Vancouver cuisine: 10 things we love

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Learn all about what makes the cuisine of Vancouver so special. From craft beer and chocolate to foraging and wild salmon, there's plenty for foodies to enjoy. Plus, we share where to eat and where to stay whilst you're in Vancouver.

For more deep-dives into global cuisines, check out our guides to Grenada, South Africa and Mumbai.

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10 things we love about Vancouver
Where to eat and drink in Vancouver
Where to stay in Vancouver

10 things I love about Vancouver

Angus An, owner and head chef at Maenam restaurant in Vancouver, shares the seasonal, relaxed eating that this west coast Canadian city has to offer.

The produce

Vancouver has four distinct seasons, so there’s real seasonality for produce. In the spring we have fiddleheads, elderflowers and nettles, and in the summer we have a bounty of different types of tomatoes – from Sungold to Heritage – and the markets are bursting with local berries. In autumn there’s an abundance of wild mushrooms and squashes. Vancouverites celebrate this seasonality not only in the restaurant scene but at home, too.

Foraging

Vancouverites love to get away to the wilderness at any opportunity and, as it’s right on our doorstep, it’s so easy to do. In the mountains you can often find a variety of wild mushrooms – my favourite is the Matsutake mushrooms, which are prized in Japanese cuisine but grow abundantly in our pine forests. This comes through in their flavour, as they are woodsy and almost spicy, which pairs perfectly with the Thai food in my restaurant Maenam.

Squamish, BC, Canada - November 07, 2024: A woman searches for wild mushrooms in a rainforest near Squamish, British Columbia, on Nov. 7, 2024. The region’s damp, temperate climate creates ideal conditions for foraging a variety of edible fungi such as Chanterelle mushrooms.

Community

No matter which area of Vancouver you live in, there’s a real sense of community among the residents. This is especially true among chefs and anyone in the restaurant scene, where we often go through the ranks and earn our stripes together. The scene is very close-knit and, if you don’t know someone directly, often another colleague will. There’s a real sense of camaraderie among chefs and it’s not unusual to see them joining together for collaboration dinners and experiences, leaning on each other for expertise or eating at other restaurants with great gusto.

Asian food

Vancouver is well known for its variety of cuisines, especially Asian options. On Robson Street in downtown, you can slurp many bowls of authentic ramen and enjoy amazing Korean fried chicken. Vancouver was also once the sushi capital of North America, with everything from casual places to Michelin-starred omakase destinations, such as Tojo’s. Vancouver is also home to a vast Chinese population and the largest Chinatown in Canada. As such we are lucky to enjoy a huge array of Chinese food, from casual barbecue, such as HK BBQ Master in Richmond, to contemporary Chinese dining at internationally acclaimed Mott 32 – we have it all!

Craft beer

We have a fantastic independent craft beer scene – Mount Pleasant is a great area to start with, as you’ve got Brassneck Brewery, 33 Acres and Main Street Brewing. Brassneck Brewery has been open since 2013 and offers a wide range of beers, from hazy IPAs and pilsners to dark ales. The tasting room at Brassneck is wrapped around the brew house and cellar, with a shop on site to pick up beers for later. If you’re over in East Vancouver, check out Powell Brewery, Superflux and East Vancouver Brewing Co. People are known to do a mini craft beer crawl around the city on foot so they can experience all these great places.

Seafood

As Vancouver is on the Pacific coast, we have some of the freshest seafood in the world. With albacore tuna, ling cod, halibut, Dungeness crab, geoduck and sea urchin, there’s a lot of variety to enjoy in restaurants across Vancouver. Or pick some up at the local Granville Market to make yourself. Both geoduck and sea urchin (called uni in Japanese) are considered delicacies in Chinese and Japanese cuisines but can now widely be found in western cooking – it’s great to see that influence coming through. You can also forage the Pacific coastlines for seaweed, sea urchins, crab and sea cucumbers.

Granville Island Public Market

There is nothing more quintessentially Vancouver than a visit to the Granville Island Public Market. There’s so much to see and try but it does get crowded, so go early. All the local produce is stacked and presented beautifully. Try tastings from Oyama Sausage Co, Armando’s Finest Quality Meats, Bon Macaron Patisserie, Benton Brothers Fine Cheese and Hobbs Pickles.

After a bit of shopping you can also have a seat and order food from A La Mode for pie, Chau Veggie Express for Vietnamese, Kaisereck Deli for perogies or Sen Pad Thai for Thai. Just outside is also Popina Canteen – a great place for lunch after a shop. One tip: be careful of the very friendly seagulls when enjoying your meal outside – they are very bold and will snap that croissant out of your hand in no time.

