Just because you have chosen to eat a vegan diet doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life cooking for yourself and eating salads off a menu. Although, cooking at home is cheaper and usually healthier, eating out is so much fun and a huge part of having a social life. In this blog, you will discover a vegan’s guide to eating out so you never have to order a boring salad again … unless you want to.\
How To Order A Vegan Meal At A Non-Vegan Restaurant
Have you ever been invited out for dinner and almost cringe at the thought knowing that your friends will likely choose a place that has no vegan items on the menu?
I know exactly how you feel. I have been there many times.
When I first went vegan, most places hadn’t even heard of the word and what it meant let alone have any decent vegan items on the menu. Even the vegetable items they would have on the menu were topped with animal products, such as bacon and cheese, or smothered in butter.
It was often so frustrating to go out and have to as for a salad without cheese, bacon, egg and a simple vinaigrette dressing on the side. Half the time what would come out would be some sad excuse for lettuce, with a tasteless shredded carrot on top and some overly tart balsamic vinegar.
It eventually got so my friends didn’t even want me to come out anymore because they were embarrassed by all of my “special” requests. However, I started to get pretty good at knowing where I could eat and what I could order that I was still able to have a bit of a social life.
Today, many restaurants are well-versed in the vegan culture and some, like Earls, have even added a separate vegan menu. However, there are still times you might find yourself out for dinner at a non-vegan restaurant looking for something to eat.
To make ordering at a non-vegan restaurant easier here are a few simple tips:
1. Look At The Menu.
Before you go out, if you are not sure what you will be able to eat, take a look at the menu before you arrive. That way you can scope out any items that could be easily made vegan. Or, you might discover that they have vegan options or a special menu. At least this way you will be prepared before you go and know what to expect.
2. Eat Before You Go.
If, after you take a look at the menu, there is absolutely nothing you can, or want to, eat plan to have something before you go out. I know it may seem anti-social to eat before you go but that way if you are only able to order a side tossed salad you won’t be starving and tempted to order something you might not want to eat.
3. Call Ahead.
Some restaurant chef’s have no problem making adjustments to their menu items. At times, I have even found a chef welcome the chance to make a special meal as it allowed him or her to use their creativity. If you call ahead and ask if they are willing to do this you might be pleasantly surprised by the delicious creation the chef will come up with. The nice thing about calling ahead is that it gives the restaurant a heads up and be better prepared for your special request.
4. Be Clear With Your Expectations.
When ordering something special, that might not be on the menu, be clear with your expectations. Although, being vegan may be a personal choice it is no different than having an allergy in the sense that there is no way you can, or will, eat something that has animal in it. This may go against everything you believe in and make you physically and emotionally sick.
When I first went vegan, I sometimes felt bad about asking the server, or chef, to go out of their way for me. However, I quickly realized that I had nothing to be ashamed of and that I should be proud of my choice. Do the same. Your server, the chef and your friends will respect you for being clear and confidently asking for what you want.
5. Make Substitutions.
Many dishes can be made vegan with some simple substitutions, or exclusions. For example, you might find a veggie burger that looks delicious but it comes with cheese and mayo. Ask the server to remove these items and it could be vegan. Or, if you are in the mood for a beet salad, but it is served topped with goat cheese, ask for them to take off the cheese and substitute for avocado if possible.
6. Be Polite.
Just because you have made the choice to be vegan and want your meals to be a certain way doesn’t give you the right to be demanding or rude to the server who is just doing his or her job. Have some compassion with them if they don’t fully understand what being vegan really means. Maybe they haven’t been exposed to this lifestyle choice before. By being polite about your request you may inspire them to give your special dish a try. This could be the first step in helping them make the switch. You never know… every little step helps.
7. Recognize The Icons.
Many menus have symbols that will show if a dish is, or can be made, vegan. This is often a leaf, or the letter “V”. If you are unsure of any ingredients, ask your server to avoid getting a vegetarian dish that may have eggs or cheese added.
