Vegan
American
Juice bar
Take-out
Canadian
Natural food restaurant serving vegan food. Menu offers an array of starters, multi-layered salads, wraps, burgers, bowls, plus soup of the day and weekend brunch. Example of items include: tempeh reuben sandwich, poutine, falafel salad, vegan burger, green goddess brown rice bowl, and soymilk matcha latte. Several branches in Toronto. May 2019 reported fully vegan. Reported closed February 2024.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
-
Loading...
-
- Accepts credit cards
-
-
Last update on 13 Feb 2024 by villain
Update business info -
Are you the owner?
Claim this business
-
-
68 Reviews
First Review by Deano
Heatherw1019
Points +433
Great but expensive food - Edit
Huge menu with a wide variety of plant-based options. Only downside is the price, especially the most recent price increases.
Read moreGuest
MichaelSwistara
Points +170
All about them Dragon Fries - Edit
Fresh is a really great all around (mostly) vegan restaurant with a crazy expansive menu of bowls, burgers, salads, wraps, soups, finger food, juices, smoothies, etc. The stand out off the appetizer menu is the dragon fries, I can't imagine stopping into Fresh without ordering those! Some of the juices, teas, and shakes I've tried have been outstanding as well - particularly the sweet ginger tea.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2018-04-30
Pros: Expansive, tasty menu, Atmosphere, Dragon fries
Cons: Some non-vegan options
Guest
jessek
Points +1875
Soon to be fully vegan! - Edit
This location was recently renovated and is beautiful inside, with a full dining room and a great counter with grab-and-go baked goods from Bloomer's and Tori's Bakeshop. There is also a huge selection of fresh juices. All the baked goods are vegan and my server said in the next few weeks the restaurant will be transitioning to be fully vegan too!
Read moreGuest
Majidaa
Points +148
Awesome bowls! - Edit
The beach bowl with tofu steak was just perfect, tasty and fresh! Options of 2 sizes, large one is just right if you haven’t had breakfast! Also the mule cocktail tastes great!
Read moreFor Matcha lovers on the desert menu loads of choices between iced matcha latte, matcha Cotta do, matcha americano etc.. Heave ! Great place
Pros: Healthy options, Large menu, Super friendly staff at the bar
Cons: Busy but you can sit at the bar
Guest
tberts
Points +106
Massive menu + GF options - Edit
Can’t. Go. Wrong. Massive menu, so much to choose from. Just be patient - service can be slow.
Read morePros: Vegan options, Gluten-free options, Huge menu
Cons: Slow service
Guest
Kapicamon
Points +34
Deslish Vegan Food - Edit
Yesterday I went to Fresh for the first time and it was a great experience. I was impressed by the expansive menu. I ordered the Tiger Bowl with Soba Noodles. Pretty good meal but overall a little bland. My friends had tried the Beyond Burger and the BBQ Burger and both were impressed at how delicious it was. I am definitely going to go back and try something new from the menu😄
Read morePros: Delicious Food , Large Menu
Cons: Long Wait Times
Guest
michellert87
Points +64
Great Food; Stunning Renovation - Edit
My husband and I went to the newly renovated Fresh last week, and it was amazing! The atmosphere is stunning, 10x better than before. Chicer decor, more room between tables and actually spade to enter the restaurant.
Read moreThe food was definitely up to Fresh’s usual standard, if not better. The new plates and way of plating makes everything looks more high-end. They also have a dessert display when you walk in, which makes you crave it throughout your entire meal!
Bonus, they now take reservations!
Pros: Great atmosphere, Friendly staff, Beautiful plates
Cons: Still a bit pricey
Guest
beetsrock
Points +807
Excellent Reuben - Edit
I am always on a quest to find a mouthwatering Reuben sandwich and I found one here! Ordered the special: tempeh and mushroom Reuben with a side of dragon fries and it was to die for.
Read morePros: Large vegan menu, Friendly helpful staff
Cons: Tables really close together and crowded
Guest
JeppoMAX
Points +685
Great and basically vegan - Edit
I'm not sure whether the food isn't organic, but given the prices and sizes of portions I'm guessing it can't be; you can definitely worse food in this city for more money, and less of it (I don't mean that in a backhanded compliment way either!) They seem up on a number of other initiatives which is good. Like most others I also had good experience with the two staff members I interacted with. Positive and helpful. I had the cauliflower wings (juicy and savoury), quinoa rings (crispy and substantial), and chipotle mushroom bacon burger (hefty and flavourful). Only very few things on the extensive menu give the option of adding cheese, cream or honey, and I didn't see where they came from but I think it was on fewer than five non-drink items. I docked it a star because while very good, nothing knocked my socks off, and the place was also hella loud, which is a personal peeve.
