Eat Your Lunch Out: Vegan and vegetarian restaurants

Sandwiched between breakfast (the alleged “most important meal of the day”) and dinner (the meal that seems to get all the attention), there’s no good reason to overlook lunch.

Lunch can be the midday bright spot in the workday, or where you linger on a day off. From where to settle in for a marathon chat sesh with the ladies who lunch, to handy spots for quick bites, we’re exploring lunch of all kinds, all around Vancouver.

Here are 11 fantastic restaurants for a vegan or vegetarian lunch in Vancouver.

MeeT on Main and MeeT in Gastown

With a menu of plant-based gems that satisfy even the most enthusiastic carnivores, MeeT on Main and its more downtown sibling MeeT in Gastown are great destinations for plant-based eating. Mains run the gamut from the more health-conscious tofu-veggie-rice bowls to the seriously oozy Mac’N’Cheez Burger, which packs the punch of pickled jalapeños, chipotle mayo, and their signature vegan “Mac’N’Cheez” and house-smoked meatless burger. Keep an eye out for lots of gluten-free items, as well.
Address: 12 Water Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-688-3399
Twitter: @meetgastown

Address: 4288 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-877-1292
Twitter: @meetonmain

The Wallflower Modern Diner

The Wallflower diner is a place to enjoy comfort classics in an inviting environment. Ever the equal-opportunity enable, Wallflower cooks up foods that can suit any diet, from gluten-free to vegan, with plenty to keep omnivores sated, if you happen to be dining in a “mixed” crowd.

Address: 2420 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-568-7554
Twitter: @wallflowerdiner

The Birds & The Beets

A photo posted by the birds & the beets (@birdsandbeets) on May 14, 2016 at 7:32am PDT

The Birds & The Beets prides itself on being a food-focused counter-service cafe. The eatery’s all-day breakfast eats, hearty sandwiches, and green salads are a selling point in themselves, but there’s also the added bonus that the cafe offers a range of caffeinated beverages, using beans from Bows & Arrows and Matchstick Coffee.

Address: 55 Powell Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-893-7832
Twitter: @birdsandbeets

Cafe Deux Soleils

A longstanding spot on The Drive, Cafe Deux Soleil’s lunch menu is abundant with veggie options, including burgers, soups, salads, sandwiches, and comfort classics–all meat-free. 

Address: 2096 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Phone: 604-254-1195
Twitter: @cafedeuxsoleils

Tractor Foods

A photo posted by Tractor Foods (@tractorfoods) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:14am PDT

Build your own terrific lunch starting with Tractor’s delightful array of veggie-based salads. Pile a trio of the salads on your plate, and add on either tofu or a grilled avocado for a vegetarian protein boost. They also serve up sandwiches, soups, and entree salads. They’ve just added a third location, in Olympic Village, to their two already in Kitsilano and downtown.
Address: 3 Vancouver locations; check website for details.
Twitter: @tractorfoods

Smak

Healthy fast food is the mandate at Smak, where you can opt to dine-in or take-out their vegetarian and vegan fare. In addition to their West Pender Street location, Smak will be opening another outpost downtown on Granville.
Address: 1139 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-559-SMAK (7625)
Twitter: @smakfood

Nuba

Offering a reliably good menu, Nuba dishes up traditional Lebanese appetizers with pita and pickled cabbage, soups, salads, falafel, stews, kebabs, and more. Lots to choose from if you are skipping meat. They’ve expanded to have locations in Kitsilano, Yaletown, Gastown, and Mount Pleasant.
Address: 4 Vancouver locations; check website for details
Twitter:

The Naam

The Naam is a Vancouver institution, and it’s hard to imagine a roundup of vegetarian spots without it on. You may best know The Naam as a great wee hours destination, and you’ll find the same menu from lunch to late night, featuring a globally-inspired array of vegetarian fare from quesadillas to stir fry.
Address: 2724 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-738-7151
Twitter: @NAAMRestaurant

Chau Veggiexpress

A photo posted by CHAUveggiexpress (@chowatchau) on May 16, 2016 at 10:34am PDT

Chau is a mostly-vegan casual restaurant that serves up dishes inspired by the owners’ Vietnamese heritage. Look for plenty of rice noodle and rice bowls, salads, and fresh rolls for your lunchtime feast.
Address: 5052 Victoria Drive, Vancouver
Phone: 604-568-9508

Address: Granville Island Public Market
Phone: 778-379-9508
Twitter: @chowatCHAU

Bandidas Taqueria

All-day breakfast and brunch options, plus a full menu of Mexican classics…all without meat. This Commercial Drive go-to spot is spot-on when you’re craving Mexican eats.
Address: 2781 Commercial Drive
Phone: 604-568-8224

Heirloom Vegetarian

South Granville’s Heirloom Vegetarian is an elegant option for a plant-based lunch. Offering both a vegan and a vegetarian menu of daytime eats, Heirloom has brunch dishes, salads, sandwiches, and tasty sides.

Address: 1509 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-733-2231
Twitter: @HeirloomVeg