"Celebrity chefs Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala serve brightly spiced dishes at their flagship restaurant—often hailed as one of the world’s finest for Indian food. Their wine-marinated lamb popsicles are legendary, but their menu has other stars, too, like jackfruit in cumin-black-cardamom curry, boneless chicken wings on ricotta-sweet-potato cookies, and Punjabi-style goat meat with spiced vegetables. Thankfully, the lines have calmed since Vij’s 2015 move to bigger digs on Cambie Street, where guests can also enjoy a great rooftop patio. Wait times still too long? Try Vij’s Rangoli, just 1.4 miles west, which has shorter lines and accepts online takeout orders."

"Kissa Tanto One of Vancouver’s hottest supper clubs is hidden on the upper story of a faded Chinatown building. Kissa Tanto weds the delicate flavors of Japan with the warm embrace of Italian cooking, resulting in such creative dishes as Parmesan croquettes with plum curry sauce, and porchetta agnolotti with kelp-cured olives. The design here also blends the best of both worlds, paying tribute to both Hotel Okura Tokyo and Italian architect Gio Ponti. The result is a moody, intimate space, complete with a lipstick-red banquette against a pistachio wall. Named 2017’s top new restaurant by Canada’s 100 Best, Kissa Tanto typically requires reservations but holds some tables—as well as its 14-seat bar—for walk-ins."

"Best Thai, Best Asian, Best Overall: Maenam just keeps racking up the awards, often displacing fancier restaurants. Chef/owner Angus An has helped moved the needle at this Kitsilano spot, mixing a sexy, upscale vibe with accessible food. His menu balances heat with Thailand’s sour, sweet, bitter, and salty flavors, resulting in dishes like fermented pork sausage with lemongrass, fried shallots, and curried rice puffs, and eight-spice lingcod with tamarind sauce. The same creativity pervades the drinks menu, which ranges from white cardamom kombucha to turmeric-and-ginger-infused añejo rum. In addition to Maenam, Chef An owns Sen Pad Thai, a more casual spot that has moved inside the Granville Island Public Market."

"Thierry Born in Auvergne, Thierry Busset trained with European masters before taking his pastry prowess to London ’s Le Gavroche and Marco Pierre White (both of which peaked at three Michelin stars). His talent even tamed the famously mercurial Gordon Ramsay, who called Busset “one of the finest pastry chefs in the world.” Nestled on Alberni Street (which is rapidly turning into Vancouver ’s version of Rodeo Drive), Busset’s eponymous café is constantly bustling. Pop in for the pillowy macarons , but stay for the soups, quiches, and sandwiches crafted with house-baked bread. Open until midnight daily, the chic eatery also serves spiked drinks, perfect for sipping on the gorgeous heated patio. If you have your heart set on a particular treat, swing by early—fan favorites can easily sell out before noon."

"The owners of this classic Gastown bar are not only Irish but also work on-site, making the Heather a soulful antidote to all the faux-Gaelic watering holes out there. The old country agrees: The 2017 Irish Whiskey Awards named it the Best Irish Whiskey Experience Winner North America. The accolade is thanks, in part, to the gastropub’s back room. Somewhere between a snug and a speakeasy, the Shebeen boasts more than 200 bottles of the “water of life,” as the Scots and Irish call it. Also on-site is Salt, an artisanal tasting room featuring cheeses like Saint-André triple-crème Brie, and coffee-and-lavender-rubbed cheddar alongside small-batch meats like bresaola and fennel-flavored salami."

"Red cedar walls cast a rosy glow over this 28-seat Kitsilano nook, which Air Canada named as the country’s fourth best new restaurant in 2017. Here, chef-owners Makoto Ono and Amanda Cheng reprise the Asian flavors and French techniques that brought them fame at Gastown’s PiDGiN. The couple keeps thing simple with prix-fixe dinner menus made up of seasonal, sustainable ingredients, which evolve every few weeks. Expect innovative dishes that draw from Ono’s Japanese background, like kombu-cured snapper with tofu sauce, and a crispy buckwheat pancake over foraged greens and matcha-infused panko crunchies. For dessert, look forward to Cheng’s sublime sweets. Note: The restaurant requests at least 48 hours’ notice to prepare vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives."

"Botanist Set inside the stylish Fairmont Pacific Rim, Botanist celebrates the abundant sea, soil, and culinary imagination of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to a glass-walled garden with more than 50 plant species, the restaurant features a bar, a champagne room, and a cocktail lab. Start your visit with innovative drinks like the Deep Cove (Island Spirits gin and sea buckthorn) and the Candy Cap Magic (mushroom rye, vermouth, and spiced maple, served atop a bed of moss in a terrarium fogged with dry ice—just one of the spectacular custom goblets here). Then, move on to a mouthwatering meal that could include pan-seared scallops with green apple, or roasted Wagyu with celeriac and nettles. Even the snacks have style, ranging from house-marinated olives to spicy merguez lamb sausage with pickled cauliflower."

