The Sunshine Coast is home to some tasty options when it comes to vegetarian and vegan dining. We've rounded up some of the top spots you’ll want to add to your itinerary, ranging from delicious smoothies and grab-and-go lunches to cozy restaurants where you can indulge in your next vegetarian or vegan meal.
Read on for recommendations for both grab-and-go or sit-down dining choices, and keep in mind that many eateries on the Sunshine Coast do offer a vegetarian or vegan option on their menus.
Grab-and-Go
Nourish Kitchen – Sechelt
This eatery, market, bakery, and juice bar in Sechelt is serving up bold fusion flavours. Head to Nourish Kitchen to pick up a smoothie a Fusion Wrap with your protein of choice (avocado, edamame, seared tofu, roasted yams, or roasted chickpeas), or a variety of bowls (like the Poke Bowl or Ramen Noodle Bowl) to eat along the waterfront. You also want to pick up some gluten free vegan cupcakes for dessert.
The Gumboot Café – Roberts Creek
Located in the heart of quaint Roberts Creek, The Gumboot Café has a long-standing reputation on the Coast for providing locals and visitors with a variety of vegan and vegetarian meals and treats. Try the Buddha Benny, Raw Kale Salad, or the "Roberts Greek" pizza. The Gumboot Café is a can't-miss spot for herbivores and the perfect place to fuel up before or after exploring Roberts Creek Provincial Park.
Sea Monkey Coffee Co. – Gibsons
If you’re a plant-based food lover, you’ll want to check out Sea Monkey Coffee Co. Their coffee menu includes several milk alternatives, like soy, oat, and almond, and their food menu includes plenty of delicious vegan items. Try the Breaky Wrap, which features tofu scramble, sundried tomatoes and red peppers, stewed black beans, sweet potato, chimichurri aioli, and more; the Vegan Benny on a sourdough English muffin; or the Bagel + Carrot Lox, which features a smoked carrot lox and heirloom tomatoes.
Rosemary Lane & Co – Powell River
The Rosemary Lane & Co. food truck offers up some thoughtfully crafted vegetarian options. The small but mighty menu includes a number of bowls with your choice of base: brown rice, rice noodles, or zucchini noodles. While all of the bowls are vegetarian, the Michigan Street Bowl is also gluten free and vegan, and features ingredients like yams, black beans, guacamole, picked cabbage, and green goddess dressing. You can also add protein to your bowl, in the form of falafel or smoked tofu.
Fresh Healthy Café – Gibsons
Fresh Healthy Café serves up a variety of smoothies, like the Kale Pineapple or the Acai Mega Berry (to which you can add a variety of “fortifiers” like whey protein, spirulina, and flax seeds), along with delicious eats. Try the Veggie Beyond Beef Slim Wrap, Falafel Wrap, Power Salad, Acai Bowl, Matcha Green Tea Bowl, and more.
Gourmet Girl – Sechelt
While there is seating inside Gourmet Girl, it’s located right across from the beach—so you might want to take your meal to-go. Options here include vegetarian handhelds like the Sunrise Wrap with egg and tofu scramble; the Hangover Cure with poached eggs, hashbrowns, cheese curds, roasted peppers, and hollandaise sauce; the Gourmet Girl Chopped Salad with peanut lime vinaigrette; and the Veggie Wrap with vegan lime aioli. There’s even vegan Dole Whip (a frozen pineapple treat) for dessert.
Molly’s Reach by Black Bean – Gibsons
Molly’s Reach by Black Bean is located in a building made famous by the hit TV show, The Beachcombers. The café’s menu features items like a veggie breakfast sandwich, a Beachcomber Breakfast with avocado, a black bean burger, and more. You can opt to eat in the dining room or grab something to go—it’s just a short walk to the nearby harbour or Winegarten Waterfront Park.
River City Coffee Roasters – Powell River
River City Coffee Roasters serves up both breakfast and lunch options in Powell River. Breakfast favourites such as the Lumberjack Wrap can be made vegan with avocado, dairy-free cheese, and “walnut sausage crumble”, while their Coast Berry Farm Smoothie Bowl is made with local local blueberries, almond milk, and house-made granola. For lunch, grab a Smashed Falafel Sandwich or a Thai Mango Salad to enjoy at a nearby park or beach.
Sit Down and Dine
The Shinglemill – Powell River
This restaurant sits at the southern end of Powell Lake and offers up beautiful lakefront views. It's the perfect place to fuel up after a day of adventuring in Powell River. The Shinglemill's menu features vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options and their menu includes an "Allergy Friendly" guide to help you with your selection. Enjoy favourites including the Crispy Fried Cauliflower, Lakefront Beet Salad, and Rigatoni Pomadoro pasta.
Lunitas Mexican Eatery – Gibsons
Sit down at Lunitas Mexican Eatery and enjoy a lively atmosphere with a great view of the Gibsons harbour. The menu includes vegan, gluten free, and dairy free menu options making it a great spot for people with different dietary needs. Enjoy the Palmito Ceviche, with hearts of palm, jicama, pineapple pico de gallo, chili threads, and corn chips; or an order of tacos featuring either Al Pastor Cauliflower or Crispy Tofu.