Read morePros: Massive menu, Substantial servings, Delicious delicacies
Cons: Busy and loooud, Food isn't organic, maybe
Guest
Jusbene
Points +69
Great service and excellent food - Edit
I’m not sure why people are saying the service was rushed or rude, I remember my server to be very polite and patient with me. I asked her what she recommended and I ended up ordering the best vegan burger Ive had to date. The fries were fresh cut and delicious too. Would highly recommend sitting outside as well. Especially on a sunny day.
Read morePros: Great service, Delicious food, So many options, will return if I’m in the area.
Cons: A tad pricey
Guest
thomasj
Points +87
Boring, Expensive, Rude Staff - Edit
I really don't understand why this chain is so popular. The service is always rushed, surly and rude (hipster?) also the food is boring. The salads, burgers are uninspired and taste very bland - I guess that is why they up charge so much for their sauces. I appreciate that Fresh is one of the pioneers of vegan restaurants in Toronto, however in 2018 almost every other vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the city is offering better food and better service.
Read morePros: Lots of locations. Thats it.
Cons: Bland, Boring, Expensive
Guest
Dimanta
Points +147
Not a fan - Edit
I tried their salads and I have to say I was not impressed. Starting from the customer service (ignorant, rushing, almost unfriendly) to the salad that was so small (compared to Kupfert & Kim across the street) and too basic/simple, almost boring. Just lettuce, spinach, tomato, cucumbers and 2 tiny pieces of bland tasting tofu. Basically salad that I make at home but even more basic, as I add more things into my salads. I may come again to try something else but not so soon. The customer service was scaring me away.
Read moreCons: Small and basic portions , Customer service , Too busy
Guest
laukrieg
Points +132
Great ! - Edit
Generous portions and fresh food. That was delicious. Good brunch.
Read moreGuest
sabrinajh
Points +477
Awesome burger - Edit
I got a BBQ veggie burger and it was so good! One of my favourite things was the mushroom gravy I got for the fries. The matcha latte with soy milk was also very good.
Read morePros: Vegan mushroom gravy
Guest
Yasminesan
Points +1953
Great salad bowls! - Edit
Came here with omni friends and everyone loved what they got. Everything ordered was delicious and the staff were nice, friendly, efficient, and quite funny. I liked the location and the variety and availability of seating. It was reasonably priced too. The healthy options were plentiful and it was possible to customise stuff. They also did a green poutine which looked really good but I didn't try.
Read morePros: Healthy food options, Location and staff, Staff
Guest
Mish
Points +112
tasty, quick but very cramped - Edit
Delicious food but cramped and can be quite loud. Great choice for a quick veg meal
Read moreGuest
cat_lover_41
Points +316
Decent Prices, Decent Food - Edit
I like Fresh because there's always one close by. This one on Spadina gets super slammed at peak hours, so if you're in a hurry try to avoid the rushes. They'll also sit you and then tell you it's a 20 minute wait for food, so anticipate that.
Read moreOtherwise the food's not over-priced, and they have the same menu as every other Fresh. I like the Ceasar Wrap myself.
Pros: Big vegan menu, Healthy food, Serve beer
Cons: Crowded and slow during rushes
Guest
Timothst
Points +16
Solid food - wish it was organic and healthier though - Edit
I've been going to Fresh for a long time and the food is good and filling. I hate to see the boxes of Canola oil and see other crappy ingredients in the restaurant though.
Read morePros: Tastes great., Big servings.
Cons: Not really healthy., Hard to get a seat.
Guest
Jalebi Boy
Points +495
What a busy place! Busy for a good reason! - Edit
I've been here a number of times over the last 15+ years and usually go when in Toronto as a place to meet friends over dinner. I liked it before, but I think the menu has improved in recent years -- I feel it's more interesting and varied now.
Read moreWe all really enjoyed our meals. Some interesting dishes, with good portions. Good drinks too!
Even if you have to wait a few minutes to get in, it's worth it. They were really quick to get people in as soon as possible. Staff worked hard. Yes, it's a bit noisy and chaotic, but I like it because it's lively.
The menu reminds me of the Naam in Vancouver. Does it for you too?
Updated from previous review on 2017-01-26
Pros: Great food with some unique dishes & combinations, good sized portions, good drinks too
Guest
Muuuuu
Points +3230
worth a visit - Edit
Well, the place is noisy and packed, but what did you expect? The food is remarquable! :)
Read morePros: tasty
Cons: washrooms are weird, packed and noisy
Guest
Teknotribes
Points +134
Chaotic, noisy and delicious - Edit
I've been eating at Fresh (and formally Juice for Life) for well over a decade. The food is healthy and delicious and has never disappointed. the service is usually friendly and fairly good. Unfortunately, I have also seen the prices steadily and steeply rise and the condition and atmosphere of the restaurants decline as they get more and more hectic and overrun with ravenous yuppies. Definitely go, but be prepared to fight the crowds for your rice bowl.
Read morePros: Delicious Food, Great selection
Cons: Expensive, Extremely loud and busy, Irritating Clientele
Guest
HugJunky
Points +172
Fresh is fresh and yummy! - Edit
Mostly vegan, large choice, delicious juices, smoothies and boost of all kind. The bowls are enormous and tasty. The brunch looks generous and mouthwatering. Homemade hotsauce is perfect. Not fancy, simple and healty.
