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

A photo posted by The NAAM Restaurant (@naamrestaurant) on Aug 31, 2016 at 7:17am PDT

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

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

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

A photo posted by Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant (@heirloomveg) on May 15, 2016 at 9:38am PDT

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

A photo posted by z i m t (@zimtchocolates) on Sep 22, 2016 at 6:29pm PDT

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

A photo posted by Wallflower Diner (@wallflowervancouver) on Apr 22, 2016 at 4:22pm PDT



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

A photo posted by Exile (@exilebistro) on Nov 21, 2015 at 3:56pm PST

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

A photo posted by Nuba (@nubatown) on Oct 5, 2016 at 1:31pm PDT



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

A photo posted by CHOMP vegan eatery (@chompveganeatery) on Oct 9, 2015 at 5:16pm PDT

“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

A photo posted by The Juice Truck (@juicetruck) on Jun 22, 2016 at 8:59pm PDT

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

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

A photo posted by crackle creme (@cracklecreme) on Jun 29, 2014 at 8:26am PDT

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