Burdock & Co is a pacific northwest restaurant in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver.
Burdock & Co on Main Street since 2013 is chef Andrea Carlson's foraged-and-fermented kitchen, Michelin-starred in the 2022 BC guide, only 30 seats.
Why locals love it: Tiny Main Street tasting room, only 30 seats, chef Andrea Carlson's foraged-and-fermented menu rotates weekly.
Tip: Reservations on Tock open 30 days out; the bar walks in for the small-plates menu.
Address: 2702 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E8
Sushi Hil on Main Street is chef Daniel Kim's 8-seat omakase counter since 2019, Michelin recommended in the 2022 BC guide, the city's reference modern sushi.
Why locals love it: Tiny eight-seat counter on Main Street with a vegetable-forward kaiseki sushi format, omakase by reservation only.
Tip: Tock reservations open 30 days out at 09:00 PST and book within minutes; counter omakase only.
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.
Why locals love it: Off the West Broadway gallery strip, Vancouver's only Indigenous-owned restaurant, Eater Restaurant of the Year 2023.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; the bar takes walk-ins for the bison and salmon plate.
Dachi on East Hastings since 2018 sits past the Downtown Eastside in a corner room with a 12-seat counter, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 in the BC guide.
Why locals love it: Counter-style izakaya tucked on East Hastings beyond the tourist strip, opens 17:00, the city's reference sake-fish counter.
Tip: Tock reservations open 30 days out; the counter walks in for the early seating.
Sushi Hil on Main Street is chef Daniel Kim's 8-seat omakase counter since 2019, Michelin recommended in the 2022 BC guide, the city's reference modern sushi.
Why locals love it: Tiny eight-seat counter on Main Street with a vegetable-forward kaiseki sushi format, omakase by reservation only.
Tip: Tock reservations open 30 days out at 09:00 PST and book within minutes; counter omakase only.
Kingyo Izakaya on Denman since 2008 is the reference modern izakaya hidden in a residential basement room with sliding wood doors, EnRoute top Japanese.
Why locals love it: Den-like Denman izakaya under the Robson tourist line, Vancouver Magazine top izakaya award eight years running.
Tip: Dinner books on OpenTable a week out; the chef's counter takes a separate omakase plate.
Don't Argue Pizzeria on Main from chef Phil Scarfone since 2018 is a 12-seat New Haven-style pizza counter, hand-tossed pies plus a chicken parm sub special.
Why locals love it: Cambie Village 12-seat counter and takeout pizza window, no reservations, Italian-Canadian classics by chef Phil Scarfone.
Tip: Walk-in only; the Main and Cambie branches have a takeout window for whole pies. The chicken parm is the kitchen's reference plate.
The Mackenzie Room on Powell in Railtown since 2014 is a heritage-room wine bar from chefs Alex Tung and Sean Reeve, BC natural list and small plates.
Why locals love it: Railtown heritage-room wine bar past the Downtown Eastside, low-lit, walk-up bar plus dining room.
Tip: Reservations on Tock for the dining room; the bar walks in for a glass and snacks.
