10 Must-try Vancouver Veggie Burgers

Craving a burger but aiming to eat less meat? These 10 local veggie burgers will satisfy your hunger

According to an Environics poll commissioned by the Vancouver Humane Society, B.C. is the most vegetarian province in Canada—13 per cent of British Columbians identify as vegetarian and a further 26 per cent are trying to eat less meat. So it’s no surprise that Vancouver has more and more restaurants catering to this animal-loving crowd. And with recent news that bacon causes cancer (calm down, that’s just the Internet blowing things out of proportion) here’s a list of some sumptuous veggie burgers that will satisfy your stomach—whether you’re vegetarian or not.

Click through for 10 mouth-watering veggie burgers from around the city.

The Naam, 2724 West 4th Avenue

McDonald’s isn’t your only burger option in town at 3 a.m. The Naam, a Kitsilano icon, is open 24 hours, seven days a week and the restaurant offers up five veggie burger options: from your basic vegan patty made with organic tofu, nuts and grains; to tempeh covered with melted cheese; to a soy protein burger topped with pineapple, water chestnuts and teriyaki sauce; and more. These burgers are big, but if you’re hungry, add a salad and sesame fries with miso gravy for just a few bucks more. Oh and bring home a bottle of that amazing miso gravy while you’re at it. They sell it up at the counter.

The Foundation, 2301 Main Street

Another late-night Vancouver go-to that’s famous for its humongous plates of nachos, The Foundation has three veggie burgers to suit everyone’s palate: the bentonio patty is packed full of rice, black beans, corn and red peppers for a Mexican flare; the persistent pnut mixes quinoa, chickpeas, roast onion, spices and peanuts for a bit of crunch; on the earthier side, the foundation burger is made up of tofu, veggies, flax and oats. Still craving bacon? Go on and add some veggie bacon (trust us, it’s delicious!)

The Wallflower, 2420 Main Street

Just up the street, The Wallflower calls itself a modern diner. Maybe that’s because it caters to plenty of dietary needs with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options a-plenty. It’s really very simple: like the toppings on one of The Wallflower’s meat burgers? Swap it out for an all-veggie patty with eggplant spread. Vegan? Swap for vegan cheese. Gluten-free? Swap for house-made gluten free bread. Simple. On the topic of bread, stop by The Smallflower Café and Bakery—just opened at 47 West Hastings Street downtown—for some vegan and gluten-free treats.

Heirloom, 1509 West 12th Avenue

The craft burger movement is not limited to meat-lovers. Heirloom vegetarian on South Granville is on a mission to up the veggie burger game with top-notch ingredients: the Blues Burger combines the Heirloom patty, beet bacon, red onion ring, arugula, cider aioli and gorgonzola cheese; the Ranchero heads a different direction with an Heirloom patty, lettuce, black bean sauce, guac, aged white cheddar, tomatillo salso and pickled jalapeno. And that’s just the vegetarian options. When you go, flip over the menu for two more vegan burger options. At $19.95 a pop, these may not be the cheapest plates, but with ingredients that sing, it’s well worth it.

Loving Hut Express: Pacific Boulevard at Davie Street

Food truck lovers rejoice because Loving Hut Express is at a street corner near you. Regularly parked by the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown (check their twitter for more stops), this joint offers a selection of “hamburgers” that are barely discernible from the meat burgers they imitate. Comfort food in burger form: choose from bacon and cheese (Daiya), grilled mushrooms, teriyaki, or onion rings, all topped with fresh veggies, and homemade spreads and condiments. The Crispy Chick’n Burger is perhaps the most unexpected of the bunch, with enough crunch to last a stroll along the seawall.

Lucy’s Eastside Diner, 2708 Main Street

Another 24-hour option, the veggie burger at Lucy’s Eastside Diner won’t set you back much, so your wallet and your stomach will be thanking you. This chickpea and bean veggie patty comes topped with goat cheese with a choice of soup, salad or fries. Go full monty with a milkshake and a slice of pie to help cure your hangover before it happens.

Caffè Brixton, 212 East Georgia Street

The vibe at Caffè Brixton switches from “chill coffee shop” on weekdays to “hip and happening” over the weekend. The house-made veggie patties are chock full of beans and served with potato wedges, but add veggie bacon or brie to kick these babies into high gear. With cheap drinks, good music, and themed weeknight specials, you’ll leave Caffè Brixton with a soothed soul.

Meet, 4288 Main Street

This place has the Burj Khalifa of veggie burgers. With towers of toppings on the six burgers on offer at Meet, your mouth will get a workout. And that’s probably a good thing because not only are these burgers humongous, they come with fries and salad as well. Meet’s veggie burgers range from an in-house smoked patty topped with whisky BBQ sauce (yum!), onion rings and blue cheese to a beer-battered burger smothered in Buffalo hot sauce and guacamole all the way over to a marinated and grilled Portobello burger complete with roasted veggies, feta and pea pesto. Watch out for a second location opening in Gastown soon.

Tera V Burger, 2691 West Broadway

If it’s all in a name, then Tera V Burger went for it with their aptly named No Bull burgers. Choose from this signature patty, tempeh, or a garden burger all topped with fresh, local veggies. Add a side of baked yam fries, kale chips, or a super food smoothie and you’ll leave feeling both nourished and satisfied.

The Black Lodge: 630 Kingsway

This Twin Peaks-themed bar (we’re excited for the new season, too) has everything going for it. With red velvet curtains, an owl tucked into the corner and Laura Palmer’s photo atop the bar, The Black Lodge has found its niche. The veggie burger sliders are made of chickpeas and lentils, topped with cheddar (Daiya available, too), fresh veggies and garlic aioli. For those who go for the hot dogs at the company barbeque (to each their own), with a page of veggie dog options to choose from, The Black Lodge is your place. But save room for dessert! There’s smore’s and cherry pie (of course).

Did we miss a great veggie burger? Let us know in the comments below.