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Food & Dining in Vancouver

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Granville Island Public Market is a must-visit for fresh local seafood, produce, baked goods, and ready-to-eat meals; arrive early to avoid crowds.
  • Vancouver's food scene is heavily influenced by its multicultural population and coastal location—sushi, seafood, dim sum, and Asian cuisines are abundant and authentic.
  • Vegan and vegetarian options are available at nearly every restaurant; Vancouver is consistently ranked among the top vegan-friendly cities in North America.
  • Food delivery is dominated by three major apps: Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash; coverage is comprehensive across neighborhoods.
  • Sunday mornings at Chinatown dim sum restaurants and weekend brunch at vegan/vegetarian spots can have significant waits—arrive early or book ahead.
  • Downtown grocers (IGA, Urban Fare, Nester's) are convenient but pricier; Safeway in West End and Asian supermarkets (H-Mart, Hannam) offer better value.
  • Main Street and Kitsilano neighborhoods have the highest concentration of vegan, vegetarian, and trendy café/restaurant options.
  • Smoked salmon and salmon candy from market stalls make excellent local purchases; commonly available at Granville Island and Stanley Park area vendors.

Supermarkets

  • IGA Robson St.
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (Robson & Seymour)
    Description
    Heart of downtown; two-storey store with deli, bakery, ready-to-eat meals, international products, and full meat/seafood departments.
  • Urban Fare
    Neighborhood
    Downtown
    Description
    Premium grocer in downtown core; known for organic/health foods, produce, bakery, and fresh prepared foods at higher price point.
  • Whole Foods Market
    Neighborhood
    Downtown and West End
    Description
    Organic, raw food, and sustainable options with hot bar; premium pricing. Multiple Vancouver locations.
  • H-Mart
    Neighborhood
    Downtown
    Description
    Asian supermarket (Downtown, Robson & Seymour, 2nd floor); extensive produce, live seafood, Chinese bakery, Asian take-out.
  • Hannam
    Neighborhood
    Downtown
    Description
    Korean supermarket; marinated meats, ready-made side dishes, Korean short ribs for soup, competitive meat prices. Best restocking: Sunday.
  • Safeway
    Neighborhood
    West End
    Description
    Major chain with two locations in West End; fresh produce, deli, cheese, ready-made meals, meat and seafood by the pound.
  • Granville Island Public Market
    Neighborhood
    Granville Island
    Description
    Famous public market under Granville Bridge with vendors selling fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, cheese, charcuterie, and prepared foods.
  • Nester's Market
    Neighborhood
    Downtown
    Description
    Easily accessible downtown option with quality selection and hot bar food.

Budget

  • Sashimiya
    Price Range
    CA$18
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (Hornby St.)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Sushi and sashimi (grab-and-go)
  • Northern Café and Grill
    Price Range
    CA$15
    Neighborhood
    South Vancouver
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Canadian diner classics, Asian-Canadian fusion
  • Japadog
    Price Range
    CA$12
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (multiple locations)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Japanese-style hot dogs (Terimayo Dog: teriyaki, mayo, nori)

High End

  • Published on Main
    Price Range
    CA$95
    Neighborhood
    Main Street
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Seasonal contemporary Canadian cuisine with locally sourced BC ingredients
  • Hawksworth Restaurant
    Price Range
    CA$110
    Neighborhood
    Downtown (Rosewood Hotel Georgia)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Fine dining contemporary Canadian cuisine
  • Chambar
    Price Range
    CA$85
    Neighborhood
    Downtown
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Belgian fine dining with mussels, AAA steak, braised lamb shank
  • Yuwa
    Price Range
    CA$100
    Neighborhood
    Downtown/Central
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Award-winning Japanese with sake pairings and Chef's choice sashimi platters

Mid Range

  • Bao Bei
    Price Range
    CA$28
    Neighborhood
    Chinatown
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Contemporary Chinese brasserie with Japanese-influenced fusion
  • Alouette Bistro
    Price Range
    CA$25
    Neighborhood
    Downtown/Central
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Modern bistro cuisine
  • Miku
    Price Range
    CA$30
    Neighborhood
    Coal Harbour
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Japanese sushi and seafood
  • The Flying Pig
    Price Range
    CA$26
    Neighborhood
    Yaletown
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Contemporary comfort food

