Dining Archives - West Coast Food

Vancouver January 6, 2025

Dine Out Vancouver Returns with More Tasty Ways to Tour the City

The tastiest, time-honoured tradition returns to Metro Vancouver to keep us warm and well-fed through the winter—Dine Out! Running from January 22 – February 9, if your resolution was to tour through some of the best eateries of the city, here’s your chance! For the uninitiated, Dine Out Vancouver is a celebration of local restaurants, chefs, artisans, and foragers. The annual foodie festival offers a delicious way to kick off the year by trying new things and sampling new flavours. So consider this your official invite to take a break from the holiday leftovers, and dig into the wonderful world cuisine of the West Coast food scene Participating restaurants will feature exclusive menu options that often let guests try the breadth of flavours on their main menu, while offerring a bit of a discounted price. It’s the perfect chance for an overdue friend catch up, a solo dinner to decompress,…

Indian food in Metro Vancouver October 31, 2024

Beyond Butter Chicken: Indian Restaurants in Metro Vancouver Showcasing Regional Cuisines

By Mithalee Rawat When people think of Indian food, butter chicken often comes to mind. It is hardly surprising – the creamy, tangy, mildly spiced sauce with the succulent chicken pieces is truly a creation of culinary genius—and a crowd pleaser. However, this dish represents just a small fraction of the diverse Indian culinary landscape. The richness of Indian cuisine extends far beyond butter chicken, with each region offering its own seasonal flavours and sophisticated cooking techniques. One reason traditional Indian dishes haven’t gained global recognition is the vast variety of cooking styles and ingredients found throughout India. Even within the country, many are unfamiliar with the extensive range of regional recipes. Fortunately, the Lower Mainland of BC is a melting pot of Indian flavours, thanks to a growing community of immigrants from different parts of India. This diversity has introduced us to an array of authentic dishes that…

Dining in Metro Vancouver October 16, 2024

Catching up on the New Vancouver Michelin Guide Picks

If you’re like us, and you keep a dedicated list of YVR restaurants you want to try, get ready to add a few more points of interest to the map! The Michelin Guide recently announced which local spots it would be adding to its list of notable eateries in the city, and we’re ready to dig in. Keeping with the high standards that Michelin is known for, there were only two new additions this year, but the restaurants that did make the cut are well deserving of the spotlight. One Michelin Star Sushi Masuda – Vancouver This intimate sushi bar tucked into Coal Harbour is the latest locale to earn a coveted star. With modest Japanese decor, Chef-owner Yoji Masuda lets guests focus on his unrivalled omakase service. The fact that Masuda only opened in March of this year is extra impressive and speaks to the meteoric rise of the…

Westcoast Food Contests October 10, 2024

Treat Yourself Before the Holidays With A Langley City Staycation Package

Fall in Metro Vancouver is always a beautifully colourful affair, worth stopping and savouring each moment. The long days of summer give way to early evenings, crisp air, and an unmistakable cozy atmosphere. It’s the perfect opportunity to dig out your favourite sweater and make the most of the new season with a staycation! This time, we’ve put together a delicious and relaxing itinerary around Langley City so you can fully recharge before the holiday season arrives. Because once you’re standing in the grocery store and you hear that first playing of “Feliz Navidad” a full six weeks before the holiday break, it will officially be too late! Just consider this pre-holiday outing of culture and cuisine a little gift to yourself—and you don’t even need to wrap it up. All you have to do is enter to win it! Here’s a peek at what you’ll be up to if…

