A friend of mine has a couple visiting from London to Vancouver and asked that I send some restaurant recommendations. I got a little out of hand and decided that I may as well post this since I love my food and I love food in Vancouver. Think of it as the downtown directory of food for Vancouver. It was built with a bit of a budget for the guests in mind.
Food – welcome to Vancouver, land o foodies
I can without question we are unrivaled in the world when it comes to good eats, especially at reasonable prices.
I will give you recommendations that are all in the west end or near by walking in some cases a $10 cab ride from downtown at most.
Mik has stated you are interested in some Asian goodies so lets start there
We are known as Hong-couver so lets talk dim sum
Dim sum, hands down best in city is Imperial Seafood House, http://www.imperialrest.com/ go there on a weekend if possible before 1pm given the best stuff is served freshest and earliest.
Chinese for dinner is the same anywhere so nothing really crazy about it and I can never really rave about Chinese dinner wise unless you want to spend $100 a plate. That being said there is a good fusion place that was quite trendy and had good eats but I haven’t been there in about 2 years but I read some reviews and people are still loving it http://www.wildricevancouver.com/
Sushi, we are kings of the world when it comes to sushi, bold claim, but I can back it up, we have more sushi houses per capita than anywhere in the world, Tojo’s http://www.tojos.com/ was voted best sushi in North America, now while I like this place it can be a bit pricey and you’re paying for his name and décor not the same sockeye salmon that the restaurant down the street bought for the same price but sold for 50% less than Tojo, so if you’re feeling rich that’s the place, pounds still go a long way in Vancouver. Otherwise my second choice is Tanpopo http://www.tanpoporestaurant.ca/ their site is down so here’s another link http://www.frommers.com/destinations/vancouver/D36198.html just in case, freshest best sushi in town for price, the place isn’t pretty but its all about the all you can eat, they are the only restaurant in the city that gives real sockeye salmon in their all u can eat rather than the Atlantic crap everyone else uses as well as all u can eat fresh oysters, they’re not super amazing oysters but they are on the menu and not bad, so if you just want to have a crazy fresh meal and tones of sashimi or sushi it’s your place.
Izakaya - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izakaya - basically Japanese tapas
Best shit ever, been in Vancouver for years and we’ve got some good ones.
My favourite, Kingyo http://www.kingyo-izakaya.com/ these guys broke off from Guu (more on that later) and it is ridiculously good, but they did change their menu and remove some of my favourites recently which I complained about until I had too much sake and got quiet. Cha-Shu rice paper roll, beef toungue, kobe beef, ebi mayo are amoung my favourites, and always finish with an almond tofu, I don’t care how full you get, eat it. You wont be disappointed with Kingyo. Guu is guuud, that’s the modo of Guu (with garlic) http://www.guu-izakaya.com/ goto Robson location only the menus at the other locations are not quite as good, fun place good people good food and drink. If you want a fun place to try something different goto Zakkushi http://www.zakkushi.com/ zakkushi is charcoal meat and veg on a stick, basically Japanese street food. Speaking of Japanese street food, you need to eat one of these Japanese hot dog’s, Japa-dog http://www.japadog.com/ Anthony Bourdain loves em.
Korean
Want a smack of flavour and spice, Korean is where its at
My favourite in the city is pretty traditional stews and hearty dishes at Jang Mo Jib http://www.dinehere.ca/restaurant.asp?r=735 go whitey to be safe and get the Dorsot Bi Bim Bap, Oh Jing Uh Bokum, and Pahjun, oh and you’re sitting at picnic tables and listening to Korean Pop k-pop music
If you want Korean BBQ goto Dae Bak Bon Ga http://daebakbonga.com/ , not the best service but fun and good food
Vietnamese
Lots of good pho places in Van, unfortunately not downtown
This place Chau has been making some news, I have yet to try http://www.martiniboys.com/Vancouver/Chau-review.html
Indian
Ok, straight up, we cant compete with you London Kids with Curries, so I’m not going into depth, just one
Vij’s, http://www.vijs.ca/ this guy changes everything you thought you knew about great Indian food
He is the man, amazing food, good atmosphere and by far the best restauranteur in the city, he remembers your face and treats you like family. If you’re in Vancouver you have to go here, no matter what….seriously
Even Mik liked it.
Noodle House
Japanese - Best hands down in the city of Japanese style ramen houses is Motomachi Shokudo http://eatsnaprepeat.ca/2008/02/27/motomachi-shokudo-kintaros-hot-cousin/ wicked good get the spicy miso ramen, there are tones of these around the city and they’re all good but this one stands out
Chinese - http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=dragging+noodle+house+broadway+vancouver&fb=1&split=1&view=text&latlng=2096207589236414488 this ones a bit out of down town at most $12 cab ride. It looks like a shit hole, but its good, forget the name of the dish I always get but I believe if you ask for the #1 you’ll get it and ask for with fried cutting noodle, my fav for texture.
Best View / patio Place
Lift http://www.liftbarandgrill.com/
Food isn’t fantastic but grab a beer / martini / whatever and watch the boats go by
Italian
There’s good Italian here, but in most cases u have to pay for it
Best in the city in my lil opinion is Cioppino’s http://cioppinos.wordpress.com/ , my wife is friends with the owners and it is ridiculously good and can be ridiculously expensive when you start drinking.
Il Giardino http://www.hotelvilladelia.com/restaurant_ilgiardino.cfm is always up there too.
The Italian Kitchen http://www.theitaliankitchen.ca/ is over rated.
I did find a reasonable place called nook which reminded me of little tratorria’s in naples / rome, Nook, http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=nook+vancouver&fb=1&split=1&view=text&latlng=10921768533179121582 , simple Italian small simple clean menu with great ingredients and non pretentious atmosphere at a reasonable price, I have been living here the last 3 weeks.
French, I am not a big French fan but here’s what I know
Le Crocodile http://www.lecrocodilerestaurant.com/ is always rated best but you’re paying for it
Lumiere RestaurantAddress: http://www.lumiere.ca/ is always ranked high as well and used to have one of bc’s best chefs Rob Feenie
Le Gavroche is supposed to be excellent but I think a bit pricey http://www.legavroche.ca/
Laregalade was just recommended but that’s on the north shore and quite a jaunt by cab from downtown laregalade.com
West Coast / Continental
Lots and lots of options
I’m going to go with some simple favourites
Tapastree http://www.tapastree.ca/ , chilled west coast food, good menu not too pricey
Delilahs http://www.delilahs.ca/ not bad
I could go on but they all seem to drown each other out to be honest
Enjoy
