The Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Edmonton
Cafe Mosaics, Way of Life, Koutouki Taverna, Oriental Veggie House
Jan 2, 2009
An overview of restaurants in Edmonton that accommodate vegan diets with animal-free meals and options.
While the options for vegetarian and vegan-specific restaurants are slim, there are still numerous eateries in Edmonton that offer and cater to vegan diets. What follows is a look at some of the best places to eat – depending on your flavour preference – if you live a vegan lifestyle (or if you know someone who does!)
Western
- Café Mosaics: An all vegetarian and vegan café, Mosaics is located in Edmonton’s hip fashion district of Old Strathcona. Mosaics offers everything from veggie sausages and pancakes to curry dinners, and the vegan options are countless. Try their house salad with teriyaki tofu and their nationally renowned vegan chocolate cake for dessert!
Mediterranean/European
- Way of Life/Mode De Vie: Way of Life is a 100% Vegan French restaurant located in downtown Edmonton. Although they keep strange hours (currently, it seems they are only open for lunch – they may be open for dinner one day a week), the effort of making a visit is worth the trouble. For just $11.50, you get a full vegan meal, including soup, salad, an entrée, dessert, and more goodies in between.
- Koutouki Taverna: With a few locations around the city, Koutouki is not what one may initially think of when trying to find a vegan restaurant. The truth is, though, that the staff are open to most diet restrictions, and Koutouki has much to offer to the vegan diner. From baked beans and rice to roasted red peppers and, of course, an endless supply of pita and hummus, Koutouki is an excellent choice if you’re in the mood for that Mediterranean flavour.
Asian/Pan-Asian/Indonesian
- Oriental Veggie House: Located in the heart of Chinatown, Oriental Veggie House is one of the best-known vegetarian restaurants in the city. The menu is massive, with all of your favourite Chinese dishes available animal-free. The lemon chicken is a winner with vegans and carnivores alike, and the Shanghai wonton soup is said to be the best in the city, vegan or not. You’ll have to visit the Veggie House more than once to get a good idea of just how many different flavours and dishes there are.
- Matahari: Referring to themselves as Pan-Asian and Thai, Matahari is a gorgeous downtown restaurant, complete with Koi pond and a ship that you can sit in. Although the options are not huge in quantity, the sheer quality of the food will keep you going back for more. Specializing in things like green and red curries and mango chicken, the staff at Matahari are open to finding solutions for making dishes vegan. In addition, many of their dishes are already vegan, which makes ordering easy and worry-free. Try the vegetables and tofu in coconut sauce, with mango spring rolls in tapioca for dessert. Delectable.
- Padmanadi: Also located in Chinatown, Padmanadi is a blend of Indonesian, Chinese, Thai, and Indian cuisine. Owned and run by Buddhists, Padmanadi is 100 % vegan, and is one of the friendliest restaurants in the city. Prepare to be treated like family! The menu is vast and offers many different flavours, so there’s something for everyone here. They also have a few desserts on the menu, and they are all delicious, so dig in!
Of course, this list is not exhaustive – for more vegan options, you can consult the vegetarian and vegan diner’s guide, available from Vegetarians of Alberta.
The copyright of the article The Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Edmonton in Vegan/Raw Food is owned by Andrea Beca. Permission to republish The Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Edmonton in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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