Banh Mi Tres Bon is a street-food stop in Punjabi Market, Vancouver.
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.
Must order: Classic dac biet banh mi with house pate and cold cuts, the city's reference banh mi.
Tip: Cash only; arrive before 12:00 for the freshest baguettes. The pate special is gone by 13:30.
Address: 3373 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5L4
Kaya Malay Bistro on Hornby since 2017 is the downtown branch of the Burnaby Malaysian kitchen, a roti canai and Singapore laksa counter the city's reference.
Try: Roti canai, char kway teow
Order: Roti canai with house curry, char kway teow and chicken satay; the kitchen's classic threesome.
Tip: Counter and small seating; the Burnaby flagship has the larger dim sum-style breakfast.
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.
Try: Japanese-Canadian fusion hot dogs
Order: Terimayo dog with teriyaki sauce, mayo and dried seaweed; the original Japadog.
Tip: Cart only at Burrard and Smithe; the Robson brick-and-mortar has the full menu and seating.
Tacofino on West Cordova since 2014 is the Tofino-origin food-truck-turned-restaurant, Vancouver's reference Baja-style fish taco, four city locations.
Try: Fish tacos, burritos
Order: The Tuna Ta-Ta-Tot tots, the original Tacofino fish taco and a margarita pitcher.
Tip: The Gastown branch has a full bar; the original cart in Tofino remains the calendar event.
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.
Try: Japanese hot dogs
Order: Oroshi dog with grated daikon and soy sauce, the lunchtime cart standby.
Tip: Card and Apple Pay accepted; weather closures posted on the operator's Instagram on the morning of the day.
Vij's Railway Express is Vikram Vij's food truck since 2010, a Granville Island Saturday vendor, the operator's casual format of the Vij's restaurant kitchen.
Try: Modern Indian street food
Order: Lamb kebabs in a paratha wrap with green chutney, Vij family classics, on the truck.
Tip: Schedule on the operator's Instagram week of; Granville Island Saturdays through summer is the most reliable stop.
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.
Try: Grilled cheese, soup
Order: The Big Cheese with tomato soup, the operator's lunchtime calling card.
Tip: Card-friendly; downtown lunch line is busiest 12:00 to 13:00. Soup of the day pairs with any cheese.
