25 must-try vegan dishes in Vancouver
There may be a stereotype that Vancouverites are pretty enthusiastic about vegan food. So be it. Let’s celebrate the fact that people who follow a plant-based diet (or who are simply opting to cut some of the animal products out of their lives) have a bounty of choices of what and where to eat in Vancouver.
It’s not necessarily just the all-vegan restaurants that are turning out the hits–though we sure do have a few of those gems here–but also vegan options shine at omnivore restaurants, too. Sure, you can eat some raw veggies or salad and have that count as vegan, but we want to point out some great dishes that happen to be plant-based that represent the best vegan foods in the city.
Here are 25 must-try vegan dishes in Vancouver.
1. Vegan Pho at House Special
Yaletown’s new kid, House Special, makes a vegan pho that’s popular among non-vegans; some days they’re ladling up just as many bowls of the vegan broth as the regular!
Address: 1269 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @housespecial.ca
2. Sesame Fries with Miso Gravy at The Naam
Considered a staple for vegetarian and vegan eats in Vancouver for, well, what seems like forever, the Sesame Fries with an add-on of Miso Gravy, are pretty much a rite of passage.
Address: 2724 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Instagram: @naamrestaurant
3. Nice Cream from Nice Vice
Ice cream without cream turns a vice into something nice, as in Nice Vice, the entirely plant-based “vice cream” shop in Yaletown. Get the scoop on what’s freshly made.
Address: 1022 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @nicevicecream
Editor’s note: Nice Vice announced Jan. 12, 2017 they are closing their creamery.
4. Sweet-Chili Cauliflower at MeeT on Main/MeeT in Gastown
Lindsay William-Ross/Daily HIve
Pretty much everything at MeeT on Main or in Gastown is vegan and gluten free, but you will crave their Sweet-Chili Cauliflower. Order them up with their equally-addictive “Hot Chiggin’ Things” and you’ve got a fun, fiery, feast.
Address: 12 Water Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @meetgastown
Address: 4288 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @meetonmain
See also
- Inside Vancouver's newest 100% vegan pizza joint, Virtuous Pie
- Best vegan restaurants in Vancouver
- 101 things to eat and drink in Vancouver before you die
- 33 must-try desserts in Vancouver
5. Pizza from Virtuous Pie
All pizza, all vegan. They make their cheese in-house. What else can we say?
Address: 583 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @virtuous_pie
6. Vegan Brunch at Heirloom
South Granville’s Heirloom Vegetarian is an elegant option for a plant-based meal. Heirloom has a full menu of vegan brunch options, including their Tofu Ninja Bowl, Buckwheat Pancakes, and a seasonal hash.
Address: 1509 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
Instagram: @heirloomveg
7. Dinner at The Acorn
They’re cooking using the best of the season at Vancouver’s elegant The Acorn, so their menu is always evolving with the calendar. Their dishes are all vegetarian as a base, with most adaptable to suit vegan diners.
Address: 3995 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @acornvancouver
8. Zimt chocolates
Beautiful artisanal-style chocolates that happen to be vegan is what Zimt is all about. Purchase online or use their shoplet locator to find your nearest retailer.
Instagram: @zimtchocolates
9. Pie from East Village Bakery
Want pie but don’t want the animal products? East Village Bakery is your absolute must go-to. They’ve got a selection of vegan goodies, including delicious pies, so your holiday table (or, any day table) doesn’t have to miss a thing.
Address: 2166 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @eastvillagebakery
10. Mac and Cheese at The Wallflower Modern Diner
The Wallflower diner is a definite go-to for vegans and omnivores alike. They specialize in comfort eats, and boy does Mac and Cheese qualify as such. They’ve master the mac, making a killer award-winning vegan rendition. Dig in.
Address: 2420 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @wallflowervancouver
11. Vegan Donuts from Cartems
Just because you don’t eat animal products doesn’t mean you have to miss out on one of life’s great pleasures: Donuts. Cartems makes vegan donuts daily, like their Vegan Earl Grey, Apple Fritter, Vanilla Bean, and more; check the case for what’s fresh.
Address: 3 Vancouver locations; check website for details
Instagram: @cartemsdonuts
12. Lentil & nut paté at Exile Bistro
The food menu at Exile Bistro includes several dishes, ideal for sharing, that are vegan. Check out their lentil and nut paté to get a taste of their thoughtful fare, and stay for drinks.