8. Download A Vegan Restaurant App.
Many apps, such as Happy Cow, provide a directory of vegan restaurants in your area. This comes in particularly handy when you are travelling to a new city. These directories will also provide you with customers ratings and a list of foods the restaurant offers.
When travelling, hitting up a new vegan spot is one of my favourite things to do. I have often been pleasantly surprised and found new go-to spots.
Vegan Friendly Cuisine
Many types of cuisine are known for being vegan friendly or have many vegan options to choose form on the menu.
These include:
1. American or Canadian Restaurants.
Most American or Canadian cuisine is deep fried French fries, onion rings, veggie burgers or veggie dogs. Although, most of this is fast food, and not the healthiest choice, this food can be a great option when out at a pub or needing a drive-through.
Some American-style restaurants I love include:
- A & W, Various locations – A & W now carries the Beyond Meat Burger that can be made vegan without the mayo or cheese. Onion rings and fries, when not cooked with meats are also a quick vegan option.
- Blue Star Diner, Calgary, Alberta – Blue Star diner is not a vegan restaurant but uses all local and organic ingredients and they have vegan and vegetarian options. The vegan burger is topped with fresh sunflower sprouts and served with a delicious salad or fries. The sweet potato fries are lightly seasoned with cinnamon giving them an extra sweet flavour.
- ReGrub, in Calgary, Alberta offers a couple of veggie burger patties and vegan buns that you can substitute for any of their burgers… and they have a lot of options!
- South Street Burger, Calgary, Alberta – This little spot offers a delicious vegan burger. Choose from a variety of toppings to make yourself a custom burger.
2. Chinese Food Restaurants
Many Chinese restaurants have a variety of vegan options on their main menu and some even offer a vegetarian menu, which is mostly vegan. Some good choices include, veggies in black bean sauce, veggie friend rice and veggie chow mein.
The one Chinese restaurant I used to like going to is no longer open; however, I am sure there are others around.
3. Japanese Restaurants.
Japanese cuisine is known for their sushi; however, they also make some of the best avocado, veggie and cucumber rolls as well as a variety of vegetable tempura.
Some of my favourite Japanese spots include:
- The Eatery, Vancouver, British Columbia – This place has one of the biggest veggie sushi menus I have seen. The food is fresh, delicious and place is fun.
- Globefish Sushi & Izakaya, Calgary, Alberta – This restaurant makes the best agadashi tofu.
- Kinjo Sushi & Grill, Calgary, Alberta – This place is fun especially if the owner comes around. They are affordable and make delicious veggie rolls.
4. Indian Restaurants.
I love the spices that are in Indian cuisine. It is often very flavourful and satisfying. Many Indian Restaurants offer vegan options such as veggie samosas, dah, rice and a variety of other veggie dishes.
One of my favourite Indian Fusion take-out places is Veg-In YYC in Calgary, Alberta. They serve samosas, veggie burritos, burgers and naan-flatbreads that all have a delicious fusion on Indian spice.
5. Italian Restaurants.
This type of cuisine is known for it’s abundance of cheese and meatballs; however, you can find some vegan options such as salads, olives, artichokes, bread and in some places pizza.
6. Mexican Restaurants
Mexican restaurants have a wide variety of vegan options such as salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips, rice and beans and veggie tacos and burritos. Just be sure to ask for no sour cream or cheese on certain dishes.
I have heard that Mucho Burrito has some good vegan options but I have not been there yet.
7. Middle Eastern Restaurants.
Plant-based, or vegan options, are plentiful in Middle Eastern culture. Vegan options often include falafels, couscous, tahini, grape leave wraps, tabouleh and pita bread.
A couple of my favourite Middle eastern places in Calgary are:
- Cedar’s Deli – They make really good grape leaves and tabouli.
- Tazza Middle Eastern Deli – This place is owned and operated by the Traya family who have lived in the area for many years. Everything they make is fresh and full of flavour.
8. Steakhouses.
These are likely the worst of all places for vegan’s to eat. Especially since, I have even been to steakhouses that literally make fun of vegetarians and vegans on their menu. Certainly not in good taste since vegans and vegetarians are often there dining with their friends.
