Ramen Danbo - Vegan Options

Line-ups are the norm at Ramen Danbo and we have wandered down Robson Street and felt sorry for the folks out in the rain. This is our first visit to RD on W Broadway and they have a new and better system for getting a table which might now be in place on Robson as well. At the front door is a tablet to enter your name, the number in your party and your phone number. It will tell you wait times, update you and call you when the table is ready. The only confusing thing was that the phone call letting us know our table was ready, originated in Ohio. Some clever person suggested that this was a Yelp hub as the system seemed to be a Yelp platform thing. Anyway, we hung out in Mark's and looked at jeans and t-shirts for a while until our table was ready (sooner than we expected).

This is a small and cozy little place and it's hard not to listen in on your neighbour's conversations but it's worth squeezing in for very good ramen.

We started with pan-fried vegan Yaki Gyoza. These were pretty tasty and when you sauce them up with whatever sauce is at the table including the chilli oil, this is a satisfying experience.

We also had Soy Chashu Donburi. They did a pretty good job of the chashu. Not too surprising but a bit of teriyaki-type flavour on what might have been soya chaap or seitan. Not sure why we didn't ask but it was quite good.

Mharie had the vegan Shio Ramen. The broth was quite good. We don't feel like we're missing out by not having the standard tonkatsu broth. It seems like they have taken care to make it stand up well as the option. There are several pieces of thick fried tofu that were also very good. Some may think that tofu is bland but it is very good when marinated as it is a clean palate to soak in flavour. Not surprisingly, the noodles were wonderful and you can top up your bowl (for a small price) if your noodle consumption outstrips your broth consumption!

I had the Curry Vegan Ramen which is apparently a limited-time winter special. I ordered the Rekka version and asked for it medium hot but worked up a sweat anyway. We tried the vegan soft-boiled egg. It was interesting but not something that I would go out of my way for. We're guessing soy-based. The texture was curious as the white was very soft (like silken tofu) while the yolk could have a miso paste base. Still, we loved the soup!

I can't think of a ramen joint where the service is not good and this is no exception. It was very accommodating, quick and friendly. A very good experience with some nice warming food on a rainy Vancouver day!

Food                           4 1/2 out of 5

Vegan Options            3 1/2 out of 5

Comdort                      4 out of 5

Service                        4 1/2 out of 5

Value                           4 1/2 out of 5

Uncle Faith's Pizza - Surrey - Vegan Options

Plant-based pizza can be challenging. As a food that is essentially cheese-centric, just deleting the animal products sort of effs up the experience and should be called something other than pizza. On the other hand, many cheese knock-offs (sometimes referred to as cheez) are acceptable and bring the same experience to the eater without bringing suffering to the supplier (i.e.cows). Uncle Faith's Pizza has vegetarian pizzas on their menu which, when you opt for vegan cheese become...vegan.We tried 3 and were quite impressed.

UF in Surrey is adjacent to the Surrey Place Skytrain station. We ordered take-out but there are a few tables and you can comfortably dine in.

My wife with the sweet tooth likes Hawaiian Pizza but the closest that we could come up with was the Veggie Lover Pizza with Pineapple (no vegan bacon here) and hold the black olives (not her thing). Not a terrible pie! Remember to opt for the vegan cheese which you can have at no extra charge and they are not cheap with it! Well done UF!

Next up was the Garlic Lovers Pizza again with the vegan cheese option (at no extra charge!). We opted for the thin crust on this one (Veggie Lover with Pineapple was a regular crust). Both of the crusts were quite good and a little on the crackery side rather than what we are used to. That's not a complaint as it was a pretty good pizza.

Finally, we had a Potato Pizza. Sort of a curious idea isn't it? I have had potato pizza in the past where the potato was in slices. This one seemed to have smallish cubes like some brands of frozen hash browns. This did not taste like breakfast specifically but many people love cold pizza for breakfast and this would be a perfect fit. We liked it a lot. It's notable that all 3 of our pizzas had a sprinkling of sesame seeds. We're not sure why that is but we kind of liked it.

We were thinking of Uncle Faith's as a takeout kind of place but there is actually quite a bit of room to sit and enjoy a slice. They have pizzas made up and waiting for you if you are mid-transit and just want to get something to fill the void. I wouldn't expect there to be any vegan pizzas on the warming rack though. Still, one of the better pizza chain joints that we have come across as far as serving vegans is concerned!

Food                                    3 out of 5

Vegan Options                    3 out of 5

Comfort                               3 1/2 out of 5

Service                                4 out of 5

Value                                   3 1/2 out of  5

Sweet Revenge Bakery, Langley - Vegan Options

I am more than a little excited about Sweet Revenge Bakery! The only downside is that tasty and calorie-rich wonderful pastries that are plant-based are now within 20 minutes of home and will be a constant source of temptation. Located at 64th and 196 in Langley SRBC is open 7 am to 8 pm,7 days a week. Parking is a problem however and you should be prepared to walk a few steps from whatever street parking you can find. I had already read some Google reviews and assumed that there was a Filipino element at the bakery as I saw ube (purple yam) mentioned. I was fortunate enough to meet the head chef on Sunday morning who is not only Filipino but has head chefed at Meet and Kind Cafe. Having developed recipes for both of those vegan restaurants, he has the experience and has more plans for vegan items at SRBC!

