Vancouver vegetarian restaurant offering a mostly vegan menu, with dishes ranging from breakfast burrito and pancakes with potatoes to stir fry tofu & veggies; has vegan cheese. Jan 2016 reported menu has been updated to indicate which items are vegan and which few items use honey. Hosts live music most nights. NOTE: June 22 reported to serve eggs/cheese in vegan dishes in error, check carefully. Open Mon-Thu 11:00am-12:00am, Fri 11:00am-3:00am, Sat 9:00am-3:00am, Sun 9:00am-12:00am.
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2724 W 4th Ave (at Kitsilano district), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Last update on 26 Oct 2023 by UnsexyVeganMale
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113 Reviews
First Review by CherryCritter
samesamebutvegan
Points +1461
Yummy vegan grilled cheese - Edit
I‘ve been there twice now and both times had the vegan grilled cheese, which came with a little side salad and I got extra ketchup on the side.
Read moreThe bread is very yummy as well as the vegan cheese. It was also the perfect portion for me, all the other dishes seemed to be huge.
Staff was friendly and the service was quick (only a few tables were taken at lunch time though, not sure how it is when it is busier).
Updated from previous review on 2024-10-31
Guest
ABeanz
Points +823
The Miso Gravy is Everything - Edit
This place is the unofficial hangout for UBC students, and it's got a reputation for its legendary miso gravy, cozy decor, late-night hours, and delightfully slow service. Yes, the slowness is part of the charm – it gives you more time to soak in the ambiance and ponder life’s big questions, like why doesn’t everyone have miso gravy at home?
Read moreSpeaking of miso gravy, one summer my cousin practically begged me to smuggle a bottle of it across provincial lines to Ontario. I obliged, since now you can actually buy it to take home. No more miso gravy bootlegging!
On my latest visit, I brought an American friend to try the Naam. We bonded over Sesame Fries with Miso Gravy, a Dragon Bowl, and Thai Noodles. His verdict? Pure bliss. He’s already plotting his return trip just for another taste.
If you’re not getting the hint here – the miso gravy is a must-try. Trust me, you’ll be dreaming about it and maybe even plotting some cross-country gravy smuggling of your own!
Pros: Miso Gravy , Clearly defined allergens , Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly
Cons: Service is Slow, but pleasant
Guest
Seitanicveg
Points +853
The original and best! please never change - Edit
Flaws and all I love the Naam. " my first vegetarian restaurant" and will always hold a special place in my heart. Yes, vego/vegan has moved on a bit from this place, but great this places hasn't change much over the years. The old reliable!
Read moreGuest
JTtheveggie
Points +3077
Warm and Cozy Hippie Vibe - Edit
À Vancouver institution that’s served the veg community for decades. Serves burgers, killer sesame fries and miso gravy, lasagna, and a variety of bowls. Fast and attentive service on the night we went and the food was delicious, esp the lasagna.
Read morePros: Street parking available, Long open hours
Guest
SaraDei
Points +173
Big and tasty - Edit
Long established veggie/vegan restaurant in the heart of Kitsilano. A nice variety in the menu, portions are generous and the food is very tasty. Highly recommend the Miso Benny, which can easily be made vegan like the majority of the items on the menu that aren't already. The pies looked amazing, but didn't get to try any this time as my Buddha's Feast was very filling. Will have to go back to try them!
Read morePros: Large portions, Variety of menu, Easy to veganise almost all that isn't already
Guest
IsabelleLoverich
Points +104
Great Service, Didn’t Love the Food - Edit
They offer a full vegan section of the menu. We ordered the pancakes and the breakfast wrap and were really disappointed. They were the worst pancakes I’ve ever eaten, and they do not offer vegan butter. The breakfast wrap was full of veggies (which were not on the menu), soggy and falling apart, and they just threw a whole sausage link in there instead of mixing it into the scramble.
Read moreWhile the food was extremely disappointing, we had great service and it’s a super cozy and cute restaurant- and their latte was great! They also have a binder with all ingredients so they are helpful with food allergies!
Updated from previous review on 2024-01-14
Pros: Separate Vegan Menu, Amazing service , Ingredients binder for all items
Cons: Not a lot of variety on menu , The food
Guest
Vast
Points +422
Vancouver institution - Edit
Used to be 24 hours before Covid restrictions, Indian/eastern inspired fusion cuisine - a little heavy on the carbs but you can find more keto friendly dishes and lots of organic ingredients listed on the chalkboard. Great daily specials! Love the tacos and dragon bowls! #Veganuary
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-01-13
Pros: Organic ingredients, Fun vibe , Good location
Cons: No longer 24 hours, Used to do contact tracing, High carb menu
Guest
DanielleF33
Points +212
Fantastic as always! - Edit
I've probably eaten at the Naam 100+ times.
Read moreAmazing bowls, huge portions and love the nostaglic venue.
