Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Vancouver (2026)

The best vegan restaurants Vancouver reflect one of North America’s strongest plant-based scenes — Vancouver is consistently ranked in the top 10 most vegan-friendly cities globally, with 70+ fully vegetarian or vegan restaurants and another 200+ that offer substantial vegan menus. The Acorn (the city’s Michelin-recognized vegetarian fine-dining flagship), Heirloom Vegetarian, Virtuous Pie, MeeT (multiple locations), Kokomo, and Chickpea anchor a scene that ranges from upscale tasting menus to fast-casual stations.

This guide ranks Vancouver’s top vegan and vegetarian restaurants in 2026, breaks them down by neighborhood and price tier, and covers the cuisines (modern Pacific Northwest, Italian, Mexican, Asian fusion, Mediterranean) where vegan dining shines.

Vancouver Vegan Scene: Quick Overview

• Fully vegan/vegetarian restaurants: 70+
• Vegan-friendly: 200+ with substantial plant-based menus
• Top neighborhoods: Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, Kitsilano, Gastown, Commercial Drive
• Price range: Budget C$15-20; mid-range C$25-40; fine-dining C$50-80+
• Highest concentration: Main Street has the most vegetarian restaurants per block
• Notable certification: Many use locally-sourced, organic, sustainable ingredients

Fine-Dining Vegan

The Acorn (Mt. Pleasant): Vancouver’s most prestigious vegetarian restaurant. Michelin-recognized; tasting menus C$60-90; reservations 4+ weeks ahead.

Heirloom Vegetarian (South Granville): Refined seasonal vegetarian; daily brunch service. C$25-50/person.

Burdock & Co (Mt. Pleasant): Plant-forward (with some seafood/meat options) tasting-menu approach. C$60-100/person tasting.

Botanist (Fairmont Pacific Rim): Pacific Northwest tasting with strong vegan options. C$130-200 with pairings.

Best for splurges: The Acorn for the dedicated vegetarian fine-dining experience.

The Acorn: Michelin-Recognized Vegetarian

Location: 3995 Main Street, Vancouver.

Concept: 100% locally sourced vegetarian fine dining; zero-waste kitchen.

What makes it special:

• Michelin Guide-recognized for plant-based excellence
• Innovative, expertly plated vegetarian creations
• Constantly evolving seasonal menu
• Wine list with strong natural/biodynamic selections
• Zero-waste philosophy

Must order: Chef’s tasting menu — varies by season; usually 5-7 courses C$70-90.

Reservations: 4-6 weeks ahead for prime evening slots; OpenTable.

Atmosphere: Cozy, intimate room; reservations-only.

Heirloom Vegetarian

Location: 1509 W Broadway, South Granville.

Concept: Seasonal vegetarian and vegan menu showcasing BC produce.

What makes it special:

• Strong daily brunch service (extensive menu)
• Refined dinner program
• Heritage diner-meets-fine dining vibe
• Pacific Northwest farm-to-table sourcing

Must order: Smoked Carrot Pastrami, Heirloom Burger (vegan), Carrot Halvah dessert.

Cost: Brunch C$15-25; dinner C$30-50.

Reservations: 1-2 weeks for weekend brunch.

MeeT (multiple locations)

MeeT operates Vancouver’s most popular fully-vegan chain — multiple locations covering casual all-day eats.

Locations: Gastown, Kitsilano, Yaletown.

Concept: Casual fully-vegan dining; everything from burgers to cocktails to brunch.

Must order: Crispy Shawarma Wrap, Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Classic MeeT Burger, Smashed Avocado Toast.

Cost: C$15-25/person.

Best for: Casual lunch or dinner; non-vegans who want familiar comfort food vegan-style.

Virtuous Pie

Virtuous Pie is the dedicated vegan pizza house — multiple locations.

Locations: Main Street (flagship), Kitsilano, others.

Concept: 100% vegan pizza, soft serve, salads.

Must order: Stranger Wings (BBQ jackfruit pizza), Super Funghi (mushroom), House-made vegan ice cream.

Cost: Pizza C$20-25; full meal C$30-40.

Best for: Casual dinner; takeout; family meals.