I was sold immediately as I sat down and tried arguably the best vegan breakfast sandwich that I have ever had! It started with an amazing plant-based croissant followed by a tofu egg with a secret 'eggy' spice mix. Topped with amazing shitake mushroom bacon and excellently melty cheese, reminiscent of American slices. In my defence, I took have of it home for my wife who was enjoying a rare sleep-in. The coffee was pretty fine as well but do not miss this sandwich!

I tried to order and take home one of everything plant-based on their menu / baked goods case, but I realize that what they have may change from day to day. Flaky, buttery and wonderful is how we both described these pastries. Mharie is an Almond Croissant connoisseur and this scored high on her list.

I waited around for a while to score the Strawberry Donut. If vegan donuts can be this good, why aren't all donuts plant-based? These were both wonderful but should be enjoyed judiciously owing to their calorie content! Still, a little bit of pleasure should come into everyone's life from time to time!

I didn't pay enough attention to the ice cream labelled as vegan. I'm not sure if we are talking sorbet or coconut-based ice cream but I will be back to check it out.

If this place was within walking distance of home, I would be here all the time! There are a few comfortable seats at small tables with big windows and nice bright high ceilings. Staff are enthusiastic and we will probably be back frequently just so that my wife can enjoy the occasional old-home week! If you can enjoy your baked goods without cruelty, why wouldn't you?

Food                            4 1/2 out of 5

Vegan Options             4 out of 5

Comfort                       4 out of 5

Service                        4 out of 5

Value                           4 out of 5

     

 

Kokomo, Port Moody - Vegan Restaurant

There are vegan eateries that emphasize healthy eating and vegan eateries that have deep fryers and both have their place. Veganism is not a healthy eating lifestyle. It is a lifestyle that avoids the exploitation of animals and cruelty. That being said, avoiding the Oreos and deep-fried vegan nuggets (as well as meat obviously) can be a pretty healthy way to live. Kokomo has healthy items on its menu but that taste good as well! We went to Kokomo in Chinatown several years ago but they have been successful and expanded to 4 locations in the meantime. We made it to the Port Coquitlam location last weekend.

Located just off Barnett Hwy and Ioco Road, in the Thrifty's Foods area, you can park an hour for free under the grocery store. The area is a bit of a traffic zoo otherwise.

We started with a milkshake which admittedly does not sound overly healthy. This was Creamsicle flavour and really conjured up fond memories for me. It was a little on the thin side and not very cold for a milkshake though and I'm not sure if that was the intention. 

We were also intrigued by the Yogurt Parfait featuring Yoggu Yogurt. We saw this brand of yogurt in a grocery store at the disturbing price of $10 for 500g (hard pass). It is, however, excellent vegan yogurt and this particular parfait with granola and fresh berries was very good!

The Buffalo Caesar Wrap was also a winner. Made with soy curls marinated in some kind of Buffalo sauce, the 'meat' had a nice texture and flavour. With a healthy serving of assorted crunchy veggies and pickled onions and tofu feta, it is a meal unto itself. We would eat this anytime.

We also shared a Beet Poke Macro Bowl. This was a selection of all sorts of tasty things from marinated beets to pickled carrots and ginger, wasabi peas, furikake, and edamame all served over brown rice with spicy mayo and ginger miso sauce. A satisfying and tasty bowl with lots of flavours and textures, all for only $14. Very nice!

There seem to be a lot more items on the menu than when we first visited the original Chinatown outpost of Kokomo. Obviously, we like that. This is a small place if you are planning to dine in but it is bright and comfortable enough. The staff were friendly and enthusiastic about what they were serving.

Food                             4 out of 5

Vegan Options              5 out of 5

Comfort                         4 out of 5

Service                          4 out of 5

Value                             4 1/2 out of 5

Wild Oat Bakery & Café, Bellingham - Vegan Cafe

Metro Vancouver vegan YouTubers, Vegan Twosome recently visited and reviewed Wild Oat Bakery and Cafe in Bellingham. While I was intrigued, I always want to review other places just to get the word out on as many vegan eateries as possible. So we set our sites on Go Natural Foods, a Latin American cafe with a vegan/vegetarian menu. Google told us it was open until 6pm and led us to the front door! Oops! Not there anymore! I never follow my own advice to phone ahead. Good thing we had a backup plan!

Wild Oak is downtown near Oak and W Holly Street and street parking is available. We arrived just after noon on a Monday and there were tables available. Check out the menu, order and pay at the counter and the nice folks will bring you your food.

We were a little conservative on the ordering front. Mharie had decided on a BLT with a cup of soup on the side. This was a decent Tortilla Soup that hit the spot for a rainy Monday. The BLT was nicely toasted on sourdough bread.

We were kind of impressed with the coconut bacon. It's hard to say how they do that but it was salty and a little crispy like you want it to be!

