Sandwiched Zen-like between a Kundalini yoga studio and a naturopathy centre in the heart of Toronto’s Kensington Market is one of the world’s most scrumptious vegan eateries. 

Since 2005, Urban Herbivore has been quietly revealing the delights of organic, local and vegan fare to blindsided omnivores who positively reel after taking a bite of their now famous barbeque tofu sandwich.  Or steaming curry root vegetable rice bowl.  Or – God help us – their giant sweet potato and date spelt muffin, still warm from the oven. 

If salad is your thing, choosing from dozens of unique ingredients makes exerting creative control over your meal a thoroughly satisfying experience.  Especially when it’s served to you in a recycled cardboard takeout container with post-consumer recycled Canada-made napkins.

Summer or not, don’t miss the pineapple mint lemonade.  With its zesty citrus kick, refreshing hit of julienned mint leaves and tiny chunks of organic pineapple that sneak their way up your straw, it’s a revelation of a drink.

Between the karma of a meatless meal, and the pamphlets left near the register by friendly artists, teachers and activists, this place is downright soul-warming.  It helps that you get to chow down beneath natural exposed wood beams and bask in the sunlight filtering in through two adjacent walls of windows (the restaurant sits squarely on the corner of Augusta and Oxford).  Its prime location is a perfect spot to meditate upon the bizarre and beautiful antics of Kensington’s daily grind. 

Welcome to the new soul food.