Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant

Vegetarian restaurant · Chinatown

Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant

Vegetarian restaurant · Chinatown
617 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C6, Canada

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Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant by null

Highlights

Vegetarian & vegan Chinese eatery, known for turnip cakes  

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617 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C6, Canada Get directions

lotuspondvictoria.ca

CA$20–30

Information

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617 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C6, Canada Get directions

+1 250 380 9293
lotuspondvictoria.ca
lotuspondvegetarian

CA$20–30

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 18, 2025

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Katie Domingo

Google
So delicious, filling and nourishing!!!! The service was SUPER KIND AND FRIENDLY and the place is very clean and inviting! I’m a vegetarian who doesn’t really like most meat alternatives, so I was a little skeptical! But I found everything we ordered super tasty and satisfying. It’s also very freeing as a vegetarian to be able to order ANYTHING off the menu 🥰🥰🥰! I ordered the turnip cake because many reviews had recommended it, but it wasn’t my favourite! We went for lunch combos rather than the buffet and I’m happy we did! It comes with soup, rice, and spring rolls. The wonton soup, pork balls, and chicken balls were THE BEST! Not your average greasy American-Chinese food! Would totally eat here again!!!

Rodrigo Feracini

Google
Great food, good prices, and friendly staff!!! The lunch buffet is awesome!!! The food is fresh and they have a big variety of dishes. All the dishes are vegetarian and you don't even miss meat. All well seasoned and worm. It can get pretty busy at lunchtime. You can also order from the menu.

Jessica Kirkwood

Google
Went to Lotus Pond in Victoria BC for the first time... won’t be the last (unless they close). But so good. Ate WAY too much because it was too hard not to just polish it all off. Started with the turnip cakes. I’m pretty sure every table started with these beauties because they are just so good. Turnip cakes, who knew. Then ordered the hot and sour soup. That giant bowl is the ‘small’ for 6 bucks and it was fantastic. Probably best hot and sour I’ve had. Then our main meal was ginger beef, schezwan eggplant, and chicken sizzling hot plate. WOW. Just wow. Can’t wait to go again and sample more dishes. This was simply just great food, the fact it’s vegan makes it just that much more incredible.

Christina Chen

Google
I’m still in disbelief that this place exists. Great accommodating staff who speak Cantonese and Mandarin, excellent food. The menu gives a plethora of tasty options, including gluten free dishes. I only wish the place was bigger with more seating. Highly recommend the mock duck (#8). Will revisit time and time again. - update: I'm broken knowing they are about to close.

Heather Pankratz

Google
Amazing veggie/vegan Chinese food dishes. After going vegan 5 years ago I’ve dreamed of enjoying saucy and delicious chow mein noodles again… this fits the bill. I wish there were more places like this. Great service, very friendly. Two of us got the two item combo and it was perfect, not pictured was two spring rolls. Highly recommend and will be back again!

Noah Gould

Google
I rode my bicycle to Lotus Pond from Vic West. I spoke to Laithe on the phone as I made my order. As I have remarked in my earlier review of Affinity Vegetarian Garden, it is uncommon to find a completely vegan Chinese restaurant. Lotus Pond does a plant-based spin on the Americanized Chinese classic. I was not in love with the packaging, but I appreciate their desire to keep everyone safe by restricting their dine in services. I enjoyed the meal, encouraging anyone who is considering Chinese takeout, to opt for Lotus Pond.

Laura Carolina

Google
Their signature Turnip Cakes are excellent. Long menu of choices. No onion or garlic used. I took away one order of turnip cakes (3 cakes, a very good deal for $5.50), Pan-fried Mixed Vegetables in Crushed Ginger Sauce $12.95, and Mushroom Fried Rice $14.95. All really good, mild flavour, generous portions. Pleasant, friendly people.

Kaitie S

Google
Pretty good price for all the food we got! Although was not a big fan of the sweet and sour sauce, tasted a little too gingery and watered down for me. Loved all the mock meat options offered though, would buy from again!
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Alexis T.

