Food & culture · Vancouver

What to Eat in Vancouver: A Food Guide

A food guide to Vancouver: the dishes worth seeking out, what to drink, dining etiquette and the neighbourhoods to eat in.

Updated 2026-07-01

Food in Vancouver

What to eat in Vancouver

  • Japadog

    Vancouver invention — Japanese-style hot dogs (Terimayo, Oroshi); CA$8.

  • Sushi at Miku / Tojo's / Sushi Bar Maumi

    Vancouver has the best sushi outside Japan; Tojo invented the California roll.

  • Dim sum at Kirin / Sun Sui Wah

    Richmond suburb has the best Chinese food in North America — worth the SkyTrain trip.

  • Salmon + BC oysters at Blue Water Café / Boulevard

    Wild BC coho + Fanny Bay oysters — CA$45–60 mains.

What to drink

Tap water excellent (mountain reservoirs). BC craft beer huge (33 Acres, Brassneck, Parallel 49); Okanagan wine (Mission Hill, Quails' Gate) 4h drive. Cortado at 49th Parallel + Revolver + Timbertrain coffee.

Dining etiquette and practicalities

  • Tipping 15–20% at restaurants; 5% GST + 5% PST + 2% MRDT hotel tax added.

  • Cannabis legal (retail + BC Cannabis Stores); consumption same rules as alcohol — no public/beach smoking.

  • Say hi to fellow hikers on trails — West Coast friendliness is real.

Where to eat in Vancouver

  • Downtown / Coal Harbour

    Financial core + harbour walk — Fairmont Pacific Rim, Shangri-La, Loden, Fairmont Waterfront.

  • West End

    Residential Downtown extension, beach access (English Bay), Davie Village LGBTQ+ — Sylvia Hotel is the classic.

  • Yaletown

    Converted warehouses, waterfront restaurants, boutique hotels — Opus, JW Marriott Parq.

  • Gastown

    Historic quarter with cobblestones, steam clock, indie restaurants — Rosewood Hotel Georgia adjacent.

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