Restaurant Review: The Naam Restaurant

THE NAAM

2724 West 4th Avenue ~ thenaam.com Twitter: @NAAMRestaurant ~ Instagram: @naamrestaurant Co-Diners: Tim Golem & Lianna Murdoch

If you were to pick one restaurant that represents Kitsilano as a whole, it would have to be The Naam. Kitsilano's past, present, and future exists in this very special space. This legendary vegetarian restaurant is everything that you want it to be - and it's open 24/7. Need miso gravy at 3am? They've got you. Lucky for me, The Naam is located right outside of my front door. Literally. I can see the restaurant from my living room window. This makes it very easy to consider it an alternative to eating at my own home. Because of this, I have eaten here many times! And it's not just me, it's a major community favourite. The Georgia Straight voted it #1 Best Restaurant for a 3am Meal 2017 and #1 Most Vegan-Friendly 2017. Westender chose it as the #1 Best Late-Night Eats 2017. And The Georgia Straight again picked it as #1 Best Restaurant for a 3am Meal 2018. The point is clear: If you're hungry late at night, this is where you come (and you don't need to be stuck eating greasy fast food garbage late at night either). The Naam opened in 1968 which makes it Vancouver's first vegetarian restaurant. Kitsilano used to be a hippy haven and this is a place where you can still see remnants of that time. The vibe is extremely eclectic! You'll feel warm and comfortable, whether inside or outside on their beautiful patio. They feature interesting art exhibits that are ever-changing. Their roots run deep and you'll feel as if you're a part of something when you visit. I stopped in on a Sunday evening and was immediately seated at a table in the middle of the room. Our server was upbeat and friendly. There is live music every evening from 7-10pm (we were treated to a duo of guitarists), which always adds a special element to the experience. Does it feel like home? That's because it is. I started with a Chai Latte ($3.95).

Chai lattes are my #1 hot beverage to order and this version is one of my favourites. I like that it isn't too sweet, it's perfectly spicy, and it tastes fairly close to what an actual Indian chai is supposed to taste like. Sometimes I pop in and order one to go. The food menu is vast! On this particular evening I was dining with a vegetarian friend of mine, and I asked her "don't you love coming to places where you can order anything off of the menu?" Her response was that she's not used to having this many options! They've got pizza, Mexican, burgers, Asian dishes, pasta... And the list goes on. It's all vegetarian and in many cases vegan and/or gluten-free. The food is just good, down-home cooking with absolutely no pretension. On this visit, I wanted to go full-on classic and ordered the Naam Dragon Bowl ($11.75), the restaurant's signature dish, if you will.

Steamed veggies on organic brown rice with miso gravy, tofu, peanut sauce, grated carrots & beets, organic alfalfa sprouts & wakame.

This bowl screams freshness on every level. The gorgeous colours alone can tell you everything that you need to know about this offering of goodness. Every veggie was living up to it's full potential, the rice and tofu were cooked to perfection. But let's just talk about the miso gravy for a second. This is the thing. It's famous. You want this. It tastes incredible and boasts a wonderful umami that will fill you with happiness. (The Naam sells their sauces, including this one (there are six in total), at many grocery stores around the city.) I often base my order on whether or not it includes the miso gravy. All six dragon bowls on the menu are great but this one is truly a classic.

The service got a little bit slow and can sometimes tend to be a bit patchy. We finally got an order in for dessert, the Hot Apple Crisp ($6.25).

Served with pride since the Naam opened. It doesn't get any better.

This is a must-try and yet another classic. Warm, gooey, sweet. Tart juicy apples. A nice crunch from the granola. Plus creamy ice cream on the side! Share it with a friend! The Naam is like going home. The food is reliable and pleasing to vegetarians and non-veggies alike. The prices are reasonable and their breakfasts are delicious as well. (You'll often see people lined up out door during weekend brunch time.) This is your neighbourhood place.