Guide: Top 9 plant-based restaurants in Calgary

Hey veggie fans! We’ve teamed up with WinSport’s Executive Chef, Liana Robberecht, to bring you our top picks for plant-based eating in Calgary in honour of the 2nd annual PLANTED Dinner Series. Why, you ask? Well, because some of Calgary’s top chefs will be coming together on March 28th for the PLANTED Kick-Off at WinSport. This event is a celebration of all things planted, exploring vegetarian and vegan culinary creations. Attendees will spend the evening wine-ing, dining, and mingling over the innovative plant-based creations. Check out our article for tickets and more info!

Plant-Based Restos

Hearts Choices Thai Vegan Cafe

This Calgary staple is first on our list for obvious reasons. Their menu is filled with delicious thai-inspired vegan dishes, and you literally can’t go wrong with any choice you make. Our top picks: Thai Green Curry with Coconut Rice, Satay Chick’n Skewers and Ginger Chick’n. Seriously, whether you’re a meat eater or die hard vegan, this place will steal your heart.

Where: 9679 Macleod Trail SW

saVeg Cafe

Located inside Heavens Fitness, this plant-based eatery combines vegan cooking and Korean cuisine. They have a breakfast menu (served until 11am on weekdays, 12pm on weekends) that has all the AM classics with a vegan twist. You need to try the No Eggs Benedict with coated tofu, spinach, tomato, avocado and housemade vegan hollandaise all on an english muffin. From their mains, we suggest the Vegan “Tuna” Poke Bowl. It’s loaded with marinated rice, fresh veggies, tofu, marinated tomato “tuna”, toasted sesame seeds, nori and siracha mayo. It’ll even the strongest sushi cravings.

Where: 637 11 Ave SW

The Coup

Would this list even count if we didn’t have The Coup on it? Probably not. Whether you’re grabbing brunch with pals, going on a romantic dinner date for two, or catching up over a veg-focused cocktail, The Coup is your spot. Branding themselves as “ethical vegetarians”, their brunch, lunch and dinner menus are filled with plant-based dishes that will have you coming back every week. Our menu picks? Steamed Buns, the Giant Panda, and Tempeh Shawarma.

Where: 924 17 Ave SW

Raw Eatery & Market

One of the newest additions to the Calgary food scene, we’re sure that Raw is here to stay. Located in the heart of Kensington, they have a menu fully loaded with the healthiest of choices, with dishes ranging from The Garden Spaghetti (made with spiralized zucchini noodles) to Rainbow Pad Thai (made with spiralized beet noodles). Our faves are The Fixed Tacos made with sunflower seed taco ‘meat’ and The Kale-Mary salad.

Where: 1145 Kensington Cres NW

Veg-In YYC

East meets West at this vegan and vegetarian take-out cafe in downtown Calgary. Their globally-inspired menu is filled with street food style foods that are house-made from the fresh and local ingredients. From burritos to burgers to naan flatbreads to signature creations like their house baked samosas, this ‘lil cafe has a big menu to satisfy an even bigger appetite. Their Drooling Hippie naan flatbread is loaded with house-made sauce, crunchy samosa and a veggie blend, and TBH we just can’t get enough.

Where: 215 6 Ave SE

Happy Veggie House

This hidden gem is serving Calgarians vegetarian versions of traditional Chinese dishes that’ll satisfy any appetite while keeping your wallet as happy as your tummy. The unassuming restaurant needs to be added to your plant-based resto repertoire immediately as it has all of the Chinese classics you know and love. Their vegetarian ‘meats’ will have you thinking you’re eating the real thing, and you haven’t lived till you’ve tried the Veggie House Chow Mein.

Where: 109-110 303 Centre St SW

Restos With Plant-Based Options

There might be times when you aren’t able to swing going to a veg-only restaurant. That’s cool, we get it. Sometimes our carnivorous pals just can’t get down with the idea of a meatless venue, so here are our picks for restaurants with a solid selection of plant-based eats.

RAW Bar

Asian flavours? Check. Contemporary influences? You bet! Located inside of the ever-so-boujee Hotel Arts, this modern Calgary resto offers classic cocktails and a nice selection of vegan snacks. We suggest the Tempura Vegetables and Mushroom & Tofu, and their sushi rolls can be made-to-order vegan as well! RAW Bar also serves poolside throughout summer, making vegan snacking exceptionally better (in our humble opinion at least).

Where: 119 12 Ave SW

Ten Foot Henry

If our moms could have made veggies taste this good when we were growing up, we probably wouldn’t have complained about them as much. Ten Foot Henry’s veggie heavy menu is creative and simple, without holding back on any of the flavour. The Bucatini Cacio e Pepe is the creamy pasta of our dreams, and the tomatoes with herbs, feta, and sourdough toast are simply yet out of this world.

Where: 1209 1 St SW

The Himalayan

If you’re into Chinese and Indian cuisines, then you need to check out The Himalayan for their authentic Nepalese fare. This resto isn’t veg-only, but don’t fret, there are a ton of meat-free alternatives to most dishes. Their Vegetarian Nepali Dumplings and Butter Paneer are just the start of the ridiculous amount of YUM going on in that place.

Where: 3218 17 Ave SW

Well friends, that’s all we’ve got for now! Happy vegging out! And don’t forget, the PLANTED Kick-Off at Winsport is on March 28th, so grab your tickets here!

PLANTED Kick-Off at Winsport

When: Thursday, March 28 at 7pm
Where: Multi-purpose room in the Markin MacPhail Centre, WinSport
Cost: $65 + taxes