1. Live Organic Food Bar
264 Dupont, at Spadina, 416-515-2002, livefoodbar.com.
When Jennifer Italiano first launched her all-raw vegan resto 10 years ago, people thought she was nuts. Now, the self-taught chef’s modish Annex resto attracts a loyal following from those who expect their health-conscious grub to be as cutting edge as it is tasty. Little wonder A-listers like Woody Harrelson are fans. Watch for a second Live to open in Liberty Village early in the new year! Best: the dish that started it all, Live It Up Lasagna, a tangle of raw zucchini ribbons dressed with basil pesto, garden veggies, cashew ricotta cheese, sun-dried tomato and kalamata olives in marinara sauce raw pizza with a crust of sprouted buckwheat topped with sunflower-seed cheese, corn, red onion, spinach, tomato and fresh basil tacos piled with sunflower refried beans, corn salsa, guacamole and cashew sour cream the Detox salad of local organic kale and gluten-free kelp noodles tossed with avocado in lemon hemp dressing at brunch, faux chocolate crepes stuffed with cacao date Fluff, blackberry jam and whipped coconut cream.
Average main $16. Open Monday to Thursday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, Friday 11:30 am to 10 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 3 pm, dinner Saturday till 10 pm, Sunday till 9 pm. Closed some holidays. No reservations. Licensed. Access: 11 steps at door, washrooms in basement.
2. One Love Vegetarian
854 Bathurst, at London, 416-535-5683, oneloveveg.com.
If you’ve ever had Ikeila Wright’s spicy corn soup at Harbourfront, you’ll recognize the signature dish at her colourful Annex take-away. The rest of her short island-style vegan card’s just as tasty, but because much of it’s made from scratch, it’s not the fastest food around. Nor would you want it to be. Counter service, minimal seating. Best Caribbean in the city?
Best: start with that remarkable soup, a fiery sweet purée thick with creamy Jamaican pumpkin and backyard garden peas mains like textured bean curd with buttery lima beans in mild curried gravy plated over sliced avocado, caramelized plantain, basmati rice ‘n’ lentils and organic house greens in a sesame-ginger vinaigrette righteous rotis – either paratha, dahl puri or whole wheat – generously stuffed with curried chana chickpeas ‘n’ potatoes or more spicy pumpkin to drink, house-made ginger beer (hold the rum).
Average main $10. Open Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 9 pm, Saturday 11 am to 6 pm. Closed Sunday, Monday, holidays. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: one step at door, no washrooms, minimal seating.
3. Hibiscus
238 Augusta, at Nassau, 416-364-6183.
Though the all-veggie lineup at this too-cute Kensington café has barely changed since chef Joseph Tam first opened almost six years ago, it’s still one of the better meal deals in the Market. Shy service and low volume levels make this the perfect spot to catch up with a pal over a bowl of pure sustenance. Best: combo salad plates with quinoa tabbouleh with cranberry and sunflower seeds sweet potato with Italian parsley Puy lentils with scallion, red pepper and chickpeas French haricots verts with tomato and mushrooms, all dressed in a light lemony Dijon vinaigrette sweet or savoury dairy-free buckwheat and brown rice flour crepes drizzled with maple syrup, topped with seasonal fruit, and sided with spectacular vegan gelato like coconut milk with organic Ontario raspberries, smoky Earl Grey tea in rice milk or candied ginger roasted tomato ‘n’ sweet potato soup.
Average main $6. Open daily 11 am to 6 pm. Closed some holidays. Unlicensed. Access: three steps at door, washroom on same floor.
4. Hot Yam!
33 St George, at College, hotyam.ca.
Open to the public one day a week, this U of T student-run vegan cooperative cafeteria doubles as an inexpensive exercise in sustainability, dishing up locally sourced and often organic veggie meals along with a side of delicious idealism for all of 4 bucks. Even better, bring your own dishes or take-away container and go to the front of the line! Best: from a menu that changes weekly, sweet ‘n’ sour beet soup with Ontario cucumber salsa creamy potato salad with silken tofu green beans in basil pesto veggie chili and flaxseed cornbread roasted veggies and tempeh on house-baked rosemary focaccia spread with black-olive tapenade cayenne-dusted corn on the cob cranberry ‘n’ wild rice salad oven-roasted rutabaga frites maple syrup carrot spice cake: root vegetable shepherd’s pie vanilla cupcakes with vegan butter-cream icing to drink, hot mint tea.
Average main $4. Open for lunch Wednesday noon to 2 pm only. No reservations. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: barrier-free.
5. Buddha’s Vegetarian Foods
666 Dundas W, at Denison, 416-603-3811.
Don’t come to this tiny veggie joint on the fringe of Kensington expecting the fancy-pants digs of Lai Wah Heen. Decor? There ain’t any! They also don’t put evil garlic or onion in anything, as per Buddha’s edict, but they have no problem with refined sugar or high-sodium soy. Friendly, quick service gets you in ‘n’ out in no time. Best: to start, greasy-good burrito-sized bean-curd-skin rolls stuffed with crunchy bamboo shoots, wood ear fungus and carrot deep-fried wontons wrapped with gluten and dipped into old-school sweet ‘n’ sour sauce main-sized soups like the Buddha’s special with fresh bok choy and chewy Chinese mushrooms in veggie broth with dairy-free wheat noodles Cantonese-style mein topped with diced Chinese greens and cashews rudimentary fried rice with even more mushrooms.
Average main $8. Open Wednesday to Monday 11 am to 9 pm. Closed Tuesday and Christmas. Unlicensed. Cash only. Access: three steps at door, washrooms in basement.
