I cook dinner pretty much every night. Add in lunch, breakfast, and snacks – for five people – yep, I log some kitchen hours. But, you ask… “don’t you have great vegan restaurants in Vancouver?“
Yes. In Vancouver. We are in White Rock, so a trip to a vegan restaurant involves up to two hours of driving. So, it’s not a regular option for us, especially when Paul already commutes to the city for work on weekdays.
As much as I enjoy cooking, every mama needs a break! So, that’s usually ordering pizza. Years ago we’d order pizza, and simply omit all the cheeses. Wasn’t optimal, but I’d either add vegan cheese at home or top with avocado or balsamic drizzle.
Then one day last year… hallelujah! I learned that Panago started carrying Daiya cheese. Hey now! Finally, we could order a full-on vegan pizza.
Panago reached out to me recently to feature some of the vegan pizzas and offer a giveaway. I was already a fan (I share my reasons below), so this is truly a treat for me to share with you.
Here are 10 reasons I love Panago:
- As already mentioned, Panago now offers Daiya cheese. Obviously wonderful for us vegans, and also for families with dairy allergies.
- Panago will easily sub out any dairy cheeses with Daiya cheese. So, you can customize any veggie pizza you want. It’s easy, and their staff are very familiar with modifying pizzas to meet vegan dietary needs.
- Panago even has a specialty vegan pizza listed on their menu – this Vegan Pepperoni Deluxe (pictured below). In addition to the Veggie Mediterranean (pictured above) this is another one of our regular pizza orders. (However, we do usually sub out the onions, olives, and green peppers for pineapple… you know, the kids!). *note: the caramelized onions and mushrooms are sautéed inq butter, not vegan!
- Panago strikes a good balance with the Daiya cheese. Sometimes Daiya cheese can be topped too heavily, and it takes away from the other toppings. On the other hand, we’ve had meals where Daiya cheese is just barely there and it’s almost pointless! Panago seems to get it just right every time.
- For our family, Panago offering vegan cheese and vegan pizzas has been a blessing for hockey parties. As many of you know, our girls have played hockey for years, and every time there’s a hockey party or tournament, there’s pizza. Always pizza. They usually choose Panago – score! In the past, I’d pack premade vegan pizzas for the girls to take to their parties. Not a ton of fun for kids. It’s so very ‘normalizing’ for the girls to have pizza just like their friends.
- Another thing I love about ordering with Panago is that they keep a record of orders. Again… score! Whenever we order pizza, Paul and I try to pass off on the actual ordering process. Any vegan knows how much fun it is to order with “remove the cheeses and substitute with Daiya cheese – that’s no dairy cheese of any kind”… and then repeat that with each pizza along with any veggie substitutes. Now, when we call Panago, we just ask them to bring up our last order. They repeat it back to us and we say “yep, we’ll go with that“. Love it.
- Panago offers a detailed allergen chart for their menu items (scroll to page four).
- In addition to toppings, Panago offers choices of sauces and crusts. Just be sure to ask about vegan options or check their allergen chart (above).
- Panago has locations in almost all Canadian provinces. Vegan pizza can be ordered (& delivered) in so many areas, especially in Western Canada. In fact, last spring break we took a short trip to Hope, BC. There weren’t a lot of food options there for us, but guess what? There was a Panago! Yes, we ordered.
- While I’m happy to make pizzas at home without vegan cheese (I often do, adding umami ingredients like olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic reductions, etc), it sure is wonderful to have the option to order vegan pizzas with cheese. Yes, Daiya cheese isn’t a whole foods product. But most of us enjoy some processed foods within the scope of a whole foods diet. This is a good balance I think in life, and having these options are particularly important for busy families and kids in the ‘real’ world.
- Bonus: Their pizzas are yummy, and mama gets a break. 🙂
Panago also offer organic juices/lemonade, and salads. Especially wonderful for parties when you’d like drinks for the kids, and a little something extra for the adults.
