6 vegan-friendly restaurants in the Tri-Cities

Because nobody wants to be stuck eating fries and salad

Author

Eva Rasciauskas
April 10, 2023

Picture this: you’re going out to eat with a group of friends and realize, with despair, that there are no vegan options available at the cool new restaurant you’ll all be dining at together. Silently scanning the menu, determined to find at least one decent option for a meal, you ultimately give up, sigh, and begrudgingly order yourself fries and a green salad. Dressing on the side, thanks.

This one’s dedicated to all the plant-based foodies who have found themselves in this exact predicament. Here’s a list of vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in the Tri-Cities that have plenty of delicious options to choose from whether you’re vegan or simply want to enjoy a plant-based meal.

The main emphasis at The Yoga Chef is healthy and nutritious food for both vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, though the majority of their menu is plant-based which gives everyone plenty of options to choose from. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner (with all-day breakfast as well!), with dishes ranging from a buddha benny (with chickpea-kale patties, soft tofu and mushrooms) to chicken marsala pasta.

Address: 1760 Maclean Ave #5, Port Coquitlam

Though The Bombay Sweet isn’t labeled as a vegan restaurant, the list of veggie options on their menu are just as plentiful as their meaty counterparts. Think veggie samosas, pakora and chana puri (deep fried bread with chickpea gravy, raita and salad) for starters, moving on to their list of vegetarian specialties—channa masala, yellow lentil daal and eggplant bartha, to name a few—making it another great place to accommodate all dietary preferences.

Address: 2803 Shaughnessy St, Port Coquitlam

Kokomo is a well-known vegan chain with multiple locations in Vancouver, North Vancouver and Coquitlam, a beloved spot for all things plant-based. You can find bowls here that are nourishing and represent every colour of the rainbow, from their deep blue frozen acai bowl to their golden laksa noodles in a coconut turmeric broth.

Address: 121 Brew St Unit #3, Port Moody

Designed to cater and adapt to multiple dietary needs, The Chopped Leaf has both a set menu and a “build your own” counter that lets you decide what goes in your sandwich, wrap or salad. You can even browse through their menu online and select multiple dietary filters that suit your preferences, from vegan to gluten and nut-free.

Address: 873 Village Dr, Port Coquitlam

There are lots of hidden animal products in Thai cuisine, particularly fish sauce which finds its way into many seemingly veggie-friendly meals like salads, soups and noodles. In Ma Now Thai Kitchen however, there’s an entire section set aside for vegan and vegetarian mains allowing you to enjoy your favourite Thai staples stress-free. We’d highly recommend their coconut cream tofu soup and vegan pad thai.

Address: 2755 Lougheed Hwy #29, Port Coquitlam

There are so many delicious vegan and vegetarian options to choose from at Lazzez’s, offering a fine dining Indian experience that caters to all dietary needs. Try their onion bhaji for starters, battered and fried in chickpea flour, moving onto their aloo gobi (cauliflower and potatoes cooked with tomatoes and fragrent spices) or vegetable zalfrezi with a side of garlic naan and briyani.

Address: 2786 Barnett Hwy, Coquitlam