Good Restaurants in Vancouver

[honkman]

We will be in the summer several days in Vancouver. Currently going through many posts/discussion boards and trying to figure some good, unique restaurants. We are open to any style but like creative, unique cooking - so what are some not to miss places in Vancouver ?

[robert]

Nightengale - Coal Harbour

[image] Went for dinner last Sunday around 8:45. They showed us to a seat but we said the music was too loud, so they put us at the middle of the three two-tops facing the kitchen. We were right by the pass so saw all the food so got ideas of what we wanted to order. [image] Marinated beets, sumac labneh, orange, dukkah, mint ($12): this was one of the best beet salads I’ve had, very nice combination of flavors plus various kinds of crunch from toasted rice, roasted hazelnuts, and sesame see…

Dinner at Osteria Savio Volpe

[image] Went last night. After spending a while talking about the menu and having trouble choosing we decided to go with the $55 chef’s-choice prix-fixe and that worked out great. Four of us had: Prosciutto di Parma, arugula, aged balsamic, Grana White anchovy, radish, egg, bagnet vert, whipped butter Kale, lemon pepper dressing, romano, pangrattato Beets, ricotta, dates, carrots, olives, pistachios Cavatelli, arugula, potato, anchovy, chili, pangrattato Tortiglioni, beef braciola, Sunday sa…

L'Abattoir (Vancouver): A Pictorial Essay

Had a great meal at this place last Tuesday. Walked in around 9:30 and were seated immediately in the mostly empty back room, which was pleasantly quieter than the front. I was craving meat and, boy, was this the right choice. [image] Steak tartare with radish, harissa, lahneh, and beef fat cracker ($20), maybe the best I’ve had, definitely in the top three. [image] Smoked foie gras terrine ($25), never heard of such a thing but it’s a great idea. Excellent brioche toast. [image] Pan fri…

Salt Tasting Room - Gastown

[image] [image] [image] [image] [image] As far as I could tell from Google, this place has the biggest BC by-the-glass selection I in Vancouver, so I went to check some out. I liked six of the eight whites, the rosé, and one of the three reds, which is way better than I’d expect if I tasted a similar array of California wines at home. The paper labels seemed like a lot of work just after they opened when I was the only customer in the place, but several parties of 20-30 people came in and…

[J_L]

Hi honkman, I recall you said you’ll be in Tofino, correct?

Tofino is quite a distance from Vancouver proper. I assume you’ll also be dining within city environs as well, right? If so, I do recommend also going to Richmond for some of the best Cantonese food in North America!

Food Touring in Vancouver and Richmond, 2019: A Pictorial Essay

Since the 1990s, the Hong Kong diaspora has provided the Cantonese food scene in Canada with perfect conditions to flourish. And since summer is such a great time to re-visit Vancouver, where I’ve had so many great meals in the past few years, let’s go!!! YVR Airport: The Japadog stand greets all who emerge from the terminal. So great to be back in Vancouver, and with such a delicious reminder! From left to right: Oroshi (pork bratwurst, grated daikon, green onions, special soy sauce), Okono…

[robert]

I agree. The places with creative cuisine I mentioned were good, but not that different from or better than what we get at home. The dim sum, on the other hand, was the best I’ve had.

[honkman]

Thanks that is very helpful - and yes we will stay sometime in Vancouver and Tofino

@J_L If you have to pick one or two Cantonese places in Richmond which one would you pick ?

[js76wisco]

Following because we may go to Vancouver in April if they pull the negative test requirements to re-enter the US. We’ve never been and want to go to the cherry blossom festival. I wrote these down restaurants from posts over the past few years.
Chef Tony/Kirin - dim sum
Dynasty
HK BBQ Master
Mackenzie Room
Savio Volpe
Vijs
St Lawrence

[J_L]

Adding:

• Empire Seafood Restaurant (Richmond) is a solid standby for some really fantastic dim sum, in case Chef Tony falls through.
• JapaDog at Designer Outlet Vancouver (close to the airport; only 2 SkyTrain stops away from YVR, at Templeton).
• Shanghai River Restaurant, in case you want a break from Cantonese fare and need excellent Jiangsu/Zhejiang food.

Definitely download the ArriveCAN app on your phone. It’s pretty much mandatory to gain entry into the country as a foreign national.

[J_L]

@honkman

If you have to pick one or two Cantonese places in Richmond which one would you pick ?

Dynasty and Golden Paramount.

[hungryhungryhippos]

Cannot recommend St. Lawrence in Chinatown in Vancouver highly enough. When we went they were celebrating regions of France and doing a set menu but under normal circumstances I believe they allow for ala carte dining.

St. Lawrence | Michelin-starred Québécois & French Restaurant |...

It would be our favorite french style restaurant in LA, if it was located here. It’s French/Quebecoise but I am not well versed enough in Quebecoise cuisine to really parse the differences.

And Vijs also amazing not as good as St Lawrence but much better than Badmaash the only higher end Indian fine dining I can think of in LA to compare to.

See my little rundown of food here: October 2021 Rundown - #38 by hungryhungryhippos

[hungryhungryhippos]

Congee noodle king. Great old school Chinese wonton noodle and congee shop. Too bad they don’t serve cheung fun any more

[hungryhungryhippos]

Western lake.

Known for their giant dim sum that I’ve heard is not that great but more like a great value.

However we had a family banquet dinner here and it was awesome. Great live seafood selection and reasonable mid tier prices. Packed with a long wait.

Everything was very good. Didn’t snap a lot of pics since it was a family dinner but standouts were typhoon shelter crab, honey beef, speciality
Ribs, dried scallop fried rice, walnut shrimp

[hungryhungryhippos]

Did a lot of ice cream cause it was hot.

Rain or shine and earnest both delicious.

Really enjoyed chocolate salted rye at earnest and lemon blueberry and raspberry cheesecake and rain or shine. Rain or shine waffle cones are awesome

[hungryhungryhippos]

Hyderabad biryani house

Best Indian food I can remember having. Mango lassi was definitely the best I ever had. Can’t wait to come back to this spot. We had saag paneer, chicken 65, fried chicken biryani, and fish pakora.

[rohto]

Wa-Bagel by Aburi is worth stopping by. I have no idea if these sorts of bagels are common in Japan, but I had never had anything like them and enjoyed every bite. When I walked in the lovely lady at the counter pointed to an apple cinnamon bagel that was fresh out of the oven and suggested that’s what I get. I asked what was the most popular and ended up with a second bagel topped with sesame seeds and filled with sweet red bean and cream cheese. The latter was so good I took a 2nd to bring home since they are closed the next 3 days. The texture is delightfully tender and chewy and the fillings weren’t overly sweet. Do recommend.