Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Vancouver

Vancouver is an extremely health-conscious city, with a strong workout and yoga culture, environmentally friendly values and a plethora of plant-based locals. The city chefs and entrepreneurs have certainly started to take notice. Vegetarian restaurants have popped up all over Vancouver in the last few years! Other restaurants are following suit by adding more and more plant-based options to their menus. I’ve rounded up the best vegetarian restaurants in Vancouver for you. Grab a fork and let’s do this. . .

Heirloom Vancouver

Heirloom has made a name for itself as one of the go-to dinner spots for vegetarians and carnivores alike. The space itself is bright and trendy, and the menu boasts a variety of vegetarian takes on the classics. Large salads, stone bowls, and comfort foods like the “not butter chicken” (SO GOOD!!) make up the diverse menu.  There is a great selection of fresh juices and vegan wines. 

Must try appetizer: KFC – Korean Fried Cauliflower *drools on computer*

Chickpea

Chickpea is a Mediterranean restaurant that recently made the switch from vegetarian to full vegan, eliminating eggs from their menu. They have a fixed restaurant on Main Street and a food cart that usually resides on W Cordova St between Burrard and Howe.

Order the chickpea fries with one of their many main courses. The falafel salad or the hatzil baladi platter are fan favorites.

Buddha-full

Buddha-full prides itself on sourcing out local, organic, fresh ingredients and believes in transparency when it comes to serving their customers. Everything is vegan and delicious.

I love visiting buddha-full in North Vancouver on weekends (great after a hike up Quarry Rock) for an acai bowl and tumeric latte. They also have incredible wraps and nourishing bowls that will keep you going all day.

The Wallflower Diner for Brunch

The Wallflower Diner is a Mount Pleasant favorite. The menu has meat, vegetarian and vegan options, so it’s a great spot if you’re with a group or nursing a hangover with friends. For brunch, I love the green curry hash, polenta omelets and if I’m feelin’ dirty, the vegan breakfast poutine. It opens at 9:00am, so get there early as it can fill up quickly on weekends.

Tip: After breakfast, head to the new Blue Heron Plant Based Cheese Shop a few doors down to stock up on some “cheese”. If you’re in the shopping mood, there is a great thrift store across the street and a few doors up called F as in Frank.

Ko Pang Chinese Restaurant

I discovered this place on Kingsway after working in South Burnaby for 5 years and driving past it on numerous occasions. When I became a vegetarian, one of the toughest things to give up was dim sum and Chinese food. Vancouver has some of the best asian restaurants in the world. I LOVED the dumplings and sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves.

This discovery rocked my world. Go between 10:30am-2pm for dim sum or head there for dinner for a Chinese food feast. They utilize meaty vegetables like eggplant and mushrooms and incorporate tofu, tempeh and bean curd into the other dishes for a vegetarian take on the classics.

Bandidas

Vegetarian Mexican food at its finest. They have a large line up of tacos, fajitas, and quesadillas featuring beans, tofu, and tempeh. Lots of vegan-friendly optins too!

The Naam

Can you really do a post on the best vegetarian restaurants Vancouver without including The Naam?! Open in 1968, this place was a pioneer for vegetarian food in Vancouver. It’s open 24 hours a day (It’s only closed once a year on Christmas!!). They have stayed true to their roots and focus on quality food that will have you leaving full and satisfied.

Set in a cozy restaurant in Kitsilano, the vibe reminds me of the quaint places in Thailand and Bali that serve up fresh raw ingredients. Go for dinner, stay for the desserts and live music.

Do Chay

Vegetarian Vietnamese food with bao buns, potstickers, spring rolls, pho and vermicelli bowls. The menu is vegetarian and almost entirely vegan.

The Acorn

The Acorn opened a few years ago, and they have already been voted #1 Best Vegetarian and Vegan restaurant in Vancouver by Westender Magazine AND Vancouver magazine. Even more impressive, Scout Magazine also included them in the list of 25 Best Restaurants in Vancouver (veggie or not!).

Needless to say, this place is worth the visit even if you aren’t living that plant-based life. What I love about Acorn is that you still get the high end, beautifully presented dishes with a variety of flavor profiles, without the meat. I love the creativity and thoughtfulness of the dishes at the Acorn.

Great date night spot! You can bar hop along Main St after for a few aprés dinner cocktails!

Meet (three locations: Meet on Main, Meet Gastown, Meet Yaletown)

I love the cheeky name of these vegan Vancouver restaurants. Order the poutine and one of their bowls or salads. I love the butter “chicken” poutine, the burgers and any of the thai style dishes.

Turf

First we work out, then we eat the foods. This is a great place to spend a Sunday morning. Turf has a workout studio, and “the Class” is a popular fitness class. The owners describe Turf as “the foundation of all the things they love: healthy food, thoughtful apparel, a conscious sweat, the best coffee and building community.” 

Order the mushroom ricotta toast or their daily features and a coffee or turmeric latte. 

Kind Cafe

The perfect place to grab breakfast post-workout. Try one of their specialty lattes like the beetroot spice, black sesame, or blue lavender. Order a superfood smoothie, a carrot lox bagel or one of their hearty bowls. I love that they are zero waste, and encourage everyone to BYOC, bring your own container.

Virtuous Pie Pizza

Who doesn’t love pizza?! Honestly. It’s the ultimate food.  A big meal here doesn’t leave you feeling regretful, bloated or like you need to go run 10km.

Tip: Stranger Wings is the cult favorite. Order with all the dipping sauces!! I’m a sucker for mushrooms so I love the Superfunghi too. 

Nuba

Traditional Lebanese food with large portions. Order one of the plates with a side of their housemade hot sauce. There are a few locations, including one in Yaletown and Gastown. Great spot to go with friends or for a lunch meeting. I love the falafel plate or the Najib’s Special featuring crispy cauliflower. One of the most popular spots to eat in Vancouver for vegetarians.

Aleph Eatery

A completely vegetarian Middle Eastern eatery open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Eat mezze style with friends or order a few plates to share.

Beetbox

From the makers of cult classic Juke Fried Chicken. They just opened this entirely plant-based Vancouver restaurant called Beetbox. The menu features similar items with a vegan twist like the Seitan Friend Chick-Un Sandwich, tempura onion rings and chili cheese fries with vegan queso. Order on Doordash or pick up in store.