Festivals & Events September 25, 2024

October 2024 Foodie Events in Metro Vancouver

Autumn is the season when our palates open up to foods with a bit more spice, a bit more sweetness, and a lot more flavour! October has arrived with plenty of opportunities to dazzle your taste buds, whether with pumpkin pie, apple cider or whatever your go-to Halloween treats are. Let’s dig in and see what foodie events in Metro Vancouver are arriving with this year’s harvest! Navrati Festival, October 3 – 13 Navrati is an annual Hindu festival observed in the honour of the goddess Durga, and this year’s festival in Surrey includes an exciting lineup of musicians from India and Gujarati refreshments Riverside Signature Banquet Hall, 13030 76th Ave, Surrey Harvest Haus Festival, October 4-5 Pull out your lederhosen, and prepare for a weekend of beer, bratwurst and authentic European festivities at the 8th annual Harvest Haus in East Vancouver. Celebrated as one the most fun events of…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver September 11, 2024

Welcome To the World of Themed Restaurants in Metro Vancouver

As foodies, we’ve all run into those people who insist that they can make food better themselves. Whatever cuisine you suggest, Thai, Ukrainian, Ethiopian… “Nah, we can have that at home.” For many of us, this is our mother. Thankfully, no matter how skilled they are as a chef, there’s a reliable checkmate argument you can use against these culinary naysayers: the themed restaurant. Where else can you sip cocktails in a tropical tiki shack, or enjoy brown sugar bubble tea in a candy-colour room filled with cat plushies? The following local Metro Vancouver spots are all about an experience you can’t get at home, no matter how much your mom tries to tell you otherwise! MAKCHANG DODOOK- Coquitlam 1150 Austin Ave #100, Coquitlam, BC If you’ve ever wondered what the food is like in prison, here’s your chance to find out (ok, this is likely far better, but stay…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver September 4, 2024

Gotta Try ‘Em: 7 New Metro Vancouver Restaurants

Summer ‘24 was a busy season for Metro Vancouver’s ever-evolving culinary scene. Exciting new concepts and additions to established local favourites were popping up everywhere, and still going! Here are 7 new and upcoming restaurants to check out this Fall. Dehl’s Gourmet – New Westminster New West’s Dehls Gourmet specializes in authentic Ghanaian cuisine from chef and owner Delali Adiamah who brings her rich heritage and culinary expertise to traditional dishes like Jollof Rice, Honey Jerk Chicken, and Kelewele. From its humble beginnings as a catering service, Dehl’s now serves not only as a place to grab a delicious meal, but also to learn about a culture under-represented in Metro Vancouver’s dining scene. 906 Quayside Drive, New Westminster Little Pisces – Burnaby First-time restaurateurs Linda Dai and Jacky Tian are bringing another first to a Metro Vancouver dessert shop. A popular street-food in Japan, Taiyaki is a traditional fish-shaped pastry…

Dining in Metro Vancouver August 14, 2024

Dehls Gourmet Opens in New Westminster

On July 27th, the vibrant culinary scene of Metro Vancouver welcomed a new gem with the grand opening of Dehls Gourmet. Nestled in New Westminster, this restaurant marks a significant milestone for foodies in the region, offering an authentic taste of Ghanaian cuisine that has long been missing from the local dining landscape. Delali Adiamah, the visionary behind Dehls Gourmet, brings a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and culinary expertise to her new establishment. Growing up in Ghana, cooking has been an intrinsic part of Adiamah’s life. Her passion for hearty, well-nourished meals and her love for experimenting with diverse flavours inspired her to introduce traditional Ghanaian dishes to Vancouver. With a background in food service and manufacturing, Adiamah’s mission is clear: to deliver delicious, consistent, nutritious, and culturally thoughtful food to her community. Dehls Gourmet started its culinary journey as a catering service, quickly making a name for itself…

Seafood in Metro Vancouver July 18, 2024

Bow & Stern Set To Open At The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby

Family owned and operated Bow & Stern is a Fraser Valley based seafood restaurant brand, with locations in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. Now, they’re about to open in Metro Vancouver for the first time in Burnaby’s food focused The Amazing Brentwood, aiming for early August. The new 5,000 square foot restaurant will feature all the delicious ocean-inspired dishes they’re known and loved for, including fresh oysters at a centrepiece oyster bar, impressive seafood platters and towers, and of course their classic fish n’ chips. With 160 seats indoors and 60 seats on the patio, expect both happy hour and dinner, plus weekend brunches being hinted at. North Vancouver-based Humphries Construction Group has designed the gorgeous space with kelp-green velvet seating, plenty of lush plant life, and cheeky octopus wallpaper. The L-shaped bar is where you’ll want to hang, lingering over a bowl of mussels and a glass of wine. Or a New York Sour…