The good news is that some steakhouses are actually making an effort to accommodate those of us who do not eat meat.
For instance, my boyfriend and I were given $200 in gift cards for The Keg Steakhouse. We had no idea what we were going to do with it so we took his mother and her friend for dinner and thought we could just eat salad if nothing else. We were pleasantly surprised when we found cauliflowers bits and a cauliflower steak on the menu along with delicious salads.
9. Thai Restaurants.
Thai food is often a great choice for vegetable dishes. You may just have to ask for no egg or fish sauce as these are often added ingredients in Thai cuisine.
My favourite Thai-style restaurant in Calgary, Alberta is Heart’s Choices. They offer a variety of plant-based meats and delicious vegan Thai-inspired dishes.
10. Vegan Restaurants.
These restaurants are every vegan’s dream. It is very refreshing to be able to choose anything off the menu without having to make any alterations or ask for substitutions.
Some of my favourite vegan restaurants are:
- Buddha-Full, North Vancouver, British Columbia. – This little spot in the heart of North Vancouver offers a variety of macro-bowls, smoothies, juices, raw food items and sweet treats.
- Copper Branch, Various Locations – This all-vegan franchise offers a variety of burgers, bowls and other casual-vegan items.
- Crossroads Kitchen, Los Angeles, California – This all-vegan restaurant is a fine dining vegan restaurant and is one of my all-time favourites. The cuisine that comes out of this kitchen is a masterpiece.
- The Dandelion Cafe, Calgary, Alberta – The Dandelion Cafe offers a fully vegan, and absolutely delicious, menu that includes, pancakes, seitan chicken and waffles, caesar wraps, bowls, salads and desserts.
- Meet on Main, Vancouver, British Columbia – This little spot makes the best vegan calamari ever! They have a couple of locations in Vancouver and are worth visiting.
- Raw Eatery & Market, Calgary, Alberta. The menu at this place is divine. They offer many raw and some cooked options.
- Vegan Street, Calgary, Alberta – Vegan Street makes vegan mac and cheese, burgers and a variety of other vegan options.
- Veggie Grill, Los Angeles, California – I went to this spot for the first time. A few years ago before vegan was really popular in Calgary. This was where I had my first vegan bacon cheese burger, buffalo wings and carrot cake. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
11. Vegetarian Restaurants.
Vegetarian restaurants are not much different than vegan except they often still serve eggs and dairy. These places usually offer simple ways to change their menu items to vegan with some simple changes.
- The Allium, Calgary, Alberta – This is one of Calgary’s newest veggie spots. It is an upgraded dining experience with the most amazing food presentation and delicious flavours.
- The Coup, Calgary, Alberta – Although this is a vegetarian restaurant they offer a vegan option for most of their dishes.
12. Vietnamese Restaurants
Before I was full vegan I used to love going for Pho at a Vietnamese restaurant. When I went vegan I still ate some of the food such as salad rolls and spring rolls since many locations offered tofu substitutions.
The best place to go for this cuisine is in Calgary, Alberta at a little place called Tamarind Vietnamese Grill & Noodle House. This little spot used to serve meat until the owner, a sweet lady I met at the restaurant one day decided to vegan herself. She was advised by her family to not make the stick in the restaurant, she refused to listen, and now this spot is extremely popular among the vegan community.
Good thing, because they make the best salad rolls, spring rolls, sticky rice and pad Thai I have ever eaten.
Do You Have a Favourite Restaurant?
Although I have mentioned a few places to eat in this list I know there are many more wonderful places vegan can enjoy a nice meal.
What are your favourite spots? I am always looking for the next great place to eat so please share you favourites in the comments below.
Until next time…
May the magic of living nutrition bring you a lifetime of healthy abundance.
Namaste,
Rachel Joy Olsen, BSc., MBA
Vegan, Author, Health & Wellness Coach
Read my “From Frog Killer To Compassionate Vegan” story