Perched on the edge of Chinatown, Harvest Community Foods has been on my list of places to try for a long time. Not a vegan joint (sounds like it could be, but the bacon in the fridge dispelled that notion) they still have some nice plant based choices and are the purveyors of some very nice looking fruits and vegetables.
We arrived mid afternoon on Saturday and were able to order and be seated right away. Be aware that there are 4-2 person tables inside and 3 more outside but on a winter weekday, you might have to be content with take-out. 
There are a couple of soups, a noodle dish and a couple of salads that can all be vegan but what they lack in quantity, that make up for in deliciousness. The Kale Gomae doesn't seem mind blowing until you try their hazelnut-almond sauce. Amazing! This motivated me to buy hazelnuts on the way home and had me wondering why we don't eat them more!
There is also a Cabbage Salad with maple syrup and pumpkin seeds. Crunchy and refreshing, We thought maybe there was some lime in the dressing and it all worked beautifully!
We enjoyed more of their hazelnut almond sauce on the Rice Noodles. This dish came with lots of greens and some charred chili which lent just a bit of heat. Honestly we are in love with this sauce. It has the texture of a very crunchy peanut butter but with lost of crushed nuts on top for added texture and flavour.
Finally, we had their Ramen. This started with a squash and miso broth which was one of the richest vegan broths that we have tried. To make it vegan they gave us a choice of rice or udon noodles as their ramen noodles contain egg. I know that it is not always the case but many ramen noodles are made with egg. Again, this came with a generous helping of greens and some nori. It was an excellent broth and we are happy that there was a vegan noodle option.
Its a nice little place, the folks are friendly and it is clearly more than just a cafe. HCF is part of a group that includes Burdock and Co. and a wine bar, GOBO. Both are meat centric and have nothing to offer if you are interested in cruelty free eating. Disappointing. Considering the briefness of the menu here, we are impressed that at least half of the menu can be served vegan. Prices are very reasonable!
Food 4 out of 5
Vegan Options 4 out of 5
Comfort 4 out of 5
Service 4 out of 5
Value 4 out of 5
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