The hours are so dumb, but I don't think it would be fair to factor that into my rating. Just look up their hours before going there. Best healthy vegan brunch in the city. Great vibe in there overall and service is very good. Get the eggs benny, you won't regret it.
Moreno Gomes
The Hanoi Noodles soup was delicious!Sour and flavourful! I will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hanoi Noodle Soup
Katharine Wall
Just WOW.I walked by, hungry on my way to an appointment, and not expecting to find something vegan/veggie.These people are so friendly, so accommodating, and the food is unreal. They have so many options, which takes some effort and thought for vegan fare.It's rare to feel like you received actual service. These are lovely people, who take pride in hosting you.Bravo, Lotus Seed! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ricki42
After all the great reviews here, I was a bit disappointed. I had the benny, the potatoes did not taste fresh and weren't crisp at all. The hollandaise was a bit gritty and more like a thick, mild curry sauce. The tofu was very plain. The mushrooms were good though and a nice touch. Also, the service was really weird. It was my first time there and it wasn't clear to me whether I was supposed to order at the counter or whether they had table service; I tried asking but the person didn't seem to speak much English (or maybe I was unclear?). I started ordering at the counter but then the person taking the order walked away for a bit while I stood there, finally came back, asked again for my order, then finally put it in. It was just really weird and I felt like I'm inconveniencing them.
Goldie Zohar
I was there 8 years ago, I remember the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Benny
Maru J
Delicious food that didn’t feel heavy or greasy, I left as a happy customer! Great service. I recommend the vegan benny, iced coffee, and I got a sandwich to go for later on (the meatball one) and honestly the food is made with fresh and wholesome ingredients, it’s a clean place and I’d 100% be coming back!!!Dietary restrictions: Vegan
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Benny
Brielle Kranabetter
Food was ready in 5 minutes. It’s hard to find yummy vegan and gluten free places. I’m celiac and have dietary restrictions. They were friendly and easy to talk to. Service was fast. Food tastes so good. Portions are large. Price is good Vegetarian options: Everything is vegan :)Dietary restrictions: Vegan and lots of gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemongrass Thai Curry
GoHerOwnWay
Had the Sunny Pate sandwich, super good and filling! Amazing chaga tea as well! A little expensive for tea but the best I've ever had! Updated from previous review on 2023-04-10
Dana Sullivan
Finally stopped here after it's been on my radar for so long. The atmosphere is very casual, but you can see they have put care into making it a calm, relaxing space, which makes it a nice spot for a variety of occasions. At first glance, I saw the counter up front which made me think it was a counter service place, but that's for takeout, and if you dine in they do have table service. It was one person waiting on tables and seemed like only 1 or maybe 2 people in the kitchen, but service was still impressively fast. I saw there was a group of 4 where some people ordered multiple dishes and they were bringing everything out individually as it was ready, but it was still pretty much back-to-back so I don't think this would pose a problem.Hard to choose from all the good-sounding options on the menu, but I eventually went with the Jack N' Burrito Bowl (or maybe it was called Jack N' BBQ - can't remember, but it's BBQ jackfruit). Came out piping hot which is a good thing, just tests your patience as you have to wait for each bite to cool. My first impression was that it was a little bland, but a drizzle of sriracha made the sweet and savoury BBQ flavour pop and it was really tasty. Loved all the different veggies (and tofu) in the bowl, and how it all worked and didn't just feel like they tossed whatever in there for the sake of adding veg. Overall I was very happy with this - it was a tasty, interesting and healthy meal, the portion was just right, and I feel like I paid a decent price (~$17 before tax and tip, ~$20 after).I was disappointed to learn they no longer carry the vegan cheesecakes on the menu, which apparently the supplier stopped making. Since it's permanent they should really update or modify the menu. As of right now the only desserts they carry are the packaged Panela Lemon cookies, which I did not order but know from prior experience are delicious, but it would be nice if they found a replacement for the cheesecakes because the cookies are more of an on-the-go dessert in my mind.My takeaway is that it's not the most adventurous vegan food out there, but it's prepared with care and the options strike a balance between interesting and safe for most people's tastes. It's a solid choice if you want something healthy and sit-down that won't break the bank, which can be really tough to find for vegans. I will try to find more chances to go back and support them by trying more stuff.Vegetarian options: yeah
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dana S.
