Save On Meats

This place is a MUST if you're seeking a hearty Vancouver breakfast or lunch at the right price without sacrificing flavour! I had their breakfast special (two eggs, hash-browns, sourdough toast, and bacon). The hash-browns were AMAZING and unlike any I have had before - almost deep-fried. The atmosphere boasted a very "hipster" feel - a great local funky place for a great meal. Sorry about the picture of the empty plates. I had intended to get a picture of the food, but once I started eating, I couldn't stop! 😆

This place is one of Vancouver's hidden gems. I love the food, the atmosphere and the staff are super cool. Peices are great especially when you factor in the fact they make their own bbq sauce. Parking is close by but I prefer to take transit and walk. Neighborhood might look a bit sketchy but I have never had a problem.

One of my favourites in Van! They have great comfort foods, a chill attitude and support the local community. I love in Sydney now and when I came back to Van with my new husband it was the first place I took him to eat. Thanks guys!!!

These were the best burgers I’ve had in many years. Beef patties right from scratch and the perfect crisp on the fries. Definitely going back to this place, don’t be taken back by the area of Vancouver. Staff are super friendly as well.

Looks really shady but this is one of those places where you are in for a surprise. The staff is real nice. The menu is diner style and the food is made fresh and tastes really good. The reason for the 4 star is that hey serve free sandwiches to homeless people and you also get complimentary cookies if they still have some.

One of the choice picks for diner food. Things are reasonably priced, but, better yet, tastes great! The tomato soup is rich. I love it. I've tried the waffle chicken. The waffle was a bit hard, but, otherwise, good. The Swiss burger is good too. Honestly, it's got good stuff here. Service wasn't always the best but you can live with it.

Went to the Persephone Snug pub that just opened, and it was so good! I had the vegan Lox bagel and it definitely reminded me of a classic salmon and cream cheese on a bagel. Our server Jess was very kind and gave me great recommendations on what to drink, the sour beer and the cider were so easy to drink. Will definitely be back.

A delicious spot dedicated to helping those in need. They give out sandwiches to the homeless. Anything additional (cookbooks, socks, etc) goes to a good cause. The staff is incredible and the food is great. Really filling.

Came here for brunch. I went totally salt overloaded, having eaten a heavy german meat-filled dish the night before. With a pounding headache and not much appetite, the all day breakfast just seemed like the right choice with the power to add a bit more food if I felt like it. The *classic som breakfast* includes 2 eggs, hashbrowns and toast. I couldn't help but order the bacon, because uh, even though I wasn't feeling great you obviously need to try the meat if you're at a place called Save On Meats! Oh man, the bacon did NOT disappoint. It has this smokey flavour (I kind of thought it was a hint of horseradish flavour) but it was damn tasty. The eggs were sunny side up, but nice colouring. Sourdough bread, always good but let me tell you..... those are the BEST HASHBROWNs I've had. They are different than the ones they had before apparently? IT was in a croquette kind of style this time, with some delicious herbs. I almost equate the potential addiction of these potato hashbrown croquettes, to the craving we all have for McDonald's hashbrowns. It was about $8 for a solid meal! Add a coffee for $3 and that's still a steal of a deal.

This a good diner to go to for all meals. Although the location is intimidating, it is an excellent dinner to eat comfort food. I tried it at first as a foodora delivery and ordered the Reuben sandwich, which was generously portioned. My second time trying the food and first time at the diner, I ordered the burger. It was fantastic as there was a deal for burger and beer. I got cider and matchstick fries. The staff was super friendly. The waiter made a mistake with my order and fixed it. I also liked the fact that you could buy someone a meal for a small sum of money. I will definitely come back as it is a hidden gem.

