Eight of the best vegetarian restaurants in Vancouver

Bacon can give you cancer, but fear not—this city is full of amazing tofu options

A new study released by the World Health Organization this week is worrying many meat eaters. At a time when bacon has become the avocado of carnivores—Toronto even has an all-bacon eatery called Bacon Nation, opened in 2014—lovers of processed meat are suddenly having to grapple with the fact that bacon is not only a crispy bridge to heart problems but also a higher risk of colon cancer. Lucky for you, reader, you live in Vancouver, where there is no shortage of amazing vegetarian food. While our Restaurant Awards do not currently include a vegetarian category, here—in the opinion of one vegetarian—are eight of the best veggie options in the city.The Acorn Restaurant (3995 Main St.): The Acorn, named one of the best 10 new restaurants in Canada in 2013 by enRoute, offers what might be the best vegetarian food in Vancouver. While one of the more expensive veggie options in town, that’s, well, not saying much. At $20 for a typical entree, you’d be hard-pressed to find better food for that price. The menu leans less conventional; expect to order something you’ve never eaten before. Good cocktails too.Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant (1509 W. 12th Ave.): Heirloom is another well-known upscale vegetarian restaurant, this one in the heart of South Granville, but Heirloom’s menu is more conventional and expansive than The Acorn’s. A good option if you’re in the mood for a top-quality veggie burger or brunch. Also has a big cocktail menu.The Naam (2724 W. 4th Ave.): The Naam is probably the most famous vegetarian restaurant in the city. The menu is huge (a mix of Mexican, veggie burgers, dragon bowls, and noodles), the prices reasonable, and the hours, well, it’s open all day, every day. The Naam has been a staple for not just vegetarians but also UBC students, late-night (not always sober) eaters, and Kits residents for over 40 years.The Black Lodge (630 Kingsway): Yes, David Lynch lovers, Vancouver has a Twin Peaks-themed vegetarian restaurant—with a cabin aesthetic and red-curtain bathroom. If you’re not sold already, come for the food: a camping-inspired menu that includes a number of unique veggie dogs. It’s hard to imagine a better place to celebrate the show’s much-hyped revival come 2017.Bandidas Taqueria (2781 Commercial Dr.): In the mood for Mexican? Well, Bandidas Taqueria on The Drive has some of the best tacos in town. It also just happens to be vegetarian. Meaning there’s a lot of cheese, but fear not vegans: you can substitute with the non-dairy variety.Meet (4288 Main St.): Meet, believe it or not, serves no meat. The popular new restaurant on Main is a mid-range fries-and-burger joint with vegan spins on diner classics (like “hot chiggin’ things”). Meet has plans to open a second location downtown.Loving Hut Express (food truck): Want to convince your meat-eating friend that veggie burgers are just as good as the meat variety—maybe even better? Try the vegan food truck at Pacific Boulevard and Davie Street, Loving Hut Express, which serves fast-food staples (a bacon cheese burger, a crispy chick’n burger), only vegan.The Foundation (2301 Main St.): Another very famous—very cheap—vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver that’s also popular with the younger crowd. The menu has a range of options, but The Foundation is most famous for its nachos.