One of my favourite things about travelling to new places is the food. I love experimenting with the local cuisine, trying out popular dishes and restaurants and seeing the unique dishes that are influenced by the community’s culture. Food is a centrepiece to culture, bringing people together to share and build memories.
Having transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle two and a half years ago, finding restaurants that suit my dietary needs became an important component to my travels. There is nothing worse than walking into a restaurant, sitting down with the menu, only to realize the only vegetarian option is…pasta. And vegan? Maybe a salad without dressing (so basically just leaves).
The realm of plant-based food culture is thankfully growing as more individuals adopt a lifestyle with less animal products. Especially in urban centres like Toronto, there are already so many options that it can be overwhelming to choose one.
I’m no stranger to the Toronto food scene, so I want to share my top 10 plant-based restaurants in the city to make your visit less stressful. These restaurants may be completely plant-based or offer great modifications to meat-based dishes; I’ve created a legend to indicate which is which.
As a student, my food priorities include finding meals that are delicious, inexpensive and fairly portioned. High-end plant-based restaurants do not fill this description, so rest assured that most of the places highlighted in this post will be accessible to you! At all the “higher-end” restaurants I mention, most meals are under $20.
Here is the legend:
Vegan: V
Vegetarian: VE
Plant-based options: V*
With that, on to my top 10 plant-based restaurants in Toronto.
1. Fresh
$$$ | V
Modern decor, huge selection, brunch options, Toronto-famous
Fresh has been around since 1999 with locations popping up all over Toronto. As the first plant-based restaurant I tried in the city back in 2015, Fresh has become a go-to with friends and family. I always go for their brunch on weekends – their vegan and gluten-free pancakes are KILLER, with add-ins like bananas, almonds and blueberries with real maple syrup and vegan butter. Their soups rotate every day, and I’ve never been disappointed. They make this amazing cornbread and their own cashew “hummus” which is insane. They also offer smoothies, juices, coffee beverages and take-out. Definitely one of the most inclusive and welcoming restaurants in the city. They also just opened their first location in LA!
I suggest making a reservation if you are going during prime lunch hour, especially on weekends. This place can get packed, no matter which location you go to.
2. Hello 123
$$ | V
Vibrant, creative dishes in a cosy spot
Located further down Queen Street West than the main downtown hubub, Hello 123 is a small yet well-established venue. The dishes are always creative and PACKED with flavour. I had an asian bowl with nori, brown rice, tofu and dark leafy greens. I was expecting something bland (which often happens when I order bowls out unfortunately) but I was pleasantly surprised at how much flavour there was. Portion sizes are great, as well.
3. Urban Herbivore
$$ | V
A healthy Kensington Market staple
With a few locations include the Eaton Centre food court and Kensington Market, this restaurant is great for a quick and healthy lunch. They offer sandwiches, soups, bowls, smoothies and baked goods. The Kensington store has floor-to-ceiling windows, patio seating and lots of plant decor. The service is always quick and the portions are massive. They are incredibly helpful, too; I once spilled my small soup all over the place and they quickly cleaned it up then offered me a large soup in its place. I always come back when I’m in Kensington!
4. Tibet Cafe
$ | V*
Delicious traditional cuisine, infamous momos
During the summer, Kensington Market would host Pedestrian Sundays. Local stores and restaurants would set products out on the street, offer small dishes and play live music. It was at this event that I tried the Tibet Cafe’s vegan momo. These hand-made Tibetan dumplings were stuffed with cabbage, carrot, onion and so many other delicious things. It was a cheap, easy-to-eat yet filling meal that allowed me to experience a staple dish in a culture across the world. I can’t wait to go back and have these dumplings again.
5. Il Fornello
$$ | V*
Italian-style pizza with a seperate vegan menu
With multiple restaurants in and around the GTA, this is my go-to spot for traditional thin-crust Italian pizza. Having been to Italy several times, my pizza standards are pretty high and I have not been disappointed by Il Fornello.
They recently released a vegan menu that includes many of their original pizzas but made plant-based. They use a vegan cheese and offer plant-based “meat” toppings like sausage. While you can get margherita, they also offer elevated pizzas with roasted red peppers, broccoli and other delicious things. Their vegan menu also includes an AMAZING caesar salad, bruschetta, pasta dishes and desserts (including ice cream). Definitely one of my overall favourite restaurants.
