Yes! We're Eating Vegan Again!

Chipotle - Vegan Options

A couple of vegans that I follow on social media, have made reference to Chipotle. They have given me the impression that it is a go-to place for them! And so we thought that we should check it out, having never been.

The nearest to us is on the Langley By-Pass directly across from Willowbrook Mall. We dropped in one Saturday afternoon with the idea of getting takeout. There was a bit of a line up mid afternoon but it moved quickly.

At Chipotle, you can order a burrito, tacos, a salad or a bowl. With each, you choose your protein (or veggies), rice, beans and salsas. So each item is basically a variation on the same theme. Or you can order featured items and lifestyle bowls online (all with the same basic ingredients that you can choose yourself). We started with tacos with their plant-based protein, which is nicely flavoured with Mexican-style spices. There is no vegan cheese here.

Next up was our Salad. Some variation on the stuff in the tacos ahead but with some pretty good greens.

And finally there was a Burrito Bowl. To be honest, this could be the Salad and the previous photo could be the Burrito Bowl. Both seem to have a lot of greens but one of them has some brown rice as a base. This one clearly has the corn salsa on top which was one of my favourite ingredients. In future visits, we will probably ask for corn salsa on everything.

You can dine-in here and frankly, you could do worse on your lunch break. Order ahead and your food will be ready when you arrive. The food is fresh and healthy enough although there is nothing "chipotle" flavoured if you are vegan. The lack of vegan cheese is still the biggest disappointment, especially since there is so much available these days. Not sure what all the vegan "influencers" are on about, but Chipotle is ok.

Food 3 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 2 1/2 out of 5

Comfort 3 out of 5

Service 4 out of 5

Value 3 1/2 out of 5

Those Indian Guys - Vegan Options

These folks have been feeding the public for about four months. I don't know how I came across them, and it really doesn't matter. The important thing is that we found them and loved their food! They are located on 152nd at 19th in White Rock. If you turn west onto 19th, you can park underneath the building. Or you can drive around like an idiot until you find street parking like I did.

We were excited by the concept here. It is about healthy Indian eats with some fusion thrown in. Since we love even the unhealthy non-fusion version of Indian foods, we were off to a good start. This is not a vegan restaurant, but they have vegan options which are clearly marked. Even vegetarian Indian restaurants seem to struggle with understanding the distinction between vegetarian and vegan so we like it when it is clear. We ordered everything vegan on the menu!

This is the Feel-good Phenomenon. The website description of some things is a little different from the restaurant menu, so we weren't expecting the tofu, but that made it even better. There is quinoa underneath this assortment of sweet potatoes, roasted veggies, crispy chickpeas and dressing. Excellent! We both loved the crispy chickpeas, and they know how to handle tofu! Loved the cutting board serving trays too!

Next up was the Veggie Punch! This is based on basmati rice and masala chickpeas. There is also mango chutney and a lime and cilantro vinaigrette on more veggies. Very nice!

Next up was the Righteous Vegan Wrap, and we love the name. This one comes with soya chunks, an Indian ingredient that we have at home and use quite often. They look like croutons but are meant to be rehydrated and soak up whatever flavour you choose to add. This time they were charred in a tandoor and wrapped in a lentil paratha with tomatoes, lettuce and garlic spread. A huge step up from your typical wrap!

Healthy is great, but you definitely need to try the Amritsari Onion Rings. Mharie thinks these are the best onion rings we have had in a long time. Air fried! They were perfectly crisp and when you took a bite, the rest of the onion didn't drag out of the crust. A little interesting spice and a mint chutney on the side made this a serious upgrade on regular o rings!

Finally, our server and new friend, Artipa (did I spell that right?), wanted us to try the Corn Ribs! These are marked vegetarian on the menu but she brought it with a sauce that was vegan! This was also tasty and fried (maybe air-fried?) with a crunchy coating and a tangy dip! Thank you!

Good food and a beautiful airy room. There is a large picture on the wall that traces the story of those Indian guys (in the back I assume?) from India to chef school in Switzerland to White Rock and their current endeavor.

We're glad they made the trip and look forward to getting back here sometime. Next time we will try some things off of their juices/ smoothies menu. If we were close buy, this is another one of those places that would be our go-to!

Food 4 1/2 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 3 out of 5

Comfort 4 out of 5

Service 5 out of 5

Value 4 1/2 out of 5

Sun Bo Kong - Vegetarian Restaurant

Aside from dumplings, we don't do as much vegan dim sum as we would like, or as much as we did in our pre-vegan days. When This is Plant Curious posted a deal for Sun Bo Kong, we were all in.

SBK is in what we call a vegan restaurant zone on Kingsway, in the block west of Knight Street. We have been there before for dim sum and loved the place.

The deal is great (I think it ends at the end of June). Order Bean Curd Skin Roll with Black Bean Sauce and get a choice of one of several other dishes free. This was a tremendous dish (and evidently their most popular) that we loved. The sauce was rich and dark, and the bean curd had a very nice texture and a bit of chew. Excellent!