Yelp
gluten free and vegan pastries that are purely wonderful and so many options! the food is amazing too. had the cornbread and muffin and was so impressed. My bf had the praline brownie and it was a rich and delightful treat. planning to come back to take some home with me!
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Melly L.

Yelp
my husband and i were visiting victoria and in that week, we came here 4 times. we love that everything is vegan and so so yummy (we're not even vegan)! it's also quite affordable. their soups never miss. favourite spot in the city.

Dan C.

Yelp
Our first visit and were we impressed. Simple menu buffet style but all healthy and delicious at affordable prices. The choice of soup/bread was also a great combination. This restaurant has been around for awhile and do they have everything down to a science. Happy to write a review for a restaurant that pays attention to detail. We'll visit again.

May B.

Yelp
I want to love this place so badly but honestly, the experience lacks in service and taste. This is a cafeteria style, vegan restaurant with on-tap kombucha and a generous menu of salads, mains, and desserts. It's considerably more affordable than restaurants with comparable menu as you select your food and then weigh your plate to pay by price. Perhaps my first mistake was in lingering over the selections as one of the servers actually completely skipped over me and started helping the person behind me. The server never seemed to realize and eventually the other customers had to push past me in an not-at-all-awkward maneuver. At 1:30 in the afternoon, the food selection was waning - but I noticed a noodle bowl option on the menu so ordered that instead as a take out. It was about 15 minutes to wait while it was prepped. While I waited, I wandered outside to the market square. It's a really cute courtyard and this particular restaurant has ample outdoor seating, some covered. I picked up a small box and walked back to our condo..... Only to realize that the box was oozing peanut sauce and my hands were getting particularly sticky. At this point, I realized that I had been served the wrong meal (despite what was clearly written on the box). Instead of phad Thai, I had a spicy peanut noodle bowl. I got home and found not only was the box oozing and leaking sauce - but there was simply WAAY too much sauce in the meal. I will likely go back at some point for ambience outdoors and affordability - though this overall experience was uninspiring
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Quintin E.

Yelp
This place is basically an all you can eat buffet (well pay by weight)! Located in the Market Square of Victoria, BC it's an easy find and a well worth it one as well. This vegan friendly eatery has a ton of options whether they be premade meals, bites and desserts or loading up a tray (not self served) with a hot and cold bar of too many delights to name off. The grab and go stuff is refrigerated and usually kept up front near the register however they do have an additional freezer/fridge near the main entrance with even more take home delicacies. Green Cuisine is 100% vegan, however they label food by dietary need and/or restriction including paleo, gluten free, keto items, etc so everyone can easily navigate their options. They had some gf curry I can't stop dreaming about. I didn't expect what I expected this place to be otherwise I would've frequented it a lot more when I was there earlier this year.... granted it was only a four day stay up the street, but I would've "food" a way or an excuse to try a little of it all... They make shakes, juices, offer kombucha, teas, you name it. There is seating all throughout this buffet restaurant cafe as well as some outdoor seating on their patio and in the Market Square. Definitely make a point to stamp this place on your foodie adventures especially if you enjoy plant based cuisine of all sorts.

Healthygirl O.

Yelp
Overall great place for a healthy lunch, snack, or dinner. Highly recommend and have felt great after each meal.
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Kim M.

Yelp
The pad thai was fantastic, a huge portion that was fully flavored with the expected sweet and sour but not too sweet and not too greasy with more vegetables than usual and perfectly cooked rice noodles and a wedge of lime. Ordered at the register and picked up the take out package in 10 minutes. Took food to eat at whistlebuoy brewing table in the square.
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Be F.

Yelp
Green Cuisine has been consistently brilliant for the past few decades. Despite the decor, this is a must-visit place for anyone who wants delicious, ethic food that you will feel great after eating. (And you can always take your plate outside to the pop up seating area in the courtyard, as long as you bring it back after.) try the hot bar and soups, but don't miss the kombucha and the limited-sugar desserts. It's all so good that we wished we lived next door!
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Justin W.

