Winnipeg Guides | Tourism Winnipeg

By John Pangilinan with Mike Green.

Nowadays, you can get great vegan and veg-centric dishes at almost every nice restaurant in the city. But surely you came here because you want the best plant-based plates in The Peg –– which is what this alphabetical guide is all about.  

From spots where meat never enters the kitchen, to late-night dining and neighbourhood gems, here’s our best bets for vegetarians and vegans in Winnipeg.

Exclusively Vegan Eateries

Good Lands Cafe | 679 Sargent Ave 
The entirely plant-based Middle Eastern menu brings all manner of spice when it comes to its vegan shawarma, made from oven-roasted soy protein. The pita wraps sing with acidity and texture courtesy of pickled red cabbage and a tomato-cucumber salad, while there’s always creamy tahini sauce to bring it all together. Best of all, the main dishes are just $10 ($13 with a side of home fries), and the bowls are gluten-free!  

Organic Planet Deli | 877 Westminster Ave 
This spot prepares vegan sweets and savouries in-store, with sustainability in mind. They have a variety of fresh and frozen vegan soups, sandwiches and other delectable options. Plus, the vibe is just so Wolseley.  

Fortify Foods | 123 Marion Street 
This strictly vegan café located within a holistic wellness space has a tidy little menu featuring functional lattes, smoothies and bright bowls with options like falafel with leafy greens, beets and lemon-tahini dressing. Of note is the latke breakfast bowl featuring carrot and sweet potato cakes with glazed shiitake mushrooms, kale slaw and cannellini beans slathered in vegan Hollandaise.

Vegan friendly establishments

Affinity Vegetarian Garden | 208 Edmonton St 
This downtown institution has been wok-ing out since 2002, offering vegetarian Taiwanese staples that co-owner and chef Gloria Chuang grew up on in Taiwan (she runs the place with husband Joseph Chen, and they are both lovely and so kind). The crispy black mushrooms are nearly legendary and a must-order, while the whole menu has many faux meat dishes and is anything but bland.  

Al Basha Restaurant & Cafe | 1566 Pembina Hwy  
Al Basha Restaurant & Cafe offers an authentic Middle Eastern vibe that goes with their wide-ranging vegetarian and vegan menu. If you’re looking for bold and flavourful dishes, they have everything from must-try mezzes (small dishes served as appetizer) to falafels to manakeesh (flatbread). The owners are also very friendly and give suggestions if you’re new to Middle Eastern cuisine. 

Banh Mi King | 510 Portage Ave 
This bright spot across from the U of W stands out in the sandwich and soup realm for vegans, offering both a delightfully crunchy vegetable banh mi (and boy, those buns are soft too, making for a lovely texture contrast), and a vegan pho broth.  

BDI: Bridge Drive-In | 766 Jubilee Ave  
For dessert enthusiasts, BDI remains a classic, but few people know it also has a nice selection of vegan-friendly ice creams. Indulge in classics like the “Goog” special—a rich blueberry shake with various toppings—or enjoy their parfaits and soft serves, all made with their own plant-based vegan soft serve. 

Bernstein’s Deli | 1700 Corydon Ave  
This family-owned deli has been serving meals since 1985. Alongside their extensive meat selection, they also have vegetarian-friendly meals, ranging from breakfast to dinner. Make sure to try their Black Bean & Wild Rice Burger and their house-made vegetarian soup! 

Bonnie Day Restaurant | 898 Westminster Ave  
This charming Wolseley spot is perfect for a cozy dinner night out, offering a generous selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes like their hand-rolled sweet potato gnocchi and vegan pizzas you don’t want to miss—it’s literally a good idea to visit Bonnie Day! 

Cibo | 339 Waterfront Dr  
Situated with a serene view of the Red River, this Mediterranean eatery has a diverse array of vegan and vegetarian dishes made from fresh, local ingredients. They are known for their bruschetta—such as the must-try brie, apple, and balsamic variety—they also offer a good selection of pizzas, including the popular vegan mushroom. 

Copper Chimney | 305 Madison St 
Copper Chimney has consistently been ranked as one of the city’s top Indian restaurants for the past 15 years. They have a full vegetarian section of the menu for both appetizers and mains, both of which also feature plenty of gluten-free dishes (#doublebonus). Their samosas are great, filled with potatoes and peas and topped with chickpea curry and tamarind sauce. Follow this up with vegetable biryani, a mixed rice dish that will draw the table in with its aroma, along with an order of chilly paneer – because who can resist the call of fried cheese? 

CocoBeans Bakeshop | 113 St Anne's Rd 
Due to its newish commercial kitchen operation (its former home was on Corydon, where Passero now sits) CocoBeans Bakeshop’s goods can be found in markets across the city. At its gluten-free bakery storefront, you’ll find freshly baked pastries, cakes, breads and other items, with vegan items spread across the menu.  

