10 Delicious Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Ottawa
Any visit to Ottawa will involve diving into the capital’s vibrant culinary scene. If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just want to indulge in healthy, plant-based meals, you’ll find a variety of delicious meatless options in restaurants, bakeries and cafes throughout the Ottawa area. Not only is a vegetarian diet great for maintaining good health, but plant-based diets are also eco-friendly, emitting 2.5-times less carbon than a diet containing meat. Eat your way through Ottawa with our guide to the best vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Ottawa.
Pure Kitchen
As one of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in the city, Pure Kitchen is a must for any veggie lover. With a passion for health, lifestyle, community and quality ingredients, owners Kyle and Olivia opened the first Pure Kitchen location in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood in 2015, and quickly expanded to five bright, stylish locations around the city. Their incredible menu features a wide array of mouth-watering dishes from breakfast and dinner, to drinks and late night bites. Try their famous cauliflower wings, Awesome burger (tasty mushroom-walnut patty), kale Caesar salad, bibimbap bowl or Renewed wrap. Pair your meal with a refreshing cold-pressed juice, Elixir shot, energizing smoothie, cocktail, mocktail or local brew for the perfect heart-healthy meal.
Wild Oat Bakery
Nestled in Ottawa’s vibrant Glebe neighbourhood, Wild Oat Bakery and Cafe has been serving up healthy and delicious vegetarian meals made from scratch for over 20 years. The cafe sources much of its produce from Wild Oat Farm located 50 km outside the city, which provides fresh, pesticide-free, organic ingredients for their baked goods and café meals. All of their breads are made from scratch using only organic flour and most contain no dairy or egg. They also have several gluten-free options for those with dietary sensitivities. Known for their scrumptious selection of healthy vegetarian and vegan dishes, you’ll want to dive into some of their classics like the falafel bowl, the wild-a-beast burger (made with a buckwheat-veg-seed and nut patty), fluffy omelets packed with fresh veggies, or our favourite, the mouth-watering El Oaxaca sandwich made with house-made black bean spread. Save room for dessert, or take a box to go, as their pumpkin and pecan cinnamon buns, spicy vegan brownie, and delicious selection of fresh-baked muffins and scones are not to be missed.
Peace Garden
Tucked into a cozy spot in the heart of the ByWard Market, the Peace Garden may be one of Ottawa’s best-kept vegetarian secrets. Serving up vegetarian and vegan goodness for over 30 years, they specialize in flavourful Indian cuisine, along with a handful of other great plant-based options. Satisfy your cravings with a hearty curry, the Mother India thali platter, dal with brown rice, or yummy samosas. Their sweet potato burger, eggplant lasagna, and homemade desserts are also classics not to be missed, and their cold power juices will give you that healthy kick to breeze through your day.
Astoria Bistro Botanique
Across the Ottawa river in the heart of downtown Gatineau, Astoria Bistro Botanique is a unique botanical bistro serving up seasonal farm-to-table vegetarian and vegan fare. Their plant-based menu concentrates on elevated comfort food, using clever animal protein substitutes like tofu “eggs”, nut-based cheese, jackfruit “pulled pork”, tofu “fried chicken” as well as Beyond Meat patties and sausages. Bring your friends and indulge in an array of tasty sharing plates like kimchi fries, buffalo mac’n “cheese” and General Tso’s poutine, or celebrate the weekend with a veggie brunch complete with chik’n and waffles, pear and sausage pizza, French onion soup, or the classic Benedict with tofu egg and cashew hollandaise. Their sugar shack plate, a nod to Quebec’s maple syrup roots, is a must for any maple lover, piled high with maple beans, tofu scramble, Beyond Meat sausage, crèpes and roasted potatoes, all drizzled with liquid gold. Pair any one of their scrumptious plates with a creation from their inventive cocktail menu, and say cheers to the weekend with an elderflower old-fashioned or violet martini.
