Olivia TaylorRecently, I had the pleasure of showing a close friend around Ottawa, but she arrived with a small concern: vegan-friendly dining options. Turns out, she had nothing to worry about as there are plenty of great options in the city – she was spoilt for choice!
Well, I still wanted to bring her to the best of the best, so I did my research beforehand and wowed her with my list of options (which we were all very happy to try, by the way).
By the end of her trip, we were able to come up with our top picks for organic and plant-based spots in the city, which we all compiled to create this list. And the best part is that we’re not gatekeeping anything!
So if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, have dietary restrictions, or just want to try to eat healthier, keep reading!
Little Jo Berry’s
– Media Credit: littlejoberrys
Pricing: $
Address: 1305 Wellington St. W
Contact: [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Wednesday-Thursday (11 AM – 5 PM)
- Friday (11 AM – 6 PM)
- Saturday (10 AM – 6 PM)
- Sunday (10 AM – 5 PM)
Little Jo Berry’s is a neighborhood vegan dessert place loved by Ottawans. Everything is dairy-free and egg-free here. There are also gluten-free and soy-free options; you can check their website or ask them directly.
We like that their desserts rotate daily, so there’s always something fresh and exciting. We must have gone to this place so many times when my friend was in town, and let me tell you, it was a different experience every time.
They offer a wide variety of treats, including donuts, shortbread cookies, cheesecake bars, cookies, scones, cakes, and rolls, among others.
You can place an order for desserts on their website. Do note, however, that online orders need a two-day notice.
| Pro Tip: They don’t have a phone number. For inquiries or custom orders, you can reach out to them in person or through their email. You can also follow them on social media for updates. |
Odd Burger
– Media Credit: ob.ottawa
Pricing: $$
Address: 1050 Bank St.
Contact: +13435884633
Business Hours: Daily (11 AM – 9 PM)
Odd Burger serves deliciously juicy plant-based burgers that are minimally processed and made from sustainable ingredients. We like their Famous Burger with smash patties made in-house. They have large servings and a wide variety of burgers to choose from – with different sauces, dairy-free “cheeze”, and “bacUn”.
We’re amazed at how well they do sides such as their nuggets and wings alternatives. Both are made from their own seitan recipe, coated in “buttermilk” batter, fried, and served with delicious sauces and glazes.
Aside from burgers, Odd Burger also serves wraps, tacos, breakfast sandwiches, pizzas, fries, tater tots, onion rings, and different kinds of poutine.
To wash everything down, they have soda, coffee, tea, and plant-based milkshakes. They also have an assortment of desserts such as non-dairy ice cream, cookies, and peppermint bars. Overall, they’re an indulgent and fun vegan fast-food restaurant worth noting!
| Pro Tip: They have party-size platters you can bring home for your family. |
Sundari’s Kitchen
– Media Credit: Sundari’s Kitchen
Pricing: $$
Address: 1487 Merivale Rd, Nepean
Contact: +16132262345
Business Hours:
- Monday-Tuesday; Thursday-Friday (11 AM – 2 PM; 5 PM – 10 PM)
- Saturday-Sunday (10 AM – 10 PM)
Sundari’s Kitchen serves authentic South Indian food that’s packed with flavor. We can tell that they use high-quality ingredients and fresh produce, because everything tastes crisp, juicy, and tasty.
It’s a nice neighborhood place to bring your friends, featuring friendly staff, an extensive menu, and reasonable prices. Some of our favorites include the different kinds of Dosai, especially the Mysore Masala Dosai, which is a thin crepe that’s made of rice and lentil.
The food is comforting, delicious, and tastes homemade. Everything is made from scratch, which we appreciate. The atmosphere was also relaxed and chill.
It’s worth noting that the place has limited space, so it might not be ideal for very large groups.
| Pro Tip: Check out their social media for updates and promos! |
Balista-Indian Bistro
– Media Credit: balista_ottawa
Pricing: $$
Address: 2150 Robertson Rd UNIT 5, Nepean
Contact: +16138299996
Business Hours: Daily (11 AM – 10 PM)
Balista-Indian Bistro started small in 2017, with a food van and six kinds of burgers and wraps in India. It has grown since then and opened its first franchise in Ottawa, frequented by people looking for delicious, purely vegan and vegetarian dishes.
We like that they have an extensive menu, offering different kinds of baked bread, paninis, sandwiches, salad and meal bowls, dumplings, and wraps.
Our favorites are the Paneer Supreme Baked Bread, Penne Rose Pasta, Makhani Curry Momos, and Tandoori Twist Paneer Wrap.
They also have many drinks to choose from – fizzy masala lemonade, coffee, mango lassi, and Jamun shots.
| Pro Tip: Their traditional chai is to die for. They also have flavored chai, you can ask them at the counter regarding availability. |
The Green Door
– Media Credit: thegreendoorrestaurant
Pricing: $$$
Address: 198 Main St
Contact: +16132349597
Business Hours:
- Tuesday-Sunday (11:30 AM – 8:30 PM)
The Green Door on Main Street offers a vegetarian buffet that rotates with the seasons. They get their produce from local farmers, which dictates their menu.
It’s a good find for those who are keen to try new kinds of food. You won’t get sick of eating the same thing over and over. We also appreciate that you can tailor your plate to your specific nutritional needs at any time.
The buffet includes a hot section and a salad bar. Some of our favorites are mushroom spinach lasagna, mashed potatoes with kale, seasonal and vegetable curry, and herb and feta spanakopita. We also enjoy their avocado salad and seaweed salad.
If you have a sweet tooth and want to enjoy a yummy treat without the guilt, they also have an assortment of cakes, pies, fruit crisps, squares, cookies, and truffles. These are all baked in-house and use maple syrup as a sweetener.