Must Try Dishes

  • Dungeness Crab
    Description
    West Coast delicacy—sweet, tender meat served steamed with butter and lemon, in crab cakes, or in seafood boils. Fresh from Pacific waters.
  • BC Roll (Sushi)
    Description
    Vancouver-invented Japanese-Canadian fusion sushi with regional salmon, created by chef Hidekazu Tojo in the 1970s–1980s.
  • Smoked or Candied Salmon
    Description
    Maple-glazed smoked salmon; locals recommend the Granville Island Public Market stalls or Longliner Seafoods for salmon candy and double-smoked salmon sticks.
  • Bannock
    Description
    Traditional Indigenous bread (clay-baked, from corn or nut flour), served as a side, with jam, or as bannock tacos and burgers. Try Mr. Bannock in downtown.
  • Spot Prawns
    Description
    Largest Pacific prawn species native to BC waters; often served in sushi, simply sautéed with chili and butter, or in paellas.
  • Dim Sum
    Description
    Authentic Chinese dumplings—har gow (shrimp), siu mai (pork), BBQ pork buns. Popular in Richmond and Chinatown; Dinesty and Sea Harbour recommended for soup dumplings and weekend brunch.
  • Poutine
    Description
    Canadian classic of crispy fries, cheese curds, and gravy; Vancouver has specialty poutine shops with versions topped with pulled pork, lobster, or truffle oil.
  • Fish and Chips
    Description
    Fresh local halibut, cod, or salmon fried to perfection with tartar sauce, coleslaw, and mushy peas. Pajos in Steveston Village (Richmond) famous since 1984.

Delivery Services

  • Uber Eats
    Notes
    Seamless user experience, fast delivery times, extensive restaurant selection including sushi, Indian curries, vegan-friendly options. Uber One subscription ($10/month) offers zero delivery fees on orders over $15 plus 5% discount.
  • SkipTheDishes
    Notes
    Canada-based service emphasizing local eateries and hidden gems. 16,000+ restaurant options nationwide. Skip Rewards program earns points on every order for discounts. Delivery fees typically $2–$5.
  • DoorDash
    Notes
    One of most popular platforms in Vancouver with broad geographic coverage including neighborhoods outside downtown core. 300,000+ participating restaurants in North America. DashPass subscription ($10/month) offers zero fees on orders over $15 from eligible restaurants.
  • Fantuan
    Notes
    Specializes in Asian cuisine—Chinese, Korean, Japanese—plus grocery delivery; best-kept secret for authentic flavors.
  • Goodfood and Fresh Prep
    Notes
    Specialize in healthy, diet-specific prepared meal delivery.

International Cuisine

  • Thai
    Description
    Authentic Thai restaurants serving crispy rice salad with herbs and lime, pad thai with tamarind and fresh peanuts. Wide availability across neighborhoods.
  • Vietnamese
    Description
    Pho with rich broth simmered for hours; banh mi sandwiches; vermicelli bowls. Vegan Vietnamese also strongly represented (Do Chay, Chau Veggie Express).
  • Korean
    Description
    Korean fried chicken (double-fried for crispy exterior), served with pickled radish and sauce. Popular at Damso and other spots across the city.
  • Indian
    Description
    Potato and cauliflower pakoras, curries, and traditional dishes; authentic Indian restaurants serve traditional fare not commonly found in North American cities.
  • Filipino
    Description
    Traditional Filipino cuisine represented in the city's diverse restaurant scene.
  • Middle Eastern & Lebanese
    Description
    Falafel, muttabal, hummus, fattoush, chicken kebab, mjadra. Nuba is a Lebanese chain with well-marked vegan options; Lamajoun offers Georgian and Turkish pide.
  • Mexican
    Description
    Vegetarian and vegan-friendly Mexican taqueria options; enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos with vegan cheese alternatives.
  • Japanese (beyond sushi)
    Description
    Ramen (Santouka), Japanese-style fried chicken, bento boxes with vegan options (Raisu). Little Ginza (Japantown) district east of downtown.

Vegan Vegetarian Dining

Overview
Vancouver is one of the best cities in North America for vegan and vegetarian dining. 50+ plant-based eateries operate throughout the city, with concentrated options on East Vancouver's Main Street and in Kitsilano. Vegan options exist at nearly every restaurant, and dietary accommodations are highly accessible.