Flying pigs and dollar signs, I'm SOLD!! I used to drive by this place 20 years ago and the neighborhood was a mess, now you got hipsters, addicts and tourist all roaming around together. To quote the great Christopher Wallace "things done changed" My brother in law took me here for a little "snack". "We got our grub on, but didn't pig out." We split up the chicken and waffles and the cheeseburger. Both were good. Chicken n waffles - even though I've been to Roscoe's a ton, I still don't 100% get the obsession people have with this combo. But I do try it from time to time, because I love fried chicken and I love waffles. The problem here was the waffles just weren't that great. But the chicken was, it carried the dish to double thumbs up. The Gravy that came with it was awesome!!! The burger was good, but I was disappointed with the bacon. This place has a butcher shop, how was the bacon this whack?!? Kinda almost killed it for me. But the meat brought it back to reality. Clearly the butcher in the back was hard at work. The meat was awesome, and so were the shredded fries. I didn't think I'd like it, but "me likey" Now the service and decor of this place were fantastic. Very nice, helpful staff and amazing paintings and pictures in the place. I was taking pictures of the walls of this near empty restaurant ( it was like 2:00), when I heard a belligerent guy yelling at me "don't take my F'ing picture". It took me a second to figure out it was a 5'6, dirty looking, junkie version of Brad Pitt in an 1980's Canucks hat getting all fired up. I said Brad Pitt because somehow he thought I was paparazzo. Bizarre. The server behind the bar deescalated the situation between Brad and I. Like I said the staff was on point. But I also think Brad realized I'm 6'3" 255lbs. The place is very good, don't get the bacon and you'll be just fine.

I gotta admit: I was scared to go to Save On Meats. I had pictured some scary, greasy burger pit in the back of a stinky butcher shop. Not to mention the neighborhood is, well, sketchy. But the lure of a good burger (and Yelp reminding me I was only .1 kilometer away) finally brought me in, and I'm glad I went. First, the place is CLEAN! It's bright, kitschy, trendy, and (dare I say) modern with a mid-century vibe. Yes, there's a butcher shop attached but it's completely separate from the restaurant. So there's no chance of slipping in meat blood on your way to your table. Phew! We decided to sit at the counter, where we were greeted with prompt and friendly smile. We shared a pint of Persephone Amber (only $5 on weekends, which is an amaze-balls craft pint price in a city where they usually go for around $8), and a double burger with bacon, cheddar, and all the trimmings. The meat was really good, nice quality and a good reminder that a burger really is defined by the goodness of its meat. Well, this one did not disappoint (though the patties were a little smaller than I expected). Be sure to order their "special sauce" which is probably just mustard and ketchup mixed with mayo but it's still delicious! I perused the menu quite a bit and decided that brunch will be a necessity here at some point in the near future. They serve it until 4 pm on weekends, and they have a yummy-looking Caesar, so I'm in on this plan. We also got a sneak peek at their new menu (don't worry, they're keeping all of the old faves including the build-your-own burger) and it looked amazing. Dulce de Leche waffles? Um, yes please!

Walked into SOM for the first time and I was like wow. It's 70's retro themed restaurant which offers really good food. We got Salisbury Steak and Hot Chicken Sandwich and boy they were good. Salisbury Steak ($11.95)- tasted alright. Hot Chicken Sandwich ($8.95)- yummy and flavorful. I had to say fries were amazing. Service was friendly and fast. I regret not ordering their signature milkshake, damn. Everything was really good. I still find their fries unforgettable and will come back absolutely.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and when we happened by it today we stopped in for lunch. Inside it's just as cool as I was expecting it to be. Old 50's style diner serving up diner food. My partner and I each had burgers. Mine with onion rings (which were perfect). My burger was quite delicious, but nothing beats a Five Guys burger. Still very good though. Our server was great. Loved him. He sure had a different look going on. Super good service from our uber cute server.