Indigenous Cuisine in Metro Vancouver June 3, 2024

Indigenous-Owned Restaurants in Metro Vancouver

June is Indigenous History Month, with June 21st marking National Indigenous Peoples Day, so we invite you to celebrate the occasion with these local Metro Vancouver Indigenous food spots. Each of these Indigenous-owned restaurants, eateries, and small-batch producers offers the opportunity to savour local ingredients and flavours as they’re woven into traditional and contemporary recipes. When you visit these culinary gems this month (and year-round), you’re not only supporting small businesses but also the culture of Metro Vancouver’s first people—an important step as we collectively move towards reconciliation. Once you’ve sampled the delicious menus of each, you can continue your foodie tour outside of Vancouver with more culinary delights in Whistler, Squamish, Shushwap and beyond. Visit Indigenous Tourism BC to discover other Lower Mainland gems you might be missing. You can use this guide to spruce up your travel plans with some added wellness opportunities, and outdoor adventure ideas. Salmon…

Cafés in Metro Vancouver April 18, 2024

Tayybeh Lives Up To Its Name In Vancouver

Kitsilano’s Tayybeh offers a unique culinary experience with authentic Syrian fare prepared by a team of all-women newcomer cooks. Tayybeh means good, positive, and delicious in Arabic. True to its name, this restaurant in the heart of old Kits feels welcoming and fun, featuring pops of bright white and fuchsia, brimming with natural light and redolent of spiced dishes and rich coffee. “We initially thought of opening as a café,” says Nihal Elwan, Tayybeh’s founder, “but soon our guests made it clear that they are expecting a full-service dining experience.” Tayybeh is a social enterprise that creates stable employment to empower refugee and newcomer women from Syria and other parts of the Middle East. Though Tayybeh is just in its sophomore year as a brick-and-mortar location, Elwan and her team have been serving Vancouverites a taste of Syria “just the way they cook at home” for years. Since 2015, the…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver March 1, 2024

Women-Owned Eateries Around Metro Vancouver

International Women’s Day is just around the corner, and we’re celebrating some of our region’s incredible chefs and restaurateurs with a guide to fabulous female-led businesses you’re going to want to check out! By Avneet Takhar Pampanga Cuisine – Vancouver Edith Malang, who fed frontline nurses during the throes of COVID-19 with her comforting Filipino food, has seen her business grow to two Vancouver locations due to its popularity! From breakfast plates such as Longsilog (rice and Filipino style sausage) all the way through to Combo Meals (any dish, with rice and soup) and meat dishes consisting of favourites such as Crispy Sisig (chunks of pork, chillies and ginger), Malang makes sure you’re well taken care of. Instagram Get there by transit: The R4 or number 8 buses will take you to the Fraser location and Joyce station is a 1 minute walk from the other site. Burdock & Co…

Patios February 6, 2024

The Ultimate Guide to Heated Winter Patios in Metro Vancouver

It’s that time of the year, folks: Hygge! But instead of hibernating indoors (boring!), why not take it outside by a roaring heated winter patio in the company of friends and delicious eats? Here are our top 5 cozy outdoor spots in Metro Vancouver. By Avneet Takhar Paratha 2 Pasta – Vancouver The hottest new spot to drop in Vancouver, which opened at the end of 2023 after its success in Surrey, is a second location serving up parathas, a savoury Indian flatbread usually slathered with makhan (butter). With a year-round front heated winter patio you can “people watch” Yaletown (all the more entertaining on a Friday night!), as you devour paranthas generously filled with classic stuffings. The MVPs are aloo (potato), gobi (cauliflower) or mooli (radish). There’s also the chance to let loose with the adventurous fusions they feature, including the pastas and P2P favourite: Loaded Fries with butter…

