Being vegan in Toronto is refreshingly easy. Like most large, international cities, Toronto has reached the point where living and eating animal-cruelty free no longer feels like a compromise or a constant negotiation - whether you’re visiting, have just moved here, or have recently gone vegan and are finding your feet, you’ll quickly realise that the city is well set up for us!
English and French speakers won’t struggle to make themselves understood, and even if neither is your first language, translation apps and digital menus make ordering safely straightforward. Add to that the fact that Toronto has 47 fully vegan restaurants and countless non-vegan places with solid plant-based options, and it becomes clear that compassion fits very comfortably into daily life here.
Getting around Toronto as a vegan is just as uncomplicated. The city is highly walkable in many neighbourhoods, especially downtown and along the waterfront, and the public transport system covers almost everywhere you’ll want to go. The TTC runs buses, streetcars, and a subway network that’s easy to navigate, even if you’re new to the city.
Getting Around Toronto as a Vegan
Getting around Toronto as a vegan is just as uncomplicated. The city is highly walkable in many neighbourhoods, especially downtown and along the waterfront, and the public transport system covers almost everywhere you’ll want to go. The TTC runs buses, streetcars, and a subway network that’s easy to navigate, even if you’re new to the city.
For longer distances, late nights, or when you simply want a bit of comfort without thinking about routes, services like VVIP Toronto Limo exist alongside regular taxis and ride-shares. Movement in Toronto doesn’t require a car, and that ease of getting around makes it much simpler to explore different vegan spots without planning your day around logistics.
If you’re looking specifically for fully vegan restaurants, Toronto genuinely delivers! The city’s vegan scene ranges from casual comfort food to refined dining, and you’ll find everything from indulgent burgers and pizzas to thoughtfully prepared global cuisines. My personal favourite was Happy Taco which uses Beyond Meat.
Fully Vegan Restaurants in Toronto
If you’re looking specifically for fully vegan restaurants, Toronto genuinely delivers! The city’s vegan scene ranges from casual comfort food to refined dining, and you’ll find everything from indulgent burgers and pizzas to thoughtfully prepared global cuisines. My personal favourite was Happy Taco which uses Beyond Meat.
What’s particularly nice is that many of these places aren’t framed as “alternatives” or “health food” - they’re just good restaurants that happen to be vegan. That means no awkward questions, no menu decoding, and no risk of animal products slipping in unnoticed! For vegans who value peace of mind as much as flavour, this alone makes Toronto a very comfortable place to eat.
Of course, sometimes you end up eating with people who don’t want to go to vegan restaurants (e. g. colleagues, family members, or that one stubborn "friend" who still thinks vegan food is lettuce and sadness).
Eating Out with Non-Vegans
Of course, sometimes you end up eating with people who don’t want to go to vegan restaurants (e. g. colleagues, family members, or that one stubborn "friend" who still thinks vegan food is lettuce and sadness).
But don't worry: when you can’t avoid a non-vegan restaurant, Toronto still gives you workable options! Traditional Canadian food isn’t exactly known for being plant-based, but there are a few things you can usually order or adapt without drama. Common vegan-safe choices you can often find include:
It’s not glamorous, but it’s doable - and sometimes that’s enough to get through a work lunch without compromising your ethics or starting a debate you didn’t sign up for.
One of the easiest ways to stay happily vegan in Toronto is having access to your own kitchen. Staying in an apartment, hostel, or extended-stay accommodation lets you veganise traditional Canadian dishes yourself without hassle. Poutine becomes chips with vegan gravy and plant-based cheese. Breakfast staples like pancakes or porridge are effortless with oat or soy milk.
- Plain chips (fries) cooked in vegetable oil
- Baked potatoes without butter or sour cream
- Side salads with oil and vinegar
- Toast with jam or peanut butter
- Oatmeal made with water
It’s not glamorous, but it’s doable - and sometimes that’s enough to get through a work lunch without compromising your ethics or starting a debate you didn’t sign up for.
Cooking Vegan Canadian Food at Home
One of the easiest ways to stay happily vegan in Toronto is having access to your own kitchen. Staying in an apartment, hostel, or extended-stay accommodation lets you veganise traditional Canadian dishes yourself without hassle. Poutine becomes chips with vegan gravy and plant-based cheese. Breakfast staples like pancakes or porridge are effortless with oat or soy milk.
Grocery shopping is straightforward, with major supermarkets and local stores carrying a wide range of vegan products, from meat alternatives to dairy-free desserts. Cooking at home can also be a relief after navigating social meals or long days out, giving you control and familiarity without sacrificing flavour.
When it comes to things to do in Toronto, being vegan doesn’t limit your experience - but it does shape it, for sure! Attractions like zoos and aquariums exist in the city, but they’re not vegan spaces; they rely on animal confinement for entertainment, which doesn’t align with a cruelty-free lifestyle. Thankfully, Toronto offers plenty of genuinely vegan activities.
Vegan-Friendly Things to Do in Toronto
When it comes to things to do in Toronto, being vegan doesn’t limit your experience - but it does shape it, for sure! Attractions like zoos and aquariums exist in the city, but they’re not vegan spaces; they rely on animal confinement for entertainment, which doesn’t align with a cruelty-free lifestyle. Thankfully, Toronto offers plenty of genuinely vegan activities.
You can watch a hockey game (where the only beings that get hurt are consenting humans) and soak up local culture without harming animals, hike through nearby green spaces (instead of horse riding, for example), or enjoy bird watching from a respectful distance.
Lake Ontario offers opportunities to get out on the water for sightseeing or fish spotting rather than fishing killin', allowing you to appreciate wildlife without exploitation. The city’s parks, trails, and neighbourhoods provide endless options for low-impact, animal-respecting exploration.
Ultimately, being vegan in Toronto feels natural. The infrastructure, food scene, and cultural openness make it easy to live according to your values without constant compromise. Whether you’re here for a weekend or settling in long term, Toronto supports a way of life that centres compassion, practicality, and enjoyment.
For vegans who already know this is the kindest way to live, the city doesn’t ask you to explain yourself - it simply lets you get on with it!
Final Thoughts on Being Vegan in Toronto
Ultimately, being vegan in Toronto feels natural. The infrastructure, food scene, and cultural openness make it easy to live according to your values without constant compromise. Whether you’re here for a weekend or settling in long term, Toronto supports a way of life that centres compassion, practicality, and enjoyment.
For vegans who already know this is the kindest way to live, the city doesn’t ask you to explain yourself - it simply lets you get on with it!
If you're looking for more vegan Canada, try our Vegan in Vancouver guide! (Photo credits: Adam Vradenburg, Arturo Castaneyra, Jarett Lopez, Teunard Droog, Venrick Azcueta)
