Vancouver: Granville Island Market Tour with Tastings
Visit Vancouver's Granville Island Public Market. Sample fine foods from independent farmers and food artisans from the city and surrounding area.
29 cheap eats places in Vancouver, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Vancouver: the places editors actually return to. All Vancouver food.
Elysian Coffee Broadway ★ 4.6
mount-pleasant · 590 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E9
Elysian Coffee on West Broadway since 2003 is Vancouver's reference espresso bar and a no-laptops, no-music house style that draws specialty-coffee tourists.
Tip: Counter-only; conversation is louder than the music. Try the rotating guest roaster on the daily list.
49th Parallel Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6
mount-pleasant · 2152 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N6
49th Parallel Coffee Roasters is Vancouver's longest-running specialty roaster since 2004, three city cafes plus Lucky's Doughnuts attached at each branch.
Tip: The West 4th flagship is the reference seat; the Main Street cafe has the calmer counter.
Japadog ★ 4.6
downtown · 530 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7
Japadog's Robson cart since 2005 from owner Noriki Tamura is the Japanese hot dog that defined Vancouver street food, a brick-and-mortar plus city carts.
Tip: Cart only at Burrard and Smithe; the Robson brick-and-mortar has the full menu and seating.
La Taqueria ★ 4.5
downtown · 322 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1K6
La Taqueria on West Hastings is Vancouver's reference Mexican counter since 2009 under chef Marcelo Ramirez Martiarena, six locations and a Chinatown branch.
Tip: Counter-only; order at the till and grab a stool by the window. The Cambie branch is the calmer seat.
Lucky's Doughnuts ★ 4.5
mount-pleasant · 2902 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G3
Lucky's Doughnuts inside 49th Parallel Coffee on Main Street is Vancouver's reference doughnut shop since 2009, fritters fried fresh through the morning.
Tip: Persian rosewater and the daily fritter sell out by lunch; the West 4th branch is the calmer seat.
Prado Cafe ★ 4.5
commercial-drive · 1938 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A8
Prado Cafe on Commercial Drive is the Drive's reference espresso bar since 2008, 49th Parallel beans and a sun-trap south-facing patio with a community feel.
Tip: Pour-overs from the slow bar at the counter; the patio takes laptops in the morning.
49th Parallel Coffee Main Street ★ 4.5
mount-pleasant · 2152 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N6
49th Parallel Coffee Roasters' West 4th flagship since 2004 is Vancouver's longest-running specialty roaster, plus a Lucky's Doughnuts counter on site.
Tip: The attached Lucky's Doughnuts pulls Persian rosewater and the daily fritter; come for breakfast then a 49th cortado.
Matchstick Main Street ★ 4.5
mount-pleasant · 639 East 15th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 0E5
Matchstick's Main Street roastery and cafe since 2013 is the city's design-led third-wave roaster, plus pastry from in-house bakers and a Riley patio.
Tip: The roastery cafe is the calmer seat; the original Fraserhood branch on East 15th has the laptop window.
Matchstick Coffee Roasters ★ 4.5
mount-pleasant · 639 East 15th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 0E5
Matchstick Coffee Roasters' Riley Park roastery on East 15th since 2013 is a third-wave roaster with five Vancouver cafes and an in-house bakery program.
Tip: The roastery sells beans direct from the warehouse; subscriptions ship every 2 weeks.
Japadog Burrard cart ★ 4.5
downtown · Burrard Street at Smithe Street, Vancouver
Japadog's flagship downtown cart at Burrard and Smithe since 2005 is the original location, the lunchtime queue and the city's most-photographed street food.
Tip: Card and Apple Pay accepted; weather closures posted on the operator's Instagram on the morning of the day.
Banh Mi Tres Bon ★ 4.5
punjabi-market · 3373 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5L4
Banh Mi Tres Bon on Kingsway is the Khmer Vietnamese counter the city sets its banh mi bar by since 2008, a 10-seat counter, fresh-baked baguettes hourly.
Tip: Cash only; arrive before 12:00 for the freshest baguettes. The pate special is gone by 13:30.
Japadog ★ 4.5
downtown · 530 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7
Japadog's Robson brick-and-mortar since 2005 is the city's reference budget street-food counter, the Terimayo and Oroshi dogs the city standard since 2005.
Tip: Cart at Burrard takes cash and card; the Robson brick-and-mortar has the full menu and a sit-down counter.
Banh Mi Tres Bon ★ 4.5
punjabi-market · 3373 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5L4
Banh Mi Tres Bon on Kingsway since 2008 is the Khmer Vietnamese counter the city sets its banh mi bar by, fresh-baked baguettes hourly under $10 a sandwich.
Tip: Cash only; the pate special sells out by 13:30. The dac biet is the kitchen's most-ordered.
Siegel's Bagels ★ 4.4
kitsilano · 1883 Cornwall Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1C7
Siegel's Bagels on Cornwall in Kits since 1995 is Vancouver's wood-fired Montreal-style bagel shop, sesame and poppy hand-rolled and boiled in honey water.
Tip: Bagels are fresh through 10:00; the Granville Island branch has the lox bar and sit-down counter.
Buro the Espresso Bar ★ 4.4
west-end · 1265 Pendrell Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 4P1
Buro on Pendrell in the West End is the city's reference standing-bar espresso counter, a 49th Parallel and Phil & Sebastian rotation since 2014.