6. Copper Branch
$$ | V
Go-to for healthy, delicious and familiar dishes
Originating in Quebec with stores now across Ontario, Copper Branch offers a huge variety of plant-based meals. They don’t just have one veggie burger: they have five. They also have a variety of bread options, including gluten-free. Their soups, bowls and breakfast dishes are full of nutrient-rich ingredients at a fair price compared to others, more high-end vegan restaurants. Service is always prompt and they have several to-go options available at the counter. Another familiar and consistent restaurant!
7. The Hogtown Vegan
$$ | V
A vegan take on traditional comfort foods
This place has a special memory attached to it – it was where my best friend and I went to eat after getting tattoos (my first, his second). We were STARVING and I was especially ravenous after the adrenaline rush of getting my first tattoo.
What makes this restaurant unique is its spin on classic dishes like reuben sandwiches, poutine and mac and cheese. The portions are huge so you can’t leave hungry, and there are plenty of options to satisfy your comfort food cravings. This is not the place to go if you are looking for fresh salads and smoothies, but they do an outstanding job at breaking the “vegan” stereotypes.
8. The Green Room
$ | VE*
Late night scene, good for groups, dark ambience
Another great story with this one. Myself and a group of friends from university were staying in an Airbnb in downtown to celebrate one of our birthdays. They wanted to visit this place because it is known for its cheap, filling and delicious foods. I can’t recall if they have vegan dishes, but there were plenty of options for vegetarians. I had an awesome avocado grilled cheese; a friend said their mac and cheese was great, and they also offer vegetarian spring rolls, pad thai, stir fry and nachos.
I love the restaurant’s atmosphere, with its rustic seating, green walls (of course) and dark setting with coloured lights strung around the dining area. The music is blaring, prepping customers for a lively night on the town, so it’s not the best place for an intimate dinner. But dinner for under ten dollars and thirteen dollar sangria pitchers? Yes please.
9. LOV
$$$ | V
Beautifully decorated, great for special occasions
Another restaurant of Quebec origin, LOV is similar to Fresh in that it caters to the more upscale dining experience (but prices are still relatively reasonable). They also take a unique spin on traditionally meat-based dishes, such as ramen and burgers. I enjoyed the ramen when I went, which was full of leafy greens, enoki mushrooms and soft-boiled egg (can be omitted). There is an extensive wine and cocktail list. If you are looking for a good date spot, I strongly recommend this place.
10. Early Bird Kitchen
$$ | V*
Coffee stars with sweet treats and unique brunch options
Another go-to whenever I am in the city. As the name suggests, you better get there early to find a seat. This narrow, all-white cafe is catered to the modern young crowd flooding the Entertainment District, with space to study or socialize. They have tables specifically reserved for “no electronics” during busy hours to encourage customers to engage in conversation and free up tables regularly. I always get an almond milk latte and one of their speciality vegan cookies. They offer fancier drinks like spirulina, beet or matcha lattes, plus basics like coffee, tea and other espresso drinks.
I discovered this place back when it first opened years ago. Since then they have become an Instagram sensation because of their aesthetically pleasing breakfast and brunch dishes. Think eggs benedict with bright pink hollandaise sauce, thick cut toast with yogurt and blueberry preserves, mouth-watering scrambled eggs with avocado cut into a flower and decked-out oatmeal. I see people taking photos of the food more often than eating it, but I can’t blame them. If you pass by this bustling cafe midway through Queen Street West, definitely try finding a seat and experimenting with new takes on classic dishes!
There are countless plant-based restaurants in Toronto, with new ones popping up every time I visit. If I could try one new place every week I would absolutely do so. Unfortunately, my student budget doesn’t make that possible. However, I know that when I’m hungry in Toronto I will not be disappointed by options or taste.
Have you tried any of these restaurants, or have a recommendation for me to try? Let me know in the comments! I plan to release more posts like this for different areas I frequently visit, as well as coffee shops (because, you know, I spend most of my money there…)
Are you new to a plant-based lifestyle, or want to incorporate more plant-based living but don’t know where to start? Check out some of my other posts, which offer tips for travelling, eating plant-based on holidays and more:
- Eating plant-based on vacation
- Eating plant-based during the holidays
- Plant-based recipe roundup
- What’s the deal with almond milk?
- The ins and outs of plant-based eating: what to know before you dive in (VERY important info here about nutrients/vitamins!)
- My story: why I went plant-based
As always, thank you for reading! Until next time!
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