A Vegetarian in Vancouver BC: Tera V Burger

Veggie sandwich on a wrapper

I have no desire to run a marathon. Ever. Not that I was even slightly interested before, but now that I’ve seen the horror up close, I see no reason to put myself through that. My brother- and sister-in-law, however, take a different view.

We went to Vancouver BC a few weekends back to cheer them on as they accomplished the unimaginable. After weeks of training, one of them tackled the half marathon and one of them ran the full monty: 26.2 miles. Most everyone crossing the finish line looked miserable, though I’m sure the feelings of accomplishment came later. When the pain stopped.

I think I’m just a different type of person than the many thousands who enjoy physical feats like ultramarathons and triathlons. I prefer to avoid discomfort and seek out pleasure…which brings me to the reason for this post. Besides hanging with our family, heading north was a good opportunity to scout out some Canadian vegetarian food, and boy did we strike it rich. Tera V Burger was just a few blocks from our rental house, so we stopped by on our way out of town.

What makes this burger joint so great? Whole wheat buns, quick service, locally sourced ingredients, an entire menu of protein-packed veggie burgers, the option to make any item vegan, and the kicker? They bake their french fries. They don’t even have a fryer on site! (Maybe they don’t understand the rules of fast food.)

Two kinds of baked French fries
The regular fries and yam fries are baked, not fried. And, 99% of packaging for our meals was biodegradable and compostable.

 

Lentil burger on a whole wheat bun
I had the 8″ Lentil Panini (no mayo, and creamy garlic sauce on the side of course).

 

Vegetarian burger on a bun with cheese
Jeff had the No Bull Burger, with everything.

I’d say the only drawback to all this wonderfulness was the price. We ordered two combos (burger + fries and drink) and it cost $24. You’re certainly going to spend less than that at the golden arches to get a meal for two, but if we were judging on ingredient quality, nutrition and healthfulness, Tera V Burger would be the clear winner. Besides burgers, they also have smoothies, wraps, and grilled sandwiches with tofu or Tofurkey.

As if I didn’t like their philosophy already, I saw this on the way out:

Sign on the recycling container about donating proceeds to protect animals
Recycling is good for people and animals.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that we found a perfect vegetarian meal in Vancouver BC. It’s an awfully veggie-friendly city. Another favorite spot of ours is The Foundation, and I’m keeping a running list…whenever I hear about a new spot or read a recommendation on a blog or in a magazine. At this point there are 24 restaurants on it, from Loving Hut Express Food Truck to Heirloom Vegetarian. I’m going to have to find lots of excuses to cross the border in the coming months to get those all marked off my list besides watching other people exercise.

I’m very proud of the runners in my family, and their commitment is inspiring. And I suppose with my high carbohydrate meal (with yams, buns, and legumes) I could have run a marathon. I’ve got the carb loading part down pat.

 

What other restaurants should be on my “must see” list next time I’m in Vancouver?

 

Kristine Duncan

Kristine Duncan, Registered Dietitian

I’m a Registered Dietitian, the author of Veg Girl RD, and a vegetarian who loves to eat. I’m a nutrition nerd who teaches at the University of Washington and Skagit Valley College. I also write about nutrition professionally for magazines and books. If you want to know more, check out my About page.

7 thoughts on “A Vegetarian in Vancouver BC: Tera V Burger”

  1. I have to agree with you on the “running a marathon” part…it’s never something that has even tempted me! I’m totally up for the “family walk-a-thon” section of some that I have seen advertised…if I ever fall for it, I’m calling on you as a partner! And those were some seriously good looking veggie burgers – Go Vancouver!! 🙂

  2. Not to miss in Vancouver? Bandidas Taqueria! I absolutely must go every time I’m there. Conveniently, they do brunch right up through dinner. All vegetarian, with great vegan options.

    If you’re looking for fancier dining I highly recommend Graze (all vegan) and Acorn (vegetarian). Neither is cheap, but they both have very nice atmosphere ( and you’ll definitely want a reservation for Acorn, or willingness to wait a good hour for even a spot at the bar) and truly fantastic, local-focused food. Very good service, too.

    Looking for something totally different? The Storm Crow tavern is “a sports bar for nerds: a place where gamers, sci-fi and fantasy fans can hang out” — complete with very vegetarian- and vegan-friendly food and drink menus.

  3. Pingback: A Vegetarian in Vancouver BC: Vancouver Christmas Market - Veg Girl RD

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