Member Review by Chris Turner

I don't get it... The vegetarians I know are repulsed by the appearance and even the thought of meat, so why would they order mock lamb or mock beef? While if you're a meat eater, why would you forgo the natural flavours and textures of the genuine article for the imitation flavours and textures of the substitute stuff?

That being said, the standard vegetarian food at Vegie Mum is delicious. We had the lettuce delight (iceberg lettuce filled with vegies) and the gado-gado and were very happy. Although lacking the depth of flavour and textures of the standard thing, the special fried rice was also quite pleasant -- but of course the flavour of the mock prawns and pork was disguised by the rice, spring onion etc.

With dishes in which the flavour of the mock meat was less disguised, however, we were less happy. The coconut butter prawns, for example, were a real disappointment and we didn't finish them: there's simply no comparison between the luscious sweet juiciness of fresh prawns (along with their gorgeous al dente texture) and the almost sickly blandness of the fakes. Also, as they cooled down their flavour became stronger and, we thought, really quite unpleasant.

The seafood hotpot was a bit like the fried rice, with the flavours of the phoney fish hidden behind the yummy sauce and vegies. Had it been made with the genuine article, it would have been superb. With the mock fish, it was OK.

I'm sure we'll be back to Vegie Mum one of these days, but will be sticking to the genuine food.

Member Review by aduki Magazine

This small establishment nestled at the end of a small Doncaster shopping strip appears to be like any other suburban Chinese restaurant. Even the menu looks similar – sweet and sour pork, lemon chicken and won ton soup. But this eatery has one big difference from the others…the meat here isn’t real. What appears to be a standard Chinese menu is actually vegetarian fare with a  Malaysian twist. Full of mock meat and straight up vegetable options, Vegie Mum has something for everyone. The décor is somewhat lacking with tiled floors, laminate tables and plastic crockery, but the warm service and tantalising aroma wafting from the kitchen more than make up for it. Entrees offer old-Chinese favourites with new additions, such as Pandan chicken, wrapped in the  traditional way in a Pandan leaf, the ‘flesh’ and seasoning are delicious. Mains consist of the standard dishes, with a couple of variations. The curry ‘fish’ is a rich,creamy Malaysian-style curry with an explosive taste. A definite highlight is the Mongolian lamb, the ‘lamb’ is incredibly tender and the sauce very flavoursome.  It’s served with lots of fresh veggies and goes especially well with the special fried rice. Most of the menu is vegan-suitable with the exception of the dishes with egg and the dairy desserts. Vegie Mum is fantastic value, the servings are huge and a couple can eat for under $35 for entrees and mains. Whilst not alone in the mock ‘meat’ market in Melbourne, Vegie Mum is the newest entrant, opening last year. It has already developed a steady clientele and enjoys a full room even mid-week.