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21 Restaurants That Define Vancouver Dining

A photo of Red logo
by Johanna Read
Updated April 04, 2022

Vancouver’s vibe may be relaxed and casual, but the city takes its food seriously. Sustainable seafood and local ingredients are on almost every Vancouver menu from restaurants focussing on international fare to those that serve the region’s iconic Pacific coastal cuisine.

Vancouver’s greatest restaurants include newcomers such as Fable Diner’s third location in Yaletown as well as namesake restaurants from some of Canada’s most famous chefs such as Hidekazu Tojo and Vikram Vij. These must-visit restaurants are in Vancouver’s favourite neighbourhoods and within the city’s best hotels, welcoming both casual diners and those celebrating special occasions.

These are the 21 Vancouver restaurants that symbolize the city’s impressive dining scene.

A photo of The Lunch Lady restaurant
4.7
4.7 (947)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Vietnamese
Commercial Drive
About the restaurant
When Anthony Bourdain tried Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh’s soups at her Saigon food stall for his No Reservations show, he dubbed her the “legendary lunch lady” and said “it’s like discovering new neighbourhoods every few mouthfuls.” Vancouver mother-son restaurateurs Victoria Tran and Michael Tran teamed up with Vancouver chef Ben Lim and Ho Chi Minh City’s Lunch Lady to offer her soups and more at the former location of Mrs. Tran’s Five Elements Café. Open since summer 2020, the building’s facade belies the sleek interior and sophisticated menu of Asian-inspired cocktails, bánh mì, phở, and signature dishes such as clams steamed with lemongrass and turmeric-spiced Icelandic cod served sizzling on a skillet. Lunch features a different soup special every day, just like at the original street cart. Lunch Lady merch supports orphanages across Vietnam.
Top review
Ericvip
Dined 1 day ago
We always went for lunch. It was the first time we went for dinner. The 4 person set dinner menu was a very nice surprise. It has dishes that are not available at lunch. Simply one word - DELICIOUS!
A photo of Miku Restaurant - Vancouver restaurant
4.8
4.8 (6473)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Japanese
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant
“Miku” in Japanese script symbolically means “beautiful sky,” and the views of the sails of Canada Place, the North Shore mountains, and the sky above are indeed beautiful from Miku’s downtown waterfront location. Inside, there’s even a ceiling fixture that looks like floating glass clouds. Owner Seigo Nakamura had eight restaurants in Miyazaki, Japan before first visiting Vancouver in 2007 and deciding that, given residents’ passion for multicultural cuisine and healthy living, it would be the ideal location for his first international restaurant. Nakamura brought aburi sushi to Canada, and Miku’s chefs have perfected balancing the textures and flavours of this flame-seared specialty. The guiding philosophy for service at Miku is of ningenmi, a Japanese term used for a person with outstanding sincerity, thoughtfulness, and passion.
Top review
Courtney
Dined 2 days ago
Overall phenomenal. The quality of the food and service for the price can’t be beat. The standout dishes were the salmon oshi sushi and the green tea opera.
A photo of Osteria Savio Volpe restaurant
4.7
4.7 (4196)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Italian
Mount Pleasant
About the restaurant
Serving unfussy rustic Italian plates using ingredients from the region’s ocean, lakes, rivers, farms, and fields, this warm and friendly osteria welcomes everyone, including kids (just like at nonna’s, “they are both adored and expected to behave”). You can choose to dine family-style or à la carte from the menu of antipasti, salads, vegetable dishes, handmade pastas, and from the skillet, stewing pot, and wood grill. Housemade gelato, Italian pastries, and proper Italian coffee round out your meal at this refined neighbourhood favourite.
Top review
SimonW
Dined on Aug 24, 2023
Make this a destination when in Vancouver. Travelling from the UK we were given the place as a must go to, by a Canadian friend and it didn’t disappoint. Great staff, wine list carefully created and the sommelier helped us find the perfect match for our food, and the food was perfect, two of our group had a pasta dish which they raved about, my friend and I had the pork belly special that was cooked perfectly. The ambience is buzzy but not overbearing, people waxing lyrical about the food no doubt. Will return if ever back in Vancouver !