Address: 1220 Bute Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @exilebistro
13. Baked goods from The SmallFlower
The SmallFlower is a vegan-friendly cafe and bakery, and they’ve got a robust menu of breads (all vegan) and sweet treats (most are vegan) available.
Address: 47 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @smallflowercafe
14. Najib’s Special from Nuba
Like we’d leave this one off! Nuba serves up excellent Lebanese cuisine, and their Najib’s Special (crispy cauliflower tossed with lemon and salt, served with tahini for dipping,) is one of their signature items.
Address: 4 Vancouver locations; check website for details
Instagram: @nubatown
15. Rickety Rickshaw Bowl from Chau Veggie Express
Serving up Vietnamese and pan-Asian inspired vegetarian and vegan fare, Chau’s fun menu is chock full of soup, bowls, salads, and rolls. Get to know what they do via their Rickety Rickshaw Bowl: a rice vermicelli noodle bowl with shredded beancurd, crispy spring rolls, mung beans, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, bean sprouts, and their lemon vegan “fish” sauce.
Address: 1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver (Granville Island)
Address: 5052 Vistoria Drive, Vancouver
Instagram: @chowatchau
16. Tacos from Bandidas
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. Opt for vegan subs for cheese and sour cream, and your taco feast is all plant-based.
Address: 2781 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Instagram: @bandidas_taqueria
17. Vegan Burrito from Tacofino
When it comes to burritos, you gotta keep it classic. The Vegan option at Tacofino’s Burrito bar includes: rice, black beans, guacamole, and salsa fresca in a flour tortilla.
Address: 15 West Cordova Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @tacofinovan
18. Chomp sliders from Chomp
“Vegan food that doesn’t suck” is the motto at Chomp, and their signature dish is their Chomp Sliders: our signature dish is bursting with flavour!
white bean patties, fresh sliced roma tomato, raw spinach, alfalfa sprouts, avocado, and creamy chomp sauce on their sweet potato buns.
Address: 3586 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @chompveganeatery
19. Downtown Dahl Curry from Smak
Healthy fast food is the mandate at Smak, where you can opt to dine-in or take-out their vegetarian and vegan fare. Among their hot dishes is their Downtown Dahl Curry, which is perfect on a chilly Vancouver day. (You can also load up on grab-and go vegan eats from their salad section.)
Address: 1139 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Address: 545 Granville Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @smakfood
20. Kale Caesar from The Juice Truck Cafe
Vancouver’s trailblazing Juice Truck has a great menu of cold pressed juices and smoothies, but their brick and mortar cafe also has an impressive food menu. Try their Kale Caesar, made with with smokey maple tempeh, nut and seed “parmesan,” chipotle coconut bacon, and fresh lemon, all topped with raw cashew caesar dressing. Look for bowls, soups, and seasonal fare, too.
Address: 28 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver,
Instagram: @juicetruck
21. Housemade Plant-Based Cheese Board at Zend Conscious Lounge
A hang-out for plant-based eaters in Yaletwon, Zend showcases their own made in-house cheese selections on a cheese board, perfect for sharing with friends. Try their elixiers from their Botanical Bar for an extra kick, too.
Address: 1130 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @zendlounge
22. Vegan Pisco Sour at Bambudda
Lindsay William-Ross/Daily Hive
Not all cocktails are animal-free: Consider the Pisco Sour, made with frothy egg whites. Now imagine a bar that can make a vegan Pisco Sour using an egg-white sub that will fool any drinker. That bar is Bambudda.
Address: 99 Powell Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @bambuddagastown
23. Zucchini Chips at Commodity Juicery
You can order up delicious cold pressed juices, smoothies, salads, and smoothie bowls at Commodity Juicery, but their zucchini chips are beyond addictive. Super snacks!
Address: 3975 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @commodityjuicery
24. Creme brulee from Crackle Creme
Because you don’t consume dairy doesn’t mean you have to skip creme brulee. Look for the vegan option from Crackle Creme to get your fix of the sweet treat.
Address: 245 Union Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @cracklecreme
25. Burgers from Tera V Burger
Ohhhhh yes. The burger. Get it in several versions at Tera V. They’ve got tons of vegetarian options, many of which are available vegan, from the Smokey No Bull (topped with onions and BBQ sauce) to the Fiesta Tempeh Burger.
Address: 2961 West Broadway, Vancouver
Instagram: @teravburger
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