"This hip intimate restaurant in Mount Pleasant serves a vibrant menu full of clean, crisp flavors. Chef Andrea Carlson—a passionate organic gardener and student of landscape design—also runs the excellent ramen house/grocery store Harvest Community Foods, but her skills shine brightest at Burdock & Co. Here, the dining room has an old-world apothecary vibe, complete with wooden benches, communal tables, whitewashed brick walls, and antique silver cutlery. Settle in for the family-style menu for $65 per person, or order à la carte gems like seared eggplant with basil and chilies, and sumac-dusted grilled artichokes with walnut brown butter. Other favorites include crispy fried chicken, miso-caramel-glazed duck leg, and an autumn custard of steamed sea urchin. Wash it all down with a bottle from the award-winning list of naturalist winemakers, who eschew chemicals and industrial techniques."

"Go for the distinctive, locally made gifts, but linger for the cuisine at this cozy shop-meets-bistro on Granville Island, right in the heart of Vancouver. Start with a beverage, which could be anything from a gluten-free Forager Lager to a bold Tinhorn Creek cabernet franc to a cocktail like the Manhattan, made from duck-fat-infused Alberta Dark Horse rye and cherrywood bitters. Then, move on to classic dishes that demonstrate the bounty of Canada, such as grilled bison, gluten-free fish-and-chips, and tomato soup with crispy chickpeas and chermoula (a Moroccan herb sauce). Passionate for poutine? Don’t miss Edible Canada’s hand-cut fries, glazed with a delicious gravy made from roasted Fraser Valley duck."

"H2 Rotisserie & Bar This craft-brew-and-comfort-food hot spot is snuggled into the Westin Bayshore, which sits on the 17-mile Seawall (the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path). Overlooking the garden and Burrard Inlet, it offers 16 local taps and roasted free-range chicken from the Fraser Valley, perfect for pairing with yam fries, grilled asparagus, and panko-crusted onion rings. While the menu relies heavily on B.C.’s superb surf and turf, it also welcomes vegetarians with dishes like kale-quinoa salad, and truffle risotto with spring peas and wild mushrooms."

"Miku Vancouver is home to some of the best sushi outside of Japan, and this waterfront restaurant is no exception. Opened in 2008, Miku introduced the city to Aburi-style cuisine, which involves nigiri with grilled fish. Start your meal with the salmon oshi —tiny bricks of sustainable, Ocean Wise–approved fish, flame-seared and topped with disks of jalapeño. Also worthy of attention are more filling dishes like the marbled, beautifully tender Joshu Wagyu steak, served with ponzu, wasabi pickles, pink Himalayan salt, daikon radish, and garlic-sake soy sauce for an umami kick. If you’re in the mood to celebrate, opt for the kaiseki-style chef’s tasting menu, an exquisite presentation of seasonal flavors on artisan-made Arita pottery."

"A bijou little nook in the up-and-coming South Main neighborhood, The Acorn is a haven of haute vegetarian cuisine. Chef Brian Luptak weaves foraged flair into bold, complex dishes, like smoked-onion kelp sauce on roasted king oyster mushrooms and parsley-root dumplings with pickled Pacific crabapples. Only one entrée remains steady through the seasons: the sublime beer-battered halloumi. The cocktails show this same “sea and forest-centric” philosophy, often playing with ingredients such as quince syrup and fennel oil. With just 45 seats, the restaurant can’t accommodate big groups, but this sophisticated spot rolls out a genuinely warm, enthusiastic welcome to all its patrons."

"Co-founder and Chef Felix Zhou originally hails from southwest China sets the tone at this hip “fast-casual” restaurant, where Edison bulbs hang over a long communal wooden table and diner queue up for counter service. The no-frills menu billboards could easily stunt-double in a 1950s snack shack, except for dishes like Dan Dan noodles, salmon bowls with yuzu citrus dressing, crispy xiao long bao and stir-fried bok choy. A local favorite remains the pork belly bao with kimchi daikon , crispy onion and hoisin sauce, adding a tangy twist. Heritage Asian Eatery’s style may be breezy and straightforward, but the dishes are full of delicious nuance. In early 2019, the restaurant opened a second location in the Mount Pleasant area (382 W Broadway)."