Yelp
Located in Market Square, Green Cuisine is probably my favorite restaurant in downtown Victoria for a quick and affordable meal. I've never had their noodleboxes or items from the buffet because you can't beat their soup ($6.50 for a large) and focaccia bread ($1.05/piece). They have a rotating selection of soups so you really don't know what they'll have, but I haven't had a bad one yet. So far I've had their Greek soup, corn chowder, and Lentil soup. My favorite is the chowder; so much so that they bought two large soups last time. Their focaccia is nothing like what I've had before. It's light, fluffy, and has a buttery taste to it. It reminds me of a centre of a piece of garlic bread. Their desserts are also very good and I haven't had one that I've hated. Pictured is the coconut bomb, apple tart, and praline brownie.

Scott S.

Yelp
GC hasn't changed a lot over the years, and that's a good thing. The food is outstanding and affordable. Soups and anything with their in-house brand tempeh and tofu are great. One thing that has changed is that they now have a cafe that's open early, which is terrific. Keep the good vibes flowing!
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Sylvain P.

Yelp
The plave is good, its a buffet, you choose what you want, and you pay according to weight. It's usually good not great, falafel were best thing. I think dessert is best thing there they have lots of things like false cheese cake, pumpkin tart and lots of balls like Nanaimo fake and things with peanut butter. The coffee is great if it's employee who do it no if you take it from coffee thermo. 7/10 as there's no service and you wait to long to have a good coffee.
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Glen G.

Yelp
GO FOR THE SALAD! This place is great with lots of healthy choices, but hands down it has one of the best salads you can find anywhere. It's a weight based salad bar where you tell the staff what you want it. The selections are amazing! Tempeh, sure. Beets, potatoes, onions, quinoa, tofu, they have it all. The stuff is super fresh and tasty. On top of that it is cheap. You have to wait in line to order but then they'll bring it out to you in the courtyard. There's also a brewery in the courtyard, but you can't bring food into it. Green's also has indoor seating that has a nice vibe, although it's popular and busy.
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Amabel D.

Yelp
I definitely did NOT expect Green Cuisine to be what it was. It's actually a vegan buffet that you plate yourself and weight at the end. I have to say... I was DOWN. I think I spent like $18 on my plate alone because I had piled it so high! They have such a selection of food! I couldn't believe my eyes and I had to try everything. This also includes soup, salad and desert. I can't even name all of the delicious things to try there because there was so much. It's also nice to eat at a buffet where everything is actually on the menu because its all meat-free. It was very busy when we went but we were able to find a spot pretty easily for five people. The line moves slowly but that's probably because everyone is overwhelmed with options so you have to take your time. There was nothing that I tried that I didn't like. I will definitely be coming back here when I'm back in Vic.
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Berlin D.

Yelp
Everything is based off of the weight of your food. average food cost is about $12-$18 which isn't too bad for a really good food. They had good curry as well as a great falafel. overall this was a good spot for a lunch break the area is so wonderful!
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Chloe C.

Yelp
Frankly I wasn't super impressed. The food was cold and the taste of most items were below average. I'd skip this place next time. The potato wedges (2/5) were cold, undercooked and underseasoned. The yellow vegetable curry (3/5) was alright. It was slightly sweet and not spicy at all. The flavour was decent but the vegetables were a little undercooked. The sausage roll (1.5/5) was cold, mushy and bland, and the pastry wasn't flaky at all. The mushroom pizza (3.5/5) was quite flavourful with a good amount of toppings including vegan cheese but unfortunately it was cold which kind of detracted from the experience. The falafel (3.5/5) was quite flavourful and it was crispy enough, but again it was cold. The fried rice (2/5) was rather bland and it was nothing special. I was not impressed with the cornbread (1/5) and it was the only thing that I couldn't finish. The flavour wasn't good and it was quite dry. The tempeh in brown sauce (3/5) was okay but unmemorable, as was the lemongrass tofu (2.5/5). The split pea curry (2.5/5) was on the mild side, and could have used more seasoning. The chocolate chip peanut butter cookie (4/5) was probably my favourite out of everything I got, though that isn't really saying much since it was just your average cookie. It was crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, with lots of chocolate chips. It was decent but the peanut butter flavour could have been stronger.