Pictured are the Mediterranean Salad with Simple Italian Dressing (and no cheese/no croutons) and the Antipasto (without cheese) along with the organic orange juice and organic lemonade
Now, it’s your turn to get to know and love Panago! My thanks to the team at Panago for providing this giveaway to one of you:
Enter by commenting: tell us what you would pizza you would order, or tell us what your current fave vegan Panago pizza is!
Good luck, kids! x Dreena
Photo credit: All photos by Anna Pelzer
This post has been sponsored by Panago, as alwayst the opinions and text are all mine.
Ania Pitula says
I have been vegan almost six months now and I’m always super excited to find out what restaurants and cheap eats have vegan options. It’s great that you focused this blog on one specific location- Panago, because pizza was one of the toughest foods I thought I had to give up as a vegan. Plus, I’m also from Canada (Toronto) so it’s great to feel connected with more vegans across the country. I appreciate the wonderful photos and the massive list of links to Panago’s vegan features. It’s great that you added your personal life experiences in this blog as well! I’m excited to read more of your blog posts!
Ashley Turner says
I love their Vegan Pizza! I’m so glad there’s finally a pizza place that welcomes vegan business.
Deborah says
My favourite is a classic and something I can only get at Panago: mushrooms, green peppers, and meat-free pepperoni!
Lindsey says
Gluten free crust, Daiya cheese, pineapple and ham
Linda says
I like the classic Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham.
Ricki says
YUM! They look amazing. I could definitely go for a glutenfree version! 🙂
Sarina Wood says
this is fantastic news, i had no idea panago had vegan options! i was excited to see they have a location in my town too!
i really want to try the vegan pepperoni one, so cool!
Brittany q says
My faveeee panago pizza is original crust, light on the sauce, light on the daiya, vegan pepperoni and green peppers!
Francine says
I’d love to try the Grilled veggie & goat cheese
Taylor Closet says
I would love to try the Vegan Deluxe Pepperoni, Yummy!
Amy C says
I would like to try the Veggie Mediterranean.
Linda Gerace says
I can’t decide which one I would try… they all sound so good. Either the Vegan Deluxe Pepperoni, the Mediterranean, Primo Vegtarian, or the Veggie Korma. Subbed with Daiya cheese, of course.
Linda Gerace says
I am SOOOO excited!! There’s a Panago in Grand Forks, only 35 miles from us in Washington, USA. YAY!! Even if I don’t win this, I’ll be taking a trip up there as soon as possible to try this yummy sounding pizza. Thanks for sharing this info, Dreena. I’m right with you. I cook all the meals for my DH and I, every day, day after day… and it’s nice to get a vegan break every now and then. But, we have no vegan restaurants anywhere nearby, and the locals are so-so with their vegan offerings. I can’t wait to try Panago.
tracy k says
i want to try the Veggie Mediterranean pizza
Lushka Smith says
The Veggie Mediterranean pizza sounds good.
Sandra says
I might have to make a special trip from the burbs into downtown Ottawa just to try the vegan pepperoni pizza!
Laura says
What a great idea. Visit soon from US Washington state. All the options. Fabulous.
Sherri says
Oh yes, my young kids love the veggie pepperoni with Daiya! And leftovers in their lunchboxes the next day!
Denise says
I like the garden veggie sub Kalamata olives for the regular black ones. On gluten free crust.
Daneen says
We would love to try Panago! Years ago we ordered from them all the time and them we started to follow a plant-based diet and stopped. This is great news!
VeganPossum says
I did not know they had Daiya cheese so I’m excited to try it! I would like anything with olives.
Ruth says
I’ve never had a vegan pizza from a restaurant or store bought so this would be a treat for me. There is one location that I occasionally drive through which would be awesome. Any of their pizzas would be great to try.
Georgina says
I would love to check out Panago in Ottawa!
Georgina says
Oh, and I’d really love to try the vegan deluxe pepperoni. I love olives!
Sandy says
You lucky ones in Canada! No Panago Pizza place here in the US (nationwide) so far!
