When visiting Vancouver, there’s one thing that you must do and that is eating out in all the best Vancouver restaurants. But with so many choices, where should you eat in Vancouver?
Here’s a foodie’s guide to some of the best restaurants I’ve eaten in Vancouver (plus food recommendations on what to order). Not in the order of deliciousness.
Not sure what to plan for Vancouver?
Check out this 5 day Vancouver itinerary that includes these restaurants!
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links – which means, at no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through a link.
Table of Contents
Tips on Eating Out in Vancouver
Here are some tips before we start:
- Tipping is the same as the US with 15% being the standard.
- Don’t worry if you don’t have cash, all the places in this Vancouver food guide accepts card.
Cafe Medina (Downtown)
If you can only go to one restaurant in Vancouver, make it Cafe Medina. Amazing vibes, great service and, most importantly, delicious food.
Definitely get Fricassee (absolutely delicious braised short ribs) and liege waffles for dessert! My current favorite topping for the waffles is the White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater. And yes, it’s as tasty as it sounds.
This is an extremely popular cafe for brunch so reserve ahead of time, otherwise the wait is 1-2 hours.
Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba (Multiple locations: Downtown, UBC)


Mazesoba is a soupless mix noodle dish with multiple toppings and a raw egg yolk.
So how do you correctly eat mazesoba? It’s a pretty interesting concept. First you break the yolk and mix everything to eat. You can also season the noodles to your liking (vinegar if it’s too greasy/salty or add chili flakes if you like it spicy). Once you’re done with the noodles, ask for a free portion of rice so you can mix with the remaining sauce. Truly a match in heaven for those of us that can’t ever decide between noodles or rice (that’s me)!
There’s two Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba branches, so it’s easy to place this great restaurant in your Vancouver itinerary; whether you’re wandering around in Downtown Vancouver or checking out the Museum of Anthropology in UBC.
Fritz European Fry House (Downtown)

Possibly the only Canadian food on this food guide for Vancouver lol. How can you leave Canada without trying poutine right?
Fritz European Fry House sells both poutine and fritz (fries). There’re various toppings and interesting dips to choose from. I ordered a poutine with pulled pork, mmm.
There’s a display of the cup sizes, so check it out before you order. They really stuff their poutines to the brim!
PappaRoti (Multiple Locations: West End, Downtown)

A Malaysian chain that sells delicious coffee caramel coated buns.
Pistachio Lover is their most popular item on the signature creations menu. Sadly, it was sold out when I was there. As an alternative, I ordered Crazy for Kaya and I can’t get enough of the coconut jam. If you like a surprise, order their stuffed bun (without asking about the mystery stuffing of course).
Check out Pappa Roti’s multiple locations here.
Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog (West End)

A small corner shop near Stanley Park that sells cheesy Korean corn dogs. Bring it as a snack while you enjoy the beautiful views of the Vancouver Seawall.
Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog got your usual choices (potato hot dog, mozzarella hot dog) as well as some interesting variations (ramen chip hot dog, squidink cheese hotdog hot dog).
Go ahead and top it up with all the sauces and seasonings! I had the squid ink cheese dog with …ready? Sweet mayo, spicy mayo, sweet chili, parmesan, and sugar. It sounds like an insane amount but it’s sooo good.
Katsuya (West End)
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My pictures doesn’t do the food justice, so here’s a pic from their instagram account!
Come here for some crispy katsu and choose from their wide selection of sauces. Plus, their Cheese Crabmeat Croquette is a must eat!
Be prepare, Katsuya’s serving sizes are enormous! When dining in there’s also a free refill for rice, salad, or soup.
The dine-in menu might be overwhelming to look at, so here’s their online menu with descriptions and pictures!
Banh Mi Tres Bon (Richmond)


Richmond is the neighborhood to go if you want Asian food. Banh Mi Tres Bon is the restaurant to check out if you want Vietnamese food.
Must eat food recommendations: Savoury Mini Crepes and Crab & Tomato Vermicelli Soup
I’m a sucker for tomato-based soups and I cannot recommend this enough. Definitely give the crab vermicelli soup a try when you’re in the area.
Indian Oven (Kitsilano)

If water activities are on your list of things to do in Vancouver, you’ll probably pass through the Kitsilano neighborhood. Kitsilano is known for its Kitsilano Beach, which is ranked one of the top beaches in the world. There are also water bike rentals.
When you’re hungry after all the fun you have in the water, head over to Indian Oven for dinner. This place got amazing customer services, so if you’re new to Indian cuisine, don’t be afraid to ask for food recommendations. If you’re getting curry dishes, make it a combo, so it comes with both rice and naan.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some more restaurants recommended by locals that I wasn’t able to try, but are definitely on my list should I ever go back.
Ramen Danbo (Multiple locations: West End, Kitsilano)
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There’s two locations in Vancouver: one in West End and the other in Kitsilano. I stayed at the Listel Hotel, which was right across the street, and yet I never catch a time where there’s no line outside this super popular ramen shop. Same situation at Kitsilano. If you wanna try this restaurant, definitely block out some time on your itinerary for waiting on line.
If you’re in Vancouver for an extended period, get their loyalty card if you plan on coming back for more. 10 visits = one free meal.
Sura Korean Royal Cuisine Restaurant Vancouver (Multiple Locations: West End, Richmond)
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Local’s recommendation for good Korean BBQ. The wait was for 2 hours when I stopped outside the restaurant! Put your name down on the waitlist once you’re in the area and browse the shops of Robon St while you wait.
OEB Breakfast Co. (Yaletown)
Highly recommended by a local for brunch. What caught my eye was the Canadian Lobster & Shrimp Crepe and the Chunky Lobster Scramble poutine. They have limited quantities for lobster dishes so come early in the day before they ran out!
Food Tours
Want an expert to guide you around? Check out these highly rated food tours to learn a little history while tasting a variety of food:
Chinatown Walking Food Tour led by a chef!
Granville Island Walking Food Tour
Add to this list of best places to eat in Vancouver! What are some of your favorite restaurants when you’re in Vancouver?
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