Kokomo

Kokomo is the Hawaiian-inspired vegan all-day cafe in Mt. Pleasant.

Location: 1010 Mainland Street, Yaletown.

Concept: Hawaiian-themed vegan cafe; bowls, smoothies, comfort food.

Must order: Aloha Bowl, Mac & Cheese (vegan), Buddha Bowl, smoothies.

Cost: C$15-25/meal.

Atmosphere: Lounge-friendly; popular with remote workers.

Chickpea

Chickpea is Main Street’s beloved Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian.

Location: 4298 Main Street.

Concept: Mediterranean-inspired vegan; falafel-focused.

Must order: Falafel Wrap, Hummus Plate, Chickpea Salad, mixed mezze.

Cost: C$12-20/person.

Best for: Quick lunch; takeout; casual dinner.

Best by Cuisine

Italian: Virtuous Pie (vegan pizza), L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (some vegan options), Pizza Carano (vegan pizzas).

Mexican: Bandidas Taqueria (Commercial Drive), El Camino’s, La Taqueria.

Asian Fusion: Kokomo, Field & Social, Grin and Tonic, Bao Bei (vegetarian options on a non-vegan menu).

Mediterranean: Chickpea, Cafe Medina (vegetarian-friendly), Heirloom (vegetarian/vegan brunch).

Modern Pacific Northwest: The Acorn, Heirloom, Burdock & Co, Botanist (with vegan tasting).

Vegan Comfort Food: MeeT (3 locations), Virtuous Pie, Kokomo.

Vegan Brunch: Heirloom, Bandidas Taqueria, Buddha-Full.

Vegan Sushi: Field & Social, some specialty sushi restaurants offer vegetarian rolls.

Best by Neighborhood

Main Street (highest density):

• The Acorn (flagship)
• Chickpea
• Virtuous Pie (flagship)
• MeeT (one location)
• Bird’s Nest (some vegan)

Mt. Pleasant:

• Heritage Asian Eatery
• Kokomo (Yaletown but adjacent)
• Multiple cafes with vegan options

Kitsilano:

• MeeT (Kits)
• Virtuous Pie (Kits)
• Aphrodite’s Café
• Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe

Gastown:

• MeeT (Gastown)
• The Birds & The Beets
• Tacofino (vegan options)

Commercial Drive:

• Bandidas Taqueria
• Federico’s
• Multiple cafes

South Granville:

• Heirloom Vegetarian
• Royal Dinette

Yaletown:

• Kokomo
• OEB Breakfast Co (vegan options)
• Multiple boutique restaurants

Budget Vegan

Vegan dining doesn’t require splurging.

Under C$15/meal:

• Chickpea
• Bandidas Taqueria
• Buddha-Full
• Field & Social
• Most veggie-burger food trucks

C$15-25/meal:

• MeeT
• Virtuous Pie
• Kokomo
• Most casual vegan spots

Best free seating: Granville Island Public Market has multiple vegan/vegetarian vendors with picnic table seating outdoors.

Vegan Festivals & Events

Vancouver VegFest: Annual May/June event; 100+ vegan vendors; samples and food stalls. Free entry.

Plant-Based Eats & Treats: Smaller monthly events at various venues.

Veggie Pop-Ups: Many regular restaurants host monthly vegan-only nights.

Dine Out Vancouver Vegan Editions: The annual late-January Dine Out includes 50+ restaurants offering vegan-friendly prix-fixe menus.

Vancouver Vegan FAQs

What is the best vegan restaurant in Vancouver?
The Acorn for fine dining; MeeT for casual; Heirloom for brunch; Virtuous Pie for pizza.

How many vegan restaurants are in Vancouver?
70+ fully vegan/vegetarian restaurants; 200+ with substantial vegan menus.

Is The Acorn fully vegan?
The Acorn is fully vegetarian with most dishes vegan or easily made vegan.

Where is the highest concentration of vegan restaurants in Vancouver?
Main Street (Mt. Pleasant area) has the most vegetarian restaurants per block — including The Acorn, Chickpea, Virtuous Pie, and Bird’s Nest.