Venues

  • The Acorn
    Price Range
    CA$85
    Neighborhood
    Mount Pleasant (Main St.)
    Description
    Michelin-recognized fine dining vegetarian restaurant in Mount Pleasant. Intimate setting with chef's tasting menus and à la carte. Blind tasting menu recommended; dishes include wild mushroom pâté, beets with preserved cherries, soy-braised squash. Zero-waste kitchen with locally sourced ingredients.
  • Folke
    Price Range
    CA$90
    Neighborhood
    Kitsilano
    Description
    Michelin-recommended vegan fine dining restaurant in Kitsilano. Newest in Vancouver's vegan fine dining scene; Canada's Best New Restaurant 2023 (enRoute). Locally sourced entirely vegan menu featuring tapioca dumplings with caramelized mushroom, nam jim, preserved chili. Tipping included in price.
  • MeeT
    Price Range
    CA$16
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations (Gastown and elsewhere)
    Description
    All-vegan burger restaurant loved by vegans and omnivores alike; comfort foods include burgers, fries, onion rings, loaded poutine, mac n' cheese, root beer floats. Generous portions at reasonable prices.
  • The Naam
    Price Range
    CA$14
    Neighborhood
    Kitsilano (W 4th Ave.)
    Description
    Vancouver's oldest vegetarian restaurant (opened 1968) on W 4th Ave. Open 24 hours; cosy interior; good prices and big portions. Menu geared toward vegetarian more than vegan but expanding vegan options (vegan cheese alternatives available).
  • Do Chay
    Price Range
    CA$18
    Neighborhood
    Downtown/Central
    Description
    Modern Vietnamese restaurant with majority of menu vegan. Dishes include banh xeo crepe with plant-based prawns, sprouts, jicama, mushroom, fresh herbs. Contemporary take on traditional Vietnamese.
  • Chickpea
    Price Range
    CA$15
    Neighborhood
    Main Street (Mount Pleasant)
    Description
    All-vegetarian Mediterranean taqueria with options made vegan (Daiya cheese); large portions, affordable pricing. Main Street location plus food truck. Falafel, pitas, salads, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos. Busiest 6:30–8:30 pm.
  • Virtuous Pie
    Price Range
    CA$20
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations
    Description
    Vegan pizza restaurant with inventive selections like gochujang cauliflower and superfunghi with wild mushrooms and truffle almond ricotta.
  • Budgies Burritos
    Price Range
    CA$14
    Neighborhood
    Mount Pleasant
    Description
    Vegetarian Mount Pleasant favourite with hearty burritos and tacos; vegan options available (vegan cheese substitution). Chipotle tofu, savoury beans, lime roasted potatoes. Affordable and quirky.
  • Chau Veggie Express
    Price Range
    CA$16
    Neighborhood
    East Vancouver
    Description
    100% vegan Vietnamese restaurant with traditional dishes including pad thai, pho, vegan fried wings, summer rolls. Plant-based take on traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

Gluten Free Dining

Overview
Gluten-free diets are well-accommodated in Vancouver. Many restaurants clearly mark gluten-free options on their menus. Mexican vegetarian taquerias and Vietnamese restaurants commonly offer gluten-free alternatives.
Notes
Most mid-range and fine dining establishments can accommodate gluten-free requests. Chickpea (vegetarian taqueria) offers gluten-free options on most dishes.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.cozymeal.com
  2. 2.aaa.com
  3. 3.yelp.ca
  4. 4.coastreporter.net
  5. 5.royalcaribbean.com
  6. 6.vancouverplanner.com
  7. 7.getyourguide.com
  8. 8.beyondthebucketlist.co
  9. 9.vancouverwithlove.com
  10. 10.happycow.net
  11. 11.destinationvancouver.com
  12. 12.theacornrestaurant.ca
  13. 13.moving2canada.com
  14. 14.igastoresbc.com
  15. 15.richmondtaxi.com
  16. 16.ehnewspaper.ca
  17. 17.iorders.ca
  18. 18.cityunscripted.com
  19. 19.travel.destinationcanada.com

More About Vancouver

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.