Westcoast Food Contests November 8, 2023

Win a Weekend Getaway in Coquitlam

Holiday season is just around the corner, and your calendar is probably already filling up with get-togethers with friends, holiday activities for the family, holiday parties, and wrapping up work for the year, not to mention hitting shops in the busiest season to find gifts for all the special people in your life. It’s a hectic season, so don’t forget to schedule in some time to slow down and relax between all the festive fun. Unwind for the weekend and treat yourself to a restful staycation in beautiful Coquitlam this holiday season, one of the best kept secrets of the Lower Mainland! The cooler weather provides the perfect opportunity to slip on your coat and scarf to explore the city, do a little bit of holiday gift shopping, and cozy up indoors enjoying the best of Coquitlam’s culinary scene at local restaurants and cafes. Coquitlam for a Weekend Day 1…

Dining in Metro Vancouver April 12, 2023

Surrey’s Grandt Kitchen & Filipino Restaurant Month

The second annual National Filipino Restaurant Month takes place during the month of April, and we want to celebrate. Our favourite way? With food of course! By Catherine Dunwoody First launched in April of 2022, the intention of this culinary spotlight is to promote Filipino cuisine in Canada, especially the restaurants, the chefs, and highlighting traditional dishes using ingredients from the Philippines. One restaurant, Grandt Kitchen located in Surrey, offers a wide range of food that tastes like home to Filipinos in Canada, and an introduction to an ethnic cuisine many have never tried. In 2015 the small restaurant first opened in an industrial area in Surrey, followed by a move in 2018 to open Grandt Kitchen Filipino Cuisine with a capacity of 100 people. In 2019, a second location opened on Joyce Street, and the owners proudly serve the community with the cuisine they love to share. Dive into traditional…

Dine the Line April 4, 2023

The Plant-Based Path – Food You Can Feel Good About

Appreciating the natural abundance of the region through healthy lifestyle choices and ecologically sustainable day-to-day practices are a part of West Coast culture, resulting in an impressive range of restaurants that offer mindful meals and tasty treats that celebrate a plant-based diet, from grab-and-go cafes to upscale dining. In Metro Vancouver, eating your greens isn’t a punishment, it’s a delicious (and nutritious) reward. Serving up more than just salad, Dine the Line’s Plant-Based Path Itinerary features Vegetarian, Vegan and health-conscious plant-forward menus across North Vancouver and Vancouver, all located within a 15 minute walk from a SkyTrain, SeaBus Station, or RapidBus stop. By Marisa Chandler The Workshop Vegetarian Café – North Vancouver Hop on the 2 RapidBus and make the Workshop Vegetarian Café your first stop, just a six minute dash from Pemberton Ave and Marine Drive in North Vancouver. This Japanese-inspired vegetarian café and store is also a plant-based…

Dining in Metro Vancouver March 17, 2023

Best Barcades & Board Game Bars in and around Metro Vancouver

For people nostalgic for the arcade, those who love busting out board games at the cabin, or even if you simply don’t know how to sit still when there’s a lull in the conversation, barcades and board game bars are here to make sure you and your whole table are entertained. If you and your friends are tired of playing against each other online, make your next game night a social one. Whether you like to roll dice, or you’d rather show off how you earned your pinball champion crown, there’s a games bar for you and your game-loving friends. Come for the drinks and snacks, and stay to play! Here are a few of our favourite game bars that are great for your whole crew (or even just a match of one on one) across Metro Vancouver. By Marisa Chandler Burnaby The Rec Room Serving up burgers and fries…

