Restaurants in British Columbia
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Eatery
Wooden booths, lava lamps and a neon ‘miso horny’ sign are all part of the ambience at this pop-culture reinvention of the traditional sushi joint. Bring your manga comic and dip into the giant, well-priced menu of soba bowls, curry-rice and several sushi combos, all washed down with a good selection of Japanese and Canadian bottled beers. There are plenty of vegetarian options, including some shareable platters for all those veggies who travel in packs.
reviewed
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Naam
A rare and evocative relic of Kitsilano’s hippie past, this vegetarian restaurant has the feel of a comfy, highly chatty farmhouse. It’s not unusual to have to wait for a table here at peak times, but it’s worth it for the hearty stir-fries, Mexican platters and sesame-fried potatoes with miso gravy. This is the kind of veggie spot where carnivores are also happy to dine. There’s nightly live music, an array of great organic beers and a popular patio – it’s covered, so you can cozy up here with a bowl of broth and still enjoy the rain.
reviewed
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Bridges
You’ll easily spot this bright yellow bistro as you pass over the Granville Bridge on your way here. In summer it offers one of the best sunset patios in town from which to enjoy well-executed classics like seafood chowder, halibut and chips and thin-crust pizzas – the smoked-salmon variety is recommended. Also consider a pitcher of Granville Island Iced Tea (if you have enough friends to finish it). Diners can escape the patio clamor at the quieter, more upscale upstairs dining room (dinner only).
reviewed
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Mint
This loungey late-night hang-out is popular with bar staff winding down after their shifts. But they don't just come to bitch about their non-tipping customers; Mint offers an eclectic, finger-licking menu of Nepalese, Tibetan and fusion delicacies that runs from spicy lamb cooked with apricots to almond-and-cashew pesto fettuccine. There's an equally diverse menu of regular DJ performances.
reviewed
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Pagliacci’s
At Pagliacci’s, unlimited baskets of fresh focaccia bread are delivered to the marble-topped tables. Generous pasta servings from the cinema-themed menu almost defy devouring; try the Hemingway Short Story (beef-stuffed tortellini).
reviewed
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Go Fish
A two-minute walk west along the seawall from the Granville Island entrance, this wildly popular seafood shack is one of the city’s best fish-and-chip joints, offering a choice of halibut, salmon or cod encased in crispy golden batter. The smashing (and lighter) fish tacos are also highly recommended, while the ever-changing daily specials – brought in by the nearby fishing boats – often include praiseworthy scallop burgers or ahi tuna sandwiches. There’s not much of a seating area, so pack your grub and continue along the seawall to Vanier Park for a picnic with the ever-watchful seagulls.
reviewed
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Dave’s Fish & Chips
Join the throngs of locals strolling the boardwalks in the old fishing village of Steveston on the southern border of Richmond – a great sunset spot – then head a couple of blocks inland to this unassuming old-school fish-and-chippery. With a simple brown-wood and wobbly-table interior that hasn’t changed in decades, Dave’s puts all its effort into what goes on the plate. All the traditional dishes are here, but for something different try the oysters and chips or the velvet-soft battered salmon and chips. Great value.
reviewed
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Elbow Room
Expect some verbal sparring at this local hangout where the jokily abusive servers will greet you with the line ‘Move your ass to the table, ’ then shimmy over to demand ‘Are you ready to order, or what?’ It’s all meant warmly – if they don’t insult you, they really don’t like you – so make sure you give as good as you get. Breakfasts (including omelets, eggs Benny and ‘big-ass pancakes’) are legendary here, but the bulging burgers are excellent, too.
reviewed
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Fish House in Stanley Park
The park’s fanciest dine-out, the double-patioed Fish House serves some of the city’s best seafood. The menu changes based on seasonal availability but typical favorites include chili sablefish and cedar-planked char, while the fresh oyster bar is ever-popular with visiting shuckers. Weekend brunch is a highlight – salmon bagel Benedict is recommended – and if you haven’t eaten enough already the desserts are also surprisingly creative: save room for chocolate lava cake, then run around the park four times to work it off.
reviewed
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Noodle Box
Southeast Asian cuisine with a strong Malaysian influence is the approach at this buzzing business that started out as a street vendor. A great place for takeout - served in those funky boxes - it's also a chatty eat-in spot. Popular stir-fries include Thai-style chow mein, and the Cambodian Jungle Curry is recommended for those who like their meals with a spicy kick.
reviewed
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Lotus Pond
Behind the unassuming, almost shabby exterior of this downtown Chinese restaurant is an extensive, all-vegan menu of delights created using Buddhist principles. Even meat eaters have been known to swoon here, as they tuck into surprisingly tasty spring rolls, dim sum and pot stickers. Combo meals are the best option, as they offer an array of different flavors.
reviewed
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ReBar
This place fuses colorful interiors with a clever, mostly vegetarian menu, but carnivores will be just as happy noshing here. It’s a good weekend brunch spot.
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Vij’s
Just off S Granville St, ever-popular Vij’s is the high-water mark of contemporary East Indian cuisine, fusing regional ingredients, subtle global flourishes and classic ethnic dishes to produce an array of innovative flavors. The unique results range from signature wine-marinated ‘lamb popsicles’ to savor-worthy dishes like halibut, mussels and crab in a tomato-ginger curry. The adventurous should also try the paranta : flat breads made with roasted ground crickets. Reservations are not accepted: avoid the queues by hitting Rangoli, the adjoining take-out cafe. Plans were afoot at the time of research to move to a new Cambie St location, so call ahead.
reviewed
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Bishop’s
A pioneer of superb West Coast cuisine long before the ‘locavore’ fashion took hold, modest but legendary chef-owner John Bishop – he’ll almost certainly drop by your table to say hi – is still at the top of his game in this charming, art-lined little restaurant. Served in an elegant, white-tablecloth room, the weekly-changing menu can include stuffed rabbit loin, steamed smoked sablefish and the kind of crisp, seasonal veggies that taste like they’ve just been plucked from the ground. The service here is pitch-perfect, so stay a little longer and indulge in dessert: if you’re lucky, it’ll be sweet fried fig empanada with brown sugar ice-cream.
