Did you know that Grand Bend is a vegan-friendly destination? While there are lots of awesome things to do in Grand Bend, Ontario, the vegan restaurant scene was a highlight of my trip there (and one reason I keep returning to Grand Bend. Of course, it’s also home to Ontario’s cleanest and bluest waters, as well as one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
Gone are the days of surviving off French fries at the beach (unless that’s your jam, of course). I had the opportunity to try several vegan meals at restaurants in Grand Bend during my stay. Here’s where you can find plant-based dining in Grand Bend.
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The Lake Hound
The Lake Hound is a family owned restaurant in Grand Bend that features delicious eats paired with a casual atmosphere. There’s live music on some evenings, and trivia nights on other occasions. The Lake Hound is a very vegan-friendly restaurant with many options on the menu.
I ordered the most delicious vegan burrito off their menu along with a Caesar salad. The crunchy roasted chickpeas on top of the salad were so yummy! Everything that’s vegan is marked on the menu with a “VE”. There are so many vegan menu items, and you can even go to The Lake Hound for breakfast, too!
Grand Bend Vegan Restaurants: Completely Rooted
There’s a 100% vegan takeaway restaurant called Completely Rooted that’s open for breakfast and lunch. It’s located inside The Lake Hound restaurant where I had dinner one night. Unfortunately, Completely Rooted was closed the week that visited Grand Bend. But, the folks at The Lake Hound allowed me to purchase some local vegan cheeses from their shop to take home with me.
Right now, Completely Rooted has a weekly pre-order menu, and they offer a pop-up restaurant at The Lake Hound on the weekends. Be sure to check their social media for the latest updates. They offer vegan, raw, and gluten-free meals, including smoothie bowls, hearty stews, bowls, salads, and desserts.
Vegan in Grand Bend, Ontario: Highway Girl
Right from the start, I knew that Highway Girl was a fantastic choice for vegans as I could see a sign right in the window for vegan options! There’s also a quote by Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” (Please note that Highway Girl has since changed locations in Grand Bend, so the shop’s photos will look different as to how they may look today!)
Highway Girl has healthy options for just about any diet or allergy, including gluten-free, vegan, and raw food. The owner was inspired to start a cafe with something for everyone because her family members have various food allergies and dietary restrictions.
You’ll find all sorts of goodies here, including a coffee shop with specialty beverages. Highway Girl has almond milk, coconut milk, and oat milk for drinks. There are desserts made in house, such as vegan donuts, and an entire section devoted to raw and vegan treats. Many sandwiches can be made vegan using “Nuts for Cheese” cashew cheese in place of dairy cheese.
Another half of the shop is devoted to local wares and gifts, with everything from pottery to jewelry. While I’d love to return for lunch, the mini vegan chocolate cheesecake I bought tasted heavenly.
Vegan Grand Bend: Midori Sushi
I didn’t expect to find such a delicious and authentic sushi restaurant on the main strip of Grand Bend. Midori Sushi serves high quality and tasty Japanese cuisine, and the vegan options on the menu are clearly marked. There’s also gluten-free dishes, too. It was difficult to choose what to order because everything sounded so good.
I decided on the miso soup and edamame to start, and I ordered cucumber rolls and sweet potato rolls as my main dish. The edamame was served with garlic and a lime wedge, an innovative choice and it quickly became my favourite edamame dish to date.
The restaurant itself has a huge outdoor patio – perfect for those hot, summer days. There are motivational messages in the form of a rock garden by the trees. How can you not enjoy your sushi with colourful rocks reading “be happy!”, “gratitude”, and “smile”?
Up by the building, there’s an adorable set of swings to sway as you sip your drink at the bar. Speaking of drinks, I highly recommend the frozen margarita!
Dave’s Pub & Grill at Oakwood Resort
Dave’s Pub and Grill at Oakwood Resort has laid back vibes with fabulous views overlooking the golf course. I ordered the plant-based Beyond Burger where I was also able to add vegan cheese. Served with a healthy helping of fries, I really enjoyed my meal at Dave’s Pub and Grill.
Since I last visited, their menu has become even more vegan-friendly, making it one of the best vegan Grand Bend restaurants. The vegan items on the menu have a “V” beside them, so it’s easy to tell what is plant-based. You can also order the House Salad, Waldorf Salad, Inca Quinoa Treasure Bowl, and the Vegan Sloppy Joe.
Breakfast at Oakwood Resort
Thinking of staying the night at Oakwood Resort? I loved my stay at this beautiful hotel. Not only does it have its own golf course, but there’s a separate access to a secluded section of Grand Bend Beach. If you stay at Oakwood Resort, there are some vegan options at the breakfast buffet.
There are some typical findings, like bread and peanut butter/jam, fruit, and potatoes. However, there’s also a berry cobbler with a “vegan” sign right in front of it. Furthermore, the chef whipped up a tofu scramble just for me, and it was super yummy. Be sure to request the tofu scramble as it won’t be out in the buffet, but the chef can make it for you – no problem!
This Grand Bend vegan guide wouldn’t be complete without something for every meal of the day, so get over to Oakwood Resort and wake up to a yummy plant-based meal. Book your stay at Oakwood Resort or read more reviews by fellow travelers who have visited.
As you can see, Grand Bend has tons of vegan options beyond the typical French fry stand. Even though there’s only one fully vegan Grand Bend restaurant, there are a ton of veggie selections at establishments around town.
You’ll have no problem visiting Grand Bend and following a plant-based diet. In fact, it’s a great vegan foodie destination! Looking to visit Grand Bend in the winter? Check out my stay at Pinery Provincial Park’s yurts, doing some winter hiking at Pinery, plus all kinds of other winter fun in the area.
More Vegan Guides in Canada
I’ve written tons of vegan restaurant guides for destinations across Canada and around the world. Here are a few more Canadian cities with fantastic vegan food options:
- Kingston Vegan Dining Guide
- Sudbury Vegan and Veg-Friendly Restaurants
- Vegan Restaurants in Toronto
- Vegan Restaurants in Hamilton, Ontario
- Port Stanley, Ontario Vegan Guide
- Thunder Bay Vegan Dining Guide
- Vegan Guide to Grand Bend, Ontario
- Vegan and Veg-Friendly Restaurants in Cornwall, Ontario
- Best Vegan Restaurants in Windsor, Ontario
- Best Vegan Restaurants in Orangeville, Ontario
- Vegan Guide to Perth, Ontario
- Vegan Guide to Winnipeg
- St. John’s, Newfoundland Vegan Guide
- Vegan Food in Mont Tremblant, Quebec
- Best Vegan Restaurants in Laval, Quebec
- Quebec City Vegan Guide
- Saskatoon Vegan Guide
- Best Vegan Restaurants in Halifax
- Vegan Guide to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
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Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world. Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers. She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel, eco and sustainable travel, and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns.