Veggie Delights; Delicious Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Ottawa
Any visit to Ottawa will involve diving into the capital’s vibrant culinary scene. If you want to indulge in healthy, plant-based meals, you’ll find a variety of delicious meatless options in Ottawa’s many vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants. 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 veggie centric restaurants near Ottawa.
Pure Kitchen
As one of the most well-known vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Ottawa, Pure Kitchen is a must for any veggie lover. With a passion for health, lifestyle, and community, this veggie hot spot focuses on high quality ingredients, unique flavourful dishes, and has the widest variety of vegan options. Owners Kyle and Olivia opened the first Pure Kitchen location in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood in 2015, and quickly expanded to three bright, stylish locations around the city.
Pure Kitchen’s incredible menu features tons of delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks or a late night bite. Try their famous cauliflower wings, bibimbap bowl, Renewed wrap or the popular Awesome burger. Pair your meal with a refreshing cold-pressed juice from their juice bar, elixir shot, energizing smoothie, cocktail, or mocktail for the perfect heart-healthy meal.
Antheia
Dining at Ottawa’s Antheia restaurant is more than just a meal, it’s a gastronomic experience. Self-taught chef Briana Kim, winner of the 2023 Canadian Culinary Championship, is the genius behind Antheia; a fermentation-focused restaurant and R&D lab in Ottawa’s Chinatown. Inspired by traditional and modern techniques of fermentation from around the world, Antheia provides a truly one-of-a-kind plant-based dining experience.
With a 12-seat tasting bar and only two tables, dining at Antheia is exclusive. Tickets are released on the first of each month (for dining the following month), and are non-refundable (although transferable online). The multi-course tasting menu is constantly evolving and concentrates on a fermentation schedule rather than ingredient seasonality. If you’re looking for a truly unique journey into the world of food and fermentation, put this one-of-a-kind Ottawa restaurant on the top of your dine-out list.
Wild Oat Bakery
Nestled in Ottawa’s vibrant neighbourhood of the Glebe, Wild Oat Bakery has been serving up top notch bread, and delicious from-scratch vegetarian meals for over 20 years. The café sources much of its produce from the 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. Most loaves contain no dairy or egg, and they also have several gluten-free options for those with dietary sensitivities.
Known for their scrumptious selection of healthy vegetarian dishes, some must-try’s are the smokey bean wrap, wild-a-beast burger, and our favourite, the El Oaxaca. They also have an extensive selection of smoothies, coffees, and decadent sweet treats.
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.
Enjoy a vegetarian brunch with friends and chow down on dishes like their Hangover poutine, avocado croffle, “salmon” benedict, or “chicken” and waffles. Astroia Bistro is also great for an intimate dinner for two with a fantastic dinner menu, an extensive cocktail and mocktail selection, and a well-appointed wine list.
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. If you have an alternative diet or food allergies, and want to buy treats without the worry of cross contamination, this is the spot. Everything on the menu is vegan, kosher, and is free of gluten, dairy, wheat, eggs, nuts, and tree-nuts (with the exception of coconut).
You’ll find unique savoury treats like their tofu scramble tarts, jalapeño-cheddar cornbread loaf, pizza buns, and take-and-bake vegan pot pies, along with sweet treat like their babka buns, lemon meringue tarts and brownie bombs . If you’re celebrating a special occasion, they also offer custom-made cakes tailored to your dietary needs.
Peace Garden
Tucked into a cozy spot in the heart of the ByWard Market, Peace Garden may be one of Ottawa’s best-kept vegetarian secrets. Serving up vegetarian and vegan dishes for over 30 years, they specialize in flavourful Indian cuisine, as well as other great plant-based options. Satisfy your veggie cravings with a hearty curry, the Thali platter, sweet potato burger, or yummy samosas. Their homemade desserts are not to be overlooked, and their cold power juices will give you that healthy kick to breeze through your day.
Little Jo Berry’s - Vegans Who Snack Food Festival
Serving up delicious dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free and 100% vegan treats, Little Jo Berry’s is one of Ottawa’s most well-known vegan bakeries. While their flagship storefront has closed, they still accept online orders with pickup at partner locations around the city.
New to the Ottawa’s vegan food scene, Little Jo Berry’s is also the creator of the Vegans Who Snack Food Festival. Held monthly at the Parkdale Market during the summer months, this plant-based food extravaganza is a vegan’s dream. Wander through the market and explore over 60 different local food vendors, taste test new and unique vegan creations, and find your new favourite veggie delight.
The Green Door Restaurant and Bakery
A mainstay on Ottawa’s vegetarian scene since 1988, Green Door restaurant is a familiar favourite with veggie loving 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. Don’t forget to add on a tasty dessert, wine, beer or local cider for the perfectly vegetarian meal.
Chickpeas
As Ottawa’s first and only dedicated falafel and hummus eatery, Chickpeas serves up - well chickpeas! Located near the Train Yards shopping district, they specialize in falafels and hummus, using traditional recipes and fresh ingredients. Try a falafel bowl with classic hummus, or opt for a mixed plate complete with a selection of flavoured hummus; 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 vegetarian meal.