Liam O.

Yelp
We ordered some soup last night, brought it home, was enjoying it thoroughly, right up until I chomped into a rock. Yes a rock... Called this morning to ask to speak to a manager, haven't heard back yet.
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Shyla G.

Yelp
I found it! I did not spend much time in this lovely place as I had only come here for one thing. Their GF/Vegan/Keto chocolate cake! I cannot gush about this stuff enough and I am so grateful to the lovely employee who brought one to work and changed my world. Set up as a (mostly) self serve pay-by-weight buffet, there are so many yummy options for any time of day. All ethically sourced and Vegan so you can feel good about eating here. Located right in the middle of the best part of Victoria, Market square would not be the same without this amazing place. You simply must try the cake, but really, go for a meal here with someone you love this fall season, you won't regret it.
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Tara L.

Yelp
A long-standing, well-worn vegan cafeteria restaurant. The go-to place in Victoria for nearly 30 years for budget friendly plant-based "green" cuisine. The first dedicated all-vegan restaurant/cafe in BC. Self serve buffet changes daily - check their website for posted menu. Everything made in-house and ingredient labelled including gluten-free and soy-free options. Selection is large and varies from sushi to eggplant parm to noodles to falafel. My fav place to go for a bowl of soup and side of cornbread for under $5. And the gelato is tasty too. Cheap selection of local kombucha and housemade tempeh available for purchase in market area. Can get busy so expect a line-up and full tables during meal rush. Popular with students. If it's a pleasant day enjoy your meal outside in Market Square courtyard. * Watch out when loading up your plate - the price by weight adds up quickly!! * Bring your own reusable container and receive 5% off. Reliable place for a nourishing no-frills vegan meal. Open 10-8pm everyday
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Jessica T.

Yelp
This was one of the places I was most excited about when planning my first trip to Victoria. It seemed very cute and i lobedhow it reflected my values. the only issue I came across was how they change their menu daily, and i just happened to come in on a day that they didn't have a lot of food that i liked. that being said, it was such a cute place that I still think it's worth trying again. My favourite things about this place is that it is 100% vegan and the location has such an amazing atmosphere.
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Jackie D.

Yelp
We were excited at the prospect of a vegan/vegetarian buffet so we decided to stop by for lunch. The plus is that ALL buffet food is vegan, so you can literally take anything you want from there. The price by weight was incredibly high in my opinion. The restaraunt itself is pretty, it's very green on the outside and it had a natural interior design theme and plenty of room. I tried a little bit of everything, and all of their food was mediocre at best. This is definitely not the place to take your friends if you want to wow them with how good vegan food can be. The two things I thought were actually pretty good were the lentil patties and scalloped potatoes. The cashier was nice though and we sat at the window so we were able to watch the people in the courtyard. My overall experience was merely satisfactory, and I probably won't be coming here again.
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Marlon J.

Yelp
Green, lean, and delicious as they come. A wonderful selection of culinary treats to delight my senses - falafel, potato salad, focaccia bread w/ vegan butter, spanish rice, sweet and sour tempeh, and topped it off with a raspberry muffin for an afternoon snack. Market square is nicely tucked away with lots going on and a vibrant atmosphere. Down sides, price point is high, and that goes without saying to any buffet priced by weight. $20 for my meal without a drink. I'll definately reccomend this spot to anyone in Victoria for the quality of the food/experience.
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Beamster S.

