Vancouver has no shortage of vegan places to eat. Even living in Vancouver, it's hard to keep up and try all of the new plant-based and vegan options popping up around the city. What a time to be alive! *Let's take a moment of silence for all the vegans/vegetarians who lived off of tofu for years*
Vegan food has come such a long way. You don't need to be vegan to enjoy vegan food, which one of the many reasons Vancouverites are loving the new vegan options around the city. I'm often asked for vegan friendly recommendations in Vancouver. While most places are vegan *friendly* (meaning they have a vegan option or two), I've compiled a list of my top 6 favourite plant-based and vegan places in Vancouver. There are so many delicious places to eat - these are just my favourites based off of my experience. I'll also include a list of other recommendations at the end of this post, in case you still find yourself hungry after eating your way around this amazingly vegan-friendly city.
1. Chau Veggie Express
If you've ever talked to me for more than 5 minutes, you know how much I rave about Chau Veggie Express. I frequent this place as much as possible - definitely one of my favourites! It's 100% plant-based and vegan. The dishes are Vietnamese inspired and will rock your world. If you enjoy Vietnamese food, you'll love Chau Veggie Express.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: #14 Candlelit Lantern Soup (I swear it has healing powers) or the #10 Rickety Rickshaw Bowl.
They have two locations; East Vancouver and Granville Island. You can find more information here.
2. Meet
Can you say vegan comfort food? This is the kind of vegan food OG vegans of the 90's could only dream of. They have a hefty menu with burgers, salads, bowls and even vegan butter chicken (WHAT?!). If you are vegan and dining with someone who isn't - this is the perfect place to bring them, as they'll likely love it!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Mac N' Cheez Bowl or the Crispy Chickun Burger.
They have three locations; Main Street, Yaletown and Gastown. You can find more information here.
3. Chickpea
Located a few doors down from the Main St. location of Meet, you'll find another favorite of mine - Chickpea! If you're a breakfast lover, look no further, as they have all day breakfast. They are also well known for their Chickpea Fries. They have a huge entirely plant-based menu, with plenty of gluten-free options.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: The Shnitzel Waffle Benechick is my personal favorite!
They are located on Main Street. You can find them here.
4. Sun Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant
Add Chinese food to the list of things you won't have to give up as a vegan. That's right - vegan Chinese food! This is the perfect place to go with friends or family. The dishes are big and you're going to want to try at least a few of them, so best to not go alone. Highly, highly recommend this hidden gem!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Order as much as you can. Everything is good!
They are located in East Vancouver on Kingsway. You can find them here.
5. Virtuous Pie
The best way I can describe Virtuous Pie is...vegan pizza heaven. No, pizza heaven PERIODT. The pizza, the appies, the dessert. It's all WOW. You're going to want to make sure you're hungry when you go here. It's super cute inside which matters, but the real star of this show are the PIES. Put this place on your list, you won't regret it!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Stranger Wings all the way baby.
They have two locations; Chinatown and UBC. You can find them here.
6. To Live For Bakery
Not a restaurant, but needs to be on this list. The long awaited To Live For Bakery has been open since October 2022 and has been thriving ever since! I've personally ordered four cakes from them (one of them being my wedding cake!) and they are crowd pleasers for vegans and non-vegans alike. The storefront has daily baked goods including plant-based almond croissants, breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon buns, and so much more. They also have a pastry of the month that changes with the seasons. The coffee is amazing as well. The default milk that they use is oat milk, but they also have almond and soy.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS: Order a cake! Or an almond croissant if you're just popping in.
They are located in East Vancouver.
That's all folks! If you only have a few days or a short time in Vancouver, those are the places I'd suggest checking out first. Of course there are many others, so I'll include the list of other suggestions below:
Heirloom, Kokomo, Down 2 Earth, Buddha-Full, Aphrodite's Organic Cafe & Pie Shop (vg options), The Naam, Cartems (vg options), Pizzeria Grano (vg options)