Your guide to vegan adventures in Montreal
As more people turn to vegan lifestyles, whether for health or for ethical reasons, restaurateurs in Montreal are rising to the challenge, and wonderful vegan restaurants are popping up around the city. From fancy sit-down diners to fast food, there's something for every food lover, vegan or not. [Image credit: iStock.com/SilviaJansen]
Crudessence
2157, rue MacKay, Montréal, QC H3G 2J2Crudessence has long been a leader in the raw-food movement in Montreal. The restaurant serves delicious raw, organic and gluten-free meals. The menu includes raw versions of traditional restaurant fare, with burgers, lasagna, sandwiches and soups being prominent features. Portions are large and the food is satisfying. If you still have room after your main course, you'll want to try the blueberry un-cheesecake. In keeping with their mission to spread the message of health, sustainability and ecology, Crudessence offers themed classes on raw cooking, fermenting, dehydration and more.
ChuChai
4088-4094 rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2W 2M5Chu Chai has been a Saint-Denis fixture for decades. The food at this vegan Thai restaurant has to be seen to be believed. The menu has all the typical Thai restaurant offerings - crispy duck, fish croquettes and dumplings in peanut sauce - but in each, the animal protein is replaced with an extremely convincing vegan duplicate. It's truly a marvel of creativity. The food is excellent, and the kitchen is willing to adjust spice levels to your preference. The only caveat is that soy and seitan feature prominently, so if you're avoiding either, this might not be the restaurant for you.
La Panthère Verte
2153, rue MacKay, Montréal, QC H3G 2J2La Panthère Verte (The Green Panther) is a cozy, laid-back restaurant whose menu includes daily hot meal specials and delicious soups, salads, sandwiches and beverages. Each dish is made from organic, sustainable and, whenever possible, local ingredients. The restaurant is small and the menu isn't extensive, but the food is excellent and affordable. Their falafel is amazing, as are their freshly pressed juices and energy balls. There are now several locations throughout the city, but the Mackay location is the original. You can also find their food truck tooling around the city delivering a quick vegan fix.
Copper Branch
1245 Rue Bishop, Montréal, QC H3G 2E2The Copper Branch is the city's first vegan fast-food restaurant. Its goal is to make healthy food accessible and convenient. The atmosphere is clean and bright, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The menu includes breakfasts, salads, soups and sandwiches, as expected. But it's their Power Bowls that are really worth trying - the creative combinations of organic grains, veggies and proteins are delicious and satisfying. Finish off your meal with a decadent chocolate zucchini brownie.
Aux Vivres
4631, boul Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R2One of Montreal's most popular vegan restaurants, Aux Vivres is big and bright, with a cool, hipster vibe. The menu is extensive and exotic and features tofu, tempeh, supergrains and vegetables. The emphasis is on locally sourced, organic products. Regulars rave about the freshly pressed juices and the Dragon Bowl is a must-try.
Sophie Sucrée
3770 Boul Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1X6Sophie Sucrée is a vegan bakery with an amazing selection of cupcakes, cookies, brownies and more. Each treat is an artistic creation that is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat. Owner and baker Milene Laoun uses only fresh, local ingredients and opts for organic options whenever possible. In addition to running the bakery, she also makes custom cakes and hosts special events, high teas and cake decorating classes.
Le JuBar
208-3863, boul Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1Y1Le JuBar is a private club - you'll have to pay a small membership fee on your first visit - located down the hall from Moksha Yoga and above Pharmaprix. This small juice bar serves one phenomenal vegan main course per day. Every morning on JuBar's Facebook page, owner Chantal Lemieux posts the day's dish: a beautiful, healthy plate focusing on fresh ingredients and exotic flavours. You'll feel like you're having lunch at a cool friend's loft. JuBar is a meeting place for spiritually like-minded vegans.
Lola Rosa Milton
545, rue Milton, Montréal, QC H2X 1W5When you need a break from the typical bowls and green juices of other vegan restaurants, head over to Lola Rosa. This affordable vegetarian restaurant isn't strictly vegan, but has many dishes that are or can be easily made vegan. The menu is small and features delicious Mexican meals and, strangely, a few wonderful Middle Eastern selections. Must-tries include the vegan nachos and vegan burrito. Wash it down with a glass of microbrewery beer.
