It seems that since the pandemic, many folks have decided to shift to a healthy plant-based diet relying less on animal proteins. Coming face to face with what to eat can be daunting, causing panic in the kitchen. Thankfully, more and more restaurants have come onboard enabling the average person trying to feed their families some relief.
So, imagine exploring local eateries offering tasty meals such as burgers, wraps and desserts — all plant-based and delicious! Here are a few of the restaurants leading the plant-based charge in Waterloo Region.
Cafe Pyrus in downtown Kitchener has been on the vegetarian scene for around 15 years using locally-sourced organic ingredients. Everything at Cafe Pyrus is made in-house, no bottled sauces, just delicious creations that even a carnivore will find satisfying.
Coven in downtown Kitchener is a 100% vegan deli and specialty grocery store offering locally-made products. Everything is plant-based with a takeaway menu featuring “sandys and sallys” (sandwiches and salads). Their bakery offers cinnamon buns, Nanaimo bars, carrot cake and even tiramisu.
Copper Branch in Uptown Waterloo is a plant-based Canadian restaurant now in several countries around the world. It boasts a healthy all-vegan menu with gluten-free buns and tortilla wraps stuffed with tempeh, sweet potato, zucchini, caramelized onions, provolone “cheese”, tomato, lettuce and barbecue sauce. Or enjoy a beet and brown-rice burger topped with onions, lettuce and guacamole.
The Healthy Owl Bakery Cafe in north Waterloo opened in 2013 making wholesome affordable offerings from scratch, all priced below $10. Make your first meal of the day an egg, spinach and ricotta frittata or a vegan burrito. Enjoy a salad for lunch or a fresh-baked treat with your coffee. Soup is always ready, and changes with the seasons.
Odd Burger in Waterloo Town Square started in London in 2014, proudly making changes to the food system by being different and thinking differently. It is possible to eat traditional fast food in a healthier, more sustainable and ethical way by using 100% vegan, gluten-free and organic food products.
“Being ‘odd’ can transform a “typical” burger, shake, wrap or salad into a 100% vegan choice. Odd Burger uses oat milk, organic soy milk, dairy-free “cheeze”, Crispy ChickUn, and plant-based protein made at their London, Ontario manufacturing facility. They make their own sauces too.
Shri Dakshin in Cambridge is sister restaurant to Dakshin on Hespeler Road serving a growing demographic desiring vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
One of their specialties is idly “cakes” made for breakfast. Deep fried with cilantro and diced red onion, they are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the interior. Enjoy them dipped in Shri Dakshin’s peanut sauce!
The Healthy Rabbit in Cambridge is located in a historic building offering plant-based food prepared fresh from scratch every morning from local ingredients. It’s not fast food, so it can take 15 minutes or so to make the dishes.
The Healthy Rabbit is big on bowls and they offer about 14 on their menu including the “Seeker Bowl” that is a salad smorgasbord full of healthy things and topped with a delightful lemon and maple-tahini dressing.
You can find more information about these and many other awesome veggie restaurants in the Waterloo Region by searching online or by consulting regional directories. Happy searching and enjoy!