Dine the Line March 17, 2023

Brunch to Brews – A Leisurely Day in Langley

Local history meets luscious farmland in picturesque Langley! Visitors can easily while away the hours exploring the culinary gems of Langley Township and Fort Langley, taking their palates for some site seeing. Start with a leisurely brunch and wander, sampling beer flights at the local pubs, or catch up with friends at one of Langley’s many cozy cafes and restaurants- just a few ways to spend a sunny day! From omelets to ales, you’ll have a day full of adventure and new experiences when you explore with Dine the Line’s Brunch to Brews in Langley itinerary. Hop on the #562 Langley Centre Bus and learn about why so many people love Langley! By Marisa Chandler Langley Egg Bomb Egg Bomb is a beloved all-day breakfast and lunch spot serving up fresh twists on traditional brunch classics. Indulge in a plate of fruity croffles (croissant-waffles covered in fresh berries and whip)…

Metro Vancouver Chef Stories March 8, 2023

Flavours of Hope Helps Support Immigrant & Refugee Women Chefs in Vancouver

Creating social change via her community and culinary enterprise Flavours of Hope, Trixie Ling is removing barriers for newcomer immigrant and refugee women in fulfilling their dreams – to own food businesses that represent their cultures, with a feeling of belonging. Based in Vancouver, Flavours of Hope currently has women food business owners from Burnaby, Vancouver and New Westminster enlisted in the Dream Cuisine program, and partners with Coho in their commissaries in East Vancouver to make their products availble across Metro Vancouver and beyond. We sat down with Founder Trixie Ling to find out more. By Avneet Takhar Flavours of Hope focuses on helping women refugees and training them to succeed. Can you tell us more about how it began and what your set-up involves? Flavours of Hope is a non-profit that envisions a society where newcomer refugee and immigrant women thrive through cooking, community-building, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. Our mission is to…

Dine the Line February 6, 2023

Grab a BC Ale Trail Passport and Map Your Transit Route with Dine the Line

If you’re looking to plan out a route of Metro Vancouver’s best restaurants/breweries, you can expect to encounter mental gridlock pretty quickly! There are just too many options to pick from. However, there is hope for fledgling foodies looking to cross names off their local “to-try” list. Curated eating/drinking paths are available through handy programs like Dine the Line and The BC Ale Trail. Each one provides notable restaurant and brewery stops easily accessible along local transit routes. It’s definitely a delicious way to get from A to B. From New West to White Rock via a pulled pork sandwich and an IPA. From Coquitlam through Burnaby by way of a cobb salad with dressing on the side. Not sure where to start? Try these maps on, and see what your appetite is. Tasting Passport – Try a Local Brewery, Collect Stamps and Win this February Once you’ve had dinner,…

Festivals & Events January 27, 2023

February Foodie Events in Metro Vancouver

Ah February, the month of love. And there’s nothing we love around here more than food. So may we present February, the month of food-love, and all the ways to celebrate it around Metro Vancouver. Hot Chocolate Festival, now to February 14th Greater Vancouver’s “sweetest” celebration returns for its 13th year, larger and more creative than ever, in support of small businesses, local charity organizations and of course, all things hot and chocolate. The region’s best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, and ice cream makers are joining forces to elevate the humble hot chocolate into something like drinkable art. Check out the interactive map and see how many you can sip before they’re gone! BC Ale Trail x Dine the Line Tasting Passports, February 1st-28th Grab a Tasting Passport and collect stamps at breweries across Metro Vancouver for your chance to win one of five getaway packages from the BC…

Dine the Line January 25, 2023

Dine the Line: Bring the Family

Wondering where to eat with the family in Metro Vancouver? These transit-friendly options will keep you dining car-free. Enjoying a meal together as a family is an indispensable bonding experience—add exploring Metro Vancouver and you’re bound to keep your family engaged and entertained as well as create lasting memories. Family Day is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to gather your crew and hop on the transit for a fun-filled family excursion chowing down across Metro Vancouver. For parents or activity organizers in the family, finding just the right crowd-pleasers for a mixed group of adventurous diners and picky eaters across ages can seem like a tricky challenge, but luckily there are lots of transit-accessible options serving up delicious family-friendly fare, from exciting international flavours to traditional comfort food favourites. Check out Dine the Line’s Bring the Family Itinerary to explore family dining using the Canada Line…