Finally stopped here after it's been on my radar for so long. The atmosphere is very casual, but you can see they have put care into making it a calm, relaxing space, which makes it a nice spot for a variety of occasions. At first glance, I saw the counter up front which made me think it was a counter service place, but that's for takeout, and if you dine in they do have table service. It was one person waiting on tables and seemed like only 1 or maybe 2 people in the kitchen, but service was still impressively fast. I saw there was a group of 4 where some people ordered multiple dishes and they were bringing everything out individually as it was ready, but it was still pretty much back-to-back so I don't think this would pose a problem.Hard to choose from all the good-sounding options on the menu, but I eventually went with the Jack N' Burrito Bowl (or maybe it was called Jack N' BBQ - can't remember, but it's BBQ jackfruit). Came out piping hot which is a good thing, just tests your patience as you have to wait for each bite to cool. My first impression was that it was a little bland, but a drizzle of sriracha made the sweet and savoury BBQ flavour pop and it was really tasty. Loved all the different veggies (and tofu) in the bowl, and how it all worked and didn't just feel like they tossed whatever in there for the sake of adding veg. Overall I was very happy with this - it was a tasty, interesting and healthy meal, the portion was just right, and I feel like I paid a decent price (~$17 before tax and tip, ~$20 after).I was disappointed to learn they no longer carry the vegan cheesecakes on the menu, which apparently the supplier stopped making. Since it's permanent they should really update or modify the menu. As of right now the only desserts they carry are the packaged Panela Lemon cookies, which I did not order but know from prior experience are delicious, but it would be nice if they found a replacement for the cheesecakes because the cookies are more of an on-the-go dessert in my mind.My takeaway is that it's not the most adventurous vegan food out there, but it's prepared with care and the options strike a balance between interesting and safe for most people's tastes. It's a solid choice if you want something healthy and sit-down that won't break the bank, which can be really tough to find for vegans. I will try to find more chances to go back and support them by trying more stuff.
Bar or table seating. Public parking in the adjacent garage.
avocadora
Sorry to say I don't agree with all the 5 star reviews here. I got the tofu scramble and the flavor and preparation was similar to what I can achieve at home. Nothing special about it and I'm pretty sure the hashbrowns were frozen roasted potatoes. I wouldn't go here again unless I was really hungry and couldn't wait to get anywhere else. Nice that it's all vegan, of course.
J Bhimji
Wow - just popped in here for the first time after having worked nearby for several years. I ordered the lemongrass Thai curry bowl and it is so flavourful and delicious! I’m usually a meat eater and I found that even without meat this curry was flavourful and hearty. Service was quick as well. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Denise Wells
Went in to see if gluten free options were available and then asked what time they closed. She said 4:00 so we went back 3:30 and they were already closed. Not many options for Celiacs in this part of town so very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
KRISHNA
My visit to Lotus seed vegan was a great experience. We ordered yam soup, baked spring rolls and brown rice with Thai green Curry and we loved it. The restaurant is a cozy little space ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. The server was a pleasant girl who made us feel welcome. If I am to give one advice to the chef, it will be about the crunchiness of the vegetables in the curry. The carrots in my Thai green Curry were a little chewy probably due to freezing and thawing. But if I set that fact aside, the curry and all the dishes were great tasting and warm.
The hours are so dumb, but I don't think it would be fair to factor that into my rating. Just look up their hours before going there. Best healthy vegan brunch in the city. Great vibe in there overall and service is very good. Get the eggs benny, you won't regret it.
The Hanoi Noodles soup was delicious!Sour and flavourful! I will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hanoi Noodle Soup
Just WOW.I walked by, hungry on my way to an appointment, and not expecting to find something vegan/veggie.These people are so friendly, so accommodating, and the food is unreal. They have so many options, which takes some effort and thought for vegan fare.It's rare to feel like you received actual service. These are lovely people, who take pride in hosting you.Bravo, Lotus Seed! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
After all the great reviews here, I was a bit disappointed. I had the benny, the potatoes did not taste fresh and weren't crisp at all. The hollandaise was a bit gritty and more like a thick, mild curry sauce. The tofu was very plain. The mushrooms were good though and a nice touch. Also, the service was really weird. It was my first time there and it wasn't clear to me whether I was supposed to order at the counter or whether they had table service; I tried asking but the person didn't seem to speak much English (or maybe I was unclear?). I started ordering at the counter but then the person taking the order walked away for a bit while I stood there, finally came back, asked again for my order, then finally put it in. It was just really weird and I felt like I'm inconveniencing them.