A photo of L'Abattoir Restaurant restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3839)
CAN$51 and over
Contemporary French
Gastown
About the restaurant
Regularly recognized on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, chef and owner Lee Cooper’s L’Abattoir is known for its sophisticated yet unpretentious French-influenced Pacific coastal dining, expertly paired wines, and work-of-art cocktails. The Gaoler’s Menu experience, named for the restaurant’s location in Gastown’s historic Gaoler’s Mews, has nine seasonal courses such as Pacific ling cod with sake and sturgeon caviar or Peace Country roast rack of lamb—with optional wine pairings. Partial proceeds from all Gaoler's Menus go to the BC Hospitality Foundation (an organization that supports those in the industry facing financial crises due to health conditions). Or, from the main menu, choose starters such as baked Pacific oysters with truffle and mains like tandoori-style sablefish and venison loin with a cocoa crust.
Top review
Gerardvip
Dined on Aug 8, 2024
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Gastown, so I looked forward to showing my SIL this place. As my SIL was still recovering from a bout of diverticulitis, I didn’t order a bottle of wine. I had two wines by the glass, and we shared a few dishes. We started with their fabulous bread service, then a Dungeness Crab salad, an Artichoke tart and their Terrine of Fois Gras. Our “main” was their Agnolotti. I had a glass of 2022 Garnier et Fils Chablis with the salads and a glass of 2016 Synchromesh Pinot Noir from Storm Haven Vineyard in Okanagan Falls, BC with foie gras and agnolotti. The Artichoke Tart was half salad, half egg custard tart with pieces of artichoke between the two. It was a light, refreshing dish. The Dungeness Crab Salad was a visual surprise … the crab was placed between thin slices of radish and decorated with green leaves. It was interesting; perhaps a little too subtle in flavor for me. The foie gras terrine came with two thick pieces of brioche. The square of terrine was decorated with squares of wine jelly, and cherry halves. The terrine was soft and silky and the brioche so buttery. The star of the evening was the Sweet Corn Agnolotti. Pillows of mascarpone pasta were covered with pieces of sweet corn and a generous helping of sliced black truffle. This dish was “to die for” and I wanted to order a second plate. I love the food at L’Abattoir and dine here every time I come to Vancouver.
A photo of Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House restaurant
4.6
4.6 (8754)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Seafood
West End
About the restaurant
Specializing in American classics, this Vancouver dining institution is named for “Vancouver Citizen of the Century”Joseph Seraphim Fortes, who is credited with saving at least 29 lives as an English Bay lifeguard. The restaurant opened in 1985, 100 years after Mr. Fortes’ arrival in the city. Since then, the seafood tower—a special occasion favourite—has been a popular choice from the extensive menus, as are the fresh oysters and chops, with the beef aged a minimum of 28 days. Weekend brunch focusses on the savouries, such as lobster Benedict and fish and chips.
Top review
Vic
Dined 4 days ago
Food was excellent and plentiful. A bit on expensive side.
A photo of Gotham Steakhouse and Bar restaurant
4.8
4.8 (3638)
CAN$51 and over
Steakhouse
Downtown
About the restaurant
Multiple award-winning Gotham is a downtown favourite for steak lovers, both local and those visiting Hollywood North to film TV shows and movies. Inside one of Vancouver’s heritage buildings, Gotham features fine dining for lunch and dinner within its Art Deco-inspired interiors. Executive chef Jean Claude Douguet brings his French expertise to the steakhouse’s house-made sauces, attention to detail, and elegant presentations. In addition to the finest cuts of prime steak (including Japanese A5 wagyu), Gotham’s menu features lobster tail, oysters, and social hour treats such as ahi tuna and short rib sliders.