Metro Vancouver Chef Stories August 19, 2015

Vikram Vij’s Delectable Delights in and around Surrey

Just an hour’s drive from Vancouver lies one of the region’s most delicious culinary destinations: from wineries and cheese makers, to one of the country’s most exciting Indian restaurants, the area surrounding Langley and Surrey has it all. Celebrity chef and famed restaurateur, Vikram Vij is one of the region’s most ardent fans, “It’s like being in the countryside without having to go far from the city,” he enthuses. “You can rent a car and drive through the mountains and past the ocean, you don’t have to take a plane or a ferry, it’s right here and the best of the best foods come from this area. We’re so lucky to have everything to make a great culinary destination right in our backyard.” It’s an area that many visitors might miss out on, but Vikram says they’ll be missing a treat if they do– and he has a few recommendations…

Sweets August 7, 2015

Glenburn Soda Fountain

By Nikki Bayley If you want a sweet taste of BC in a glass, leave the downtown core and jump on a 135 bus which will take you straight along Hastings Street and deliver you to Glenburn Soda Fountain and Confectionary in the heart of Burnaby Heights. As a residential area dotted with historic heritage houses, it’s not necessarily somewhere that most visitors would see, but fans of ice cream and soda fountains need to add Glenburn to their itineraries; you’ll be delighted that you did. Once you’re in the parlour and take a seat at the shining counter, prepare to enter a world of delicious indecision: what should you order? So many choices! From milkshakes, malteds and egg creams to piled-high sundaes with a myriad of flavours, everything looks so tempting; but it’s when you discover that it’s you’re getting a truly local flavour that things get interesting… Owners…

Brunch in Metro Vancouver August 7, 2015

Three Unique Breakfast Spots in Abbotsford

Watch the sun come up over the mountains, and then start your day exploring Abbotsford with a hearty country breakfast. Local food lover, Robyn Roste, has three favorite diners she recommends in Downtown Abbotsford: O’Neill’s Home Cooking “Found just off the beaten path this breakfast and lunch take-out joint is best-known for the O’Neill Classic: a homemade (every morning) sweet potato bun topped with egg, cheese, ham, mayo, and honey mustard. Owner Vernon O’Neill promises if you eat there once, you’ll bring a friend next time. What more could you want?” 33771 Gosling Way, Abbotsford 604-746-4048 Mitch Miller’s “Located in the heart of downtown, Mitch Miller’s offers a huge breakfast menu including a wide selection of omelets, pancakes, and sizzlers. With gluten-free and vegetarian options as well as classic breakfast choices, there’s something for everyone at Mitch Miller’s.” 33758 Essendene Avenue, Abbotsford 604-853-2425 Ann Marie’s Cafe “Abbotsford’s only 50s-style diner…

Where to Eat in Metro Vancouver August 5, 2015

Food Street: 3 blocks, 200 Restaurants, in Richmond BC

By Visit Richmond BC Known locally as “Wai Sek Kai” or “Food Street,” Alexandra Road has been a dining destination created by locals for locals for as long as anyone can remember. Easily accessible by SkyTrain, Food Street is right in the heart of the Golden Village and runs from busy No. 3 Road to Garden City Road (between Lansdowne and Aberdeen malls.) It has evolved organically over the years, especially in the last decade, with new restaurateurs attracted by the success of their colleagues and new immigrants searching for a likely place to share the foods of their homeland. Now nearly 200 eateries strong, cuisine ranges from humble noodle shops to grand Cantonese banquet rooms. The street itself is a jumble of strip malls, each one a warren of eateries adorned with bright, colourful signs advertising hot pot or pho, dim sum or sushi. Interspersed among them are a…