Have you ever experienced one of the collaboration dinners at Save On Meats in Vancouver? Then your missing out! Every month, Save on Meats hosts an exquisite four course meal paired with drinks, and I have to tell you, it's out of this world! With world renowned chefs and an amazing fine-dining meal, not to mention award winning bartenders stirring up a storm some of the finest cocktails, beer & wine that pair perfectly with each course. The best part? This is all to raise money for A Better Life Foundation. I've been several times now, about a year and a half ago with Mark Singson of FAM Inc, last year with chef Alexandrea Fladhamer from Fiore Restaurant, Chef Lauraleigh Paul Yuxweluptun'aat from Skwachays Lodge, and a few months ago with proprietor Mark Brand, all amazing experiences I would never forget. Last night we had Chef Wesley Young from Pidgin create a 4 course meal paired with drinks. Course 1 was Soup & Dumpling - some chicken & scallion broth with prawn & pork dumplings, they were delicious! I wanted so much more! Full bowl next time please! Course 2 was Cold Cuts - shredded wine poached chicken, pickled veg, crepes and dipping sauce. Okay this was by far my favorite. These were comparable to lettuce wraps as it tasted like some sort of hoisen sauce, and the picked veg was the perfect touch! Course 3 was the Rice Bowl - steamed rice, pork ragout, soy fudge egg yolk, furikake and scallions. Interesting flavors here, but lots to fill us up! Course 4 was Tapioca Pudding - tapioca pearls, almond milk, condensed milk, vanilla, red bean paste, green tea, compressed melon and coconut meringue. Loved the meringue and the sweetness of the dessert. For drinks we had a Pale Ale from Persephone, a Pinot Grigio from Dunavar, a cocktail with Skyy Vodka, melon liqueur, green tea and lemon which is green and sweet, then my favorite drink which I would definitely order which was Lychee infused sake, lemon and basil, yummmm! Save on Meats partners with groups like A Better Life Foundation because they know first hand about those in need. They are located right in the hub of the downtown Eastside of Vancouver and are doing their part to help fight back against hunger and poverty. This foundation looks to increase food security for women and children who are fleeing violence, as well as provide training and employment opportunities which providing a hearty and healthy meal. They feed about 1000 Vancouverites a year, and aren't stopping anytime soon, they've served over 2 million meals to date!!!! Save on Meats has been around since 1957. It's moving to see all those who want to help, the generosity of the guests, providing monetary donations to give back to those in need. They provide equal employment opportunities for those who may not find employment elsewhere, such as those with mental health issues, physical disabilities, those with a criminal record and others who just aren't given the same opportunities at a career. The restaurant itself has an affordable menu for everyone in the community. From an All Day Breakfast for only $5.95 to a a hearty burger and side for under $9. They have served over 90,000 meals to those in need and have tons of programs giving back including 2 ways of supporting this Foundation. Firstly they have The Greasy Spoon which pairs amazing chefs from around the country and bring them in to create a diner inspired meal paired with cocktails made by award winning bartenders, as well as beer and wine. You'll sit in social tables where you can interact and connect with like minded individuals also looking to make a difference. Each ticket helps feed and employ those in need, so open your wallets folks! They also have Plenty of Plates which is an opportunity for you to give back by cooking and serving wholesome meals to those in need. They also have a Token program which gives warm clothing to those in need. Each token is $5 and good for a pound of clothing at The Rag Machine which is a high quality recycled clothing store where everything they sell is about $6 a lb. They even have sandwich tokens too! Just purchase a token and choose where you'd like to see it used, such as the VPD, Women's Health Collective, Rainier's Women Clothing or leave it up to them to allocate where the funds would go. They have a diner, sandwich window, butcher, not to mention they offer cooking classes like canning, sausage making, and even do catering for events like Weddings! Want to learn more about the impact they're making? Here's their Social Impact Report; http://saveonmeats.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SocialImpactReport2016.pdf

If you grew up in East Van and frequently grocery shopped in Chinatown, you may remember Save on Meats. Maybe not in the last 10 years, but try 25 years ago, this place was THE butcher shop to hit up. It eventually closed down after decades business due to the shady location. Now imagine my joy when I found out a chef decided to renovate and turn one side of the shop into a diner. I loved that the original logo and old school look was kept. They even have the cute little pig logo on T-shirts for sale, which I was very tempted to purchase. The food, especially the burger was delicious. Juicy, moist, flavorful, homemade and quite frankly the best burger I've had in a long time. I didn't need to add any extra sauce, tomatoes or lettuce to enhance the taste. It was perfect the way it was, - toasted buns, a bit of mayo and the patty. Along with my burger, I ordered the chili, which came with a biscuit on the side. The chili was bean less which was great. I'm not a huge fan of beans and find they are usually just filler anyway. The chili wasn't too spicy and had a nice tang from tomatoes. It would be better if it were smokier and more spicy. The biscuit tasted like a less buttery version of a scone and it was a nice complement to the chili. The service was terrific. Staff were happy to answer any questions you had, came back frequently to check on you and genuinely wanted you to leave the diner happy with your meal. The area is slowly coming around with hip new restaurants popping up. Cheers for bringing back great memories and helping to create new ones at Save On Meats! Note: They serve breakfast/brunch here too.