Vancouver, BC, Canada, September 4, 2024: Granville Island sign, a public market and tourist attraction with bicyclist in foreground.

The salmon

British Columbia is home to five wild varieties of salmon. In the autumn they migrate back to their native waters for the famous salmon run, which is a sight to behold. Sockeye salmon, with its deep red orange flesh, is a BC delicacy found in restaurants throughout the city. You can visit the Capilano River Hatchery along the Capilano River on the North Shore to watch the salmon run in person and learn more about the salmon life cycle.

Wild Caught Salmon raw fillet on cutting board

Non-alcoholic drinks

There’s been a big surge in popularity for non-alcoholic cocktails and drink alternatives in Vancouver, so now many bars, lounges and restaurants offer a selection completely dedicated to zero-proof options. It’s not only about flavoured soda anymore, either – bartenders are taking the same amount of care in creating non-alcoholic options as they would for their alcoholic counterparts. Check out The Drive Canteen on Commercial Drive for an abundance of non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. Or try one of Chinatown’s newest cocktail bars, Meo, for a cosmo fizz made with beet shrub.

Chocolate

The Nanaimo bar – a no-bake treat featuring a coconut crumb base, custard filling and chocolate ganache – is famously associated with British Columbia, and for good reason. Try Northern Bars’ version – you can find a stall at Granville Island Public Market, or throughout Vancouver. Stop in at Thierry Chocolates’ café, run by chef Thierry Busset, an artisan chocolatier and patissier, to gawk at its beautiful displays of shining, perfect chocolates and pick up a box for someone back home.

5 places to eat and drink in Vancouver

Burdock & Co

Burdock & Co presents the best of BC, using local growers, fishers, farmers and foragers to stock its restaurant. The set menu changes monthly, usually highlighting a specific ingredient for a thoughtfully curated, down-to-earth, special experience. The wine list, too, has been carefully selected to include responsibly sourced wines, local craft beers and cocktails. burdockandco.com

Tojo’s

This isn’t your typical Japanese restaurant – here you’ll find the inventor of the California roll, Hidekazu Tojo. Hidekazu loves to celebrate local ingredients by making creative new dishes with them, incorporating many different flavours into Japanese fine dining. Take a seat at the bar and watch the master at work while he creates a unique omakase experience for each customer. tojos.com

Bar Corso

Unassumingly tucked away on the popular Commercial Drive, Bar Corso has a huge grappa, amari and Italian wine selection, and chef Luke Boswell serving up delicious Italian small plates. This is perfect for a happy hour drink and snack with friends or a cosy date night spot. barcorso.ca

Havana

Filled with the vibrant colours and vibes of Old Havana, Cuba, this Latin restaurant is the ideal place to grab an ice-cold margarita. Pull up a seat on its year-round terrace and do some excellent people watching on the spirited Commercial Drive. You can wile away the day here with snacking on authentic Latin flavours infused with that seasonal, fresh BC style. Then head next door for cocktails and live music at The Flamingo Room. havanavancouver.com

The Downlow Chicken Shack

The Downlow Chicken Shack provides bold flavours with its spin on the classic Nashville hot chicken. Guests can also find a variety of creative fried chicken sandos, tenders and fries on ‘the downlow’ and even more on the current menu. Try the tender, crunchy, spicy chicken in this laid-back, casual restaurant. dlchickenshack.ca

Where to stay in Vancouver

The Douglas, Autograph Collection

If you’re looking for a downtown location to easily explore the city and its sights, The Douglas will host you in comfortable luxury. Named after the Douglas fir tree, which is native to BC, you’ll find hints of its namesake throughout the hotel – from the large trunk dominating the reception area, to elegant décor in the rooms. The rooms are large, sleekly designed and comfortable, and have excellent views over BC Place and Rogers Arena (ideal if you’d like to watch a hockey game during your stay). With excellent on-site restaurants to choose from – such as The Victor, with locally sourced seafood and steak – you won’t have to travel far for good eats. From £244 per night; check availability at marriott.com.

Granville Island Hotel

This small boutique hotel is located on Granville Island, just across False Creek from downtown Vancouver. It’s the only hotel on this peninsula and, with its waterfront location, is excellently suited to peruse the unique artistic offerings of Granville Island. The rooms are airy and spacious, and the hotel offers a boutique experience, but the real star is the view over the creek from the rooms. You can watch the boats pass serenely by from your room in the morning before heading into the calm of the forests or bustle of the city. From £134 per night; check availability at granvilleislandhotel.com.

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