Top review
Randy
Dined 3 days ago
Dinner was amazing, our server Ken was extremely courteous and helpful with the menu
A photo of Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill restaurant
4.6
4.6 (571)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Italian
Yaletown
About the restaurant
Celebrity chef Giuseppe “Pino” Posteraro—he’s been on Iron Chef and was the first Canadian chef to be honoured with a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy—opened Cioppino’s in 1999. Ever since, Vancouverites and visiting celebrities have flocked to it. Award-givers honour it, too, as confirmed by the coveted three-forks rating from Italian food and wine magazine Gambero Rosso (Cioppino’s was the first restaurant in Canada to achieve it) and one of only two Canadian restaurants on 50 Top Italy’s 2022 international list. In addition to superbly done Italian classics, you’ll find dishes such as Alberta beef tenderloin with black pepper sauce, tagliolini with sustainable scallops and prawns, plus whatever the day’s local, seasonal ingredients inspire the star chef to create. The restaurant, still featuring an impressive open kitchen, was renovated and expanded during the spring 2020 pandemic closure, resulting in a wine cellar with about 45,000 bottles and a new bar with temperature-controlled space for 50 wines by the glass.
Top review
Selinavip
Dined on Nov 1, 2024
Always a classic - the food was good and the service was excellent, but it was quite pricey for what we got. There are better places in town now for Italian cuisine.
A photo of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2523)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Seafood
Downtown
About the restaurant
Uncompromising excellence and innovation characterize this Pacific coastal, seafood-forward restaurant within the Sutton Place Hotel. Led by executive chefs Alex Chen and Roger Ma, Boulevard’s long list of awards includes the Canadian Culinary Championships and an Iron Chef Canada win. Choose prix-fixe with optional wine pairings or go à la carte—you’ll find offerings such as Ocean Wise grilled sablefish with local bull kelp, albacore tuna, celery root risotto, lamb, and steaks. At breakfast, choose juices such as a blueberry, cranberry, and apple concoction to pair with your eggs Benedict or caramel-sauced Belgian waffle.
Top review
Siri
Dined 6 days ago
Great food good service and would come back and recommend
A photo of Botanist restaurant
4.6
4.6 (2708)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Farm-to-table
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant
Multi-award-winning Botanist—listed on Canada’s 100 Best and the World’s 50 Best—is known for impeccable service, sustainable and terroir-driven wines, culinary cocktails, and executive chef Hector Laguna’s inventive Pacific coastal cuisine. True to its name, Botanist draws on organic foraged ingredients and those from British Columbia’s farms; fish and seafood are sustainably caught and meats are heritage cuts. The menu features treats such as pan-seared scallops with sunchokes, lardo, and XO sauce and cocktails such as Council of Trees with scotch, cedar, oak moss, alder, cherrywood smoked tea, and birch sap.
Top review
Sharonvip
Dined 3 days ago
Everything was perfect: food service timing wine. One of our favorite restaurants in Vancouver.
A photo of Homer Street Cafe & Bar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2938)
CAN$30 and under
Comfort Food
Yaletown
About the restaurant
Homer Street Cafe & Bar stands out in Yaletown’s collection of restaurants for its refined comfort food in a contemporary space inside the historic Homer Building and new Beasley Building. The menu spans brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner, full of eclectic dishes that run from steak tartare with smoked sour cream to sablefish with chorizo. Families—or the undecided—should go for the Full Monty, a comfort food feast of rotisserie chicken, baby back ribs, biscuits, coleslaw, potato salad, Brussels sprouts, sauces, plus butter tarts.
Top review
Janet
Dined 4 days ago
The chicken fried mushrooms were not great - the dip was fantastic, but if you like dipping deep fried dough then this may be wonderful for you. The Babaganoush was fantastic but I think pita bread would be a better accompaniment than lavash - it was thin and hard. Best dish was the cauliflower. Our server was amazing!
A photo of Torafuku restaurant
4.5
4.5 (703)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Pan-Asian
Chinatown
About the restaurant
Chef and owner Steve Kuan’s menus take cues from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, with some Italian and French influences, too. Torafuku’s open kitchen serves “kickass” rice bowls with sake-butter-dashi rice, specialty noodles (limited quantities daily), and multi-course dinner sets designed for sharing. Highlights include finger-lickin’ crispy chicken, Korean pancake with braised pork belly, and a stir-fried rice cake with roasted mushrooms and napa cabbage. Ingredients are local and organic whenever possible, such as Brome Lake roasted duck served two ways.
