"I Just Want One Real Meal": A Conversation With Nathan Lee, a New Vegan Navigating Vancouver’s Restaurants.

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle can feel empowering, healthy, and aligned with your values — right up until you try to eat out with friends. For many new vegans, Vancouver should be a safe haven. We have excellent plant-based restaurants, creative chefs, and a food scene that prides itself on inclusivity.

But for people like Lee, a 35-year-old who went vegan four months ago after watching a documentary, the reality is… complicated.

Lee loves going out once a month with his friends — a long-standing tradition of exploring local restaurants, catching up, and trying new spots. But now, eating out has become stressful. Instead of discovering new favourites, he’s often stuck staring at menus offering little more than fries or a lonely side salad.

This is how he found us — searching for restaurants that are truly vegan-friendly so he doesn’t have to dread the same question every time:"What am I going to eat this time?"

Q: You’ve been vegan for about four months. What’s the biggest challenge so far?

Lee: Honestly? Eating out. I didn’t expect it to be such a struggle. I thought Vancouver would make it easy, but a lot of places still have almost nothing I can order. My friends and I do a monthly dinner — it’s our thing — and now the whole event feels stressful for me.

Q: What kind of restaurant experiences have you been having?

Lee: A lot of menus that basically say, “Good luck.” Sometimes I get fries. Sometimes a dry salad. Sometimes the server has no idea what’s vegan or what can be made vegan. And I don’t want to be that guy asking 15 questions.

My friends even went with me to Meet on Main once. They liked it! But they’re not going to go to a vegan place every single time. So I’m stuck. It’s like restaurants assume vegans eat air.

Q: What does it feel like emotionally?

Lee: It makes me not want to go out at all. I start thinking, “Why am I spending $30 to eat fries?” It feels isolating, even when I’m surrounded by friends.

Q: What makes a restaurant feel vegan-friendly to you?

Lee: Not even a full vegan section — just one real dish. Something with protein. Something that feels intentional, not like leftovers from the vegetarian section.

And staff who understand what vegan means without making me feel like a burden.

Q: Is that why you started looking for consulting resources?

Lee: Yeah. I figured if I’m struggling this much, I’m definitely not the only one. So I started searching for restaurants that are already doing a good job — or businesses helping restaurants do better. That’s how I found your page.

Q: What’s one thing you wish restaurant owners understood?

Lee: That vegans aren’t asking for much. We just want a meal like everyone else. Not a plate of sides. Not something bland. Just one thoughtful dish.

If restaurants knew how much this mattered, they’d probably get more customers — not just vegans, but all the people dining with them.

Lee’s Advice for Restaurants (In His Own Words)

• Offer ONE solid vegan entrée.

• Make it flavourful and filling.

• Train staff so they aren’t guessing.

• Don’t treat vegan customers like an inconvenience.

• Understand that when a vegan chooses your restaurant, they usually bring others with them.

  

Why Stories Like Lee’s Matter

Restaurants often think, “Vegans are a tiny percentage of customers. It’s not worth the effort.”

But diners like Lee don’t eat alone. When he picks the restaurant, four or five people come with him.

Vegan-friendly doesn’t just support vegan customers — it supports groups, events, regulars, and word-of-mouth.

Small changes make a massive impact.

Make Your Menu Vegan-Friendly

Ready to turn frustrated vegan diners into loyal regulars?

With just a few simple tweaks — clear labeling, staff training, and one thoughtfully crafted vegan entrée — your restaurant can welcome everyone confidently.

Book a free vegan-friendly menu consultation with The Hangry SaVEG today and make sure your next guest leaves happy, not frustrated.