If you’re not really a sweets person, they also have wine and beer you can have with your meals.
| Pro Tip: You can buy their gift card here if you’re looking for good idea for a present. |
The Manx Pub
– Media Credit: manxpub
Pricing: $$$
Address: 370 Elgin St Suite No. 1
Contact: +16132312070
Business Hours:
- Monday-Thursday (11:30 AM – 11 PM)
- Friday (11:30 AM – 1 AM)
- Saturday (10 AM – 1 AM)
- Sunday (10 AM – 11 PM)
The Manx Pub is a well-loved Ottawa institution, having been around since 1993. While not entirely vegan, they offer a wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes you can enjoy.
We like their curried vegan tofu scramble, veggie burrito, Lebanese-spiced chickpea burger, and vegetarian tofu tacos, rice noodle bowl, among others. The portions are huge, so it’s very filling and worth the price.
Aside from these fun plant-based options, they also have tasty scones that work well with coffee. Manx Pub is also a nice place to bring friends and workmates for a drink or two. They’ve got quite a selection – beers, whiskey, and wine.
The atmosphere here is relaxed, featuring warm and funny staff who are easy to talk to, along with an occasional live band. It’s just a chill place to hang out, drink, and eat good food.
| Pro Tip: They announce the schedule of the bands that will be playing at the pub via social media. We have discovered a great number of bands we ended up loving because of this. |
Chickpeas Ottawa
– Media Credit: chickpeasottawa
Pricing: $$
Address: 500 Terminal Ave. A-05
Contact: +16137898999
Business Hours:
- Tuesday-Saturday (11 AM – 9 PM)
- Sunday-Monday (11 AM – 6 PM)
Chickpeas Ottawa is a scratch kitchen that can accommodate around 10 people at a time, but people line up for their food because it tastes amazing. They mostly serve falafel and hummus that’s made with locally-sourced and high-quality ingredients.
We love how the falafels are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The hummus is creamy and packed with a lot of flavor; we simply could not get enough.
Aside from the food, we also enjoy going to their stall because of how friendly everyone is. The atmosphere is warm and the staff are easy to talk to. You can easily ask questions, and they’ll guide you towards the best recommendations for your preferences.
We’ve tried a lot of their food already, but our favorites include the Go Original Wrap, Falafel Bite, and Go Roasted Red Bowl.
You’d also be glad to know that they have 9 kinds of hummus available. When you order a hummus dip plate, you get to choose between white or brown pita bread. Our favorite hummus is the original and the black bean one.
Chickpeas Ottawa is a family-friendly place, with kids’ meal options and juice boxes.
| Pro Tip: We love their black tea with cardamom and cinnamon when we eat here. |
Pure Kitchen
– Media Credit: purekitchenottawa
Pricing: $$$
Address: 340 Elgin St
Contact: +1 6132337873
Business Hours:
- Monday-Wednesday (11:30 AM – 9 PM)
- Thursday-Friday (11:30 AM – 10 PM)
- Saturday (10:30 AM – 10 PM)
- Sunday (10:30 AM – 9 PM)
Pure Kitchen is another casual spot for delicious vegetarian and vegan food. It has two branches, one in Westboro and the one on Elgin Street. We frequent the latter.
We love their menu because there is a variety of options that taste and look amazing. They have great appetizers such as charred broccoli, cauliflower wings, and veggie dumplings. Our favorites are the guacamole and chips options, “do good” and “prosperous”.
They also have vegetables and rice bowls that are filling and yummy. As Korean food lovers, we really enjoyed the bibimbap meal. It’s sweet, savory, spicy, and very colorful to look at.
They offer a kale Caesar salad that works really well with cashew cheese and coconut bacon. This is perfect if you want something light.
The sandwiches and wraps they offer are huge and packed with flavor. The meat alternatives work really well overall. These are served with either fries or a side of greens.
| Pro Tip: Pure Kitchen offers a juice detox program that you can check out here. |
Mad Radish
– Media Credit: eatmadradish
Pricing: $$
Address: 116 Albert St #100
Contact: +16134216923
Business Hours: Monday – Friday (11 AM – 7:30 PM)
Mad Radish offers healthy salad bowls and burritos. We like that they have diverse flavor profiles. Some of our favorites are the Bombay Spice Bowl with a yummy cilantro dressing and the Crispy Taco Salad that’s very creamy and earthy.
Aside from bowls, they have a wide range of burritos, sandwiches, soups, and sides to choose from. Serving time is quick, and you can order online for either pickup or delivery. We love that Mad Radish makes healthy food accessible.
Their portion size is also huge, so it would really fill you up. It’s a convenient place to grab a healthy lunch with your friends or officemates.
| Pro Tip: Always check their social media and website for limited edition offerings! At the moment, they have a maple farm bowl fall edition that captured our hearts and stomachs. |
Wolf Down
– Media Credit: wolf.down
Pricing: $$
Address: 380 Bank St
Contact: +16134214054
Business Hours: Daily (11 AM – 12 AM)
Wolf Down offers amazing German street food at its finest. They have very tasty tofu döner that’s good with either salad, rice, or a wrap. Even their sauces are vegan, and they taste amazing.
The food at Wolf Down is always fresh and flavorful. The tofu is well-seasoned, and the toppings are crisp.
To wash it all down, they offer various drinks, including the NutCase, made from cashews, dates, agave, and sea salt. This drink is available in chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla, and coffee flavors.
| Pro Tip: If you need an extra burst of energy, you can try Club Mate. It’s a German energy drink that’s popular in nightclubs. |
