Preparing a healthy vegetarian or vegan meal is often last on the list when you’re a busy professional or an exhausted weekend warrior. Coming to your rescue are these Vancouver restaurants and takeout spots, each offering fast, meat-free options for pickup, allowing you to relax while others do the work. [Photo courtesy of Nuba]
Many sit-down vegetarian restaurants also offer speedy takeout items, including Heirloom Vegetarian, an upscale eatery popular among South Granville shoppers, yogis and more. Vegans can’t go wrong with the classic kale salad (tossed with cornbread croutons, capers, beet chips, and cashew parmesan) and vegetarians must try the queso tacos with halloumi cheese, or the marinated king oyster mushrooms. Tip: call ahead for meals with multiple cooked ingredients like stews and burgers, which can take longer to prepare.
Chefs at Meet on Main cook may cook meat-free, organic meals, but they’re no strangers to the mouth-watering powers of the deep fryer. In this laidback, diner-style establishment, warm comfort foods like crispy yam fries, burgers of all sorts, vegan mac n’ cheese, rice bowls with fried tofu and other goodies are perfect nosh when watching the game with friends.
A popular Mount Pleasant takeout counter, Chomp has gained recognition across Vancouver for its creative and delicious (and nut-free, gluten-free and vegan) takes on traditional faves like sliders, lettuce wraps, pizza and sushi. Really pressed for time? Sign up for Chomp’s meal delivery service; you’ll get five different vegan meals delivered twice per week, prepared according to your dietary needs and tastes.
Another Kitsilano favourite, Eternal Abundance is an all-organic, vegan café best known for its conscience and commitment to the environment and community. When you order your flax crackers and dip, raw coleslaw, nori roll or curried veggie burger here, know that your dollar is likely supporting local farmers and artisanal producers, among other community-minded initiatives.
The majority of Nuba’s colourful, vibrant Lebanese menu is vegetarian and packed with protein in the forms of falafel and thick dips made from chickpea and yogurt – and all is prepared remarkably quickly, especially at the Gastown location, where rapid lunch breaks are commonplace among the creative class. Don’t forget to grab a fresh juice – made from any eight ingredients of your choosing – to add zing to any hearty meal.
Vancouver’s only vegan pudding provider’s flagship location offers, well, just that – dreamy, creamy and gooey puddings. Made without gluten, soy, dairy, nuts or white sugar, these healthful desserts come in a variety of flavours including green tea, chocolate, strawberry, coffee and roasted black sesame, among others. All natural and served in an eco-friendly cup, it’s the perfect sweet snack that won’t ruin your waistline – or the environment.