The best burgers in Vancouver hands down. Super fresh beef patties handmade and the fries crisp to perfection. Staff are super friendly. Don't let the area of Vancouver scare you off, you won't be disappointed.

Came here to try the $6 burger. Parking here is somewhat available, if you're able to bag a loading zone after 1800. Otherwise you're hooped. The inside looks vintage but is clean. Of course, this theme is intentional. There's even a jukebox in the waiting area. Our table came complete with mismatched chairs. There are 2 large tables that can hold 7 or so. Otherwise you're looking at a small booth for 2-4, and bar seating. The kitchen is visible in the back. It looks super plain, but most importantly, it is CLEAN. Staff were friendly. I laughed when our water was served in a Sleeman pitcher. Looked like a new type of clear beer. Remember Crystal Pepsi? As for the food? The burger itself actually wasn't bad. You can pick your side (salad, fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes). The fries were a bit soggy but fortunately not undercooked (the "raw potato" feel sucks). I also tried the coleslaw. It was mediocre to be honest. Not quite enough dressing. For the burger, you can add toppings (such as raw/fried onions) for a very reasonable 50c. So are the sides such as gravy. One last note: they also have $4 breakfast here, with sausage/ham/bacon for another $2. Not the cheapest, but beats out Denny's.

Ok I have to admit. This place is super famous if you are in Vancouver or born in Vancouver. When my friend told me that we are dining here. I was like.... Isn't this place on Hasting East where all the homeless people sleep at night infront. Of course my questions were "Is it safe". lol. He told me that he found out about this place reopened on the Food Channel and he wants to try it out. SO... we went. I was amazed there burgers were very fresh. The place looks clean. Its not bad after all. I tried their burger and I love the fact they charge based on what you put in. With a reasonable price to start at $6 (the two patties only) yes sauces are free. the stuff that cost money are cheese, bacon, advocato etc... and of course the sides. I loved the burger then I had the sheppard pie. Very fresh have to say then I loved the sheppard pie more. Lastly I shared the coffee vanilla milkshake with my friend and yes i loved the Vanilla milkshake most. I guess i can't make up my mind on what I like the most. Guess will have to come back trying more things. I recommend you to take the bus or skytrain over. I don't think there are free parking around this area.

Fabulous diner wity real burgers and the poutine fries are to die for. The wait staff are super friendly and the place harkins back to a 5os diner experience minus the discrimination.

Place I over rated and overpriced Quality is just ok We had a door dash order and they were 1 hour late Staff is so lazy, they need to get their act together I am so disappoint in service and quality of the food They need better staff and management I will never go here again

I can't talk about their service as I've never been inside, but I LOVE the counter on Hastings st. Usually I go out of my way to stop by the sandwhich counter and grab one of their YUMMY Breakfast sandwhiches. Waaayy better than a McD's breakfast sandwhich and just so good. The bread is so fluffy, and it's just this hot bun of goodness in your hand that you can hold while walking down the street to your next rendezvous.

Dear Save On Meats. There is a reason all the other eateries on the strip were standing room only during student break. And you had less than 6 customers. Your food is great, you do good work. But your servers are so not into us, we the customers. The only smile or laugh I saw or heard during my last visit was when staff were chatting with each other. Which they did the entire time I was there. No "can I get you anything" or any communication at all. I've decided I'm okay with the total and complete indifference of your staff, 'cuz I'm parking my butt elsewhere from now on. Later, 'gator.

I've probably driven past this place 100 times but I never had the chance to visit. I remember a Drivers Drive Ins and Dives episode where Guy Fieri visited this place. But I came here for a different reason and that was to see if this place was good enough to cater an event my friend and I were organizing. First of all, the atmosphere was super hipster and diner like as the same suggests (The Diner). It was packed and we were told there was an hour wait, but then when we asked another person who I assume was the manager, said it would be 15 mins. He also was kind enough to answer our questions about catering and gave us an email address to contact them. We were seated at the bar and we ordered right away. My friend ordered the SOM burger while I had the fried chicken burger with fries, and wow these burgers were sooo good. I'd thought it would be pretty average but I was proven wrong as it was one of the best burgers I've eaten. The fries were also super crispy and really nice. They also don't over salt them which was nice as a lot of the fries I've had are doused in salt. Service is a little slow but it is not a problem as it was packed and people kept on coming in. This place exceeded my expectations! I loved the vibe of the place, and I am looking forward to them catering our event!

