Greentable Vegan Restaurant Rathaus is a 100% plant-based Vietnamese-inspired restaurant at Schauenburgerstraße 55, 20095 Hamburg, three minutes from the Rathaus in Altstadt. Known for colorful bowls, pho, and banh mi that convert skeptics, it holds a 4.7-star rating across 800+ reviews and works equally for quick lunches or relaxed dinners.
Quick Facts
| Address | Schauenburgerstraße 55, 20095 Hamburg, Germany |
| Neighborhood | Altstadt / Rathausmarkt |
| Operating Hours | Daily, typically 12:00–22:00 (verify via phone or website, as holiday hours shift) |
| Price Range | €€ (mains roughly €12–18, starters €6–10) |
| House Specialties | Vegan pho, banh mi, fresh spring rolls, curry bowls, lemongrass “chicken,” coconut desserts |
| Nearest Public Transit | Rathaus U-Bahn station (U3), roughly 3–5 minutes on foot; Jungfernstieg station also within walking distance |
| Reservations | Recommended for dinner and weekends; call +49 40 36099266 or email [email protected] |
Background and Culinary Ethos
Greentable built its reputation on translating Vietnamese street food into a fully plant-based format without diluting flavor. The Rathaus location sits in Hamburg’s administrative and commercial core, a district built around 19th-century civic architecture and dense office traffic, giving the restaurant a lunch crowd of professionals alongside evening visitors drawn from Jungfernstieg’s shopping streets and the Alster promenade. The kitchen relies on classic Vietnamese techniques — broths simmered for hours, herbs used raw and in volume, pickled vegetables for acidity — but swaps meat and fish sauce for mushroom-based stocks, tofu, seitan, and plant proteins engineered to mimic texture rather than just flavor.
The interior favors warm lighting, greenery, and casual seating over formal dining trappings, positioning the restaurant as approachable rather than a niche vegan destination. That design choice matters in a city where vegan dining has moved from subculture to mainstream, and Greentable competes directly with omnivore restaurants for the same customers rather than just vegan-specific traffic.
What to Order
- Vegan Pho — the benchmark dish; broth depth carries the meal even without the traditional beef base. Order it if you want a fair test of the kitchen’s technical skill.
- Banh Mi — crisp baguette, pickled daikon and carrot, herbs, and a plant-based protein filling. Solid portion size for the price, good for a fast lunch.
- Fresh Spring Rolls — light starter, rice paper wrapped with herbs and tofu or vegetables, served with a peanut or hoisin-style dip.
- Lemongrass “Chicken” Bowl — one of the stronger mock-meat dishes on the menu, with rice, pickled vegetables, and citrus notes balancing the richness.
- Coconut-based desserts — worth ordering if you have room; portions are modest, so don’t expect a heavy finish.
Honest critique: portion sizes on some bowls run smaller than Hamburg’s typical lunch-plate standard, and the menu leans heavily Vietnamese rather than offering broader plant-based variety — expect repetition if you visit multiple times in a week. Spice levels are moderate by default; ask for extra chili if you want more heat.
Comparison with Other Hamburg Vegan Options
| Venue | Style | Price | Crowd Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greentable Vegan Restaurant Rathaus | Vietnamese plant-based | €€ | Moderate to busy at lunch | Quick, flavorful lunch near Rathaus |
| Yolo Hamburg | Vegan casual/comfort food | €€ | High on weekends | Burgers, brunch crowds |
| Vegyland | Vegan Asian fusion | €€ | Moderate | Variety-seekers wanting non-Vietnamese options |
| Bok Vegan | Fast-casual vegan bowls | € | High during workday | Budget lunches, takeaway |
Logistics and Crowd Strategy
Weekday lunch (12:00–14:00) draws office workers from the surrounding civic and financial district, so arrive before noon or after 14:00 for shorter waits. Dinner service fills up on Friday and Saturday evenings; reserve at least a day ahead for parties of three or more. Cards and contactless payment are standard in Hamburg and accepted here; carrying small cash is still useful as backup, particularly for tipping. No formal dress code applies — the space suits smart-casual and casual dress equally. The restaurant is street-level with standard step-free access typical of central Hamburg storefronts, but confirm wheelchair accessibility directly if mobility is a concern, since older buildings in Altstadt vary in entrance design.