As our free dish, we chose Stir-Fried Shredded Vegetables with Noodles and Homemade Sauce, which translates roughly to Chow Mein in Canadian. This was the good kind of chow mein. It was the kind I always want when I actually order chow mein with chewy noodles, lots of veggies and some soy and sesame oil flavour.

Despite having enough for lunch with just these two dishes, we proceeded to order way too much more, starting with siu mai. This was so fresh or so hot out of the steamer that it would barely stay together as we tried to lift it. Still, it was tasty and comforting.

Next up was a Barbeque "Pork" Pastry. It could have used a little more filling but was flaky and enjoyable just the same.

Mharie wanted to try the wings. These were quite good and very similar to the wings we have had from the Veg Out Food Truck. I feel like they could be cooked just a little more, just like the Veg Out wings but at least undercooked tofu won't make you sick. Crispy and hot!

Vegan Crispy Seaweed Eel seemed at least a little on the exotic side so we decided to try it. It lived up to the crispy part for sure, and featured a bit of ocean flavour thanks to the nori wrapping. I was not an expert on eel so I couldn't say if it was spot on but it was pleasant and came in a generous portion.

We chose a sweet dim sum to finish. This was a Steamed Charcoal Bun with Taro Paste. Of course, the charcoal provided mainly just colour, and the taro paste was nicely sweet. They have a nice selection of desserts at SBK, which is often lacking on vegan menus.

The menu is vegetarian here, but we advised our server that we were vegan, and he ensured that all was well. I really didn't see anything on the menu that was obviously not vegan, but it's good to be sure. Apparently, the Dalai Lama has been here, but I haven't read his review. Like a typical Chinese restaurant, the menus are long with so many choices, but this time without animal products!

Food 4 1/2 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 4 1/2 out of 5

Comfort 4 1/2 out of 5

Service 4 1/2 out of 5

Value 4 1/2 out of 5

Crow and Gate Pub - Nanaimo - Vegan Options

This was more about my boss getting antsy to fly his helicopter on a beautiful day than it is about a pub with one vegan item on the menu (although to be fair, a couple of their salads could be veganized).

The whole estimating department (4 of us) set out one beautiful afternoon last week from Aldergrove, across the Strait to Nanaimo and then back via West Vancouver.

My scenery pics leave a little to be desired, as pictures through the window of a helicopter always seem to be less than perfect.

Still, random islands and the wealthy folks who live on them are fascinating and beautiful (at least the islands are...not sure about the folks). It's good to be reminded about how amazing this place where we live really is.

I know very little about the Crow and Gate other than there is room to land a helicopter, and on a nice day, the gardens and outside tables are delightful. It's about a 15-minute drive south of Duke Point Ferry Terminal, for you folks tethered to the earth.

I am a big fan of the British style, heavy wood and clutter decor. If the weather sucked, then the inside dining would be cozy and warm.

I had the Buffalo Chick Pea Falafel Wrap, which is actually labelled as vegan on the menu. I would definitely order it again as it was quite satisfying with a nice side salad.

But folks don't just come for the food. Dining outside in the gardens on a sunny day is a nice relaxing experience.

But duty calls, and back to the office we went. The estimating department has to do our bit to keep the work coming in and to keep things rolling.

Food 3 1/2 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 2 1/2 out of 5

Comfort 5 out of 5

Service 4 out of 5

Value 4 out of 5

Eternal Abundance - Vegan Restaurant

Eternal Abundance is another OG of the vegan / vegetarian restaurants in Metro Vancouver, having been around since I am not sure when even though I could have just asked. Mharie and I were there once in 2018. That was as part of Vanfoodster's Plant-Based Bowl Challenge, and they impressed us at the time. They impressed us again now in 2025.

Located on Commercial Drive just a block and a half north of Grandview Park. Mharie and I chose to walk from Broadway Station since it was a beautiful day. It's a decent 20-minute walk, which helped us get our steps!

EA leans towards the raw end of the spectrum and they are all in on the organics. I am little impressed with such things because, you know...but I certainly have an open mind. We tried their Miso-Walnut-Roll which was raw. The pate is walnut, sunflower seed, miso and smoked paprika and could have used a little more texture. The nori was a little too chewy so the experience was not perfect but tasty overall especially when the Asian style dipping sauce was applied. Healthy af!

Their special of the day was a Spicy Black Bean Yam Burger Platter. I would never order a burger "low carb" style but since Mharie is allergic to flax seeds (in the bun), we went with the lettuce wrap. It was slippery as hell and I might as well have just plunged my face into the plate rather than try to pick it up. The patty was a little dry but tasty enough and the condiments including pickles, tomatoes, relish and what not rounded it out nicely. The roasted potatoes and house made ketchup were pretty good. The side salad was also nice but the croutons where soft and not impressive. I think they have traded white bread crunchy croutons for whole grain and healthier but on the mediocre side.