I was there 8 years ago, I remember the food was delicious and the atmosphere was great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Benny
Delicious food that didn’t feel heavy or greasy, I left as a happy customer! Great service. I recommend the vegan benny, iced coffee, and I got a sandwich to go for later on (the meatball one) and honestly the food is made with fresh and wholesome ingredients, it’s a clean place and I’d 100% be coming back!!!Dietary restrictions: Vegan
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Benny
Food was ready in 5 minutes. It’s hard to find yummy vegan and gluten free places. I’m celiac and have dietary restrictions. They were friendly and easy to talk to. Service was fast. Food tastes so good. Portions are large. Price is good Vegetarian options: Everything is vegan :)Dietary restrictions: Vegan and lots of gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lemongrass Thai Curry
Had the Sunny Pate sandwich, super good and filling! Amazing chaga tea as well! A little expensive for tea but the best I've ever had! Updated from previous review on 2023-04-10
Finally stopped here after it's been on my radar for so long. The atmosphere is very casual, but you can see they have put care into making it a calm, relaxing space, which makes it a nice spot for a variety of occasions. At first glance, I saw the counter up front which made me think it was a counter service place, but that's for takeout, and if you dine in they do have table service. It was one person waiting on tables and seemed like only 1 or maybe 2 people in the kitchen, but service was still impressively fast. I saw there was a group of 4 where some people ordered multiple dishes and they were bringing everything out individually as it was ready, but it was still pretty much back-to-back so I don't think this would pose a problem.Hard to choose from all the good-sounding options on the menu, but I eventually went with the Jack N' Burrito Bowl (or maybe it was called Jack N' BBQ - can't remember, but it's BBQ jackfruit). Came out piping hot which is a good thing, just tests your patience as you have to wait for each bite to cool. My first impression was that it was a little bland, but a drizzle of sriracha made the sweet and savoury BBQ flavour pop and it was really tasty. Loved all the different veggies (and tofu) in the bowl, and how it all worked and didn't just feel like they tossed whatever in there for the sake of adding veg. Overall I was very happy with this - it was a tasty, interesting and healthy meal, the portion was just right, and I feel like I paid a decent price (~$17 before tax and tip, ~$20 after).I was disappointed to learn they no longer carry the vegan cheesecakes on the menu, which apparently the supplier stopped making. Since it's permanent they should really update or modify the menu. As of right now the only desserts they carry are the packaged Panela Lemon cookies, which I did not order but know from prior experience are delicious, but it would be nice if they found a replacement for the cheesecakes because the cookies are more of an on-the-go dessert in my mind.My takeaway is that it's not the most adventurous vegan food out there, but it's prepared with care and the options strike a balance between interesting and safe for most people's tastes. It's a solid choice if you want something healthy and sit-down that won't break the bank, which can be really tough to find for vegans. I will try to find more chances to go back and support them by trying more stuff.Vegetarian options: yeah
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally stopped here after it's been on my radar for so long. The atmosphere is very casual, but you can see they have put care into making it a calm, relaxing space, which makes it a nice spot for a variety of occasions. At first glance, I saw the counter up front which made me think it was a counter service place, but that's for takeout, and if you dine in they do have table service. It was one person waiting on tables and seemed like only 1 or maybe 2 people in the kitchen, but service was still impressively fast. I saw there was a group of 4 where some people ordered multiple dishes and they were bringing everything out individually as it was ready, but it was still pretty much back-to-back so I don't think this would pose a problem.Hard to choose from all the good-sounding options on the menu, but I eventually went with the Jack N' Burrito Bowl (or maybe it was called Jack N' BBQ - can't remember, but it's BBQ jackfruit). Came out piping hot which is a good thing, just tests your patience as you have to wait for each bite to cool. My first impression was that it was a little bland, but a drizzle of sriracha made the sweet and savoury BBQ flavour pop and it was really tasty. Loved all the different veggies (and tofu) in the bowl, and how it all worked and didn't just feel like they tossed whatever in there for the sake of adding veg. Overall I was very happy with this - it was a tasty, interesting and healthy meal, the portion was just right, and I feel like I paid a decent price (~$17 before tax and tip, ~$20 after).I was disappointed to learn they no longer carry the vegan cheesecakes on the menu, which apparently the supplier stopped making. Since it's permanent they should really update or modify the menu. As of right now the only desserts they carry are the packaged Panela Lemon cookies, which I did not order but know from prior experience are delicious, but it would be nice if they found a replacement for the cheesecakes because the cookies are more of an on-the-go dessert in my mind.My takeaway is that it's not the most adventurous vegan food out there, but it's prepared with care and the options strike a balance between interesting and safe for most people's tastes. It's a solid choice if you want something healthy and sit-down that won't break the bank, which can be really tough to find for vegans. I will try to find more chances to go back and support them by trying more stuff.
Restaurantji Recommends
Bar or table seating. Public parking in the adjacent garage.
Sorry to say I don't agree with all the 5 star reviews here. I got the tofu scramble and the flavor and preparation was similar to what I can achieve at home. Nothing special about it and I'm pretty sure the hashbrowns were frozen roasted potatoes. I wouldn't go here again unless I was really hungry and couldn't wait to get anywhere else. Nice that it's all vegan, of course.
Wow - just popped in here for the first time after having worked nearby for several years. I ordered the lemongrass Thai curry bowl and it is so flavourful and delicious! I’m usually a meat eater and I found that even without meat this curry was flavourful and hearty. Service was quick as well. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went in to see if gluten free options were available and then asked what time they closed. She said 4:00 so we went back 3:30 and they were already closed. Not many options for Celiacs in this part of town so very disappointing.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
My visit to Lotus seed vegan was a great experience. We ordered yam soup, baked spring rolls and brown rice with Thai green Curry and we loved it. The restaurant is a cozy little space ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. The server was a pleasant girl who made us feel welcome. If I am to give one advice to the chef, it will be about the crunchiness of the vegetables in the curry. The carrots in my Thai green Curry were a little chewy probably due to freezing and thawing. But if I set that fact aside, the curry and all the dishes were great tasting and warm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5