Burger Fiancé
Where: 417 rue Notre Dame O, 3627 Sources Blvd
Why you should go: This delightfully quirky all-vegan burger resto offers cajun shiitake burgers as well as a range of veggie burgers, including a monthly special. Burger Fiancé's website is endearingly kooky, with a burger floating around the screen as the copy sweetly calls you "my fiancé." Will you try their faux-chicken nuggets? You should, it seems, and "you wont be upset. no no no. trust me. my fiancé," the site reads.
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Sham Vegan
Where: 152, avenue Mozart E.; 1371, Mont-Royal E.
Why you should go: A strong contender for the best falafel in town, Sham highlights Syrian ingredients from the Mediterranean coast. Everything on the menu is vegan, including their series of "chicken" dishes from tandoori to Thai to general Tao. After a faux-steak feast, consider trying their baklava.
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Aux Vivres
Where: Montreal (4631, boulevard Saint-Laurent) and Westmount (4896, rue Sherbrooke Ouest)
Why you should go: No list of vegan spots would be complete without this Montreal staple, so let’s talk about it! Aux Vivres touts itself as Montreal's first vegan restaurant and offers a completely vegan menu to back up that promise. It's a favourite spot for brunch, with highlights including a well-loved huevos rancheros.
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ChuChai
Where: 4088, rue St-Denis
Why you should go: ChuChai is home to a range of Asian dishes, both cold and hot, and all 100% vegan. They encourage newcomers to try their red curries, filled with different plant-based proteins reminiscent of shrimp, chicken and even duck. ChuChai offers rice-based dishes and some noodle options as well.
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Petit Lapin
Where: 5475, avenue Royalmount, local 125
Why you should go: This allergy-friendly bakery was founded after the owner struggled to find anywhere to buy a safe cake for her food-sensitive son. Everything at Petit Lapin is free from nuts, milk, eggs, soy and wheat, among other common allergens. The bakery is known for its custom cakes, which have their own dedicated Instagram page.
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Archway
Where: 3683, rue Wellington
Why you should go: Archway has everything from a well-rounded brunch menu to an elevated selection of dinner options, as well as a sizeable wine list. The plant-based eatery is focused on delivering healthy and inspiring food and drinks, including a range of house-made lemonade mocktails. They advertise their food as "best enjoyed when shared," so bring a friend and split the bill!
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Falafel St. Jacques
Where: 345, rue St Jacques
Why you should go: Falafel St. Jacques offers Middle Eastern street food, including — yet again — some excellent falafel, as well as vegan shawarma. They also serve house-made bourekas, a traditional Sephardic filled pastry made with phyllo. This spot is known for its surprisingly big portions of tasty plant-based treats, perfect for a midday break.
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La Panthère verte
Where: 160, St-Viateur E.; 145, avenue du Mont-Royal E.
Why you should go: This vegan-vegetarian restaurant, founded just over a decade ago, serves "an urban blend of Mediterranean and comfort food" with a strong ecological bent. Complete with environmentally friendly packaging and organic ingredients, La Panthère verte says it has also been voted best falafel in Montreal for almost as long as it's been open.
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Lola Rosa
Where: 545, rue Milton; 276, rue Ste-Catherine O.
Why you should go: Now in two locations across the city, Lola Rosa is as known for its cuisine as it is for the hundreds of letters crammed into drawers at each restaurant — souvenirs from tourists, visitors, and long-time residents that add local flair to the plant-based dining experience. The flagship Lola Rosa offers intimate seating and a well-liked mountain of nachos. The other location, a downtown brasserie, invites different vibes, but all focus on locally-sourced vegan food that's sure to please on date night or at brunch.
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Mimi & Jones Diner
Where: 5149, avenue du Parc
Why you should go: Mimi & Jones claims to be the first vegan diner in Montreal, and they've been making waves in the veggie scene since 2019. The crew of "compassionate gangsters" behind the diner and other projects seek to "defend animal rights" in all of their ventures, including their Vegangels Boutique selling clothing and gear. Mimi & Jones' signature milkshakes and plant-based burgers are crowd-pleasers to the core.
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Bistro Tendresse
Where: 1259, rue Ste-Catherine E.
Why you should go: Bistro Tendresse moves away from casual dining and towards something a little more refined. For lunch and dinner, the bistro offers calamari-style King Oyster mushrooms, tomato sashimi, and other reimaginings of meaty classics. Tendresse also offers a full brunch menu on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a two-for-$15 mimosa deal that's not to be missed.
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Café Tuyo
Where: 370, rue Marie-Anne E.
Why you should go: This vegan café in the Plateau draws its name from the expression "lo mÃo es tuyo," meaning "what's mine is yours." Its organic, locally-sourced veggie bites are developed with "eco-responsible" values and a desire to share healthy creations with folks from all walks of life.
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Umami
Where: 6660, rue Clark
Why you should go: For some of the best and only vegan ramen in the city, Umami is a strong choice. Their philosophy is "cruelty-free gastronomy at its best," and as perhaps the first fully vegan ramen spot in Montreal, they're already making their mark. With plenty of Japanese classics besides the ubiquitous ramen, you can enjoy good drinks and a good meal no matter what you're craving.
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Resto Végo
Where: 1720, rue St-Denis
Why you should go: Resto-Végo is a vegan fan favourite for good reason: its multitude of self-serve vegan and veggie options at its buffet is always full of delicious dishes, and the gourmet counter downstairs offers hot and cold vegan and vegetarian sandwiches, pizzas, baked goods and more.
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Sushi Momo
Where: 3609, rue St-Denis; take-out counter at 16, avenue des Pins
Why you should go: A fully vegan sushi experience, Sushi Momo is known for its creative rolls, including a marinated mushroom hosomaki. They also feature dishes for those sensitive to soy, like a sweet potato-jalapeño roll with avocado. The creator of Sushi Momo, chef Christian Ventura, has also spearheaded other plant-based Montreal favourites, including Bloom sushi.
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LOV
Where: 464, rue McGill
Why you should go: For an upscale date or a special occasion, LOV’s elevated vibes are a solid option. King Oysters make another appearance, this time in the form of meatless scallops. LOV's calamari is created with palm hearts and makes for an adventurous starter. When it comes to mains, try the tofu fish n' chips or squash-based coconut curry.
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Hoche Glacé
Where: 2225, avenue Bennett
Why you should go: Once you've had your fill of vegan mains and appetizers, brunch spreads and bakery finds, it's time to branch out into dessert. Hoche Glacé offers both plant-based and dairy-based ice cream options, including ice cream cakes and milkshakes. They also feature vegan and non-vegan "tourbillons," or swirls, with ice cream blended with add-ins like cookie dough, brownie and tiramisu.
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Sophie Sucrée
Where: 3770, boulevard St-Laurent
Why you should go: Finally, we've made it to the crown jewel in Montreal's vegan dessert scene: all-plant dessert superstar Sophie Sucrée. The bakery creates pastries, cakes and more all without animal byproducts, making it a great spot for picking up those after-dinner treats. They also offer savoury pastries, like a spinach scone, but the sweet options are undeniably enticing.
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The interior of Montreal's newest vegan poké bowl restaurant: Nofish. Courtesy of Nofish. 
Two vegan poké bowls from Nofish in Montreal. Courtesy of Nofish. 
@mariegenevieve.lamothe, Festival végane de Montréal | Facebook
Elizabeth Bacon, Festival végane de Montréal | Facebook
Elizabeth Bacon, Festival végane de Montréal | Facebook
