Bistros, trattorias and the everyday rooms where Vancouver actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Vancouver actually eats.
Phnom Penh on East Georgia Street since 1985 runs the Cambodian and Vietnamese kitchen the city sets its bar by, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022.
Signature: Crispy chicken wings, Butter beef carpaccio, Pho ga
Order: Double order of crispy chicken wings and butter beef carpaccio.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 18:00 or after 20:30 to skip the line. Cash takes a discount.
Bao Bei on Keefer Street since 2010 is Tannis Ling's modern Chinese brasserie, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, Vancouver's reference natural-wine Chinese room.
Signature: Shao bing pork belly, Spicy peanut noodles
Order: Shao bing pork belly bun with the spicy peanut noodles.
Tip: No reservations; the bar walks in from 17:30. Sunday evening is the easier seat.
Maenam on West 4th since 2009 is chef Angus An's modern Thai kitchen, Michelin recommended 2022, the city's reference Bangkok-meets-BC room.
Signature: Crispy oyster pad Thai, Spot prawn curry
Order: The crispy oyster pad Thai with the chef's tasting; chef Angus An runs the kitchen.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; the bar walks in for pad Thai and a Tiger beer.
Anh and Chi on Main Street is the sibling-run modern Vietnamese kitchen since 2016, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, Vancouver's reference banh xeo and pho.
Signature: Banh xeo crepe, Bun cha Hanoi, Pho bo dac biet
Order: Banh xeo with the family-style sharing platter; siblings Amelie and Vincent Le run the room.
Tip: No reservations; walk-in line for dinner from 17:00. Weekday lunch is the easier seat.
Kingyo Izakaya on Denman is Vancouver's reference modern izakaya since 2008, named among Canada's best Japanese rooms by EnRoute in the 2014 list.
Signature: Stone-grilled gyu tan, Buta kakuni
Order: Stone-grilled gyu tan and buta kakuni, the kitchen's standout izakaya plates.
Tip: Lunch walks in. Dinner books on OpenTable a week out; the chef's counter takes the omakase.
Savio Volpe on Kingsway from chefs Mark Perrier and Paul Grunberg since 2016 is a Roman trattoria with a wood-fired grill, Michelin recommended 2022.
Signature: Wood-grilled meats, Hand-cut tonnarelli
Order: Hand-cut tonnarelli cacio e pepe with the wood-grilled lamb chops.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; the bar walks in for grilled antipasti.
Ask for Luigi in Railtown since 2013 is J-C Poirier's Italian handmade-pasta room, the same kitchen behind St Lawrence, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022.
Signature: Tagliatelle bolognese, Cacio e pepe
Order: Handmade pappardelle with rabbit ragu, the kitchen's reference pasta plate.
Tip: No reservations; walk-in line from 17:00. The bar opens 30 minutes earlier.
Save On Meats on West Hastings is the Downtown Eastside diner since 1957, a butcher shop counter and the city's reference dive-diner since the 2011 reboot.
Signature: S.O.M burger, Diner breakfast, House sausage
Order: The S.O.M burger with a chocolate milkshake at the diner counter.
Tip: Buy a sandwich token at the counter to gift to someone outside; redeemed for a meal anytime.
Dachi on East Hastings is a counter-style izakaya since 2018 with a deep sake list and seasonal fish, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 and Vancouver Magazine top.
Signature: Daily fish crudo, Wood-grilled skewers
Order: Fish crudo from the daily list, then yakitori skewers with a glass of sake.
Tip: Tock reservations open 30 days out; the counter walks in for the early seating.
Bestie on East Pender since 2014 is a 25-seat German sausage and beer counter, Vancouver Magazine Best Casual Restaurant 2018 and a Chinatown anchor.
Signature: House-cured Currywurst, Schweinshaxe, House pretzel
Order: Currywurst with the house mustard plate and a German Pilsner.
Tip: Walk-in counter only; cash-priced after-work specials between 17:00 and 18:00.
