Today on the blog I'm sharing my top five favourite vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Edmonton. All of the restaurants on this list are locally owned and operated in YEG. Now, more than ever, is the time to support small local businesses. Currently in Alberta we are facing heavier restrictions with restaurants being unable to allow indoor, in-person dining. Patios aren't an option for some of these locations, and those that do have patio service available have limited space for seating. Restaurants are heavily relying on take-out and delivery at this time. So if you're looking for some great vegan and vegetarian food, these are my top five suggestions.
PSA: All recommendations are based on my own, personal opinion. I am not a food critic - I just really, really enjoy eating good food...like a lot.
Padmanadi
Padmanadi is a long-time favourite of mine. Pads is a family run, all-vegan restaurant. Many of my omni friends and family also enjoy the fare here. Padmanadi is located downtown, and now has a second location on the south side. Pre-rona', they had an amazing monthly all-you-can-eat buffet for $20. They have offered many alternatives to their buffet, since restrictions prevented it from running as per usual. These include 'meal deals' for pre-order, with a variety of dishes included. Their downtown location has an inexpensive lunch menu, which made me a regular lunch-time guest in university. Additionally, they offer a delicious brunch menu on weekends. The lunch and dinner menu features plenty of Asian dishes using fake meats. Fan favourite yellow chicken curry can now be ordered online through Uproot Collective, making my move to Calgary sting a little less. Overall, the food is amazing and the family behind the business is even more-so. Padmanadi has donated many meals, and has made many monetary donations, to those in the community throughout the years. During the peak of the pandemic, the Padmanadi family offered to buy those who were struggling groceries. Their business has more to offer than delicious food, and I will continue to support them for the years to come.
Cafe Mosaics
Cafe Mosaics is known as the 'Vegan and Vegetarian Waterhole' for good reason. Hidden away, with little signage on Whyte Ave, you'll find this gem of a restaurant. Cafe Mosaics was passed on from one local family to another, and remains locally owned and operated. With an expansive food and drink menu, you're bound to find something you'll enjoy. You can also buy some of their products in bulk to take home with you (ie. sauces). Their menu offers plenty of healthy but flavourful options. I highly recommend the Vegan Pho or the vegan mac n' cheese (Stay Gold Pony Boy, Stay Gold). They offer take-out, pick-up, and delivery through Skip The Dishes. Their patio remains open under current restrictions with limited seating and, of course, weather dependant.
The Moth Cafe
Everything at The Moth is beautiful, from the interior to the food; it is an Insta dream come true. The food is also incredible. Owned by the same family that owns Cafe Mosaics, this restaurant heavily focuses on holistic nutrition. There are plenty of healthy options available; and they have honestly nailed the flavours. Healthy vegan food often gets painted as being bland, or flavourless. The opposite could not be any more true when it comes to The Moth (and Mosaics). Being a cafe, they also offer plenty of drink options ranging from specialty lattes to kombucha on tap. Located on Jasper Ave, this is the perfect little place to spend an afternoon catching up with a friend (post-rona restrictions, of course). Like Cafe Mosaics, you can purchase some items in bulk.
The Clever Rabbit Vegetarian Cafe
The Clever Rabbit is another locally owned, fully-vegan restaurant. Located on 124th, it was another favourite university-era eatery for myself. In addition to their regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, they frequently host annual events such as donut fest, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter take-home dinners, hangover brunch post-New Years, vegan charcuterie, and more. They did take-home kits and dinners before 'rona made it trendy. My university days are long over, but the food is still as good as it was back then - or better. At TCR you can find so many amazing baked vegan treats. They've also added a vegan 'butcher' where you can find some of the meats they use in their dishes, and charcuterie.
The Buckingham
If you're craving pub food, you need to check out The Buck. From wings, to nachos, to fried chicken and burgers, The Buck has it all and they do it right. Back in the uni days, I frequented the Sailin' On food truck, before they moved to The Buck to create a killer 'All Vegan, All the Time' menu. The Buckingham is located in the heart of Whyte Ave and makes the perfect destination for a night out. Local bands often play here, and they have events on many occasions (St. Paddy's, New Years, etc). If you're vegan be sure to ask your server about bevvy options, as not all are vegan. Their patio remains open, weather dependant.
So there you have it - five veggie restaurants you can find in YEG. Whether you're new to the city, want to try something new, or want to make sure your herbivore friends are well-fed; I recommend checking out these local gems. There are many other veg restaurants in Edmonton that I've not tried, but you best believe they're on my list. Many have closed down throughout the years (miss you v much, DiePie), and many other local businesses offer delicious veggie options (I'm looking at you Remedy, gimme' that vegan butter chicken).
If you have any other local rec's, let us know in the comments!
Until next time,
Courtney.
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