Yelp
Was just in Victoria for 5 days and had food at a few vegetarian restaurants. After eating here on the second day, this is all I wanted. We generally eat whole foods, lentils with everything. At home we avoid any bread but sprouted, Most food comes from the garden or someones. Point is were very clean eaters. When we eat out we eat a little rubbish though. This place had such a huge selection of healthy vegan foods. Everything went together well. Salad greens, many "relishes", nuts, seeds, olive & hemp oil, beans, rice, rotating tempeh, tofu type things. I kinda just ate it in a pile. if one thing needed more acid or salt there was some little slaw/relish to eat it with. Good vegan sushi, rolled well, rice cooked well. Good dal. Amazing baked goods. cold cakes on the buffet, pumpkin chocolate, berry "cheez", - these cakes were lighter and creamier than some of the cashew based cakes I've had here in portand. they mad gelato too but, I never had room. We walked 40+ miles so we needed little snacks. I would get an energy bite and some other crispy little thing I forget the name of. I would be a regular here if we had a joint like this in Portland. Extra amazing if your a health food vegan, flaxy! The other veg places I ate were ok. I ended up eating here 5-6 times and looked forward to going back. A weird note, I used to work in a vegan restaurant years back in slc, so I look around alot. The owner was the dishman if I am correct.I saw his pic on the website. I thought that was cool. Right livliehood perhaps. Oh and I loaded up here, being on vacation, not worrying about the cost and it was a great price. Maybe $32-$35 for 2 of use before tip. I would give this place more stars if I could. I'd love to create a space like this but, Ive ot my own thing and will not be entering the restaurant biz anytime soon.
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Brooke H.

Yelp
My mom and I ate hear nearly every single day on our vacation to Victoria years ago, and we STILL rave about it. Their desserts are incredible, and that CORN BREAD!!! We love this place so so much, and we only wish it would come to the United States!!!
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Jay D.

Yelp
Really tasty food, and of course because it's a buffet you have control of whatever you want. Tons of choice, from hot dishes right to the dressings you put on top. I've been here twice, and both times left satisified with all the tasty items. I think the biggest plus here is the ingredients are printed out for every item: don't eat oil? You can avoid it. For someone like me who is super sensitive to that ingredient, this place is a godsend. The only thing is it can be a little expensive if you choose heavy items (which is a shame: my fave item here is mostly potatoes and it's heavy... but a "cheap" and low-labor dish). My plate is assembled by me, non-expensive ingredients (mostly vegetable and potato, rice with a bit of sauce), and I'm carrying it to my table and cleaning up after myself, but I can't seem to leave here for under $15. That said, you can certainly eat for inexpensive if you choose accordingly. I do love how I can get the food quickly, sit and eat, and be on my way. Huge plus for that too. Guess I just need to go for the options that weigh a bit less :)
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Alma H.

Yelp
I was excited to see a vegan buffet, but didn't have high expectations since many buffets generally don't have the highest quality food. Boy, did this place exceed my expectations! Everything I tried was delicious, not a single disappointment. Cornbread was the best gluten free vegan cornbread I've ever had as was the falafel! Indian soup and Dahl were both amazing! Gelato was yum! I love how they list all of the ingredients on every one of their dishes, too!
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Erica M.

Yelp
Do I ever miss Green Cuisine now that I don't live in Victoria anymore... everything is simply delicious. I always got a bit nervous putting my plate on the scale and realizing that I could easily rack up $25-30 with what doesn't seem like a lot of food, so this restaurant was always a treat for me. Worth the price! Yum! highly recommend.
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Rachael M.

Yelp
If you're looking for quick and easy vegan food that offers fresh and tasty variety, Green cuisine is your place. I love, love, love this vegan buffet! A full, hearty meal is $15-20 CAD. Great flavors. Great variety. It's now a go-to YUM place. Enjoy!
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Filbert Z.

Yelp
A very good vegan buffet with a wide variety of food to choose from. Even if you're not up for a meal, I could see stopping in for the wide selection of healthy fruit juices & smoothies one, they're really good. The atmosphere is straight out of a lefty college dining hall, circa 1972. Wonder where that old radical poly-sci professor eats lunch? He's probably here, his head bent over a bowl of curry. If the weather's nice, you can carry your tray outside to the handsome walled-in Market Square. Though it's unpretentious, it's certainly not cheap (you pay by the weight of your plate). I've been a few times and although I've liked the food, it doesn't knock me out. But my kiddo loves it and she has good taste.
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Rebecca H.