Kintaro Ramen on Denman is Vancouver's first Sapporo-style ramen shop since 1999, the city's original tonkotsu counter and a Robson corridor staple.
Signature: Miso ramen, Shoyu ramen
Order: Rich miso ramen with the fatty pork toppings, the kitchen's reference bowl.
Tip: Counter only; line up before 12:00 or after 14:00 to avoid the lunch queue.
The Acorn on Main Street since 2012 is Vancouver's reference vegetarian dining room, Canada's 100 Best top 30, the calendar Plant-Forward leader.
Signature: Beer-battered halloumi, Mushroom focaccia
Order: Beer-battered halloumi with crisp rice salad, the kitchen's longest-running menu plate.
Tip: Reservations on Tock open 30 days out; the bar walks in for halloumi and a natural-wine glass.
Nuba Gastown on West Hastings is the second branch of Vancouver's reference Lebanese kitchen since 2004, halal-certified, family-run by the Sabbagh family.
Signature: Najib's Special falafel, Crispy cauliflower, Beef kafta
Order: Najib's Special with crispy cauliflower; the family-style mezze plate covers the bar.
Tip: Multiple locations across Vancouver; this Gastown branch takes walk-ins at the bar plus reservations on OpenTable.
Fat Mao Noodles on East Georgia from chefs Mark Perrier and Angus An since 2018 is a Cantonese noodle counter, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 and a late-night.
Signature: Hong Kong braised brisket noodle, Cumin lamb dan dan, Crispy chicken
Order: Hong Kong braised brisket noodle soup with a side of crispy chicken.
Tip: Walk-ins from 17:00; the kitchen closes 23:30 the latest open in Chinatown post-pandemic.
The Naam on West 4th Avenue since 1968 is Vancouver's oldest vegetarian restaurant, a hippie-era survivor and the city's longest-running 24-hour kitchen.
Signature: Dragon bowl, Sesame fries, Mexican platter
Order: Sesame fries with miso gravy, the kitchen's signature since 1968.
Tip: No reservations; live music after 19:00 from Wednesday to Saturday. Cash counter pours at the bar.
The Flying Pig in Yaletown on Hamilton since 2010 is an all-day farm-to-table brasserie with three Vancouver branches and a Yaletown patio anchor.
Signature: Crispy pork belly, Steelhead trout, Sticky toffee pudding
Order: Crispy pork belly with the daily fish; the kitchen's reference brunch plate is the dungeness crab benedict.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable; Sunday brunch books two weeks out. The Olympic Village branch is the patio default.
Lupo on Hamilton Street since 2008 in the heritage Mansion House is a Northern Italian dining room under chef Julio Gonzalez Perini, OpenTable Top 100 Canada.
Signature: Lobster cappellacci, Bone-in ribeye, House pasta
Order: Lobster cappellacci with the house ricotta, the kitchen's signature plate.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; the bar walks in for the antipasti menu.
Salmon n' Bannock on West Broadway is Vancouver's only Indigenous-owned restaurant since 2010, run by Inez Cook, Eater Vancouver Restaurant of the Year 2023.
Signature: Bison pot roast, Salmon and bannock, Game burger
Order: Wild salmon with bannock bread, the kitchen's plate since 2010.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; the bar takes walk-ins for the bison and salmon plate.
La Taqueria on West Hastings is Vancouver's reference Mexican counter since 2009 under chef Marcelo Ramirez Martiarena, six locations and a Chinatown branch.
Signature: Carnitas taco, Cochinita pibil taco, Vegetarian guisado
Order: Order four tacos at the counter and a horchata; carnitas and cochinita pibil are the reference picks.
Tip: Counter-only; order at the till and grab a stool by the window. The Cambie branch is the calmer seat.
Ramen Danbo on West 4th is the Vancouver branch of the Fukuoka Hakata-style ramen shop, three city branches since 2015 and a Robson late-night standby.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Hakata-style noodles
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra-firm noodles, kotteri richness, the Hakata style.
Tip: Counter only; the West End branch on Robson opens until 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays.