Despite Bay Street's status as the heart of Toronto's business scene, there are a surprising number of affordable options for vegetarians seeking great meals. And, because of this neighbourhood's hunger for success, you can bet your food will be great.
Go wheatless and meatless in the downtown core at this vegan, gluten-free take out spot with locations at Brookfield Place, First Canadian Place and in the Sun Life Tower. Fast food never tasted so good - and good for you - thanks to the colourful selection of grab-and-go boxes packed with sustainable vegetarian fare. The Mexican-influenced Oaxaca bowl features brown rice topped with spiced black beans, kale, corn, beets, radish, tortilla chips and hemp seeds. And, you can be sure that nothing goes to waste at this green eatery; even the eco-friendly containers are compostable.
You’ll eat your greens (and oranges, and reds and yellows) at this veggie-friendly takeout spot with locations in the TD Centre, Brookfield Place and 18 York. The menu focuses on clean eating and offers a variety of nutrient-rich lunch boxes, as well as sweet and savoury snacks for vegetarians and gluten-free diners. The popular Glow box features a mix of organic quinoa, shredded kale, sweet potato, avocado, cabbage, carrots and cucumbers topped with harissa hummus. Looking for something a little different? Try the Asian-inspired Ssäm box filled with bulgogi tempeh, brussels sprouts kimchi and baby bok choy on brown rice.
Located on Bay Street, this elegant sushi restaurant is reasonably priced and features a menu of nearly 250 items. Vegetarians can mix and match a large selection of maki, udon and tempura. There's also sushi and sashimi if you're a pescatarian. Look out for the fun dishes named after downtown Toronto streets.
There’s not much time for lunch in the city’s financial district, which is why Soup Nutsy offers convenient and nutritious takeout fare at three different spots within a stone’s throw from one another. They make around 12 gourmet soups daily, rotating varieties according to what veggies are available – so you'll always have something new to look forward to at lunchtime. They also have a good choice of seasonal vegetarian soups on the menu, including gazpacho for summer.
Led by 2014 Canadian Culinary Champion, Chef Lorenzo Loseto, George Restaurant’s kitchen offers some of Toronto's finest cuisine. It’s earned the enviable acclaim – along with extra points from vegetarians – for dedicating a lot of menu space to meat-free dishes. There's a multi-course tasting menu and an à la carte selection that includes saffron couscous and barley risotto. The restaurant's offerings change throughout the year, as the kitchen uses fresh seasonal ingredients.