Restaurants Across Canada Offering Strictly Vegetarian Fare for Takeout
World Vegetarian Day on October 1st is an annual campaign founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) to kick off Vegetarian Awareness Month for the month of October.
NAVS describes World Vegetarian Day as “an annual celebration to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism”.
Whether the reason is for health, animal rights, or the environment, vegetarianism and veganism continue to rise in popularity. Restaurants offering delicious plant-based options are following suit and getting increasingly more creative in their veggie offerings!
According to DoorDash, the #1 most popular Vegetarian dish ordered in Vancouver is Mac and Cheese Bowls, Toronto loves their Saag Paneer, and Montreal favours vegetarian burritos.
Read on for a list of our picks for restaurants across Canada offering strictly vegetarian fare for takeout:
Fresh Restaurants (Toronto, ON)
On a mission to prove that a plant-powered diet can be satisfying, energizing and undeniably delicious, Fresh Restaurants have been a local destination for delicious plant powered meals in the Toronto area for 20 years.
Though famous for their Fresh Bowls, full of nutritious veggies, tasty sauces, and served on rice or soba noodles, order from one of Fresh’s 10 locations and you’ll find all sorts of vegetarian menu items – from pizza to salads and everything in between.
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Sookham (Hamilton, ON)
With their name translating to “all happiness” in Sanskrit, Sookham Restaurant is built on a foundation of respect for where our food comes from and a desire to connect and infuse love into your food consumption routine.
In their words, “Sookham is not just a place to eat, but an experience in itself, promising a welcoming space for everyone to find lightness of being through the art of conscious and mindful eating.”
Their menu is based on the principles of Ayurveda and features a strictly vegan assortment of bowls, sandwiches, soups, and drinks.
Address: 29 Barton Street East, Hamilton | @Sookham_restaurant
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Raw-Aura (Mississauga, ON)
Not only is Raw-Aura’s menu entirely vegan, gluten and refined-sugar free, but it is also raw, meaning the ingredients have not been heated above 104-112°F – a practice which is believed by some to be ideal for human health.
In recent days, the restaurant has begun experimenting with cooked meal specials. Raw or cooked, you can be sure a meal at Raw-Aura is going to delight the tastebuds.
They’ve also launched an online-market, an online destination to purchase their signature dishes, juices, breads, dips, sauces, desserts, and toppings to pick up and bring home, all made fresh to order.
Address: 94 Lakeshore Rd. East, Port Credit | @rawaura_organiccuisine
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Mondays Plant Café (Calgary, AB)
Mondays is a popular café in Calgary offering dine-in, takeout, bakery goods, custom cakes, and plant-based catering.
Try their signature dish, Raw Lasagna made with layered zucchini, hemp pesto and sun-dried tomato bolognese, or one of their fan favourites like the Rainbow Pad Thai with spiralized beet, zucchini, and carrot in place of rice noodles. But don’t fill up too much, they also offer an amazing assortment of healthy baked goods for dessert.
Don’t forget to stop by Mondays Market to check out their selection of health and wellness products for purchase, like Mushroom Milk, a medicinal mushroom & coconut horchata power, or Routine, an all natural brand of deodorant.
Address: 208 4 Street Northeast, Calgary | @mondaysplantcafe
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Sun Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant (Vancouver, BC)
Sun Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant has been promoting a vegetarian diet in Vancouver for 25 years, for the love of animals and the planet, with a menu of vegetarian Chinese & Dim-sum offerings.
The owner, Ken Chau, prides himself on building a menu that is designed and co-created with guests’ input, suggestions, and inspiration.
At first glance of the menu, you’ll find Chinese restaurant classics like Hot Pot, Congee, Chow Mein, and more. But on closer inspection, all dishes are vegetarian, replacing what would traditionally feature meat with ingredients like tofu, taro, vegetarian cutlets, mushroom, and eggplant.
Address: 1363 Kingsway, Vancouver | @sunbokongvegetarianrestaurant
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Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant (Vancouver, BC)
Owners Gus and Yogi opened Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant in the heart of South Granville in 2012 with a vision of creating a socially conscious space offering vegan and vegetarian fare, made with locally sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible.
Their breakfast menu is a local hit, with menu items like their Truffle Mushroom Benny, featuring a vegetable croquette and almond ricotta, and Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes, topped with pineapple dark rum compote and macadamia nuts.
You can also visit their second location, Heirloom Juice Co for freshly presses juices and smoothies alongside fair trade coffee, locally sourced teas, and soups & salads.
Address: 1509 W 12th Ave, Vancouver | @heirloomveg
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Wild Leek (Halifax, NS)
A concept true to our hearts at Canada Takeout, Wild Leek is takeout only. They are a vegan restaurant and bakery focusing on seasonal local ingredients and vegan comfort food.
In the bakery, you’ll find a host of their staple menu items like gluten-free brownies, coconut cream pie, and carrot cake. But you’ll also be delighted by special seasonal treats like Vegan Apple Caramel Gallette.
Check out their grocery fridge and freezer for ready made sandwiches, soups, and salads on the go, or order delicious items from their takeout menu, like the Donair Wrap with house-made seitan.
Address: 2156 Windsor Street, Halifax | @wildleek
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