Phnom Penh is a cambodian restaurant in Chinatown, Vancouver.
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 dishes: Crispy chicken wings, Butter beef carpaccio, Pho ga
Must order: A double order of the crispy chicken wings and butter beef carpaccio; Phnom Penh's reference plates.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 18:00 or after 20:30 to skip the line. Cash takes a discount.
Address: 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Sushi Masuda on West 1st Avenue is chef Hirofumi Masuda's small edomae counter since 2018, Michelin-starred in the inaugural 2022 Vancouver guide.
Signature: Edomae omakase, Akami tuna, Hokkaido uni
Order: The omakase at the counter; chef Hirofumi Masuda trained at Sukiyabashi Jiro and Sushi Saito.
Tip: Reservations on Tock open 60 days out and book within minutes; one omakase price point.
Fable Kitchen on West 4th from chef Trevor Bird is a farm-to-table room since 2012, Top Chef Canada finalist and the city's reference Kits neighbourhood pick.
Signature: Wood-grilled steelhead, Crispy chicken, Brunch poutine
Order: The crispy fried chicken with smashed potatoes; a Top Chef Canada Kitsilano standby.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; Sunday brunch books on Resy.
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, Pappardelle with rabbit ragu
Order: Handmade pappardelle with rabbit ragu, the kitchen's reference pasta from chef J-C Poirier.
Tip: No reservations; walk-in line from 17:00. The bar opens 30 minutes earlier.
Masayoshi on Fraser Street is chef Masayoshi Baba's small edomae sushi counter since 2014, Michelin one-star from the inaugural 2022 BC guide.
Signature: Edomae omakase, Akami nigiri, Steamed egg custard
Order: The omakase counter set, the only menu format; chef Masayoshi Baba sets the pace.
Tip: Reservations open 30 days out on Tock and book within minutes; counter only.
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, Whole grilled trout
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.
Vij's on Cambie Street has been Vancouver's reference modern Indian kitchen since 1994 under Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala, walk-in only and full-flavour.
Signature: Lamb popsicles in fenugreek cream curry, Marinated lamb popsicles, Jackfruit and bottle gourd curry
Order: Marinated lamb popsicles in fenugreek cream curry, the dish that built Vij's reputation since 1994.
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. Show up before 17:30 or after 21:00 to avoid the queue, or sit at the bar in My Shanti.
