Best Vegan Food in Montevideo, Uruguay

Finding great places to eat as a vegan in Latin America can take a bit of research… but fortunately, options abound when you know where to look! One place that’s a must-visit for the best vegan food in Montevideo, Uruguay is the delightful Dona Coxinha. This local favorite is found on Teniente General Pablo Galarza (near the World Trade Center).

Dona Coxinha is not strictly a vegan restaurant, and its gourmet Brazilian cuisine features plenty of options for your meat-eating companions.

But if you’re looking for simple, delicious, healthy vegan food, Doña Coxinha is my top choice in Montevideo!

A Serendipitous Encounter

I met Indira, the owner of Doña Coxinha, serendipitously on my first day in Uruguay. It was a holiday weekend when most places were closed, and I was craving a delicious, hot vegan meal.

What I found at Doña Coxinha far exceeded my expectations. I found myself coming back several times a week throughout my stay in Montevideo, craving the delicious food.

Delicious, Simple, Flavorful Vegan Food

For a delicious and hearty vegan meal, you can’t go wrong with the basics: rice and black beans slow cooked with a unique blend of herbs and spices.

Be sure to accompany it with the “mandioca” … the cassava plant, which is a basic staple of Brazilian cuisine. Mandioca can be enjoyed fried and eaten as a side dish, or ground and used as a versatile flour in making coxinha or other dishes.

The fried mandioca is crispy and light, and Indira serves it with a garlic aoli.

Indira explains that the spices used in her dishes include a flavorful vinaigrette made with onion, tomato, pepper, vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. The mandioca flour, cooked with onion, pepper, garlic, and salt, needs to be prepared for about 40 minutes to achieve the perfect consistency.

For more choices, there’s a delicious vegan coxinha made with black beans and an outer pastry crafted from mandioca flour. The salads are fresh and vibrant, perfect for a light meal.

Vegetarians will also enjoy the caprese “tapioca” with mozzarella cheese, tomato, and basil.

Refreshing Juices

Another must-try: a delicious juice made from Passion Fruit.

Indira’s young daughter convinced me to try this, and she wasn’t wrong: it’s delicious. It’s a bit tart, and you can have it with added sugar if you like… but I found it perfect and thirst-quenching, just as is.

The Story Behind Doña Coxinha

Indira’s journey is as inspiring as her food.

After having lived in Artigas right on the border of Brazil, Indira wanted to bring a true Brazilian culinary experience to Montevideo. She started the restaurant with a grant from Uruguay’s small business program.

Alongside her partner, she worked tirelessly to build the restaurant from the ground up, crafting the perfect experience of authentic Brazilian food.

Three years later, Doña Coxinha is thriving. While I was visiting Montevideo, Indira even met with the President, to report on the success of the small business program.

What’s more, Doña Coxinha’s food is now being distributed in grocery stores across Uruguay.

Indira’s joy and passion are evident as soon as you meet her, and the success of her restaurant is a testament to both the quality of her food and the love that’s behind it.

Restaurant customers frequently say, “it’s like my grandmother made… I’ve been looking everywhere for real Brazilian food”.