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Nuba
Tucked under the landmark Dominion Building, this hopping subterranean Lebanese restaurant attracts budget noshers and cool hipsters in equal measure. If you’re not sure what to go for, have the good-value falafel plate ($9), heaped with hummus, taboulleh, salad, pita and brown rice. It’ll make you realize what wholesome, made-from-scratch food is supposed to taste like. More substantial fare – grilled lamb, Cornish hen etc – has been added to the menu since the eatery moved from its hole-in-the-wall site across the street, and there’s also regular live music. Excellent service.
reviewed
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Sophie’s Cosmic Café
With its museum of garage-sale kitsch lining the walls, local legend Sophie’s – the place with the giant chrome cutlery either side of the entrance – is a cheery diner with burgers, club sandwiches and big-ass milkshakes dominating the menu. There are also a few off-message gems such as BC oyster burgers. A highly popular breakfast and brunch spot – expect to queue on weekends – it’s also worth dropping by mid-afternoon for some truck-stop coffee and a slice of pyramid-sized apple pie (you can jog up and down the hill to and from the beach to work it off).
reviewed
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Paul’s Place Omelettery
You’ll be jostling for space with strollers and chatty moms at this unassuming breakfast joint near the south side of Granville Bridge, but it’s worth it: this cozy place is far superior to most city bacon-and-egg spots. The menu is short and sweet, but it’s grounded on 12 signature omelets, including a chockablock vegetarian option that will make carnivores eye you jealously. It’s a great place to start the day before a wander down to Granville Island, but there’s also a lunch menu of house-made burgers and sandwiches.
reviewed
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Dockside Brewing Company
Dockside has been self-brewing treats such as Alder Bay Honey Lager and fruity, hibiscus-toned Jamaican Lager for more than 30 years. Take your drinks outside to the recently upgraded patio for tranquil, awe-inspiring views of False Creek’s boat traffic and the mountain-backed downtown skyline – this is what supping in Vancouver is all about. If it’s raining, stay indoors by the fireplace and sink into a leather couch. If you’re not sure which beer to have, try a six-sample tasting flight for $14.
reviewed
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Sanafir
A beacon among Granville St’s grubby sex shops, this loungey, Bedouin-themed eatery is dripping with North African style. But it’s not all about looks. The menu’s small plates are designed for sharing and range from wine-braised short ribs to Indian-spiced scallops. Head to the decadent mezzanine level where you can lay down and feed like royalty. It’s packed on weekend evenings, so you might have to sample a few cocktails at the bar as you await your table.
reviewed
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Templeton
A funky chrome-and-vinyl ’50s diner with a twist, Templeton chefs up plus-sized organic burgers, addictive fries, vegetarian quesadillas and perhaps the best hangover cure in town – try the ‘Big Ass Breakfast’ and you won’t need to eat for days. Sadly, the mini jukeboxes on the tables don’t work, but you can console yourself with a waistline-busting chocolate ice-cream float. Beer here is of the local microbrew variety. Avoid weekend peak times or you’ll be queuing for ages.
reviewed
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Phnom Penh
Arrive early or late to avoid the queues at this locals’ favorite eatery. The dishes here are split between Cambodian and Vietnamese soul-food classics, such as crispy frogs legs, spicy garlic crab and prawn and sprout filled pancakes. Don’t leave without sampling a steamed rice cake, stuffed with pork, shrimp, coconut and scallions, and washed down with an ice-cold bottle of Tsingtao. This is the kind of place that makes Vancouver Canada’s most authentic ethnic-food city.
reviewed
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Belgian Fries
The concept is pure genius: take fresh-cut spuds, fry them, fry them again, toss, salt and serve in a paper funnel. You then dip the beauties into one of a dozen hot or cold mayo-based sauces, including wasabi, hot garlic, Jamaican heat and curry/chutney. What could be better? Beer, which you choose from the Storm brews on tap or the bottled Belgian lambics. Once you’ve had your fill of spuds and suds, finish yourself off with a deep-fried Mars bar.
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La Bodega
It’s all about the tasting plates at this country-style tapas bar, one of the most authentic Spanish restaurants in Vancouver. Pull up a chair, order a jug of sangria and decide on a few shareable treats from the extensive menu – if you’re feeling spicy, the chorizo sausage hits the spot and the Spanish meatballs are justifiably popular. There’s a great atmosphere here, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself staying for more than a few hours.
reviewed
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Hon’s Wun-Tun House
Part of the city’s favorite Chinese-restaurant minichain, Hon’s flagship Chinatown branch is suffused with inviting cooking smells and clamorously noisy diners. The giant, 300-plus menu ranges from satisfying dim sum brunches to steaming wonton soups, bobbing with juicy dumplings. For something different, try the congee rice porridge, a fancy-free soul-food dish that takes three hours to prepare and comes in seafood, chicken and beef varieties.
reviewed
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Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Don’t be blinded by the dazzling blue marble bar and bustling open kitchen at this swanky new joint; it’s the menu that should catch your eye. Fusing West Coast seafood with gentle Asian nudges – delivering treats such as roast halibut with pea leaf and coconut pineapple sauce – this place is worth a night out if you’re looking for an exciting alternative to the regular Pacific Northwest salmon dinner.
reviewed