Daanook Restaurant | 58 Albert St 
The nicest Syrian family –– particularly Karwan Kahil, who is always at the desk waiting to take your order with a huge smile –– runs this tiny shawarma shop in the heart of the Exchange District. The Arabi falafel plate is what you’re looking for here, a real feast featuring falafel tightly wrapped in a crispy saj accompanied by a side salad and some of the city’s best fries. Dipping said fries in the garlic and hot sauce (mix them together) is such a joy.  

Falafel Place | 1101 Corydon Ave 
This Corydon Avenue eatery has been on the Winnipeg food scene since 1986. The new owners have continued to serve all the classic vegetarian Middle Eastern dishes, including the vegan heaven breakfast made up of eight falafel balls with hummus, tahini, hash browns and yam mixed with fresh vegetables.  

James Avenue Pumphouse | 2-109 James Ave  
One of the city’s coolest dining rooms features floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city’s first-high-pressure water system, with so many massive pumps and gears that have long since been retired. The menu focuses on globally inspired comfort food with dedicated sections for both vegetarians and vegans. The crispy tofu parm sandwich is a sure bet, as is the giant smoked gouda and potato perogie, which is the size of a dinner plate.  

Kokeb Restaurant | 266 Edmonton St 
This restaurant offers traditional Ethiopian cuisine, including dishes like dinich wot (potato stew) and misir (spiced lentils) bursting with vibrant flavours. 

King and Bannatyne | 100 King St  
Locally famous for their meaty sandwiches, King and Bannatyne also shows love for vegans and vegetarians. The braised jackfruit (sometimes done in a jerk marinade, sometimes a pineapple BBQ sauce) makes for a mighty sandwich filling that even carnivores will mistake for meat. The kale and broccoli coleslaw is also sure to hit the spot.  

Mercadito Latino | 570 Sargent Ave 
Everybody loves pupusas –– that classic Salvadorian dish featuring beans and cheese melting together within a thin masa cake that’s topped with curtido, that acidic, crunchy El Salvadorian slaw. Mercadito’s version gets top marks, while the rest of the Central American menu has notable dishes like vegan tacos featuring refried beans and avocado.  

Nola | 300 Tache Ave 
Acclaimed chef Emily Butcher (whose recent accolades include finishing third at the 2020 Canadian Culinary Championships and a strong showing on the 9th season of Top Chef Canada) loves vegetables, and at Nola they never play second fiddle. At dinner, alongside its regular menu of small plates, Nola also has a vegan menu that is –– and we'll say it –– the best in the city. Dishes like Butcher's gunpowder roasted carrots (the blend of spices, from the smoked paprika to the cumin and coriander, are addictive) and corn + nori fritters remain a mainstay that are sure to please a table. Newer offerings, like arepas made with braised jackfruit in a tamarind-spiced sauce topped with crunchy pickled cauliflower, and wood ear mushrooms treated like chicken karaage with vegan mayo and fermented slaw made with brown rice green tea, will make carnivores forget about meat altogether.

Oval Room Brasserie | 222 Broadway  
With an opulent-yet-inviting dining room (just check out the work that went into remodeling it!),  the Fort Garry Hotel’s central restaurant is a great choice for a big night out.  For vegan and vegetarian dishes, look to the spinach and four cheese cannelloni and a number of share plates and big salads that are all marked with either a “v” or plant symbol on the dinner menu. There’s also plenty to choose from for breakfast through lunch on chef Kyle Lew’s menu, including a lovely wild mushroom tartane served on the hotel’s famed house-made sourdough (which you can buy loaves of in the gift shop).  

Oh Doughnuts | 1194 Taylor Ave and 326 Broadway
Oh Doughnuts is the city's premier doughnut shop, flaunting an impressive array of flavours made fresh daily (from toppings to doughs). This includes a delectable array of vegan doughnuts that are sure to satisfy any craving, be it sweet or savoury.  

Pasquale’s Ristorante Italiano | 109 Marion St 
This restaurant specializes in classic North American-Italian dishes and features a vegan menu with classics like minestrone soup and spaghetti with marinara sauce and vegan meatballs. The second-story patio, which overlooks the bustle of Marion Street, makes for the perfect perch for lunch or dinner with the familia. 

Saperavi | 709 Corydon Ave 
This Georgian restaurant is a cheese, dumpling and bread lovers’ dream. Dishes like badrijani (fried eggplant rolled up and stuffed with ground walnuts, onion and garlic) and khinkali (dumplings made with a wonderfully chewy dough) will bring your tastebuds to the Caucasus, while the ajapsandali (Georgian ratatouille) and kubdari (a flat bread stuffed with Swiss chard, mushrooms and salty cheese) are sure to please. The menu also has so many gluten-free dishes too.   

Stella’s | Eight locations
Stella’s is a local institution with eight locations in the city. It’s always been a top choice for veg heads, as the menu is packed with vegan and vegetarian dishes that run from breakfast, lunch and dinner –– along with some satisfying sweet treats too.  

9 Below Ice Cream Bar | 2494 Main St  
Vegan strawberry soft serve – need we say more? Okay, how about lineups are a regular thing here as they sling so many house-made flavours and the staff is great and their social media also rocks.