Asian fusion$downtownTue-Fri 11:30-14:30
Le Tigre on West Hastings is one of Vancouver's longest-running downtown food trucks since 2012, a Chinese-leaning Crack Salad and rice bowl menu.
Try: Chinese-leaning street food
Order: Crack salad with chicken, the operator's most-ordered bowl.
Tip: Daily location on the operator's Instagram; weekday lunch only.
Mexican$downtownMon-Fri 11:00-15:00
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.
Try: Fish tacos, burritos
Order: The original fish taco with the Tuna Ta-Ta-Tot, the Tofino cart-classic combo.
Tip: Daily location confirmed on the operator's Instagram; the Burrard cart is the most reliable lunch stop.
Japanese ramen$$downtownDaily 11:00-22:00
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka on Robson is the Vancouver branch of the Asahikawa-based chain since 2011, the cherry pork chashu and salt-broth shio bowl.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
Order: Shio ramen with the Hokkaido cherry pork chashu, the kitchen's signature bowl.
Tip: Counter only; queue tops 30 minutes at peak lunch and dinner. The shio bowl is the kitchen's standard pour.
Vietnamese$punjabi-marketDaily 09:00-19:00Cash only
Banh Mi Tres Bon on Kingsway is the Khmer Vietnamese counter the city sets its banh mi bar by since 2008, a 10-seat counter, fresh-baked baguettes hourly.
Try: Vietnamese banh mi
Order: Classic dac biet banh mi with house pate and cold cuts, the city's reference banh mi.
Tip: Cash only; arrive before 12:00 for the freshest baguettes. The pate special is gone by 13:30.
Malaysian$$downtownMon-Sat 11:30-21:00, closed Sundays
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.
Street food$downtownMon-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-20:00
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.