How much do vegan restaurants cost in Vancouver?
Budget C$12-20/meal; mid-range C$25-40; fine-dining C$50-90+.

Are there vegan brunch spots in Vancouver?
Yes — Heirloom Vegetarian, Bandidas Taqueria, Buddha-Full, Cafe Medina (vegetarian-friendly).

What’s the best vegan pizza in Vancouver?
Virtuous Pie — fully vegan pizza chain with multiple locations.

Vancouver Vegan Movement History

Vancouver’s vegan and vegetarian scene has decades of history rooted in the city’s Pacific Northwest values, environmental consciousness, and multicultural food traditions.

1970s-1980s: Hippie/counterculture vegetarian restaurants emerged on Commercial Drive and in Kitsilano. The Naam (Kits, founded 1968) is one of Vancouver’s longest-running vegetarian restaurants — predating the modern vegan movement.

1990s-2000s: The Indian-Canadian community brought sophisticated vegetarian cuisine to Vancouver via restaurants like Vij’s. Pure vegetarian Hindu and Jain dining traditions established Vancouver as a vegetarian-friendly destination.

2010-2015: The modern vegan movement accelerated. The Acorn opened 2012 — establishing fine-dining vegetarian as a legitimate Vancouver category. MeeT opened 2014 — proving casual fully-vegan dining could thrive commercially.

2015-2020: Vegan movement diversified. Virtuous Pie pioneered fully-vegan pizza; Kokomo brought Hawaiian-vegan; Heirloom raised vegetarian brunch standards.

2020-Present: Mainstream restaurants now offer substantial vegan menus — even traditional steakhouses and fine-dining establishments include 4-6 plant-based options. Vegan dining is normalized rather than niche.

Vancouver’s vegan scene globally: Vancouver consistently ranks in top 10 most vegan-friendly cities (HappyCow, PETA, multiple international rankings). The city has 70+ fully vegetarian/vegan restaurants and 200+ with substantial vegan menus.

Cultural drivers:

• Pacific Northwest environmental values
• Multicultural population with vegetarian traditions (Indian, Buddhist, Hindu)
• Strong food culture overall
• Rainforest-and-ocean Pacific identity emphasizing sustainability
• Active climate-conscious younger demographic

Plant-Based Cooking Classes

Several Vancouver venues offer plant-based cooking education.

The Dirty Apron Cooking School: Plant-based focused classes 2-3 hours C$120-160. Includes market tour + cooking + meal.

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts: Recreational plant-based cooking classes with chef instructors.

Cuisine Vancouver: Boutique cooking school with vegan-focused workshops.

The Acorn cooking class events: Occasional special-event cooking classes from the chef.

Online resources:

• Acorn cookbook recipes (forage-focused vegetarian)
• Vegan Vancouver online community
• YouTube channels from local vegan chefs

Workshop topics:

• Plant-based macro nutrition
• Fermentation and pickling
• Asian-fusion vegan cooking
• Mediterranean vegan cuisine
• Pacific Northwest forage-to-table
• Vegan baking and desserts

Pro tip: Classes book 2-4 weeks ahead; weekend evenings most popular.

Vegan Drink Pairings

Most beverages are naturally vegan but some categories require attention.

Wine: Some wines are filtered with non-vegan substances (egg whites, fish bladder gelatin). Look for “vegan” labels or natural wines. BC wineries Tantalus, Mission Hill, Burrowing Owl have vegan-friendly options.

Beer: Most craft beers are vegan. Some traditional British ales use isinglass (fish bladder) for clarification. Vancouver craft brewers (Brassneck, Strange Fellows, 33 Acres) typically use vegan-friendly methods.

Cocktails: Generally vegan-friendly. Watch for cream-based cocktails (use coconut cream as alternative); honey-sweetened cocktails. Most modern Vancouver cocktail bars happily make plant-based versions.

Spirits: Most are vegan. Some specific products (Bailey’s Irish Cream, certain creamy liqueurs) contain dairy.

Coffee: Naturally vegan. All Vancouver coffee shops offer plant-based milk options (oat, almond, soy, sometimes cashew or hazelnut). Premium oat milk (Califia, Oatly) widely available.