Top review
Bennette
Dined 1 day ago
My first time at a Michelin restaurant and it was SUPER! The 7 course meal was pricey but worth every bite. The ambiance was not stuffy and stuck up. Service was kind and courteous. Each course came perfectly timed. Thank you for the lovely experience.
A photo of Tableau Bar Bistro restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2976)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Contemporary French
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant
Set next to the lobby at the chic Loden Hotel, this award-winning neighbourhood bistro features both French and Pacific coastal dishes. The Niçoise has albacore tuna, the moules frites features Totten Inlet mussels, plus there are seafood towers, oysters, duck, steak frites, and more. Whether here for happy hour or a meal, you’ll want to sample from the cocktail and wine lists or beers on tap, but be sure to save room for desserts such as butterscotch pot de crème or profiteroles.
Top review
Christa
Dined today
Dinner was excellent! The smoked fish dip was tasty and well proportioned. Hubby had the coq au vin and it was presented beautifully with silky potatoes. The squash tart was so delicious, with great textures, colours and flavours. It’s always a little scary to pick a restaurant from a brief description but Tableau was a nice surprise! It’s a relaxed French restaurant with excellent food - book a table and enjoy!
A photo of The Victor – Parq Vancouver restaurant
4.4
4.4 (3093)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Steakhouse
Stadium District
About the restaurant
One of Vancouver’s best surf and turf restaurants, The Victor is right next to the 30,000-square-foot roof garden and lake on the sixth floor of Parq Vancouver. Inside, the design echoes London’s House of Commons with green leather banquettes, oak tables, and ornate fixtures; some tables have views over False Creek. Executive chef Garett Blundell’s menus feature steaks from the 1,200-degree broiler, chilled shellfish, and dishes such as sablefish marinated in sake and a burger made from Brant Lake wagyu with triple-cooked fries. Over-the-top desserts include crème brûlée doughnuts with maple syrup cotton candy.
Top review
Kelly
Dined 1 day ago
Unique meandering path from the hotels 6 th floor takes you to the restaurants oversized front door. The Victor has a relaxed elegance. Table service was attentive, knowledgeable without feeling over serviced. Set menu for circus soleil show had good choices and so scrumptious. Overall I would definitely come back
A photo of Tojo's Restaurant restaurant
4.8
4.8 (836)
CAN$51 and over
Japanese
Fairview
About the restaurant
Vancouver’s—and, perhaps, Canada’s—most famous sushi chef is chef Hidekazu Tojo. Named a Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese cuisine by the Japanese government, Tojo loves to invent new dishes and focusses on using local, organic, and highly flavourful ingredients. He’s the creator of what he originally christened the “inside out Tojo roll,” now known around the world as the California roll, as a way to convince 1970s Vancouverites to eat seaweed by keeping it hidden. Tojo’s serves perfected Japanese classics and new inventions in its modern West Broadway space.
Top review
Judy
Dined on Nov 1, 2024
Excellent menu, using quality ingredients, full of freshness, flavour, and creative esthetic, served by knowledgeable, skilled staff, and expertly led by an engaging, talented, humorous and humble, Chef Tojo. We loved your Chef and the Daruma omakase, as well as your documentary film of the same name at VIFF. Many thanks! We will be back.
A photo of Fable Diner restaurant
4.3
4.3 (295)
CAN$30 and under
Canadian
Mount Pleasant
About the restaurant
The Vancouver diner known for its hospitality and locally sourced comfort foods now has three locations—first was Fable Kitchen in Kits, then Fable Diner in East Van’s historic Lee Building, and, as of early 2022, Fable Bar downtown in the historic Kingston Hotel. Vancouverites crave Fable’s all-day breakfast and fancy diner foods; the roast duck pancakes were featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. As a show of support to the city’s healthcare workers and first responders, Fable offers them a 20 percent discount.
Top review
Faye
Dined 7 days ago
The Boxing Day sandwich will from here on out be a family favourite. God damn, a sandwich has no business being so good.