The Chickpea Toona Melt was definitely worth the price of admission. Rye bread nicely grilled and buttery was the base for chickpea toona which was not as fishy (in a good way) as you might expect but provided a nice taste and texture. Melty provolone-style cheese, lettuce and mayo rounded out this very good sandwich. Served with a decent and very fresh side salad, this was a satisfying light lunch. Just right.

There are quite a few other tempting items on their menu including a Reuben and a Blackened Cajun Fysh Sandwich that we would like to try. If you're in Bellingham or passing through, this place provides some solid vegan eats. A nice cozy room and friendly service rounded out our experience.

Food                     4 out of 5

Vegan Options      5 out of 5

Comfort                4 out of 5

Service                 4 out of 5

Value                    4 1/2 out of 5

Din Tai Fung, Seattle - Vegan Options

Anytime that we go for a Seattle weekend, we are obliged to visit Westfield Southcentre Mall in Tukwila. It's not that we're big shoppers and frankly, with the exchange rate where it is, there are no bargains but Southcentre Mall is a hub of Filipino activity. Of course, we don't need to go just for Jollibee anymore since we have them in Metro Vancouver now but Seafood City (a large grocery store) carries Filipino products that are hard to find in Vancouver. Also, there are a couple of bakeries and other food outlets that likewise cater to the Filipino community. So we make a stop. And while we're there, my wife can't help but get drawn into the Jollibee line (no small deal as it is inevitably an hour). Since vegan eats are scarce in this part of the mall, we had lunch at Din Tai Fung.

My first question is obviously, who would win in a fight between the Jolibee and this cute little dumpling? Din Tai Fung's claim to fame is that many of their dumplings are made on-site and you can watch through the front window.

We arrived just as they were opening on a Sunday and were seated pretty well right away as they got organized.

We started with Seaweed and Beancurd in a Vinegar Dressing. This was light and refreshing with a sesame oil accent. Everything including the beancurd was thinly sliced long pieces giving it a noodle dish feel.

There are more than just a couple of vegan choices! We tried the Vegan Spicy Wontons and really enjoyed these as well. They were filled with a mix of mushrooms, bean curd and noodles and had an interesting texture while the sauce was garlicky and not too spicy. The wrapper was remarkably delicate. We would definitely order these again.

The Vegan Shanghai Rice Cakes provided some substance to the meal and a few greens. They had a nice chew and were stir-fried with spinach, cabbage, soy and sesame. A very nice dish!

Finally, we finished with Red Bena and Mocho Xiao Long Bao. These were sweet without being overly so and made a tasty dessert. I always thought that XLB meant soup dumplings but it apparently refers to the method of enveloping filling with the twist at the top.

One of my favourite things about DTF is the fact that the vegan items stand out on the menu and even can be sorted easily online. We kind of stuck to noodles but there are several versions of Chinese greens that also looked tempting. Service was great and the room is large and very nicely appointed. 

Even the ceiling is interesting! If you are in south Seattle, this is a fine place for vegan eats! Be prepared to pay the price if you get paid in Canadian dollars though. Our bill came in at $87.

Food                          4 1/2 out of 5

Vegan options           4 1/2 out of 5

Comfort                     4 1/2 out of 5

Service                      4 1/2 out of 5

Value                         3 1/2 out of 5

.

El Borracho, Seattle - Vegan Restaurant

We have not been across the border to the United States in literally  3 years. We have had no reason to cross, other than the touristy stuff and it turns out there are things to do closer to home, and there is no paperwork or declarations necessary to do them. But my wife stood in line all day, one day last month to renew her passport and wanted to take it out for a spin. So we found ourselves near Pike Street Market and it turned out that El Borracho is all vegan, all the time!

You might think that Mexican food could be veganized easily but the Mexican-American food that we are used is all about the cheese, isn't it (not to mention lard)? We arrived at noon on Saturday and they were not crazy busy at that point.

Daily fresh-made salsas are in a small bar fridge waiting for you to help yourself. We tried them all! The right side is jalapeno based with Salsa Roja next to it, chipotle something and habanero based on the far left which was spicy but not insane. Very nice!

We started with a quartet of tacos and I can't remember which is which. Al Pastor with tofu and pineapple, Jackfruit conchitas pibil, which featured orange-achiote marinated jackfruit, Ancho Chile Adobo Seitan Steak (my favourite) and Chipotle Potato (Mharie's favourite). They were all very good!

We ordered a side of Green Rice and queso (not shown) both of which were quite tasty. Most of the queso got sprinkled on the green rice actually.

This is called a Shortie, basically a small burrito. We tried the Bean and Cheese and the cheese was quite good being melty and cheddar-like Also a solid veganization!

We enjoyed sitting at the front window watching the Saturday crowds go by. There are a few outside tables and seating at the bar and different levels in the room. Our server was friendly and like typical vegans, we exchanged recipes! In addition to what we tried, they serve bowls, nachos, and burritos and have a full bar. This is definitely a haven for vegans at the market.

Food                         4 out of 5

Vegan Options          5 out of 5

Comfort                     4 1/2 out of 5

Service                      4 1/2 out of 5

Value                         4 out of 5