Strawberry Blonde Bakery
With two locations around the city, Strawberry Blonde Bakery is one of Ottawa’s best vegan bakeries, and a favourite among locals. Their mission is to create a space where people with alternative diets and food allergies can buy treats without having to worry about cross contamination. Everything on the menu is kosher, free of gluten, dairy, wheat, eggs, nuts, and tree-nuts (with the exception of coconut). For those craving something savoury, you’ll find tons of goodies to satisfy any plant-based palette including tofu scramble tarts, jalapeño-cheddar cornbread loaf, and pizza buns, as well as take-and-bake vegan pot pie and tortière. If you’re craving something sweet, you won’t be disappointed with their selection of sinful baked goods including chocolate cream tarts, lemon blueberry cheesecake bars, date squares, nanaimo bars, brownie bombs, cookies and muffins. Celebrating a special occasion? Order one of their custom cake creations and celebrate with a unique dessert tailored to your dietary needs.
Alice
Self-taught and award-winning chef Briana Kim is the genius behind Alice, a superb vegetable and fermentation-focussed restaurant in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood. Inspired by the Canadian landscape, as well as traditional and modern techniques of fermentation from around the world, Alice provides a truly one-of-a-kind plant-based dining experience. The 8-course blind tasting menu combines unique flavour combinations, presented as delicate works of art, almost too beautiful to eat. While the menu is constantly evolving, you can expect an explosion of meticulously-paired flavours, with dishes like charcoal-grilled lion’s mane with fermented tomato glaze, cured daikon, pickled leeks, yeast garum, toasted hay aioli, pine butter, mushroom and rutabaga tea. A natural wine and fermented juice paring is available at an additional costs, and is highly recommended to appreciate the full experience. With the tasting menu only beginning at $165 per person, Alice is a splurge-worthy spot for special occasions, or to experience Ottawa plant-based fine dining at its best.
Little Jo Berry’s
Built on the pillars of community, friendship and great food, Little Jo Berry’s is a neighbourhood bakery serving up delicious dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free and 100% vegan fare. Donuts, scones, chocolate cinnamon streusel cake, intricate cakes, tiramisu cups, sinful lakies and infamous pop tarts are just some of the heavenly treats on offer. For those in the mood for something savoury, pick up hand-made perogies and pizza rolls oozing with flavour, and in the summer months grab a juicy watermelon slice topped with vegan soft-serve.
La Belle Verte
Located in Gatineau, Quebec, just minutes from downtown Ottawa, La Belle Verte is a cozy café serving up a tempting selection of fresh, delicious vegetarian and vegan meals using locally-sourced ingredients. Grab a seat inside and enjoy a lunch with friends, or snag a table on the small outdoor patio in the summer months and people-watch over a plant-based dinner for two. Pore over their extensive menu full of fresh salads, veggie bowls, oven-baked pizzas, tasty wraps, steamy soups and even raw vegan sushi. Don’t forget to save room for their tantalizing dessert menu; their 3-layer lemon, raspberry and chocolate cake will be calling your name.
The Green Door
A mainstay on Ottawa’s vegetarian scene since 1988, the Green Door restaurant is a familiar favourite of the city’s locals. With a rotating farm-to-table vegetarian menu complete with vegan and gluten-free options, Green Door offers nourishing and organic meals in an unpretentious, casual setting. Load up your plate from the self-serve hot buffet and salad bar, and pay for your food by weight, then add on a tasty dessert, wine, beer or local cider for the perfectly customized plant-based meal.
Chickpeas
Their name says it all, and Chickpeas, Ottawa’s first and only falafel and hummus eatery is definitely worth a stop. With three locations throughout the city, Chickpeas specializes in falafels and hummus, using traditional recipes, fresh ingredients, and tons of flavour. Try a falafel bowl with classic hummus, or opt for the mixed plate complete with a selection of flavoured hummus including roasted jalapeño, red beet, roasted red pepper, black bean or avocado mango. Add some tabbouleh, green olive salad, chickpea salad or hot lentil soup for the perfect meal, day or night.