Yelp
A lot of different and fresh food to choose from! You pay by weight and the prices are really good. Also I had a few different things from the dessert choice and I absolutely loved it! Guess I need to come back tomorrow to eat even more
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Kelsey D.

Yelp
Amazing find in Victoria! Delicious home-cooked vegan food. Wish I could have eaten more!

Quill S.

Yelp
One of my favorite spots, especially to dine in since it's so open and spacious, I usually get uncomfortable claustrophobic in restaurants, but have always had an easier time relaxing here. Aside from that quality, they have the most affordable healthy deliscious good. For the same price as a fast food meal you can have a satisfying vegan one, including one of their rich and decadent desserts
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Nour B.

Yelp
Love the atmosphere and the food served at green cuisine! There's always a nice variety of foods in the buffet to make your own dishes and the staff is very friendly and helpful as well if you had any questions. I've been there couple of times and they never disappoint! The only think I wish it improves there is the mice problem that occurs when it's cold outside and they find their way to come close to the heater and try to look for food around as well!
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Barth S.

Yelp
I am often on the lookout for great vegan restaurants to share with my wife. For many of them, we agree that we could go back some time. This restaurant is the winner thus far; so the next time we visit Victoria we will eat at Green Cuisine repeatedly. Not even look for other vegan restaurants. Just return. Because it's that good. Personally I eat more than vegan food, and I also found plenty of delicious choices.
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Angel C.

Yelp
I got married in Tofino (originally from Florida) and we made a pre-wedding and honeymoon trip out of the whole ordeal (from Seattle to Victoria, to Ucluelet to Tofino). This place stands out to me as my most vividly positive food memory. I have never seen so many colors and varieties of fruits, veggies and side options to throw on my mountain of a salad. For instance, super fresh and juicy blood oranges and an expansive crisp variety of kale, sprouts and sprouted beans. Like nothing I've encountered before. It was such a pleasure eating so healthy and having tantalizing choices at my fingertips. Love that the options changed slightly from day to day. I was complaining during the rest of the trip to my partner about there not being a Green Cuisine along every step of our journey.
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Orin M.

Yelp
I looked up vegan restaurants before we headed to the island so we could have dinner when we arrived. First let me say that Victoria is beautiful, second let me say that the traffic is horrendous (I thought driving in Vancouver was bad). We arrived shortly after 6 and there was a buffet-style pay by weight food set. It was so great to not have to ask what was vegan, they even had a list of ingredients next to each item. I was so happy, I almost melted. My husband, daughter and I loaded our plates with food ranging from samosas, salads, and potatoes to salads, fruit, and cake. For all three of us, drinks and tax included, was about $50. On our way out we bought the gluten free cookbook and some desserts to go. I wish I would have had more time to go back later before heading back to the mainland.
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Ann K.

Yelp
Date Visited: Thursday 7/19/12 (Lunch) This place reminds me of what vegetarian food was like in the 80s and early 90s. First of all, I don't know how you really find the restaurant in the complex it's in since there's no directory nearby. We did locate it, but then had to figure out how to get a stroller down to the lower ground level. We did it the hard way before we found it was actually a separate street we were supposed to walk down. All that aside, once inside the restaurant, it was a 70s flashback. There are 2 areas to sit and they both felt like they were transported from another time. The middle area has all the food and I wasn't impressed by any of it. They have a good idea (different cuisines from around the world), but it's a lot of so-so food. Since Spazz got soup and bread, I decided to go for all the buffet items. I took a little of everything that looked or sounded appealing. Of the 15 items or so that I put on my plate, the only things that stood out as being edible were the falafel balls. That was basically it. Sometimes places do little things great or a lot of things mediocre. This was definitely mediocre. For the money we spent, it was very disappointing and I would not return.
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Honesty J.