A photo of Fable Kitchen restaurant
4.6
4.6 (725)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Farm-to-table
Kitsilano
About the restaurant
The Vancouver diner known for its hospitality and locally sourced comfort foods now has three locations—first was Fable Kitchen in Kits, then Fable Diner in East Van’s historic Lee Building, and, as of early 2022, Fable Bar downtown in the historic Kingston Hotel. Vancouverites crave Fable’s all-day breakfast and fancy diner foods; the roast duck pancakes were featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. As a show of support to the city’s healthcare workers and first responders, Fable offers them a 20 percent discount.
Top review
Gabriellavip
Dined 4 days ago
Amazing. Already want to go back. The gnocchi is delicious and so many drink options!!!
A photo of Fable Diner & Bar restaurant
4.4
4.4 (320)
CAN$30 and under
Farm-to-table
Yaletown
About the restaurant
The Vancouver diner known for its hospitality and locally sourced comfort foods now has three locations—first was Fable Kitchen in Kits, then Fable Diner in East Van’s historic Lee Building, and, as of early 2022, Fable Bar downtown in the historic Kingston Hotel. Vancouverites crave Fable’s all-day breakfast and fancy diner foods; the roast duck pancakes were featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. As a show of support to the city’s healthcare workers and first responders, Fable offers them a 20 percent discount.
Top review
Wayne
Dined on Nov 13, 2024
Great atmosphere with good food and service. Sat in the bar area and that was very nice.
A photo of Farmer's Apprentice restaurant
4.8
4.8 (425)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Farm-to-table
Kitsilano
About the restaurant
You’ll find innovative cooking, stunning plating, exemplary service, and a relaxed setting at this rustic bistro near the south side of Granville Bridge. Befitting its name, Farmer’s Apprentice chefs get creative by dehydrating, fermenting, and smoking the sustainably harvested ingredients procured locally. The menu changes frequently with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Ordering family-style for the whole table is most popular; dig into plates such as charred cabbage with strawberry sambal, chili oil, ginger cream, and almonds or an Asian-flavoured glazed pork neck with leeks and celeriac. The long wine list features natural, biodynamic, and organic selections. Watch for special dining events with local farmers.
Top review
Lana
Dined 6 days ago
Excellent food. So many courses and thoughtful wine pairings. Highly recommended.
A photo of Notch8 restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1716)
CAN$30 and under
Unspecified
Downtown
About the restaurant
Throughout the day and evening, Notch8 is an elegant choice within Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The luxurious decor was inspired by the glamorous rail travel of the 1930s and the Hotel Vancouver’s history as one of Canada’s grand railway hotels. Notch8 is named for the throttle position for the highest speed of a train, achievable only by the most skilled of conductors. The skill of executive chef David Baarschers and his team is apparent with dishes such as BC steelhead salmon with black barley risotto, asparagus, and leeks; roasted local cod with gnocchi; and BC striploin steak frites. The lounge menu includes bison carpaccio and Notch8’s classic burger. Weekend afternoon tea consists of tiers of finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries with LOT 35 loose leaf teas and optional tea cocktails and bubbly.
Top review
Ana Rosa
Dined today
Notch 8 was the perfect venue to meet friends from out of town.
A photo of Afghan Kitchen South Surrey restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1501)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Afghan
Surrey
About the restaurant
This family-owned and -operated restaurant was opened by Hassib Sarwari in 2017 and features the recipes of his mother, Zohra Parwani, that he first ate growing up in Kabul. Kebabs from the charcoal grill are accompanied by kachaloo potato, sauteed in a garlicky tomato sauce. Diners of all ages adore the Afghan nuggets, or fried chicken bites served with Afghan yogurt and chutney. There are plenty of vegetable options, too, such as dumplings, lentil stew, and bandejan pan-seared eggplant. The team behind this restaurant recently opened Zarak by Afghan Kitchen in Mount Pleasant; it features a few popular dishes from the original plus creations like crispy Brussels sprouts.
Top review
Harry
Dined today
Great food, great environment. High quality restaurant.
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