Tip: Espresso-only menu through 11:00 on weekdays; the bar pulls a flight on request.
Moja Coffee ★ 4.4
commercial-drive · 1102 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X1
Moja Coffee's Drive branch is the Korean-roaster's second Vancouver location, North Van flagship since 2014, a Specialty Coffee Association certified roaster.
Tip: The cold-brew tap pours through the summer; benches on the sidewalk catch afternoon sun.
Pallet Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4
mount-pleasant · 323 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P8
Pallet Coffee Roasters on West Broadway since 2014 is a third-wave roaster with three Vancouver cafes, the in-house pastry program and a slow bar at each.
Tip: The Hastings Sunrise branch has the dedicated tasting flight bar and a Saturday cupping at 10:00.
Moja Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4
commercial-drive · 1102 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X1
Moja Coffee on Commercial Drive is the Korean-roaster's Vancouver branch since 2018 plus the North Van flagship from 2014, a Specialty Coffee Association.
Tip: The Korean-influenced syrups (yuzu, condensed milk) are the bar's calling card; bean retail at the till.
Tacofino food cart ★ 4.4
downtown · Burrard Street at Robson Street, Vancouver
Tacofino's downtown cart on Burrard since 2014 is the operator's lunchtime format, the original Baja-style fish taco and the burrito of the day.
Tip: Daily location confirmed on the operator's Instagram; the Burrard cart is the most reliable lunch stop.
La Taqueria ★ 4.4
downtown · 322 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1K6
La Taqueria on West Hastings since 2009 is Vancouver's reference Mexican counter under chef Marcelo Ramirez Martiarena, four tacos and a horchata under $15.
Tip: Counter-only; order at the till and grab a stool. The Cambie branch is the calmer seat.
Pallet Coffee Roasters ★ 4.3
mount-pleasant · 323 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P8
Pallet Coffee Roasters on West Broadway since 2014 is a third-wave roaster and cafe, the in-house pastry program and a laptop-friendly window seat.
Tip: The Hastings Sunrise branch has the dedicated work tables and the slow bar pour-over selection.
Milano Coffee Gastown ★ 4.3
gastown · 36 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7
Milano Coffee Roasters on Powell in Gastown is the Italian-Canadian roaster since 1985, multiple Vancouver branches and the city's espresso staple.
Tip: Sit at the counter for the morning rush; the Mount Pleasant branch on Eighth Avenue has the work tables.
Milano Coffee Roasters ★ 4.3
mount-pleasant · 156 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1N2
Milano Coffee on West 8th since 1985 is Vancouver's Italian-Canadian roaster, the city's oldest specialty coffee bar still owner-run by Linda Vincent.
Tip: Italian-roast espresso is the house style; the West 8th branch has the larger sit-down room.
Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck ★ 4.3
downtown · Howe Street at West Pender, Vancouver
Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck on Howe Street since 2011 is downtown's lunchtime grilled cheese cart, a 12-cheese rotation and the city's reference cheese truck.
Tip: Card-friendly; downtown lunch line is busiest 12:00 to 13:00. Soup of the day pairs with any cheese.
Pho Hoa Hung ★ 4.3
punjabi-market · 3603 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3N5
Pho Hoa Hung on Main Street since 2005 is one of the city's reference Saigon-style pho counters, the brisket-and-tendon bowl under $13 and a long-running.
Tip: Cash and card; the dac biet special pho is the kitchen's most-ordered. Lunchtime is the busier seat.
Le Tigre ★ 4.2
downtown · West Hastings Street at Hornby Street, Vancouver
Le Tigre on West Hastings is one of Vancouver's longest-running downtown food trucks since 2012, a Chinese-leaning Crack Salad and rice bowl menu.
Tip: Daily location on the operator's Instagram; weekday lunch only.
Donair Town ★ 4.1
downtown · 550 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7
Donair Town on Robson runs the city's reference late-night counter until 02:00, the Halifax-style Lebanese-Canadian donair with sweet condensed-milk sauce.
Tip: Open until 02:00 nightly; the donair pizza is the bar-crawl standby. Card and Apple Pay.
Donair Town ★ 4.1
downtown · 550 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7
Donair Town on Robson runs the city's late-night Halifax-style donair counter, the East Coast Lebanese-Canadian classic with sweet condensed-milk sauce.
Tip: Open until 02:00 nightly; the donair pizza is the bar-crawl standby. Card-friendly.
Bao Down ★ 4.0
gastown · 9 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1C8
Bao Down on West Cordova in Gastown since 2014 is a steamed-bao counter under $18 for three, the city's reference take-out and walk-in dim-sum-style snack.
Tip: Counter only; the BIG Trouble in Little China bao is the kitchen's most-ordered. Patio seats in summer.
Book food experiences in Vancouver
Vancouver Foodie Tour: The Ultimate Asian Food Adventure
Explore Vancouver's Asian cuisine on our 3-hour Ultimate Asian Food Adventure Tour. Enjoy hidden gems, authentic dishes, and expert guides. Small groups (2-12) get per...
Vancouver: Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet
Take in Vancouver's finest views of the city skyline and mountains on a sunset cruise along the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy a buffet dinner of West Coast cuisine paired with ...