Next up was the Incredi-bowl and our favourite. We chose quinoa as the base for lots of good stuff including avocado, a seed blend including pumpkin, salad stuff, sprouts, hummus and a ginger-miso dressing. Very good. It may be years since I ate so many alfalfa sprouts!

We didn't get the "scoop of the daily stew" that we ordered so the manager gave us to-go larger than regular serving of their Tofu Green Thai Curry. We heated it up at home but weren't knocked out. Of course, green is our least favourite of the Thai Curry colours. Healthy again though.

This is a nice homey place and they have a little section selling organic produce and cookbooks, too many of which are about raw food. The folks running the place are very nice. We saw all manner of humanity and not just tie-die t-shirts. The food was healthy and substantial and they even have vegan ice cream although we did not get that far.

Food 3 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 5 out of 5

Comfort 3 1/2 out of 5

Service 4 out of 5

Value 4 out of 5

Little Donkey Food & Drink - Vegan Options

We were here 7 years ago in the pre-pandemic era, and for me, pre-vegan world. We liked this place then, and we like it now. I know it's just burritos and not brain surgery, but a healthy, tasty, and not too expensive meal is always welcome. Of course, you have to find a place to park in Fort Langley, which is no small deal if the sun is shining.

Little Donkey, get it? Burrito! We ended up parking at the Fort, where I did not see any signs saying that parking was for guests of the Fort. On the other hand, park there at your own risk and do not blame me, but this town is miserable for parking.

Busy on a sunny Saturday afternoon? Of course! But there was still a place to sit down, and these folks can crank out burritos with fairly impressive quickness. We ordered the two vegan burritos available on their menu.

I made a mess, sure, but that didn't render it any less tasty. On both our last visit and this time, we ordered the Currito Burrito. As a base, it had curried chickpeas and brown rice. There were some more veggies and vegan chipotle crema. Healthy and substantial, this is a decent meal.

I did a little better photographing this one, but not much better! Dragon Race is the name of the second burrito that can be served vegan. This one features corn, yam, pico and cabbage in addition to the rice and beans. More Chipotle and some avocado make it seem more Mexican-leaning compared to a Dragon, which makes me think Asian. Still, it was again tasty and filling.

So these are burritos and not a white tablecloth place, but it's nice to know there is something simple and vegan available in the middle of this little tourist-overrun village. There are a few tables inside and outside as well. The folks working here are sociable, and they get your order up pretty fast.

Food 4 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 3 out of 5

Comfort 3 1/2 out of 5

Service 4 out of 5

Value 4 out of 5

Big Way Hot Pot - Vegan Options

OK, so I kind of fluked across this place too. I was looking on Google Maps for a place that had just opened in Richmond when I noticed that Big Way Hot Pot was nearby. I decided to review their menu to see if they offered vegan hot pot options. Typically, all you need is vegan broth, and then you add veggies, tofu, noodles, etc., which are available for everyone anyway, to cook in the said vegan broth. And there you have vegan got pot. While browsing their website, I noticed the soft opening of a new BWHP in Langley! How convenient!

We just showed up that first Sunday. Inside the front door is a screen where you can put your name on a waitlist. It tells you where you are in the line. There were 90 people ahead of us (or 90 parties, I assume), so we decided to leave and plan our visit for another day. On the second day, we showed up at opening time (11:00 am) and stood in line for a mere few minutes. By the time we were finished, the waitlist had grown to 46 parties! They will phone you if you decide to go shopping at Best Buy in the meantime.

They gave us a big brass (?) bowl and tongs, which are quite nice btw, and we lined up to choose from the grocery shelves of ingredients. There is a lot more meat and seafood, but fear not, as you eventually get to greens, veggies, tofu, and noodles. They told me which of the noodles are egg-free, and I took them at their word. I tried messaging them to confirm this for this post but they are not really good at responding. Anyway, they weigh your ingredients (mine came to around $17.50), you choose your broth (there are two vegan broths), and they go ahead and prepare your soup and then deliver it to your table!

I should have taken a before picture, but here is the after. Full of interesting mushrooms and noodles and tofu with tomato broth and some vegan kimchee! Delicious!

And part of the appeal of hot pot is the dipping sauce bar. You can follow their directions and assemble sauces by recipe, or just go crazy like I did. I am such a sucker for sesame paste so there was a lot of that.

This is a large restaurant with plenty of staff who do a good job at making sure you have what you need. It was kind of fun, and I think it's pretty reasonably priced if you stay away from the heavy stuff like the meat dumplings and things that are soaking in water (at least that is the advice I got from the professionals in line ahead of us). The tables for 2 are a little cramped once you have all your food and close together but not everyone is trying to take pictures either.

Food 4 out of 5

Vegan Options Available 4 out of 5

Comfort 3 1/2 out of 5

Service 4 1/2 out of 5

Value 4 out of 5