Save on Meats is ok... my complaints are the meat patties are thin and a bit over cooked. Not juicy at all. I had the lettuce wrap option... not too impressed...

Came in for breakfast because of the great reveiws. Guest ordered chicken n' waffles ..chicken was over breaded with little chicken. Waffles were meh...I ordered breakfast special with sausage, poached eggs asked for them soft they came out hard inside a bowl submerged in water. I asked the waitress if I could get them soft and continued eating about 10 minutes later she brought out two hard poached eggs again...didnt bother to eat them or send back as we were pretty much done with our food. My hashbrowns came out cold but sausage was tasty. Bill came to $24.85 that did not incude a beverage. Was expecting the chef to at least know how to make a soft poached egg especially the fact he failed on all 4 tries. Waitress was friendly and place is extremly clean considering its location. Dont think its worth a second visit

I don't have a review on the food but rather a review of their Plenty of Plates night. I had the pleasure of being part of one of the events this past month and I can't even begin to explain how amazing it feels to be able to do some good. The staff and owners are very nice, helpful and really treat us newbies well. At the end of the day I can't say enough good things about the business.

The wait staff here were wonderful. The food is delicious, a gem of a place. Great atmosphere too. Miss being in crosstown.

Ahhh... Save On Meats. I love this diners for two simple reasons: 1. It's simple. 2. It's laid back. You walk into the diners, sit down, the waitress hands you a menu and a piece of paper. Pick your burger and toppings and just sit back. How much more simple can it be? Not everybody might feel comfortable walking through Hastings, but I for one definitely do not mind plowing through Hastings for some good ol' SOM burger. The burger itself is good, with two patties to boot! Way better than MickeyD's. The staff are also very friendly, and one of them was quite surprised when I put in an order for 2 burgers (that's four patties!). What can I say? I love me some good old fashioned diners burgers. So if you're in town, be sure to grab a burger here. Oh, and they have a butchers next door as well, in case you need some fresh meat.

Save On Meats has been on my list of "to try" restaurants ever since it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. So when K suggested we give it a try, I was excited to see what it's all about. What's cool is that the building was actually built in 1891, so it has over 100 years of history! You cannot miss this building driving down Hastings because you'll see the neon pig sign. Save On Meats also has a butcher shop next to the diner, so you can conveniently head over there for some fresh and local meats. You can see that the interior has that retro old diner feel to it, but the seats and tables were well kept and clean. Funny paintings and signs decorate the walls of the diner. SOM is famous for their milkshakes, so I decided to share the Coffee SOM Milkshake with K. It's quite the large one and it's great since they give you all the leftovers from making it in a metal cup. You end up getting 1 and a half cups of the shake for under $5. The milkshake is thick spun and I loved the light coffee flavour we chose. It reminded me of an iced cappuccino! There are also various other flavours you can choose from. We were supposed to be here for brunch, but it ended up more like lunch as usual... Well lucky us, since they feature breakfast and brunch items until 4pm on weekends. Both of us didn't end up going for their breakfast menu though. Instead, K went for a simple soup and salad. She had the Real Nova Scotian Seafood Chowder, which came with a cheese scone on the side. She said the chowder was not as thick as she had expected, but filled with lots of ingredients. She was thinking it would be something like canned soup, but nope, it seemed to be homemade. She also got a side of Caesar Salad which was lightly dressed and topped with croutons and Parmesan. For myself, I was feeling like it was a pie day. I chose the Shepherd's Pie, which showed up on a skillet with a side of green salad. I was slightly disappointed at first because I was expecting a pie, but this was rather deconstructed. Nevertheless, it actually tasted pretty good. There was a mixture of ground beef and vegetable stew and it was topped with a cheesy mashed potato crumble. It was very simple and probably something very easy to reconstruct at home but tasty. Overall, I was quite pleased with Save On Meats. You will find simple diner food here - nothing extravagant or fancy. I wouldn't say it blew my mind, but I don't think I was expecting much anyways. Prices are kept low and probably the most expensive item is roughly $12. Plus, I think what makes SOM very special and worth a visit is that they are a strong supporter of the Downtown Eastside community and partner with various organizations in giving back to those in need. They also have a token program where you can purchase a token for $2.25 and this will allow you to redeem a Breakfast Sandwich. You can either distribute this yourself or have SOM do so. A great way to help those in needs and I personally think it's a better way than donating money. Definitely a cool place to check out! Pros: - Cool retro ambiance - Cheap simple food Cons: - Service was a bit slow at times