Bonus is the patio that is now dog friendly:)
Pros: Healthy delicious portions, Venue, So many options
Cons: i live in Toronto and it's in Vancouver:(
MarwanSquared
I have not been in a long time... After looking at your pictures, I feel the need to again.
Read moreDanielleF33
Its so good, every time!
Read moreDanielleF33
Just had brunch there yesterday, amazing!
Read moreGuest
Dominique.T
Points +65
Pretty bad food - Edit
Five of us went, and four of us were very disappointed. The Maui burger that I had was burned both sides and dry. The chopped salad was turning red on the edges. The potato wedge fries were good.
Read moreThe Buddha bowl was like bottled sauce and chunks of plain tofu with veggies. It was bland. It did not look or taste appetizing. The waitress suggested the black bean enchilada which one person had, and thought it was pretty good. So I’d say order that.
Pros: The decor, The waitress was good , The beer was the best part.
Cons: Yucky food , Yucky food , Yucky food
Guest
Siup
Points +3232
They could do so much better - Edit
I had high expectations considering the important history of this place. Servings are very generous and ingredients are fresh. However, food tastes bland, despite the sauces. The naam burger patty is dry and tasteless, everything is pretty much something you might cook at home. The cranberry apple pie is a total disaster (see picture): a bunch of apple slices, the pie and the crumble are all soggy and broken. It doesn’t even look like a pie. Last but not least, service was awful: dirty table, server could not understand what we were saying, we ended up with the wrong dish. When we tried to say something, server was rude. Honestly, there are so many restaurants in Vancouver that offer great vegan food and outstanding customer service, I would not recommend the Naam.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-30
Pros: Fresh ingredients , Generous servings
Cons: Tasteless , Very poor service , Terrible desserts
Guest
Missvegan9
Points +734
Service was lacking but good food! - Edit
Went for brunch, full vegan menu to choose from. Got the Vegan Croissant Wich. Tons of vegan cheese (which I like!), and came with home fries and miso gravy. The gravy was a little lemony/acidic for my taste but was overall good. Waitress was preoccupied with changing a chalkboard menu so didn't check on us much and took a while to get our bill. But otherwise was a pleasant experience, would still recommend!
Read moreGuest
alexnorthey
Points +64
Simple and great - Edit
Very simple food, but lots to choose from. The miso gravy and fries and a can’t miss. The shakti cake is a hidden gem. Burgers, bowls and brunch are also amazing.
Read moreGuest
DeniseAlthaus
Points +185
Bland food - Edit
I wish I could give a better review but unfortunately the food didn't taste like anything. We had the pad thai which tasted only like bell pepper and the naam burger was okay but not much Flavor
Read morePros: Good Service
Cons: Bland food
Guest
helenereichel
Points +1186
Amazing food! - Edit
The amount of veggies that they have in their food is amazing. Finally a place that is both healthy and comfy. The restaurant is very cute, the staff is beyond friendly and attentive and the food is great! It is also pretty inexpensive for Vancouver!
Read morePros: Healthy food, Friendly staff, Lots of variety
Guest
Em_KaleGoddess12
Points +90
The best brunch - Edit
I went to the Naam Restaurant for brunch with my omni partner and we both raved about it afterwards!
Read moreThe smoothie my partner ordered was so good, creamy, and you could tell it was made with fresh fruit. Did I mention that this smoothie was vegan!?
I ordered the croissant witch, which was so delicious. I did make the mistake of ordering the vegetarian version rather than the vegan version (it was fine as I am vegetarian). I would highly recommend ordering the croissant witch and be sure to specify the vegan version if you are vegan!
The miso gravy that accompanied the fries was amazing. I would say that this is probably one of, if not the best vegan gravy that I have ever had!
We will definitely be returning on our next visit to Vancouver.
Pros: Best brunch , Fresh ingredients , Price is reasonable
Guest
Ciad
Points +1520
A Vancouver Legend - Edit
Have been here dozens of times over the years. If I ever feel like I haven't eaten enough vegetables lately, The Naam definitely makes up for it! So many choices - the menu doesn't really change from year to year but I kind of like that.
Read moreSome favourites have been the Naam Dragon Bowl, the Tempeh Reuben Burger Platter (with Daiya cheese or no cheese), the Cashew/Avocado Enchilada and the Buddha's Feast.
Offers Daiya in place of dairy cheese, for the same price.
Meals are usually huge, especially if ordering a platter, which includes a large salad and Naam Fries. You can buy some Naam Miso Gravy, as well.
Traditionally a 24-hour restaurant.
One thing is, when The Naam first started in 1968, being a vegetarian restaurant was a big deal; it made The Naam stand out and famous within Vancouver. Almost a political statement. Nowadays, in order to regain that original distinction, it would be great to see them become completely plant-based. It would be a pretty simple change to get rid of dairy cheese and eggs from their menu. I know their breakfast menu is especially heavy on dairy/eggs, etc but people would adjust. It just feels like they've been left behind by all of the completely plant-based restaurants and being a vegetarian restaurant doesn't mean what it used to.
