Calgary vegetarian restaurants for your next date night
Want to impress your vegetarian beau? Or maybe you’re tired of the same old watering holes serving the same old meals. Veg up your next date night in, out, or brunch the morning after at one of these mostly vegetarian Calgary restaurants. [Image credit: iStock.com/Alexandra Iakovleva]
Buddha's Veggie
100-5802 MacLeod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0J8True to its namesake, this Asian fusion diner serves primarily vegetarian dishes: almost everything on the menu is made veggies first. Planning a double date? Large round tables, combo meals and platters make Buddha’s Veggie a great place to dine family style. Vegetarian options include ginger beef and teriyaki chicken, both expertly disguising meat substitutes as the real deal – it’s so good that even carnivores won’t notice the difference! Other selections include classic Chinese appetizers, hot stir-fries and fried rice dishes.
Cafe Koi
100-1011 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1J2Is your beau a little hip? Enjoy a vegetarian meal while listening to local performers at Café Koi. Nestled in Victoria Park, dimly lit and uber cool, Café Koi offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options alongside typical Asian-fusion meaty dishes. Start with their pan-seared ginger tofu, then move onto a black bean Buddha burger topped with extra veggies and a side of roasted yams. Other options include super salads served with flatbread, and bursting bowls of greens, seasonal veggies and optional tofu, all drizzled with to-die-for sauces.
Moti Mahal Midnapor
1805 14 St SW, Calgary, AB T2T 3T1Satisfy your cravings for authentic East Indian flavours at Moti Mahal. Each meal is served family style – a fun way to experience more while sharing with your date. Start with veggie samosas and pakoras, but save room for their specialty curries packed with vegetables and spices. Choose from two locations in the city: 17th Avenue or in the southeast.
Casbah Restaurant
720 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0E4Take a trip to Morocco without leaving downtown at Casbah Restaurant. The romantic dining room complements the authentic menu that showcases traditional Moroccan flavours. Almost everything is vegetarian or vegan! Couscous and rice dishes are the most popular, including chermoula, khoudra and sahara – all different mixtures of vegetables and chick peas combined with varying spices.
Five Rivers Indian Cuisine
11 Castleridge Blvd NE, Calgary, AB T3J 3J8The Castleridge community of Calgary is home to an all-day Indian vegetarian buffet and pizza joint – I know where I’ll be next time I visit the northeast. While Five Rivers isn’t your typical date-night spot, they do offer takeout platters that are perfect for date nights in with your beau. Popular buffet items include aloo gobi, mixed veggie curries, and yellow daal served with rice and traditional dhahi yogurt. Appetizers are available for an additional fee, but jumbo samosas are definitely worth it. If buffets aren’t your style, try their veggie burger, paneer pakora plate, or personal Punjabi-style pizza.
Ten Foot Henry
1209 1 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0V3Impress a new boo at Ten Foot Henry downtown. Combining Calgary’s arts scene with veggie-focused dining, Ten Foot Henry brings its namesake to the frontlines again. Ten Foot Henry is a comic character from the early 1900s, and also a painted plywood figure who has circulated between arts venues since the 80s to finally land in this newly opened restaurant. Roasted veggies and salads full of flavour served in shareable bowls make this restaurant a great place to fill up on nutrient-rich dishes before a long night on the town.
Orchid Room Fusion Cuisine Inc
244-315 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 4K1Downtown workers can meet their dates as soon as they clock out for the day: reserve a quiet table at Orchid Room to try unique twists on Asian favourites. The Orchid Room in Bankers Hall offers vegetarians curry, stir-fry and pad Thai that combines traditional Thai and Vietnamese flavours with French finishes. Their vermicelli bowl is a crowd favourite – it can be made vegetarian with tofu, a mixture of veggies and spices, and is served with veggie spring rolls.
Una Pizza & Wine
618 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0B4Una Pizza & Wine doubles as a chic date night along bustling 17th Avenue, or a quiet night on the couch for Netflix and chill. With plenty of California-inspired vegetarian pizzas and a new takeout ordering window, we’re not sure which is the better idea! Try their artichoke heart and mushroom pizzas for all-veggie specialties, or their simple margherita is a less adventurous option. Salads and pastas are also filling vegetarian sharing options.
Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant Ltd
Impress your date with your cultural variety at Kensington’s Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant. Vegetarian dishes incorporate a lot of chickpeas, beans, and lentils seasoned with traditional spices. All of their meals are meant to be shared. We recommend their Shimbra Asa, a chickpea-flour pastry sautéed in Ethiopian sauces. Other favourites are cabbage and carrots, or spinach and potatoes served with either rice or injera. The restaurant staff teach new diners how to use their injera bread as their utensils, scooping and sopping bites into your mouth. If you’re not that comfortable with your date yet, opt for rice as your side dish to avoid awkward messes.
My Website
