Vancouver
My fifth Canadian city: I lived in Vancouver for 1.5 years. It had always been my dream to live on the best coast and it was over far too quickly!
Quite possibly the most adorable bakery in all of Vancouver. Every single thing that they make is delicious! Whether you're grabbing baked goods or a sandwich for lunch, it's all amazing.
Must Try: Birthday Cake Cookie Sandwich
In general, I don't like chain restaurants. So Cactus Club annoys me because it is SO DAMN GOOD. I don't understand how they be so good. Everything is good. Every single thing is good. Originating in Vancouver, they have eight locations in the city, and many more in the surrounding areas and other Canadian cities.
Must Try: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Prawns ~ Butternut squash and mascarpone ravioli, truffle butter, sautéed jumbo prawns, pine nuts, crispy sage. (...Or the Spaghettini + Kobe Style Meatballs... Duck Confit... Thai Red Curry Pacific Lingcod... BBQ Duck Clubhouse... Grilled Tuna Club... Key Lime Pie...)
Best ice cream in Vancity. Wonderful flavours, so creamy and delicious. They specialize in hard ice cream and make great rotating special sundaes!
Must Try: Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel, London Fog or Cardamom
This market is full of tourists... But also full of incredible food finds. Don't let yourself miss out!
Fave Vendors: Granville Island Tea Company Ltd. (great masala chai!), Lee's Donuts (honey dip!), Longliner Seafoods (the best salmon! Try the famous Salmon Sticks!), Sen Pad Thai (incredible pad thai! I love the Pad Pu Sen Chan!)
Plain and simple: It's the best restaurant in Vancouver. If you want a high-end, memorable, albeit expensive food extravaganza, Hawksworth is the place for you. Treat yo self!
Must Try: Tasting Menu ~ A multi-course journey of incredible food! The ultimate best way to experience Hawksworth.
#20 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2023
My favourite ramen in Vancouver! They're a chain from Japan and the ramen is just as delicious here as it is there. Change your life and eat this!
Must Try: Shio Ramen ~ White tonkotsu soup, red pickled plum on top. This ramen stands out for its delicious taste, aroma and gentle flavour.
One of the top ramen places in the city! I love them for their innovative take on ramen and their fresh ingredients.
Must Try: Sprouting Up Ramen ~ Pork and chicken broth: pork chashu, kikurage, spicy bean sprouts, green onion, half seasoned egg, crispy brussels sprouts, black pepper, ginger, served with thick noodles.
Beautiful outdoor market with especially amazing produce. Plenty of seafood as well! Every Sunday, May-October.
Fave Vendors: Wild Foraged (wild mushrooms & fiddleheads!), Estevan Tuna Co. (tuna!), Purebread (breads and pastries!)
This food is perfect and excellent. Pacific Northwest fare with a French touch, in other words: Vancouver cuisine done right!
Must Try: Pan-Fried Veal Sweetbreads on Toast ~ Pickled shallot, sauce gribiche with veal tongue.
#27 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2023
A beautiful high-end ice cream shop that you must try. All of their artisanal ice cream flavours are beautifully and uniquely crafted.
Must Try: Their special seasonal parfaits!
This is the best Thai food that I've had outside of Thailand. It's a magical experience. Make sure to try the specially brewed white cardamom kombucha.
Must Try: Chef's Signature Tasting Menu ~ The Chef's selection of six or more savoury dishes served in traditional Thai style.
#73 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2023
My favourite coffee in Vancouver. This is what coffee is supposed to taste like. Their food and baking is very good too.
Must Try: Latte
The best Neapolitan pizza in Vancouver. Super legit and super good.
Must Try: Prosciutto e Rucola ~ Pomodoro, grana padano, fior di latte, prosciutto di Parma, arugula.
The best poke in all of Canada! This is the most delicious place to get it! I could live off of their poke, I really could.
Must Try: The Main ~ Sockeye salmon, spicy ahi tuna, crab & shrimp, jicama & cucumber, avocado nori, organic seaweed salad, citrus mayo, sesame miso dressing, shoyu, yuzu & lime juice, herbs & sprouts.
A chain from Malaysia, they now have a few locations in Canada. The Signature Karak Tea is amazing!!!
Must Try: Rise & Shine ~ Pappa cream cheese and rose jam.
This is the best thing to happen to Granville Island. An innovative celebration of seafood all being created in a shipping container! The entire concept is super exciting!
Must Try: Olive Oil Poached Albacore Tuna Toast ~ Pickled onion, capers.
Quebec has arrived on the west coast! They are doing a damn good job of creating the signature flavours and dishes that makes Quebecois cuisine so special and unique.
Must Try: Paris-Brest à la Mousse de Foie Gras ~ Duck liver and foie gras mousse with choux pastry.
#6 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2023
Rock 'n roll party sushi!! This place is the best. The atmosphere alone is worth the visit. Try the Fat Elvis but focus on the rolls. My top four rolls are as follows:
Must Try: Electric Banana ~ Shockingly good! Eel & avocado topped with tempura banana. Bob Marley ~ Jammin' roll. Avocado, mango, topped with tuna and cusabi sauce. San Francisco ~ BAKED! Crab, avocado, topped with torched salmon, drizzled with Japanese mayo. The Beet It Roll ~ Beets, avocado, tempura yams and mango.
The best cafe in Kitsilano! Their cups are iconic and their food is incredible. Try everything!
Must Try: Cronut ~ Whatever kind they have at the time!
When in Vancouver one must eat sushi. If you're looking for the most high-end, sought after sushi experience, head to Tojo's. Beautiful from start to finish. The omakase is the only way to go! You'll even likely be served blue fin tuna. It's expensive but it's worth it.
Must Try: Chef Tojo's Special Omakase ~ Omakase loosely translated means “Chef, I’m in your hands.” Sushi and cooked dishes are prepared according to what the fresh ingredients of that day’s shopping inspire the Chef to concoct for you. This multi-course meal is the ultimate way to experience Tojo’s.
#71 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2023
This is (easily) the best cheese shop in all of Vancouver! They have everything good! Their par-baked baguettes are perfect. HOT TIP: Be sure to try their special housemade tourtière at Christmas.
Must Try: Their incredible cheese selection!