"Routinely crowned the city’s top seafood restaurant, Blue Water Cafe is also among the continent’s best. After honing his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, executive chef Frank Pabst opened this Yaletown classic to marry fine-dining techniques with local, sustainable ingredients. Eventually, the restaurant became a founding member of the Ocean Wise program, which helps consumers make ocean-friendly seafood choices. When visiting, you can belly up to the bar—which boasts more than 200 whiskeys and 1,000 wine labels—or reserve a table in the elegant brick-and-beamed dining room, housed in a heritage warehouse. Come summertime, however, you’ll want to head straight to the patio for sushi and premium sake. Fancy a splurge? Go for the seafood tower, which showcases the bounty of British Columbia."

"This urban icon started as a hippie food truck housed in a surf shop parking lot on Vancouver Island. It has since blossomed into three restaurants, two burrito bars, a taco joint, and two food trucks, located everywhere from Hastings-Sunrise and Yaletown to Gastown and the Financial District. Chef Stefan Hartmann, who once ran a Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin, now captains these elevated spots along with founder Jason Sussman. Expect nuanced options like chorizo-kale, pork al pastor with pineapple, and chicken with pickled vegetables, all on soft wheat tortillas for six to seven dollars. Also noteworthy are the meat-free dishes like “vegetable scrapple”—a delicious fritter of squash and chickpeas, topped with herbed tomatoes. And don’t overlook the octopus tostada—Tacofino not only sources seafood sustainably but also participates in Vancouver’s Climate Smart program and is working toward being a zero-waste business."

"A small, welcoming bistro, Salmon n’ Bannock is Vancouver’s only First Nations restaurant. The special here is the bannock, a quick, round flatbread that serves as a vehicle for anything from cedar jam to pudding, elk salami, and candied salmon. Also worth noting are the game meats and sustainable, Ocean Wise–approved seafood dishes. If you’re vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, try the Medicine Wheel Bannock Flatbread, which comes topped with roasted peppers, sautéed mushrooms, spaghetti squash, parsnips, and fresh herb pesto. Omnivores can add boar bacon for extra protein, but instead you should just go right for the braised bison back ribs, served with house-made barbecue sauce."

"The longest lines in the city form every day at Café Medina, a haven of Mediterranean-inspired breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch dishes in the Library District. The decor here feels like a minimalist version of 1920s Paris , with aged walls, mismatched light fixtures, and a mosaic entranceway. Equally charming, the eclectic bistro fare ranges from pistachio-rosewater Belgian waffles to halloumi couscous and a harissa burger, spiked with preserved lemon and tucked into a pita with baba ghanoush and two fried eggs. Don’t miss the blistered flatbread, ideally paired with the honey-black-pepper mascarpone side. And finish with a lavender latte, a house-made turmeric soda, or a superb craft cocktail. If you don’t want to wait, skirt the crowds by visiting Tuesdays or Wednesdays for lunch, or arriving at 2 p.m. (an hour before last call)."

"Just 25 minutes in either direction from downtown Vancouver and the U.S. border lies Richmond, where 65 percent of residents can claim minority status and almost half have Chinese heritage. It makes sense, then, that the town is also home to 4 Stones Vegetarian, a renowned restaurant specializing in Taiwanese cuisine, from spicy sesame vegetables to fried bean curd rolls in kung pao sauce. While 4 Stones serves mock meat, the best dishes are full of fresh, deftly handled vegetables—don’t miss the vegan gyoza, deep-fried curried broccoli, and stir-fried bitter melon with oolong tea. The simple decor and casual service may give some diners pause, but know that many vegans and vegetarians consider the scrumptious, plant-based fare among North America’s best Chinese food. Make a reservation for parties of five or more."

"Constructed in the Chinese imperial style in 1983, the International Buddhist Temple (also known as the Guan Yin Temple) welcomes all visitors, regardless of ethnicity or religion. The Richmond complex—located 13 miles south of downtown Vancouver—also boasts a meat-free restaurant, which blends Western cuisine with Asian classics and, often, vegetables grown right on the grounds. Look forward to stuffed eggplant, a flaky taro pastry with wild mushrooms, and fried spring rolls stuffed with banana and durian, among other delicacies. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Taste of Zen accepts donations for its efforts, asking for a minimum of $18 per person."

"This airy, elegant Richmond eatery celebrates the fusion of French and southern-central Vietnamese cultures in its look and menu. Chef/owner Lan Do and her team painstakingly bake baguettes daily and simmer beef bones for 12 to 15 hours for the pho stock, enriched by onion, ginger, shallots, star anise, cinnamon and cardamom. Another standout: the banh khot , petite savory rice crepes tinged with turmeric that cradle shrimp. Finish with macrons and a TWG tea from Singapore . Note: Bánh Mì Très Bon has slightly elevated prices for a restaurant tucked near the Walmart Super Centre, but that’s only because it sources as locally, sustainably and organically as possible—the same nutritious food Do would serve her own family."