10 Great Restaurants in Vancouver

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House serves classic American dishes and seafood in a prime location just off Robson Street in Downtown Vancouver. The sprawling restaurant and bar offers more than 50 kinds of fish, with a focus on fresh seafood and locally sourced ingredients.

Joe Fortes brings in many locals looking to enjoy dinner and drinks after work. They often go for a coveted seat on the rooftop bar to enjoy views over Downtown. Open since 1985, the award-winning restaurant’s classic decor and excellent dishes have made it an enduring presence in the Vancouver dining scene.

The Flying Pig Gastown attracts the crowds for its generous, tasty dishes, and welcoming setting in the heart of Gastown. The restaurant wows diners with its open kitchen and tableside chef service. Its Happy Hour drink and dish specials are offered daily from 3 pm to 6 pm.

There’s no chance of leaving The Flying Pig Gastown unsatiated, thanks to hearty dishes such as pulled pork poutine and truffled jumbo macaroni on offer. You can also enjoy decadent desserts like vanilla bourbon chocolate cake, as well as a Sunday roast that features an 8-oz Alberta beef steak. If you can’t make it to the Gastown location, there are 2 more outlets in Yaletown and Olympic Village.

Tojo’s Restaurant on West Broadway has earned a huge following for its creative mix of traditional Japanese dishes and local Pacific Northwest ingredients. Dining at this elegant eatery is as much about the experience as the food, especially for those who try omakase, a tasting menu featuring the day's best culinary selections.

Founder Chef Tojo honed his culinary skills in Osaka before moving to Vancouver in the early 1970s. His dishes are celebrated not only by Vancouver diners but even by the Japanese government, which appointed him as one of only 13 chefs globally as a Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine.

Au Comptoir offers a piece of Paris to the Kitsilano neighbourhood with authentic French dishes and delicious pastries. Founded by French-born friends Julien Aubin and Maxime Bettili, the restaurant evokes a French bistro ambience, complete with a row of sidewalk tables and a carefully curated wine list. 

Au Comptoir welcomes diners all day long. You can enjoy café au lait and a croissant for breakfast, roasted pheasant with pithivier for lunch, or Saint-Jacques pan-roasted scallops for dinner. The carousel pastry case offers new surprises each day with its ever-changing selection of sweet treats.

Forage offers a fresh, inviting menu of dishes created with seasonal and local products. Ingredients are sourced from Fraser Valley farms, salmon fishers and foragers alike. Led by Chef Chris Whittaker, this restaurant has emerged as a go-to spot in Vancouver’s West End. 

Try the 3-course tasting menus or the Bison Board Experience, which comprises tasty morsels of bison prepared in different ways. There’s also a good-sized list of BC wines, vodkas and gins to choose from. If you want to bring a taste of Forage back home, browse its onsite shop for homemade jams, infused honey, and spice rub.

Bao Bei is a lively dining spot that serves up inventive twists on Chinese cuisine in a brasserie-style setting. Reservations are not accepted, so you’ll need to make your way down the streets of Chinatown. Look for its neon sign and hope it’s not too long of a wait to sit down and enjoy a plate of dumplings or a lamb sirloin shaobing (layered flatbread) sandwich.

Bao Bei also offers tapas-style grazing that features small bites like seasonal Chinese pickles and marinated eggplant. Drinks-wise, you can enjoy a mix of Asian-inspired cocktails. Try the Chino Margarita, which packs a flavourful punch with dried tamarind peel and ginger.  

Cardero’s Restaurant is a coveted place to dine in Vancouver. It offers gorgeous views of Coal Harbour and the North Shore mountains. You can tuck into a luscious cedar plank salmon or pizza fresh out of its wood=fired oven. Happy hour is on weekdays from 3 pm to 5 pm, while live music takes place nightly. 

Cardero Restaurant has a sleek, wavy roof design, making it easy to spot when you’re in Coal Harbour. It’s a great spot to fuel up before exploring Stanley Park, which is just a 10-minute walk away.

Homer St. Café and Bar is a great place to enjoy comfort food in Vancouver. It shares a unique retro-style space with both the historic Homer and Beasley Buildings, at the fringe of the Yaletown district. The main draw is the rotisserie chicken, served with potatoes and sauces. You can enjoy it quartered, halved or whole portions, depending on whether you're dining solo or with a group.

Homer St. Café and Bar also has an extensive cocktail and wine list. The restaurant has a private dining section and an open-concept space that allows diners to watch the chefs working in the kitchen. 

East is East has become a Main Street mainstay that offers flavours from Afghanistan, India, and Persia. You can enjoy authentic regional cuisines from the ancient Silk Road route. The menu brings together locally sourced ingredients and flavours you’d find at the dhabbas (street vendors) of the East. A must-try is the marinated miso salmon baked in a coconut, green lentil, and basil curry.

East is East opens for lunch and dinner, though we prefer the latter. The restaurant’s plush decor and live traditional music create an atmospheric mood akin to the royal courts of the Rajas.

Anton’s Pasta Bar has been the go-to spot for pasta lovers since 1989. This long-standing restaurant was established by Antonio “Tony” Mauro after arriving in Vancouver from Italy. Its friendly service and huge portions of pasta at good prices draw in diners to Burnaby Heights from across Vancouver.

Anton’s Pasta Bar offers more than 70 Italian dishes, including the popular linguine con polpette (linguine, meatballs, and red sauce). You can find this eatery on East Hastings Street, about 8 km east of Downtown Vancouver. It takes around 15 minutes by car or 35 minutes by public transport.