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1
Oats & Ivy
It’s not strictly vegan, but this bike-cart-turned-organic-takeout-joint in Liberty Village knows how to make everyone happy. It serves some impossibly rich nut milks and dense raw sweets, and will remove or swap ingredients in its globe-trotting lineup of box lunches ($10.35) to suit your dietary needs. But you might not want to mess with a good thing – the sweet potato, olive and raisins studding the Moroccan quinoa and the roasted corn and raw milk cheddar atop the Mexican beans are perfect just the way they are.
Open Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm, Saturday 10 am to 6 pm. @oatsandivyTO.
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2
David Laurence
Fresh on Bloor
Ruth Tal’s Fresh, which opened in 1999 and now has four locations, is still the undisputed ruler of vegan dining in Toronto. The chain has kept up with recent clean-eating trends, adding cold-pressed juices and gluten-free options. But the classics remain on the sprawling menu: grilled veggie, tempeh and tofu bowls on heaps of soba noodles or brown rice, well-stuffed wraps and some shockingly indulgent onion rings ($6.50) – albeit covered in puffed quinoa.
Open Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:30 to 10 pm, weekend brunch to 3 pm.
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3
Veghed
1199 Dundas West, Toronto, OntarioThe menu at former Spoke Club chef Ren Mercer’s Dundas West takeout place just lists soup, salad, lunch box combo and grilled cheese sandwich. Mercer explains that he crafts the day’s menu out of “whatever he finds” that’s in season and pesticide-free at the morning market, leading to creations like a smoked mozzarella, Edam and truffle-honey grilled cheese ($6). A whole roster of jarred products are also available to go, including house-made pickles ($3) and soups like Basque pepper or turban squash ($9).
Open Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 7 pm. @veghed_bar.
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4
Hogtown Vegan
Man cannot survive on bowls full of grain alone – sometimes you want something deep-fried and coated in cheesy sauce. Vegans craving something greasy or carby can head to Bloordale for “chicken” tenders and dense waffles smothered in spiced syrup ($14), remarkably convincing seitan “roast beef” sandwiches ($13) and ramekins of mac and “cheese” ($10) in a spicy, runny, satisfying sauce.
Open Monday toFriday noon to 11 pm, Saturday 11 am to 11 pm, Sunday 11 am to 10 pm, brunch Saturday and Sunday to 3 pm. @hogtownvegan.
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5
The Vegan Duchess
Health-conscious midtown office workers, your lunch-hour prayers are answered by this tiny takeout spot near Yonge and Eglinton. Raw, gluten-free, vegan dishes are whipped up in minutes, including pastas made from string-cut zucchini and smothered in marinara sauce or delectable parsley pesto ($16) mini-pizzas on salty, crunchy buckwheat crusts ($15) and Caesar salads ($5/$11) with almond Parm and eggplant bacon.
Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm. @theveganduchess.
