Salad wraps, faux spicy chicken and fruity bowls — who says that Jakartans can't go green?

Vegetarian menus are becoming more common in culinary establishments around Jakarta, especially in South Jakarta. Responding to how urbanites have started paying attention to their calorie and sugar intake from the earliest possible age, more cafes and bistros across the region now offer customization of their existing menus — by either substituting their animal-based fibrin to vegetative protein or introducing an all-vegetable dish cooked with corn oil. The question now arises: which of these healthy joints suits one's palate best?

Here are several South Jakarta-based salad bars, eateries and juice pop-ups for your fat-conscious consideration. There is something for everyone.

Burgreens Pacific Place

For those who are still in the “tastemaker” phase

For beginners, vegetarian dining can be a daunting task — especially for diners who have no idea what to order and which plant-based delicacy is most suitable for their tastes. For such novices, Burgreens Pacific Place might be the best eatery to start.

Located on the lower ground floor of the South Jakarta mall, Burgreens has been noted for its commitment to serving healthy plant-based meals by incorporating natural and organic ingredients, therefore making its menu also ideal for non-vegetarians who are nonetheless looking for dishes that contain low carbohydrates and zero sugar. Customization is also available for diners who suffer from peanut allergies.

While Burgreens offers a wide variety of dishes including, but not limited to, farm-to-table salads, vegan snacks, Western-style burgers with a meat substitute and greenogiri platter — diners who are merely looking for a taste-making experience could consider the eatery's Signature Bowl: a sugar-free smoothie bowl that consists of banana, Bali spirulina, coconut, granola, kale, pineapple and spinach. The banana contributes to the dish's saccharine tang while the spirulina adds both freshness and juiciness, balanced by the slightly salty granola.

Burgreens eateries can also be found in Darmawangsa and Pondok Indah Mall, both in South Jakarta.

TIASA Plant-Based Canteen

For the hungry penny-pinchers

Some people might still be under the assumption that vegetarian and plant-based meals are reserved only for the city’s upper-income consumers. TIASA Plant-Based Canteen, however, makes a case against this by offering an idyllic, cafeteria-like atmosphere with a price range commonly found in shopping mall food courts.

Located in the Kemang area, the canteen offers a menu consisting of traditional Indonesian meals with a vegetarian and gluten-free twist. Its menu is further categorized into five different sections: the “meat”, veggie, side dish, beverage and rice menus. It might come as a surprise to diners though that the canteen does not serve white rice.

For salarymen looking for a healthy stamina boost without having to drain their wallet, the combination of red rice, ayam geprek (fried chicken, the chicken part is made of mushroom), crispy spinach, garlic broccoli and carrot, and a chilled bottle of brown rice tea (also known as Genmaicha tea) could do just the trick. Do not be fooled — the dish might not look green-friendly at first glance, but thanks to its well-balanced coalescence, the overall flavor boasts a spicy relish not unlike its meaty counterpart. That and the diners will not need to worry about feeling “carb guilt” afterward.

Outside South Jakarta, TIASA Plant-Based Canteen can also be found in Bandung, West Java.

Fedwell Senopati

For those fancying an Instagram-able posh experience

Some diners look for flavor, others look for a visual treat worthy of being immortalized on their social media feed. If the latter is the case, Fedwell Senopati might be the best culinary spot to spend your yearly bonus and test out your new iPhone.

Located in the high-end Senopati district, the restaurant has become popular among yuppies, socialites and out-of-towners who wish for a hippie-meets-urban type of experience.

Fedwell's The Browser — one of the restaurant's most distinctive vegan dishes — is noted for its ingredients that are ostentatiously uncommon even by most vegan and plant-based restaurants' standards in South Jakarta. The plate consists of eastern Mediterranean-originated tabbouleh salad, puffed quinoa, Asian-style chimichurri, tomato basil, kale slaw, roasted keciwi, charred beans and soy party; the amalgamated ingredients result in a salty and savory plate that pairs well with an iced glass of turmeric soy latte.

A fun fact about Fedwell: diners can also make their own do-it-yourself healthy bowl. Organic meat protein is also available upon request.

The Roots Salad Bar

For a quality time with best friends — furry or not

Como Park is noteworthy among Kemang residents as the go-to social spot for romantic dates and friendly hangouts, complemented by a dog park for puppy owners to spend their Sunday afternoons. One of the dining establishments situated in Como Park is The Roots: a salad bar with an interior akin to a mountain inn, decorated with rustic, wood-based furniture and painted in pale accents. Considering how Como Park is popular among dog owners, The Roots opens its doors to man’s best friend as well.

The Roots is well known for its healthy wraps, one of them being the Thai Tofu Wrap. Exuding a nifty blend of salty and sour, the Thai Tofu Wrap adds its unique points by incorporating mango chili, peas, kale and garlic into the mix. The bar's most recent offering is the Dirty Chai; ideal for diners who cannot kick off their Sundays without caffeine but are too body-conscious to order a cup of Americano. The fluffy pooches playing around outside The Roots further perk up the feel-good vibe of the bar.

Boost Juice Bar, Gandaria City

For refreshing, healthy drinks

People have different views about being health conscious. As silly as it might sound, the fact remains that some of us simply cannot stand chewy leaves and barely seasoned almonds. A healthy fruit blend, which is the proud specialty of Boost Juice Bar, can be the tonic to satisfy health nuts who are still hesitant about going full-green.

Though it does not serve food, the Australian franchise has endeared itself for its commitment to quenching dehydration with healthy juices and smoothies without using high-calorie sweeteners. One of its well-known blends, the Red Royale, is a liquefied crossbreed of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, banana, apple, pineapple, coconut water and beetroot; a so-called “superfruit booster” that could be considered for anyone who is watching their calorie intake.

Another concoction called Gym Junkie is created for fitness aficionados who might need a post-ailment recovery workout.

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