Think of Vancouver, British Columbia, as a bustling city with Narnia-like vibes. At the edge of nature, Canada’s third-largest city is brimming with parks, museums, mountains, street art, public markets, a major seaport, fresher-than-fresh produce, and even an opportunity for whale watching! As far as places go, Vancouver has got it all, so it’s easy to see why Time Magazine recently touted it as one of the world’s greatest places in 2023.

Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or something more substantial, here are 11 of our favourite approachable eateries to check out when soaking in the city.

Salmon n’ Bannock

Snitsmana (Inez Cook) from the Nuxalk Nation (Bella Coola) founded Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant in 2010. Salmon n’ Bannock gives a unique sense—and taste—of place with organic game meat, wild west coast seafood and traditional Indigenous ingredients foraged from the land and sea. With the arrival of a second “on the fly” location inside Vancouver International Airport, Salmon n’ Bannock’s spirited cuisine is reaching a global audience daily—and everyone is welcome.

Delara

 

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At Delara, traditional Persian ingredients like saffron, sumac, dried lime and pomegranate live alongside the magical bounty of Canada’s west coast. Open seven days a week—with a Persian brunch menu on weekends—the family-style menu has bright vegetables, slow-braised stews, and hearty barley and legumes. The Grilled Sourdough (Barbari) Flatbread with seasonal dips is a must-try, as is the incredibly juicy Chicken and Barberries cooked over charcoal and a sexy golden-bottomed tahdeeg (crispy saffron rice) that you can’t help but stare at. The Kitsilano hotspot ended last year with a ‘Michelin-recommended restaurant’ nod.

Fat Mao Noodles 

From the mastermind of award-winning chef Angus An of Maenam restaurant comes Fat Mao, a cozy Thai noodle shop with two locations in downtown and Chinatown. Whether you’re in the mood for a creamy Kao Soi, Braised Duck Noodles with a comforting soy broth, Nham Ngeaw (pork ribs, pork blood and tomato soup), or hot and sour Tom Yum Seafood Noodles, contrasting textures make devouring one of their giant bowls exciting at every bite.

Di Beppe Caffè

 

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As you enter the über-cool exposed brick room at Di Beppe, look left to discover their somewhat hidden gem of a caffè. Catering to the lunch crowd with pizza and sandwiches sold by the slice—and weight—the hefty focaccia sandwiches are legendary. Choose from vegetarian, Genoa salami, mortadella, or capicola for a well-deserved carb fix.

Maruhachi Ra-Men

The ramen shop formerly known as Marutama is a Vancouver institution. With its creamy tori-paitan broth, this is chicken soup for the soul. Try the Tamago Ramen with tender pork chashu, umami-packed aosa seaweed, slippery noodles and a jammy egg. For vegetarians, check out the technicoloured Veggie Curry Ramen with mushroom and coconut broth, topped with golden deep-fried tofu, bamboo shoots and pickled onion. Be warned: they often run out of their daily-crafted base, so go early.

Nemesis Coffee

 

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Besides their deliciously transparent direct-trade coffee sourcing program, Nemesis Coffee is home to Dope Bakehouse. Go here for a brilliantly unconventional pastry: The strawberry-frosted donut cruffin is a take on a dipped donut with an explosion of strawberry mousse, strawberry gel, and rainbow sprinkles, while the carrot cake croissant has a cream cheese frosting, caramelized pecans and cinnamon icing sugar. All pastry options leave a crumbly mess—in the best possible way.

Anh & Chi

 

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As a family business in its second iteration, the brother-sister duo of Vincent and Amélie Nguyễn honour tradition while pushing their family’s legacy forward. The atmosphere feels nostalgic yet new, and so do the reimagined Vietnamese dishes. Can’t stay for lunch? Pick up a Bánh Mì (Vietnamese baguette) stuffed with organic tofu, grilled chicken or pork, fresh herbs, cucumber and house-made garlic aioli for an easy grab-and-go.

Juke Fried Chicken

From hand-cut chicken nuggets to a chicken sandwich drenched in Juke’s “Spicy Boyyyyz” sauce, each moist-yet-crisp edible piece of art begins with quality free-range chicken sourced from Rossdown Farms in Abbotsford, BC. All of Juke’s fried chicken and monthly ribs feature just so happen to be gluten-free.

Tacofino Taco Bar

Tacofino started off as a food truck in Tofino. They’re now slinging California and Mexico-inspired beach food with West Coast vibes across Vancity. As most of its locations operate from 11 AM to 10 PM, its quick, friendly service makes it a delicious pitstop when hunger sets in. Check out the fish taco with chipotle mayo, red chorizo taco with fried poblanos, and crispy oyster mushroom taco with gochujang and kimchi. Don’t forget to leave space for churros.

Harvest Community Foods

 

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Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is what Harvest is all about. In a nutshell, it’s a locally-focused grocery store, a noodle shop and a pickup location for weekly CSA bags. As expected from Michelin-rated chef Andrea Carlson (of Burdock & Co), ever-changing organic goodness from Klippers Organics, Hazelmere Organic Farms and North Arm Farms, to name a few, make their way into the vegetable-focused menu.

Dinesty Dumpling House

From dainty hand-wrapped Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and golden-coloured scallion pancakes to finger-sized potstickers, wontons with hot and sour sauce, regional stir-fries plus a whole section of the menu dedicated to ‘pig,’ Dinesty Dumpling House has it going on. With three spots in Richmond alone, a meal here is also a solid strategic—and equally delicious—choice when flying in and out of Vancouver Airport. You can even take pre-made frozen goodies home.

Read more:
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The 5 Most Instagrammable Cafés in Toronto
The 5 Best New Restaurants to Check Out in Toronto