Budget minded veg*ns should not go hungry in their globe-trotting quests. My general tips are:
- Look for accommodations with kitchens, for example, youth hostels, YMCA/YMCA, short-term rentals or apartments with kitchens
- Grocery store packaged foods often come with veg*n options and are less expensive than restaurants
- Check Happy Cow, Trip Advisor, Yelp, and similar websites for veg*n restaurants in your budget range and location
- Bring food as long as it is not restricted by customs and airport rules (e.g. liquids, gels, and pastes like peanut butter are generally forbidden from carry on; fresh fruits and vegetables cannot be exported to other countries)
- Granola bars fed me for many a breakfast, snack, and lunch
- Nuts and dried fruit provided fiber and sated my sweet tooth
- Dried peas provided protein and fiber
- Toasted seaweed went well with ramen noodles
Here is how I sated my appetite, by location:
Paris, France
- Baguettes and vegan pate
- Find a good boulangerie. I regretted the over-priced and hard baguette from Paul's (bakery chain). I found a good boulangerie on the street corner near my hotel in the 17eme arrondissement that sold baguettes for under under 2 Euro each. They were fresh, hot, and way better than Paul's, in my opinion.
- I loaded up on Tartex vegan pate from a small deli/grocery near the national library
- Note on vegan pate: I have had no trouble so far with customs in the US regarding bringing cans of vegan pate in my check in luggage back into the US. If it was real pate, it would be forbidden (mad cow disease and such). Advantages of being veg*n!
Germany
- Prenzlauer Berg district in Berlin has numerous vegan dining options for <10-15 Euros for take-out dinner
- Veganz grocery chain has several locations, including in Berlin and Leipzig. The latter locale had a huge selection of vegan pate. See Paris entry above- bread and pate, yum. It also had a little counter that sold drinks and take out items.
Switzerland
- Migros has Quorn brand veggie faux meats in the refrigerated section
- Baguettes at Migros and Coop were between 2 to 3 CHF each. Sandwich bread was cheaper at just above 1 CHF for a very small pack.
Vienna, Austria
- Veganz grocery chain has one location in Wien that had a selection of vegan pate smaller than those I found in Paris and Leipzig. Still, combined with 3-packs of vegan bread rolls for just under 1 Euro for a pack, I was back on my bread and pate diet.
- Interspar had baguettes and other bread, though I would stay away from the bread covered with rock salt. I do not know how one keeps from being hypertensive after eating one of those breads.
Italy
- Universo Vegano is a vegan restaurant chain with very affordable dinner take out options. I visited the Milano and Firenze locations. I indulged a bit and splurged on vegan Sachertorte, tiramisu, and blueberry cheesecake. The dessert selection varies by location, and I was very disappointed to not find cannoli at any location I visited, despite it being on the menu.
- Multiple gelaterias have vegan options- check on Happy Cow, Trip Advisor, Yelp, etc.
Canada
- Vancouver- as the home of Daiya cheese, one cannot go wrong. The Naam is a 24 hour vegetarian restaurant here which I thoroughly enjoyed.
- Montreal-
- Vegan poutine is available at a couple locations
- Metro plus market had Gardein and many other faux meat options, plus pre-made wraps (hummus, baba ghanoush, eggplant/veggie) in the refrigerator section; again, varies per location. One location even had microwaves ostensibly for customer use.
- Petit Marche Vege is a Vietnamese take out restaurant and mini grocery at which I found:
- Veganized versions of traditional Vietnamese food, including pho noodle soup and desserts
- Vegan pate (made in Romania)
- Gardein
- Dehydrated faux veggie 'beef' slices
- Banh mi sandwiches with veggie mayo and mock meat for under 5 Canadian dollars each
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