I’ve been dairy-free since I was 17, and at the time it was difficult to find good places to eat that accommodated my dairy allergy. There were very limited options and the few that were available weren’t always the best quality. With the growth of vegan and dairy-free options, I’d like to share some of my favourite places in the KW area for those who eat like me!
1. Odd Burger
Odd Burger is a completely vegan restaurant located at 75 King Street South (Waterloo). This restaurant really has it all: breakfast sandwiches, burgers, chicken burgers, salads, wraps and tacos. Plus they have a variety of poutines that are to die for! This is the first vegan restaurant I’ve seen with gyros and oat milkshakes, and I was ecstatic! I could tell from my first order that this restaurant is run with high-quality products that were 100% worth their cost – which is pretty affordable.
2. Mel’s Diner
Mel’s Diner, located at 140 University Avenue West (Waterloo), recently came out with vegan options on their menu, including breakfast options, burgers, and shakes! Although I haven’t tried all their options, I can easily say that their vegan waffles are well worth it! Mel’s has consistently fair prices and the portions are huge. I always have leftovers from here! Overall, I recommend Mel’s to anyone and everyone as they have both a regular and a vegan menu. I’m super pumped to try their new milkshakes and desserts!
3. MELTwich Food Co.
MELTwich has two locations in the KW area, the first is at 255 King Street North (Waterloo) and the second is at 48 King Street West (Kitchener). If you’re looking for late-night vegan food, their Waterloo location is open until 3 a.m. on weeknights and 4 a.m. on weekends. Absolutely perfect for those late-night snacks and cravings! They have vegan grilled cheese and sandwiches, poutine, chicken fingers, and burgers – all of which are amazing options that are decently priced.
4. Beertown Public House
Located at 75 King Street South (Waterloo), Beertown is a really good option to take your vegan and dairy-free friends for drinks! This restaurant has an extensive regular and plant-based menu, including sharable appetizers, burgers, salads, and bowls. Additionally, they have a variety of desserts and if you enjoy a beer (like I do), they also have a sampling option for local craft beer at a really good price! Definitely a good pick for a night out with friends!
5. Red Swan Pizza
Red Swan was the first pizza place I’ve seen to offer vegan pizza options and they are quite good. However, with more and more pizza places coming out with vegan and dairy-free options, they’ll have some competition and will have to step up their game. Although I do enjoy this pizza, honestly, I prefer to make my own pizza at home (just in general). For anyone looking to order from Red Swan, they have two locations in the KW Region: 50 Westmount Road North (Waterloo) and 1120 Victoria Street North (Kitchener).
6. CE Food Experience & The Bakery
The Bakery is located at 100 Regina Street South (Waterloo) and features a variety of options for those with dietary restrictions including gluten-free, vegan, egg-free, and dairy-free options! They have bread, bagels, and an assortment of sweet treats! They also have meals available for preorders such as pot pie, mac and cheese, and quiche! I have tried their fresh baked dairy-free bread and really look forward to trying some of their sweets!
7. FourAll Ice Cream
Looking for dessert? ForAll Ice Cream is truly for all! Located at 75 King Street South (Waterloo). They also sell their brand in some restaurants and stores across KW. Vegan options you can try are their grapefruit hibiscus sorbet, coco caramel chip or chocolate truffle. They have a good consistency for vegan ice cream and can be purchased as a cone, mini or full jar!
8. Bliss Dough
Bliss Dough is located at 251 Hemlock Street (Waterloo) and serves a wide variety of cookie dough options, the majority of which are vegan! These jars of cookie dough are super yummy, and you can choose to eat the dough as is or bake it yourself. I enjoy eating it as cookie dough rather than making cookies. Also, if you’re looking for a good gift for a friend or partner, Bliss Dough gives you the option to get a gift box, some of which include candles! Definitely worth checking them out!
Although I haven’t been able to try absolutely everything on the menu at any of these restaurants, I can strongly recommend all of them based on what I have tried. I plan to work my way through all of their menu items throughout this term because these places are truly just THAT GOOD! I highly encourage anyone dairy-free or vegan to go out and try these restaurants or place an order from them on Skip or Uber! There’s something for everyone!