Bao Bei is a cantonese restaurant in Chinatown, Vancouver.
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 dishes: Shao bing pork belly, Spicy peanut noodles
Must 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.
Address: 163 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X3
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.
