When you realize how many vegetarian and vegan-specific restaurants we have in our fine city, it’s obvious the green-eating scene is booming in Hamilton; never mind all the omnivorous restaurants that have amazing dishes to cater to these dietary requirements.

Regardless of what your reason is for becoming vegetarian or vegan – health, moral or otherwise – it’s never been easier to find something delicious to dine on. For those looking for a full-day of vegan eats in the city, look no further!

Breakfast

In the plaza on John Street North in the Corktown neighbourhood, is the plant-based and gluten-free eatery and bakery – Planted. This stylish restaurant has lots of seating for lunch, dinner, and their weekend brunch, where they specialize in dishes like scrambled tofu tostadas, breakfast bowls, a club sandwich made with waffles, pancakes, and much more! Find specials and features on their social media pages. 

What started out as a vegan smoothie bar has morphed into a vegan quick-service café. Green Bar has become and remains a favourite for vegans and non-vegans alike, both for their blended drinks and for their locally-sourced, unprocessed vegan dishes. Brunch is a popular meal at Green Bar, where they dish out items like waffles, a full vegan breakfast, “lox” & smear, and patatas bravas.

Lunch

The Hearty Hooligan is a bit of a change from the usual vegan-fare, creating junk food and sweet treats for the veggie diet. Some of their most popular items for lunch include their burritos with popular flavours like barbequed burger and onion rings, loaded nacho, or their pizza pockets. Not only do they offer these tasty in-house items, they also offer take home lunches and snacks such as bulk “chicken” salad, bulk “egg” salad, vegan lunchables, and more!

Bliss Kitchen out in Waterdown has had a major facelift over the last year. You may have seen their beautiful minty and pink décor across Instagram – but even more eye-popping is their beautiful plant-based colourful dishes. From their tasty tacos, to bountiful bowls, and beaming burgers, Bliss has an extensive menu to enjoy. We guarantee you will want to ‘gram it!

Dinner

With a 100% plant-based, animal free menu, Boon Burger aims to be a fully sustainable restaurant. Most popular on their menu, as their name suggests, would be their vegan burgers. With four different veggie patties to choose from, from soy to black bean and chickpea, even a non-vegetarian will love these burgers! If burgers aren’t your thing – they also offer their “peace-za”, hearty salads, or fries and poutines. The portions of everything on the menu are large, so prepare to eat well at Boon Burger. 

The food trailer located just across from McMaster University on Main Street, The Vegan Extremist, has become a favourite for students in the neighbourhood – but word has spread amongst the vegan community! Specializing in dishes like vegetarian laksa, veggie korma, and their popular (no) butter (no) chicken dish, The Vegan Extremist offers a menu that is small but mighty. Find them during the warmer months or order straight to your home through their website.

Dessert

New on the scene, Lick the Whisk, is a place for vegans to enjoy 100% vegan goodies and sweets in the city. Everything is made in house and they feature items like waffles, crepes, and ice creams. New ice cream flavours are switched up each day and are great to mix and match with vegan waffles and crepes. 

The Dundas-located Horn of Plenty has been serving the community as a health food store for many years, but only recently have launched their “Cookie Doh Shop”. Their Cookie Doh is somewhere between ice cream and raw cookie dough (the safe version), and will make you feel like a kid again! They offer many flavours of their specialty desserts.

by Heather Peter

Local Links

Planted
225 John St S Unit, Hamilton
plantedin.ca

Green Bar
236 James St N, Hamilton
greenbarhamilton.com

Hearty Hooligan
292 Ottawa St N, Hamilton
theheartyhooligan.com

Bliss Kitchen
312 Dundas St E, Waterdown
blisskitchen.ca

Boon Burger
295 Ottawa St N, Hamilton
boonburger.ca

Vegan Extremist
Food Truck on Main St W, Hamilton
Across from McMaster University
@theveganextremist

Lick the Whisk
29 Barton St E, Hamilton
lickthewhisk.ca

Horn of Plenty
24 King St W, Dundas
thehornofplenty.ca