Sylvan Korvus has long maintained a list of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Vancouver. However, eating only at specialty restaurants is often neither realistic nor desirable. Try dragging your meat-eating pals to Greens and Gourmet. More importantly to me is that I’ve long since tired of eating at cafeteria-like, dour, and/or run-down places with mediocre food and lousy service, just because I’m vegan. Think the aforementioned Greens and Gourmet, or The Naam. It’s a shame that Vancouver doesn’t have any kind of fine veg dining such as Café Flora (Seattle), Millennium (San Francisco) or Candle 79 (New York City). The reasons for this utterly escape me; perhaps it’s a business opportunity for someone with the knowledge, desire, and acumen.
In the meantime, I’ve moved into the Gastown area and thought it would be a good thing to start compiling a list of places where a vegan might stand a chance and not have to conform to many people’s preconceived notions of hippiedom and flakiness.
Grub, 4328 Main Street
Finally ate here in November 2011. I really enjoyed the food: despite there being only one vegan entree, it was substantial (unlike many other non-veg restaurants that often seem to give you leftovers after they’ve removed the meat from a disk) and tasty. And they have vegan dessert. And the prices are very reasonable. Definitely recommended.
Gorilla Food, 436 Richards Street
Really excellent food here, all raw vegan. Probably the best vegan food I’ve had in Vancouver.
Alibi Room, 157 Alexander Street
Their Chinatown noodle bowl with peanut hoisin, tofu & asian greens was a staple for me before I got my kitchen set up (2010). More recently (2011), their Tofu and Veggie Stirfry (Broccoli, mushroom, tofu, barley & black rice, sesame ginger sauce) has been an enjoyable and easy meal when I’m too tired to cook or go very far afield.
Nicli Antica Pizzeria, 62 East Cordova Street
They’ll make you a pizza without cheese with some nice mushrooms, basil, garlic—and arugula. Pretty good, actually.
Terracotta Modern Chinese, 52 Alexander Street
I’d passed this place by for a couple of years, assuming—for what reason I’m not sure–that they would have nothing for me. But they offer a number of vegetarian/vegan dishes; see their menu. I had the Szechuan Green Beans, “Wok Tossed Green Beans, Mild Heat and Complex Flavour.” They were all right, but nothing special. I will go back some time to try another dish, but the music—an incessant disco beat, perhaps modern but about as Chinese as Antarctica—will probably keep me away for a while.
Incendio, 103 Columbia Street
Their vegetarian pizzas sans cheese are pretty good—much better than their restaurant on Burrard Street (which closed in 2011). And they have at least one pasta that’s decent and suitable.
Judas Goat Taberna
I haven’t tried this yet but after posting a query about veganism Sean Heather (owner of this and other establishments such as the Irish Heather) replied almost immediately, “With 24 hour notice we’ll have delicious vegan food ready for you, at any of our restaurants, any time.” I will take him up on this and report back.
Les Faux Bourgeois, 663 East 15th Avenue
Very much not a vegan restaurant, I went here with a friend after they promised to accommodate me. They made me a risotto which was fine for what it was, but nothing to recommend. So you can go here with friends and not have to eat lettuce; but avoid it otherwise.