Yelp
I was a bit disappointed here. First off the good news is that there are ALOT of choices. Very diverse and some very good ones. It is all vegan. The bad news, the price. While I prefer pay-by-weight buffets to the all-you-can-eat ones (they tend to be higher quality) this one seems to charge for the weight of their very heavy plates along with the food. In fact, one of the customers ahead of me in line was complaining to the cashier about the price as I was walking up - She had been their before and never paid so much. I looked at her plate and it did not have that much on it. Even after hearing their interaction I was still shocked at the price when I was rung up. They never deducted the plate from the weight and the cashier told the customer before me that was normal. I admit I did not ask for the manager to complain. I was on vacation not sure if this was considered normal in Victoria, nor wanted to stress out too much. (Fortunately, Lotus Pond, which is just nearby, does not charge for the plates.) I did not buy any of the pastries since I spent so much on the meal. They did look good, they had a nice selection and they also seemed more reasonably priced than the buffet. I might consider stopping there for a pastry when I visit Victoria again, but I will not be having the buffet again.
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Leigh C.

Yelp
Green Cuisine is quality, fast veggie food. I love stopping by to see what the daily specials are and like that there are items to take home too. There is a wide array of dessert options for a little sweet treat at the end of your meal or for an afternoon snack too!! Meals are priced by weight and there is a good mix of light and heavy options so you can actually eat a reasonably priced, hearty, and filling meal.
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Blue B.

Yelp
As much as I like this restaurant, it is so bloody expensive that I can rarely go to it and enjoy the thoroughfare. Still, I would recommend it to any vegans and people transitioning. The staff are very nice as well.
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Tristan S.

Yelp
This is the sort of vegan food that makes people hate vegan food. Bland, bland, more bland, and bland some more. There's nothing that's *not* vegan about spices; there's a difference between "delicately" spiced, and inadequately spiced. Green Cuisine falls under the latter. From the Asian- or Indian-style tofu dishes to the falafel and hummus, it just seemed like everything had about maybe 1/3rd the level of flavor that you'd expect from that dish. Service was alright so I won't give one star, but the food was only memorable for being such a let down.
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Matthew L.

Yelp
Green Cuisine makes a bunch of awesome tofus, tempehs, mochis, and other vegetarian favorites, which you can buy and take home for a lower price than you can buy them at nearby supermarkets. The restaurant itself charges by the gram (about 2 cents each). If you have a large appetite, a meal will run you about $20, and this does not include a drink or any semblance of table service. And the decor reminds me of an inner city Wendy's circa-1980. The food itself is rather tasty, especially when it lends itself to the buffet format (they have a fantastic tempeh curry). They will also make you a tempeh burger to order, but you have to pay for the bun by the gram. Food that generally doesn't work when it has sit out under steam trays for an hour still doesn't taste good here (such as lasagna). But I can't justify eating here when the far more pleasant Re-Bar is located just down the street. And Re-Bar can also fill me up at about half the price.
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Theresa C.

Yelp
I loved the thought of all the veg options but was very disappointed. The place was hopping. Maybe I'm just use to more flavorful food.
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Yumiko K.

Yelp
I used to visit this restaurant when I lived in Victoria. It was one of my favourite restaurants as it offered fresh vegan food that tasted great. (I was also crazy about their desserts!) 10+ years later, I was back at this restaurant still serving fresh vegan food with great flavours, but I don't remember eating here was so expensive. (Expensive and college students do not gel.) My boyfriend was happy with the food he got, but I felt a bit disappointed and sad to find out that Green Cuisine was no longer the kind of place hungry students could go crazy on yummy vegan food.
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Emily A.

Yelp
Went here during a quick weekend trip to Victoria. I wish they were in Seattle, preferably right next to my office. Though then I would become very round, so maybe not... It's an all-vegan buffet. As a salad bar for a lettuce-based salad, it's not the best, but they don't seem to really be aiming for that. Instead, they have a number of different prepared salads (for example, a deli-style pasta salad). They also had a number of different hot dishes, including a delicious shepherdess's pie. I ended up filling up a to-go box with little portions of close to a dozen different things. They had what looked like a fabulous selection of vegan desserts, too. And a wide selection of fresh juices they could make. I didn't get to try either one, but both were very tempting. Overall, a great place to grab a quick, varied, vegan lunch!
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Malloreigh M.

