Dense residential grid west of downtown plus the Robson and Denman corridors. Vancouver's Japanese izakaya and ramen belt: Kingyo, Kintaro Ramen, Guu, Suika and Joe Fortes seafood on Thurlow.
Kingyo Izakaya on Denman is Vancouver's reference modern izakaya since 2008, named one of Canada's best Japanese rooms by Air Canada's enRoute in 2014.
Signature: Stone-grilled gyu tan, Buta kakuni, Sake-steamed clams
Order: Stone-grilled gyu tan and buta kakuni, the kitchen's standout izakaya plates.
Tip: Lunch walks in. Dinner books on OpenTable a week out; the chef's counter takes the omakase.
Joe Fortes on Thurlow is Vancouver's long-running upmarket seafood house since 1985, named for Vancouver's first lifeguard, plus a rooftop oyster bar.
Signature: Oysters on the half shell, Cedar plank salmon, Crab cakes
Order: A dozen Read Island oysters with a glass of BC sparkling, plus the cedar plank salmon.
Tip: The rooftop oyster bar walks in for sundowner oysters from 16:00 May to September; the dining room books on OpenTable.
Kingyo Izakaya on Denman is Vancouver's reference modern izakaya since 2008, named among Canada's best Japanese rooms by EnRoute in the 2014 list.
Signature: Stone-grilled gyu tan, Buta kakuni
Order: Stone-grilled gyu tan and buta kakuni, the kitchen's standout izakaya plates.
Tip: Lunch walks in. Dinner books on OpenTable a week out; the chef's counter takes the omakase.
Kintaro Ramen on Denman is Vancouver's first Sapporo-style ramen shop since 1999, the city's original tonkotsu counter and a Robson corridor staple.
Signature: Miso ramen, Shoyu ramen
Order: Rich miso ramen with the fatty pork toppings, the kitchen's reference bowl.
Tip: Counter only; line up before 12:00 or after 14:00 to avoid the lunch queue.
Ramen Danbo on West 4th is the Vancouver branch of the Fukuoka Hakata-style ramen shop, three city branches since 2015 and a Robson late-night standby.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Hakata-style noodles
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra-firm noodles, kotteri richness, the Hakata style.
Tip: Counter only; the West End branch on Robson opens until 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays.
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.
Signature drink: Espresso shot
Tip: Espresso-only menu through 11:00 on weekdays; the bar pulls a flight on request.
Marquis Wine Cellars on Davie Street since 1986 is Vancouver's longest-running wine bottle shop and tasting bar, with weekly Saturday tasting sessions.
Signature pour: Tasting flight, four pours
Wine focus: International, BC, weekly tastings
Food: Cheese and charcuterie
Tip: Saturday tastings 13:00 to 17:00 open the bar; reservations on weeknights for the producer tastings.
West End Farmers Market on Comox at Thurlow is the West End's Saturday morning farmers market since 2010, 40+ BC growers and bakers, summer to autumn.
Tip: Brunch crowd from 10:30; the bakery stalls sell out by 12:00. Cash speeds the till.
Kintaro Ramen on Denman is Vancouver's first Sapporo-style ramen shop since 1999, the original tonkotsu counter for under $20, plus a Robson late seating.
Try: Miso ramen
Tip: Counter only; line up before 12:00 or after 14:00 to avoid the lunch queue. Cash takes a discount.
Kingyo Izakaya on Denman runs the late izakaya service until 23:30, EnRoute Best Japanese in Canada perennial, the city's reference late seafood plate.
Try: Stone-grilled gyu tan
Order: Stone-grilled gyu tan with a Hokkaido draft beer at the counter.
Tip: Counter walks in late after 22:00 most nights; the last dinner sitting is the calmer pour.
Ramen Danbo's Robson and 4th Avenue branches run Hakata-style tonkotsu late into the weekend, the city's reference late ramen counter for under $25.
Try: Tonkotsu ramen
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with extra-firm noodles, Hakata style.
Tip: Robson branch open until 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays; counter only and queues form by 23:00.