29 cheap eats rooms in Vancouver, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms 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.