Tea: Naturally vegan.

Pairing principles:

• Plant-based comfort food → casual craft beer
• Vegetarian fine dining → BC Pinot Noir or Riesling
• Asian-fusion vegan → Pinot Gris or Gewürztraminer
• Mediterranean vegan → Sauvignon Blanc
• Vegan dessert → late-harvest BC wine or sparkling

Best Vegan Desserts in Vancouver

Vegan desserts have evolved dramatically in Vancouver over the past decade.

Top vegan dessert spots:

• Virtuous Pie: House-made vegan ice cream (multiple flavors); cookies; brownies. Quality matches dairy versions.
• Earnest Ice Cream (multiple locations): Vegan ice cream alongside dairy. Multiple flavors.
• Vegan Pudding & Co (Kits): Specialty vegan pudding shop with dozens of flavors.
• Heirloom Vegetarian: Carrot Halvah dessert is a signature.
• The Acorn: Tasting menu desserts always vegan-adaptable.
• 49th Parallel + Lucky’s Donuts: Most donut flavors have vegan versions.
• MeeT: Cheesecakes, brownies, signature desserts all vegan.
• Vegan-friendly bakeries: Beaucoup Bakery (some vegan items), Faubourg Patisserie.

Vegan ice cream specifically:

• Earnest Ice Cream (oat-base; multiple locations)
• Vegan Pudding & Co (specialty store)
• Virtuous Pie (in-house)
• Various coffee shops with vegan ice cream during summer

Vegan baking classes: Sweet Tooth Cookery School and others offer specialty vegan baking workshops.

Buying vegan desserts to take home: Whole Foods Market, Choices Market, and specialty vegan grocery stores carry premade and frozen vegan desserts.

Vegan Grocery Shopping in Vancouver

For visitors with kitchens, vegan grocery shopping in Vancouver is excellent.

Specialty vegan grocers:

• The Vegan Pudding & Co (Kits): Specialty store with hundreds of vegan products
• Choices Market (multiple locations): Substantial vegan section with specialty brands
• Whole Foods Market (multiple): Most-stocked vegan section in city
• Cherry Lane Natural (Mt. Pleasant): Health food store with vegan focus

Mainstream grocery vegan options:

• Save-On-Foods: Substantial vegan section in most locations
• IGA: Improving vegan selection
• T&T Supermarket: Asian vegan options (vegetarian dim sum, mock meat)
• Costco: Bulk vegan items at low prices

Farmers markets for produce: Trout Lake (year-round Saturdays), seasonal markets in summer. Direct-from-farm pricing on fresh vegetables.

Specialty vegan products available:

• Daiya, Violife, and Miyoko’s vegan cheeses
• Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods plant-based proteins
• JUST Egg replacements
• Specialty vegan baking ingredients (egg replacers, vegan butter)
• International vegan specialty foods (Asian mock meats, Italian vegan parmesan)

Cooking essential basics for visitors:

• Coconut milk (cans)
• Vegetable broth
• Nutritional yeast (umami flavor)
• Tofu (firm, silken, fresh)
• Chickpeas (canned for quick meals)
• Pasta (plant-based shapes available)
• BC produce in season (greens, peppers, onions)

Budget vegan grocery week (couple, 7 days): ~C$140-180 for substantial home cooking with basics.

Vancouver Vegan Restaurant Awards & Recognition

Vancouver’s plant-based restaurants have earned national and international recognition.

The Acorn awards:

• Michelin Guide recognition (2024)
• Vancouver Magazine top vegetarian restaurant multiple years
• Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants ranking
• Green Restaurant Association certification
• James Beard Foundation semifinalist multiple years

Heirloom Vegetarian recognition:

• Vancouver Magazine top brunch multiple years
• Best Vegetarian Restaurant Vancouver Magazine
• Featured in major travel and food publications

MeeT recognition:

• Multiple “Best Vegan Burger” awards
• Recognition for accessible plant-based dining
• Featured in HappyCow’s top global vegan picks

Virtuous Pie recognition:

• Best Vegan Pizza Canada multiple years
• Expansion to multiple Canadian cities
• Featured in plant-based travel guides

Vancouver vegan restaurant scene as a whole:

• Top 5 most vegan-friendly cities globally (HappyCow)
• Top 10 most vegan-friendly cities globally (PETA)
• Strongest plant-based fine-dining scene in Pacific Northwest
• Most plant-based per capita restaurants in Canada

Pro Tips for Vegan Dining

Vegan dining in Vancouver works best with strategic approaches.

