Edited by Jeremy Smith and Ashley Sawyer — the crew's Vancouver experts.
Great modern Indian. Chef Tushar Tondvalkar cooks regional Indian with BC ingredients — the move is the "amma-kase" tasting menu, ideally at the eight-seat chef's table.
Modern Indian · Mount Pleasant · $$$
From chef Vish Mayekar, a globe-hopping menu that jumps from Southeast Asia to Mexico to Mumbai — or just say "let us cook for you" and let the kitchen drive. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Eclectic · Mount Pleasant · $$
Chef Hilary Nguy's seasonal sushi spot on Main Street. Sit at the counter — the sweet prawns over crushed ice are the tell. Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Sushi · Riley Park · $$$
Chef Masayoshi Baba's intimate, Michelin-starred omakase on Fraser Street — about 20 hyper-seasonal courses, two seatings a night. The counter seats are the draw.
Sushi Omakase · Fraserhood · $$$$
A great Peruvian cevicheria in Chinatown from the Suyo team — ceviches, tiraditos, and Nikkei-style sushi.
Peruvian · Chinatown · $$$
A great classic seafood chophouse — a Vancouver institution since 1985, named for the beloved English Bay lifeguard. Oysters at the horseshoe bar, then head up to the rooftop patio.
Seafood Chophouse · Downtown · $$$$
Chef Michael Robbins' seasonal tasting menu in Kitsilano — Michelin-starred since the guide arrived in Vancouver, but the room stays casual. Books up on Resy 30 days out.
Seasonal Tasting Menu · Kitsilano · $$$$
Amazing Québécois — where rustic meets refinement from chef Jean-Christophe Poirier. If you thought Québécois food was just smoked meat and poutine, this will educate your tastebuds in the best way imaginable.
Order: Pâté en Croûte, the Raviolo, Flétan & Moules
French Québécois · Railtown · $$$
Great modern Thai from chef Angus An.
Order: Pad see ew and green curry
Thai · Kitsilano · $$
Cocktails
Apothecary-themed Chinatown institution pouring "prescription" cocktails with Chinese-herbal ingredients — currently ranked the best bar in Canada on North America's 50 Best.
Chinatown · $$
From the folks behind Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto — a 70s retro-chic cocktail and snack lounge beneath Kissa Tanto. The drinks are excellent and the food, though limited, is elite.
Chinatown · $$
Vietnamese cocktail bar from the Anh and Chi siblings — 1970s Saigon vibes, a phở-seasoned house cocktail, and Dungeness crab garlic noodles. Right by Sushi Hil.
Mount Pleasant · $$
Waste-conscious cocktails from the Suyo bar duo, built on upcycled by-products from neighboring restaurants — newly landed in its permanent Chinatown home.
Chinatown · $$