Yelp
The first time I stumbled into Green Cuisine, mere days after making the switch to veganism, I thought I was in heaven. I couldn't actually believe that this place was entirely vegan. I thought that was impossible. Blame it on my growing up in Calgary, I guess. Anyway, GC is, as has been described by other intrepid reviewers, not really the cheapest of joints. The buffet has a rather high pay-by-weight price and those bastards give you giant plates. It's important to stay vigilant - you can't eat that much anyway, can you? My favourite thing to eat at GC is the Mud Pie Bar. It contains a high amount of delicious for a reasonable price. The other desserts are okay, but this particular dessert is NOT TO BE MISSED. If you are allergic to peanuts, I feel really bad for you. GC also makes tofu, tempeh, mochi, and some other vegan essentials that you can buy in supermarkets province-wide; however, they are cheapest at GC itself. Stock up!
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Diana L.

Yelp
My favourite vegetarian go-to for healthy lunch because it's got a lot of choice as a buffet, tastes fresh and has a casual vibe . . . . Grab a tray, put a plate on it and start the fun cruising the C-shaped lunch buffet starting with soups and chilli; cornbread and other breads; a variety of salads; homemade dressings and nut, seed or crunchy natural toppings; a whole hot table of savoury entrees, steamed veggies, squashes and baked sides; samosas; wedge French fries; awesome condiments and shakers; vegetarian sushi; a good variety of sauerkrauts, olives and pickles . . . . If you still have room, the dessert buffet has delicious handmade cakes, squares, puddings, flavoured gelatos, and muffins. Fresh made juices and blends are available, in various sizes. Or Kombucha and other bottled beverages in the cooler. Everything is well labelled as to ingredients and X-free options. Take out containers are available. You pay by weight. The only drawback is some may think its an expensive plate . . . Mine tend to be $10 - $12/plate for lunch, though it's a filled dinner sized plate, without dessert and soup. Freshness has always stood out.
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Pijak W.

Yelp
A hidden gem of Victoria. The buffet style vegan menu is very relaxing. The choices are deep and wide. From salad to bake food. Some are better than the other. I especially like organic Kale, tofu salad (taste like Thai Larb), and blueberry tofu cheese cake. Even french fries are good. Their desert is reasonable priced and excellent. Be sure to take some home. The price by weight may seems high, but considering the quality of ingredients and effort putting into make these food. It is reasonable. Eat less and pay less. Even better, try eat more veggies and go light on the bake food it will be lighter on you wallet and your waist. Thank you for making these food available.
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Stacey C.

Yelp
This is a buffet style restaurant serving up a great variety of veggie and vegan foods. The Ambiance is very casual and hippie-friendly. The owners are just great people who really care about quality food and people's health. While locals tend to get tired of the almost unchanging menu, this bastion of healthy eating has outlasted the rash of fads that have swept through Victoria over all the years I lived there. I am quite confident that it will outlast the raw epidemic too. Hint: this is on the lower level in Market Square near the Johnson Street entrance.
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Ken T.

Yelp
I am NOT a vegeterian, far from, but I do eat a lot of veggies. My wife and I were in Market Square checking out the sidewalk sale and decided to pop into Green Quisine for a lunch salad. This isnt the first time we have been here. The line was quite long which is always a good indicator. Food is served buffet style. Some things like soup are priced per dish, while others like the salad are by weight. My wife and I each just got a plate full of salad fixin's: mixed greens, cucumber slaw, ginger kraut, beet kraut, carrots, cucumber, kale, tomotoes, melon etc etc. Price for both plates: $10.13..........what a great deal. The food was fresh, the housemade dressings were delicious and the cashew humus? Ridiculously good! Absolutely worth stopping in even if you arent a vegeterian.