Read moreGuest
supertoad
Points +30
Vacationers, Just Passing Through - Edit
The third leg of our vacation (after visiting Niagra Falls) was to visit family in Oshuwa, so we had to pass through Toronto. After a quick search on the happycow app, I saw there were literally dozens and dozens of vegan restaurants in Toronto! I am not used to that kind of choice, being from Connecticut, am overwhelmed with the half-dozen choices when visiting New Haven.
Read moreThe top review here raved about the place, so I made the snap decision to do it. I'm so glad I did.
First, I travel with my wife and daughters (12 and 10) all of us eat vegan, but have diverse tastes. My oldest was disappointed to find they only offer breakfast choices during holidays and weekends (we showed up at 12:30 on a Friday) but I convinced her to try something else, and as soon as she saw vegan poutine on the menu she was sold. In all, we ordered 2 poutines (as an entre) a vegan turkey club wrap, and a tiger bowl. The girls each ordered a small smoothie (at about 5.50 ea) as part of my bribe to keep them away from the more expensive menu items. (I told them to keep their entre under $10 to get a smoothie, that usually works) The server was super accommodating and very friendly (one of the few I feel completely earned her tip) When I saw another table getting some amazing looking onion rings, I snagged her and she was more than obliged to put one in for us, even took the time to explain all the extra dip options we could order with it. So we picked the garlic mayo and peanut sauce. both were excellent, but with the onion rings, the garlic may was the best.
All of our food was amazing - the fried items were slightly greasy, but not unexpectedly and tasted really fresh. Service was really fast - we made it in, a short wait for a seat but ordered, ate, got desert to go (whoopie pies) and back to our car a block away in under 1 hour (I only paid for an hour of parking and set the timer on my phone) Of all the things we ordered, the only thing we would have skipped was the whoopie pies (they were good, moist and chocolatey, but the filling was not what we expected. It was light and lemony, not bad but just not the salty frosting we're used to). I am excited to try some of the other options in Toronto, but would eat back here in a heartbeat - their selection was great and the food amazing.
Pros: Amazing Food, Fast Service, Friendly Servers
Cons: Price (but not more than we are used to), Crowded Tables, Slightly Noisy
Guest
junipearl
Points +73
This place is amazing - Edit
Wish I'd had more days to spend in Toronto so that I could've had more meals here.
Read moreHad the almond blueberry pancakes - VERY filling and delicious - with tempeh bacon and tofu scramble - pretty standard.
Guest
veggiewoman
Points +374
Fresh: reliable, delicious, what's not to like? - Edit
I have been to all 3 Fresh locations and it is quite simply an awesome place. It is always packed, and while that means waiting for a table, I am thrilled that veg*n places in the city are drawing crowds. The menus is very nice - lots of selection for different palates, interesting items for those of who cook veg all the time, and mainstream items for those who are new to vegetarian cooking. The items are vegan by default, but cheese and milk are optional. I highly recommend anything with the delicious peanut sauce. I find the dishes consistent both across all Fresh locations and over the years. And the price is right: I have gone for dinner with my husband for under $20. Smoothies are fantastic but be warned: they are so filling you may want to order an appetizer as your meal. Fresh has a casual funky atmosphere and is a great place to go on a date or for brunch or lunch with a friend. They don't take reservations and I do not recommend going with more than 4 people at a time.
Read morePros: Great taste, Great price, Great atmosphere
Cons: No reservations
Guest
maulydaft
Points +649
I like it now - Edit
I've been eating here every so often since the Bloor location was called "Juice For Life". I've been bashing it that long because although it's not organic the prices were. Plus a lot of the dishes it would be easy to make yourself.
Read moreHowever, recently I started to really enjoy it. I think the rest of Toronto's restaurant prices have inched up to nearly match Fresh's. So yeah, they are still not entirely organic but they aren't so expensive anymore when you look at eating out in Toronto in general.
Plus - I really really like some of the dishes now. In particular the BBQ burger really rocks, and I'm not much of a burger fan.
They have Sweets from the Earth cupcakes, which are harder to come by than their cookies and bars, great smoothies and lots and lots of options.
It's usually TERRIBLY busy in ALL the locations, so sometimes take out is in order.
Pros: Tasty, crafted food, variety, various locatons
Cons: VERY BUSY - ALWAYS!
Guest
krissimi
Points +129
Still one of Toronto's best! - Edit
Fresh is now a classic to me.. Love them. I've had almost everything on the menu for the past 20 years... I've been disappointed only 2 times but both items have since greatly improved... I only miss the original spot on Bloor... It's always upbeat and busy... Not always as cool music from years back... it all depends on who is in control of the stereo.
Read morePros: food and drink, atmosphere and service
Cons: not organic
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 0 times.