Vegan and vegetarian eating in Toronto: where to go and what to order

Toronto is one of the easiest cities in Canada to eat without meat. It has dedicated vegan and vegetarian restaurants and bakeries, mainstream restaurants with clearly marked plant-based dishes, and, above all, cuisines from around the world with deep vegetarian traditions. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or just eating less meat, you will eat very well here.

Is Toronto good for vegans?

Very. Toronto has a large and growing number of fully vegan restaurants, cafés and bakeries, from comfort food and burgers to fine dining. Many mainstream restaurants mark vegan options on their menus, and plant-based milks are standard in cafés. Kensington Market, the Annex, Queen Street West and Leslieville are especially good areas to look.

Which cuisines are best for vegetarians in Toronto?

Cuisine	Why it works	Where to look
South Indian	Dosa, idli, sambar, thali, often fully vegetarian	Little India, Scarborough
North Indian	Dal, chana, paneer, vegetable curries	Little India, across the city
Ethiopian and Eritrean	Lentil, pea and vegetable stews on injera	Little Ethiopia on the Danforth
Middle Eastern	Falafel, hummus, salads, mezze	Downtown, the Annex
Greek	Dips, spanakopita, salads, grilled halloumi	The Danforth
Chinese Buddhist	Fully vegetarian menus with mock meats	Chinatown, Scarborough, Markham
Caribbean	Ital (Rastafarian) dishes, roti with vegetable fillings	Little Jamaica, Scarborough

What hidden animal ingredients should you watch for?

• Fish sauce and shrimp paste in Southeast Asian dishes.
• Ghee (clarified butter), cream and yogurt in Indian dishes.
• Meat or fish stock in soups, rice and sauces.
• Butter in mashed potatoes and on vegetables.
• Egg in pasta, baked goods and some breads.
• Lard in some pastries and refried beans.
• Gelatin in some desserts and sweets.
• Anchovies in Caesar dressing.

How do you order vegan at a non-vegan restaurant?

1. Check the menu online before you go.
2. Tell the server you are vegan, rather than just asking for no meat.
3. Ask about stocks, butter and sauces.
4. Build a meal from sides if needed.
5. Call ahead for a group booking, so the kitchen can plan something better.

What are the best vegan comfort foods in Toronto?

Toronto's vegan scene loves comfort food: plant-based burgers, fried "chicken", mac and cheese, poutine with vegan gravy and curds, pizzas, doughnuts and soft serve. Look for vegan bakeries for cakes, cookies and butter tarts made without butter.

Can you eat vegan at dim sum or Korean barbecue?

At dim sum, look for vegetable dumplings, rice noodle rolls, turnip cake (ask about dried shrimp and lard) and vegetable buns, or visit a Buddhist vegetarian dim sum restaurant. At Korean barbecue it is harder, since kimchi and many side dishes contain fish sauce, but tofu, mushrooms, vegetables and rice can make a meal; tell the staff early.

Is plant-based eating affordable in Toronto?

It can be very affordable. South Indian, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern and Chinese Buddhist restaurants offer some of the best-value meat-free meals in the city. Ontario adds the 13 percent HST to restaurant bills. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service.

Is Toronto good for vegetarian brunch?

Yes. Many brunch spots offer tofu scrambles, vegan pancakes, plant-based sausages and vegetable hashes alongside egg dishes, and some brunch places are entirely vegetarian or vegan. Leslieville, Kensington Market and the Annex are good places to look. Ask whether hollandaise, pancake batter and baked goods contain egg or dairy if you are vegan.

Can vegans eat at Toronto's food festivals and markets?

Usually. Big events such as the CNE and summer street festivals have more plant-based vendors than they used to, and markets like St. Lawrence Market and Evergreen Brick Works have vegan bakers and stalls. Check vendor lists ahead if you can.

Is there a vegan food festival in Toronto?

Toronto has hosted large vegetarian and vegan food festivals, traditionally in late summer or early fall, with food stalls, talks and cooking demos. Check current listings for dates.

Which Toronto neighbourhoods are easiest for vegans?

You can eat plant-based almost anywhere in Toronto, but some neighbourhoods make it especially easy:

Neighbourhood	Why
Kensington Market and Chinatown	Plant-based cafés, Buddhist vegetarian restaurants, cheap eats
The Annex and Bloor West	Student-friendly vegan and vegetarian spots
Queen West and Ossington	Vegan bakeries, cafés and modern restaurants
Gerrard India Bazaar	Vegetarian South Asian food and sweets
The Danforth	Ethiopian vegan platters and Greek vegetable dishes

Restaurants open and close often, so check that a place is still running before you make a trip.

How do you find the best vegan and vegetarian food in Toronto?

Menus change and restaurants come and go, so the best guide is people who actually ate there. On Mosey, you can rate places and specific dishes, note whether they were vegan, follow friends who eat the way you do and keep a list of places that got it right.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Eating out in Toronto in winter: comfort food, markets and cozy rooms
• Yorkville food guide: fine dining, hotel bars and where to eat for less

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.