Tip 1: Verify “vegan” labels. “Vegetarian” doesn’t mean vegan. Confirm with restaurant when in doubt — eggs, dairy, honey may be in vegetarian dishes.

Tip 2: Make reservations for high-end places. The Acorn books 3-6 weeks ahead; weekend reservations especially difficult.

Tip 3: Ask about vegan-specific menus. Many restaurants have separate vegan menus they share on request.

Tip 4: Check websites and HappyCow before going. Reviews from other vegans help assess actual vegan-friendliness.

Tip 5: Bring backup snacks. If venturing to non-vegan restaurants with vegans in your group, pack snacks in case options are limited.

Tip 6: Build relationships with servers. Frequent vegan diners build relationships at favorite restaurants; you get better service and more menu options over time.

Tip 7: Know what you can adapt. Many “vegetarian” dishes are easily made vegan with substitutions (vegan butter, plant milk, etc.).

Tip 8: Try ethnic cuisines. Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Ethiopian cuisines have many naturally vegan dishes.

Tip 9: Consider tasting menus at fine-dining. The Acorn and Burdock & Co both build vegan tasting menus on request.

Tip 10: Tip generously. Vegan diners often request modifications; tip 18-20%+ for the extra work.

Communication essentials:

• “I’m vegan” or “I eat plant-based”
• “No dairy, no eggs, no honey”
• “Could you adapt this dish?”
• “Do you have a vegan menu?”
• “What can be made vegan?”

Vegetarian Heritage in Vancouver

Vancouver’s vegetarian heritage extends well before modern veganism.

Early Indian-Canadian vegetarian heritage (early 1900s): Sikh and Hindu immigrants brought vegetarian food traditions to Vancouver. By 1910s, small Indian-Canadian community in East Vancouver included multiple vegetarian/eggless food traditions.

1968: The Naam opens (Kitsilano): Vancouver’s first dedicated vegetarian restaurant. Hippie-era counter-culture vegetarian dining; still operating today (one of the longest-running vegetarian restaurants in Canada).

1970s-1980s: Macrobiotic movement. Vancouver had multiple macrobiotic restaurants and bookstores; small but influential vegetarian scene rooted in Japanese cuisine principles.

1980s: Vij’s Indian Restaurant opens. Vikram Vij brought sophisticated vegetarian Indian cuisine to mainstream Vancouver. Vij’s restaurant continues to operate as one of the city’s most acclaimed dining establishments.

1990s-2000s: Asian vegetarian growth. Korean, Buddhist Chinese, Vietnamese vegetarian restaurants expanded. East Vancouver became a hub for diverse vegetarian Asian cuisines.

2010s: Modern vegan revolution. The Acorn (2012), Heirloom, MeeT, Virtuous Pie established that fully plant-based could be excellent at multiple price tiers.

Cultural threads in modern Vancouver vegetarian scene:

• Indian-Canadian vegetarian tradition (Vij’s, Anmol Indian, multiple)
• Buddhist vegetarian tradition (some Chinese-Canadian restaurants)
• Hindu/Jain pure vegetarian tradition (multiple specialty)
• Pacific Northwest farm-to-table vegetarian (The Acorn, Heirloom)
• Asian-fusion vegan (Kokomo, Virtuous Pie)
• Modern fast-casual vegan (MeeT)
• Casual diner vegetarian (Heritage Asian Eatery, Bird’s Nest)

Vegetarian community in Vancouver:

• Multiple vegetarian/vegan meetup groups
• Annual Vegan Fest
• Vegan-focused yoga and wellness studios
• Plant-based meal delivery services
• Vegan grocery cooperatives

Related reading: Pair this with our Vancouver brunch, Vancouver coffee, and Vancouver food scene pillar.