Katie says
I want to try the Veggie Mediterranean
Stefania says
Pizza – the best food choice. Love that more restaurants are listening and giving plantbase options. Too bad the carmalized onion is not an option. Totally makes a pizza if you go no sauce and oile oil drizzle. Thanks for sharing the tips.
Angela Rohr says
We love the vegan pepperoni deluxe! We usually add on a couple extra veggie toppings
Brigitte says
Never try ed it but curious . Would save time on those crazy nights
Tina L. says
I like the garden veggie
Monica says
I love Panago! It opened here recently and it’s so good! I get the original crust and Italian tomato sauce with mixed grilled veggies, meatless pepperoni and Daiya. I love their crust and sauce too, I don’t just go there for the vegan cheese. And I love how mixed veggies count as one topping so I don’t have to pay for different veggies individually!
Deanna says
The Veggie Korma sounds interesting; I’d like to try that. My usual pick would be the Veggie Mediterranean.
Marina says
I love the vegan pepperoni and green pepper! Hu
SUMMER PLEWES says
I want to try the Bacon Cheeseburger!
Ariana Timmerman says
My family loves Panago! I agree with Dreena – cooking is great, but sometimes it’s nice to have a night off! 🙂
Bonnie Y. says
I would get a custom made pizza, made with mushrooms and pineapple.
Bonnie Y. says
I didn’t realize the mushrooms weren’t vegan so I would try the custom made pizza with meat free pepperoni, banana peppers, pineapple, vegan cheese on multigrain crust.
ChristIne says
I went to a Jays game last week and many people were eating pizza and I thought it’s been awhile since I had a slice. Look forward to ordering it soon. Also I’m glad they have gluten free crust. Hope the crust tastes good. Now I need to decide what to order.
Jodie says
We always love the veggie Mediterranean pizza!
Debbie says
Funny, I was just looking at Panago’s website today! I’d probably go for the vegan pepperoni deluxe.
Kristine says
Panago was our favourite pizza restaurant before we stopped eating dairy. I had no idea they had vegan pizza. I’d love to try the Veggie Mediterranean!
Isa says
Panago has been my go to place for a few years already. My fave is multigrain traditional, tomato sauce, fire roasted tomatoes, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, spinach and daiya cheese!
Miet says
I’d love to try the vegan deluxe pepperoni!
Jennifer says
We love to order the Veggie Korma pizza with Daiya as we like the sweetness of the pineapple and the touch of curry. Delish!!
Corrina Rintisch says
We looooooooooooooooooooooove the vegan pepperoni deluxe pizza. We add pineapple and fresh tomatoes as well as jalepenos to my husband’s half lol. This post is making me so hungry!!!!
Jen says
Love Panago! I get fresh tomatoes and grilled veggies on mine. Yum!
KRisty says
I can’t wait to try the Mediterranean veggie!!! It’s swimming night so tonight seems like a good night
Vicky Hobson says
Would be awesome to win a vegan pizza! I would always order a deluxe – now that I’m vegan it has to have olives, peppers, onions to start.
Natalie Collins says
We LOVE the Panago Vegan Pepperoni pizza! We’ve had it a few times, and it doesn’t disappoint! When you phone in your order for pick-up, they keep a record of your last order, making it super easy to order again! Love them!
NicT says
I regularly get their vegan pepperoni with daiya. Lifesaver on the days you just don’t want to cook.
Maryanne says
While we haven’t ordered from panago in quite a while, our go to pizza is peppers pineapple and feta!
Jen Strilchuk says
My whole family loves Panago. My favorite is the veggie Mediterranean on GF crust. We love the salad options without cheese and croutons. We just discovered experimenting with the various vegan sauces and they take our favorite pizzas to another level.
Sandra Smith says
I haven’t ordered from Panago in years, I had no idea they were vegan friendly! I am definitely going to order a vegan mediteranean salad and Daiya topped veggie pizza!
ELIZABETH says
I’d ❤️ to try out the vegan deluxe!
Krista o'reilly says
We love Panago, too! I also love that we can order online, and they store our last order there, too. We love the various vegan sauce options and the roasted corn topping is delicious.