Pros: Satisfying meals, Huge amount of veggies, Great atmosphere
Cons: Continues to offer animal products
Guest
RicinBeans
Points +508
Good for healthier options, not for comfort foods - Edit
So first of all, do keep in mind this is a vegetarian not vegan establishment, so you need to be very explicit about avoiding eggs/dairy in your dish.
Read moreI had never been here before so I ordered the tempeh reuben expecting it to be like other vegan Reubens I've had elsewhere. Honestly, it was pretty bland, and the Daiya cheese was a gooey mess that did not enhance the flavor at all. It was also a mess to eat and fell apart pretty quickly so I had to eat a lot of it with a fork. I got the impression they were trying to make it "healthier" but it definitely sacrificed taste, and with the Daiya I'm not really sure how healthy it was to begin with....
The fries weren't really fries, but rather baked potato wedges. Not bad but not amazing either.
The salad it came with however was quite good, as was the fruit smoothie I ordered. My husband enjoyed his Caesar salad. So I guess this could be a good choice if you're looking for entree sized salads or some lighter hippie-style food, but if you want a more hearty burger or sandwich I would probably go elsewhere.
The outdoor patio was quite nice, service was slow but friendly.
Pros: Good salads and smoothies, Nice outdoor patio
Cons: Sandwich was not good, Uses daiya, aka the worst vegan cheese
Guest
Laveganadecanada
Points +16
You ask for vegan food and they give you eggs - Edit
I went to the Naam for brunch and ordered an item from the vegan menu. When I started to eat I tastes something weird. I spit it out. It was scrambled egg. I called the waitress. She said that that happens sometimes that now that I took it out I could enjoy the rest of my meal. I was in shock! Not only did they make a mistake and put eggs on my vegan meal, but she treats me so rudely.
Read moreI talked to the manager and he confirmed that sometimes they do put regular cheese instead of the vegan cheese on some plates!!! Apparently the people in the kitchen don’t care?
So if you are vegan, save yourself the food poison and the headache and go to a fully vegan restaurant or one that cares about their clients.
Cons: Service , Eggs on a vegan dish
Guest
tonyakay
Points +3496
Old skool hippie - Edit
Love Naam with the 70s macro old skool vibe. Huge outdoor patio. I do judge a restaurant based on its Caesar salad and Naam soars!
Read moreGuest
IronJuice
Points +1213
Not bad, but not good either - Edit
Visited Oct 2021.
Read morePad Thai was okay, but definitely can’t compete with a Thai restaurant.
Dhal was very thick and lacks the authentic dhal flavour: cumin, garlic, ginger, tomato, onion etc. The vegan steak wasn’t good either, it tasted… strange in an unpleasant way. I completely forgot how the sauce taste 🙂 but you got the point.
Updated from previous review on 2022-04-25
Guest
ToddrikM
Points +28
Golden Dragon Bowl - Edit
always hits the spot
Read moreGuest
Vivek1
Points +81
Lots of options and friendly staff - Edit
Ordered the chilaquiles enchilada, salad with poppy seed dressing and sesame fries with miso gravy. Got a huge portion in no time at all and the waiter was very attentive and his recommendation for the salad dressing choice was spot on. Wish I had room for dessert
Read morePros: Interesting menu with lots of variety., Friendly staff , Good vibes (decor and music)
Cons: Big portions but bit pricey
Guest
IsabelleDoyon
Points +119
Convivial, mais manque de tofu dans les déjeuners - Edit
Le plats était goûteux et généreux, mais il y avait 90% de patates et 10% de tofu.
Read moreGuest
jaredrd77
Points +355
Moldy cake - Edit
My friend kindly bought me a piece of chocolate cake from here. When I got home later that day and ate it after dinner it tasted off. When I looked closer, I saw the icing was covered in a thin layer of mold forming all over. My friend spoke with the manager the next day, who not only didn't apologize, but said they don't label their food for expiry dates. Needless to say I will never eat here again.
Read moreCons: Questionable food-safe practices, Moldy cake
Guest
MagdaD
Points +303
They love cheese - Edit
The service is inconsistent, they love to dump a lot of dairy cheese on their items. The vegan items are also lack luster. You have to learn the menu. Beware of massive portions. The place is 24 hour so I worry about cleanliness.
Read moreYou can eat better elsewhere
Pros: Vegan options , Large portions
Cons: Cleanliness, Quantity or quality
Guest
T-Toast
Points +576
Good Food Massive Portions - Edit
Love this place. Cozy, comfortable setting with a big menu.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, good drinks and dessert
Guest
AmberSunset
Points +64
You should go - Edit
A huge yes! Tasty, great portion sizes and vegan desserts!
Read moreGuest
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