Royal Zayka – Powell River
Located in Powell River’s Historic Townsite District, Royal Zayka is a great option for vegetarians and those with gluten free diets. You can choose from over ten vegetarian curry dishes, including the Dal Makhni (creamy cooked lentils), Mushroom Methi Malai (mushrooms in a curry sauce with dried fenugreek), Eggplant Bartha (eggplant roasted in a clay oven), and more. They also have daily vegetarian lunch specials for your mid-day hunger.
The Gumboot Restaurant – Roberts Creek
Located next door to the Gumboot Café, the Gumboot Restaurant serves up a more extensive menu, alongside a curated selection of wines, specialty food items, and frozen provisions. Chow down on Huevos Rancheros, oven-baked fries, Bootine (with gnocchi and mushrooms), Thai Noodle Salad with tofu, Curried Perogies, and more.
Twenty Two Taphouse – Sechelt
Twenty Two Taphouse is a restaurant and lounge bar offering up an extensive cocktail menu and a dining menu. Indulge in vegetarian starters like the Spinach + Artichoke Dip with your choice of naan bread or corn tortilla chips, or the Onion Bhaji (thinly sliced battered and deep-fried onions) with sweet chili sauce. Those with bigger appetites can opt for a Togarashi Orange Bowl with crispy tofu and orange sauce, or the Truffle Mushroom Mac n Cheese. Some menu items can also be made vegan.
Magpie’s Diner – Powell River
This breakfast and lunch joint offers vegan versions of many breakfast items on their menu. Magpie’s Diner makes special note of which items can be made vegan – for example, their Breakfast Sandwich can be adapted with Just Egg, tomato, avocado, and nooch (nutritional yeast). They also have a Vegan Bowl on their menu, which includes hashbrowns topped with Just Egg, smoked tofu, roasted veggies, and more.
Emelle's Bistro at the Gibsons Public Market – Gibsons
The Gibsons Public Market is a great place to load up on fresh produce, cheese, and baked goods with a variety of vendors on the market's lower level. After you shop, head upstairs to Emelle's Bistro where you can grab brunch options like a veggie hash or omelette, cauliflower fries, a house-made vegetarian burger, or a daily vegetarian soup.
Coastal Cookery – Powell River
Coastal Cookery offers up a warm west coast vibe with quality service, a diverse menu, and specials for Happy Hour. Dig into vegetarian options like the Brussels Sprouts with lemon and Grana Padano, the Vegetable Gyoza with ginger and garlic soy sauce, the Lemongrass Noodle Salad (with option to add marinated tofu), the Veggie Burger with a house-made beet and bean patty, or the Buddha Bowl with marinated tofu and brown rice.
Tapworks Brewing Company – Gibsons
Tapworks is a popular gathering spot with a number of vegetarian menu items that can be made vegan as well. Try the Crispy Cauliflower Wings in your choice of flavour and served with either house ranch or miso mayo; the Mykonos Bowl with shawarma spice falafel; the Garden Patch Burger with a house-made vegan patty; or the Mushroom Bao with crispy oyster mushroom and sriracha soy glaze (make it a meal by adding fries, salad, or even deep-fried pickles).
TuBird – Halfmoon Bay & Secret Cove
Head to TuBird for dinner and a view–the restaurant overlooks the ocean, making for a beautiful brunch and dinner spot in the Halfmoon Bay & Secret Cove area. For brunch, options include the Vegan Avocado Toast, the Forest Mushroom and Goat’s Cheese Frittata, and Banana Bread French Toast. For dinner, there’s the Creamy Hummus with crusty bread, Ratatouille, and Pasta Primavera with rose sauce, The Conceptual Minestroni (a flavourful vegan soup).
Forest Bistro – Powell River
The Forest Bistro & Lounge offers a curated menu with a handful of vegetarian dishes that aren’t to be missed. Try the Glazed Beet Salad–made with a vanilla, star anise, cinnamon, coriander, and honey glaze; the Pear Blue Cheese Tart on a bed of greens; and Cauliflower that’s roasted with cracked spices and served with red pepper coulis. For the main course, the Baked Squash consists of delectable acorn squash with goat cheese, cranberries, sauteed spinach, and seasonal vegetables.
Dessert
When it comes to sweet treats, you’ll find plenty of vegan options. There’s vegan ice cream and cold treats on the menu at places like Wild Scoop Ice Cream in Powell River and e.b.’s Ice Cream in Sechelt.
You’ll also find everything from vegan cupcakes at Nourish Kitchen and Chocolate Oatbars and Avocado Vegan Chocolate Cake at The Bakery in Sechelt to plant-based cheesecakes and chocolate treats at Just Soul Food in Powell River. Local farmers’ markets can also be treasure troves for locally made vegan treats.
