By the Evergreen Thai Team Published: November 22, 2025 Last updated: November 2025
For many Buddhist and East Asian diners in downtown Toronto, vegetarian eating on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month — or on other observance days — comes with rules that go beyond “no meat.” Many also avoid the five pungent vegetables (onion, garlic, leek, scallion, chive), eggs, or heavy spice. Most general vegetarian restaurants don’t recognize these preferences, which is exactly why the 173–175 Dundas Street West cluster has become a regular stop for the community. Buddhist vegetarian eating is a meatless dining approach during which some diners also avoid the five pungent vegetables and other specific ingredients. This guide focuses on practical ordering, not religious instruction.
For the dedicated sister restaurant menu, review the vegetarian Chinese and Thai dishes next door. You can also contact Evergreen Thai for group orders.
What Buddhist and lunar calendar eating days mean for ordering
Buddhist vegetarian eating in downtown Toronto usually means no meat, often no eggs, and frequently no five pungent vegetables — onion, garlic, leek, scallion, and chive. Dietary practices vary widely between traditions and individuals; some diners eat fully vegan, others include dairy or eggs, and many observe vegetarian eating only on specific lunar calendar days such as the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, Vesak, or other observances.
Common requests to plan around:
- Vegetarian only (no meat, no seafood, no fish sauce)
- No eggs or dairy for some diners
- No five pungent vegetables (五辛: 葱、蒜、韭、薤、兴渠)
- Mild seasoning preferences
- Light, simple preparation
- No alcohol-based cooking ingredients for some diners
A Buddhist vegetarian meal in downtown Toronto works best when the restaurant already understands the “no pungent vegetables” request — most Western-style vegetarian kitchens don’t, but specialist Chinese vegetarian restaurants typically do. Confirming the specific rules with the diner before ordering is the safest planning step. Many guests choose vegetarian meals on lunar observance days, and individual practices vary, so the team should confirm preferences for each order.
Why VegeDelight is the natural fit for Buddhist vegetarian dining
VegeDelight at 173 Dundas St W is the fully vegetarian sister restaurant beside Evergreen Thai and is one of the most natural fits in downtown Toronto for Buddhist and lunar calendar vegetarian eating. The kitchen works with Chinese vegetarian cuisine on a daily basis, which means dishes are built from vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and plant-based proteins — not adapted at the last minute from a meat menu.
What makes VegeDelight a fit for this kind of order:
- Fully vegetarian Chinese cuisine as the daily menu
- Many dishes can be prepared without the five pungent vegetables (confirm in advance)
- Tofu, mushroom, and soy-protein mains
- Vegetable claypot and stewed dishes
- Mild and simple preparation options
- Dishes familiar to Chinese-speaking and East Asian diners
VegeDelight is a fully vegetarian Chinese and Thai restaurant at 173 Dundas St W in downtown Toronto. Not every dish is automatically free of onion, garlic, or other pungent ingredients — and some recipes use eggs or dairy. Buddhist diners with stricter observance should ask the team to flag which dishes can be prepared accordingly. Calling ahead, especially on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month when more observant diners visit, helps the kitchen confirm preparation in advance.
Thai vegetarian options from Evergreen Thai for lighter days
Evergreen Thai at 175 Dundas St W complements VegeDelight by adding Thai vegetable curries, tofu plates, and milder dishes to the order. For Buddhist diners who eat vegetarian on observance days but want a change from Chinese cuisine, the Thai side gives the table more variety — provided the preparation is confirmed.
Thai picks that can suit Buddhist vegetarian orders:
- Mild vegetable curry with tofu (request no fish sauce, no pungent vegetables)
- Plain stir-fried vegetables with light seasoning
- Steamed jasmine rice as the shared base
- Fresh rolls with vegetables only (confirm wrapper and sauce)
- Tofu in simple vegetable preparation
- Vegetable Tom Yum or Tom Kha in vegetarian versions
Evergreen Thai at 175 Dundas St W and VegeDelight next door at 173 Dundas St W work together to support Thai, Chinese, and Buddhist-friendly vegetarian meals in downtown Toronto. Thai cuisine traditionally uses fish sauce, shrimp paste, and pungent vegetables in many dishes, so observing diners should ask the team to confirm which dishes can be prepared accordingly. For lunar observance days, the Thai side often plays a supporting role to the Chinese vegetarian mains rather than anchoring the meal.
Building a Buddhist-friendly group order or solo meal
A Buddhist-friendly meal in downtown Toronto usually centres on simple Chinese vegetarian dishes, prepared without the five pungent vegetables, with optional Thai additions for variety. The trap to avoid is over-ordering: many observant diners prefer a smaller, simpler meal with clean preparation over a large complex spread.
A practical structure for a solo lunch or a 6–10 person table:
- 1 Chinese vegetable stir-fry (no pungent vegetables, mild)
- 1 tofu and mushroom dish prepared simply
- 1 small vegetable claypot or stewed dish
- Steamed jasmine rice as the base
- Light vegetable soup if available
- Optional: 1 mild Thai vegetable dish for variety
A Buddhist-friendly downtown Toronto vegetarian meal labels strict-preparation dishes clearly when serving — “No pungent vegetables,” “Mild,” “Vegan” — so observing diners can self-serve without asking. For family or community group bookings on the 1st or 15th of the lunar month, calling ahead lets the kitchen prepare the order with the right preparation notes. Menu items, ingredients, and preparation can change, so observant diners should confirm specific items with the restaurant before the order is placed.
Visiting Dundas Street and booking lunar observance day orders
Both restaurants are at 173–175 Dundas St W, about a 4–6 minute walk from Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square, with easy access from Dundas subway station on Line 1. For lunar observance days, calling ahead is recommended — especially for groups, family bookings, or stricter preparation requests.
Visiting and booking notes:
- Solo lunch: walk-in usually works; calling ahead helps for stricter requests
- Family or community dinner: book 2–3 days ahead
- 1st and 15th lunar dates: book earlier if possible (busier days)
- Group orders of 10+: 3–5 days lead time
- Confirm “no five pungent vegetables” when ordering
- Allow 15–20 minute buffer for downtown delivery
Buddhist vegetarian food near Dundas Street in downtown Toronto is most accessible at VegeDelight (173 Dundas St W) and Evergreen Thai (175 Dundas St W), both within walking distance of Eaton Centre, Yonge-Dundas Square, TMU, and Toronto City Hall. For the current year’s lunar observance dates, check an official lunar calendar — the 1st and 15th of the lunar month shift each cycle and don’t align with the Gregorian calendar.
Plan your Buddhist vegetarian meal in downtown Toronto
For Buddhist and lunar observance day vegetarian dining in downtown Toronto, the 173–175 Dundas St W block is one of the most natural fits in the area. VegeDelight anchors the Chinese vegetarian side, with many dishes that can be prepared without onion, garlic, and the five pungent vegetables. Evergreen Thai next door adds Thai vegetable dishes for variety, with preparation confirmed in advance.
To plan your next visit or order:
- Call ahead or visit VegeDelight at 173 Dundas St W
- Mention “no five pungent vegetables” preparation when booking
- Book group dinners 3–5 days in advance, especially for the 1st and 15th
Contact VegeDelight or Evergreen Thai for Buddhist vegetarian dining in downtown Toronto.