelers find eateries all around the world.

I wanted to eat solely at vegan eateries, so it was helpful that the app differentiated between vegan and vegetarian options.

It was pretty easy to sift through the dining options from looking at the map. I spotted a brunch spot in central Singapore which served cafe food, and I figured that was where I'd be having my first vegan meal of the day.

I headed to Loving Nature Fortunate Coffee Cafe for brunch. The cafe was small but had a cozy and inviting vibe.

The cafe had a limited menu which included baked goods, waffles, vegan rice dishes, and dumplings. I opted for the dumplings, which cost SG$6, or $4.25, and a strawberry milkshake, which cost SG$5.

The dumplings, which were made up of seven ingredients including shiitake and enoki mushrooms, were absolutely delicious.

My next stop was Ichigo Ichie, a co-working cafe owned by sushi chain Sakae Sushi. I was surprised to find that the establishment wasn't exactly vegan, as was listed on the app, but just had plant-based options.

Because there were meat-based options, I was tempted to order those over vegan food. I ended up ordering the vegetarian bento, which comprised of shimeji mushrooms, pumpkin croquettes, Japanese rice, and vegetarian salmon sashimi, for SG$14.50.

The vegetarian salmon sashimi was a let down — it had an uncannily similar texture to raw salmon meat, but it had no flavor.

My last stop of the day was VeganBurg, a vegan restaurant that claims to be "the world's first 100% plant-based burger joint." It has chains in Singapore and San Francisco.

I opted for the chili krab burger with seaweed fries and lemonade for SG$17.80. The burger is inspired by a popular dish in Singapore that comprises stir-fried crab smothered in a spicy tomato-based sauce.

After eating only vegan food for a day, I realized how hard it was to dine out and go meat-free. The options can be truly hit or miss, and I needed to be meticulous when planning where to eat — but at least I had HappyCow to help me in the process.