So maybe you had a few too many from the previous night.... this is a cure all for any hangover big or small! Just order any burger you crave and you will not be disappointed. I hade the burger with SOM sauce, bacon, sunny-side up egg and cheese.... dang it was fire!!! Loved it and the vibe of the diner was awesome!

While I love the fact that SOM tries hard to take care of those who need a little extra help, I have to say that my last visit wasn't the greatest. The service started out alright, and by the end, my guest and I had to get up and walk to the bar to order another drink as our waitress had gone M.I.A. We also had to chase down another server to give us some extra condiments (we waited for almost 10 minutes!!!). The burger meat was incredibly salty (this coming from someone who likes things on the 'salty side') and overall, this just wasn't the greatest experience. Not too sure if I'll be going back.

* Good burger, the rest meh * Recently I reviewed a Peruvian place in a car wash, and a cantina in a yoga studio. This is a dual purpose spot that perhaps makes a bit more sense - a diner in a butcher shop. The butcher shop and diner have separate entrances, and the diner side has a classic diner feel with a counter, jukebox, and a classic diner menu with the waitress offering a cup of coffee upon sitting down. I ordered the chili ($3) as a starter and the burger ($6) as the main. For some reason everything came together after a lengthy wait. I'm guessing the waitress was a bit new and inexperienced and that led to the odd timing. In any case, on to the food..... The chili was subpar. It was basically tomato paste with a ton of vegetables and a little bit of meat. It was kind of like a clumpy underseasoned vegetable soup with no chili spicing or flavours. 2 stars. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/Oix8SM8MDC4MAlY02SLYGg?select=8D2du2DHo1N_XGhXTJHV0A The chili was served with a biscuit that appeared to be housemade. The biscuit had potential, if it wasn't fridge cold in the centre. That was very disappointing because with proper heat this could have been a good biscuit. It had pleasant herb overtones and I believe a bit of cheese. Too bad it was so cold. 3 stars. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/Oix8SM8MDC4MAlY02SLYGg?select=EacI8gM9wSYHP8NH1qLCwg The burger was the star of the meal. The meat was well seasoned without being overly salty. It was nice and thick, and very juicy. They had properly rested the burger so that it retained all of its juice. It was topped with classic burger toppings of melted cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, a housemade BBQ sauce, and topped with a pickle. The bun was the weakest part of the burger as it was room temp, but otherwise a superb burger for the very reasonable price of $6 all-in. 4 stars. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/Oix8SM8MDC4MAlY02SLYGg?select=ns9os4Or6DbP1SlYM6shWQ The fries (pictured with the burger above) were fairly standard commercial fare. That said, they were fried to the right level and the oil tasted clean. 2.5 stars. Overall I'd come back for another burger, but likely would limit my selection to that.

Save on Meats is probably in my top three breakfast places in the city! The prices are so right and cheap, as they should be for breakfast. Brunch in this city is so over priced and we lack diners. This one is a gem!The ambience is great A+ on background music choice. I ordered the All Day Breakfast with a coffee and it was perfectly classic. They have the best hash-browns, they are basically like potato chips!

I must have drawn the short straw today and ended up with the crappy breakfast menu item. My brunch buddies ordered the burger, the meaty chilli, the kid's cheezy burger, the corned beef hash, and today's breakfast special, the savoury pancakes. As for me, I ordered the breakfast poutine. While the others were raving about their food, I was bemoaning my choice. The dish was the gravy wasn't warm enough to melt the cheese properly resulting in overly rubbery curds. Yes, I know the cheese is supposed to be squeaky, but this was a bit ridiculous. On the weekend brunch menu, it says that the poutine is supposed to be topped with a poached egg, but mine was topped with a fried egg. I suspect this is because on the regular menu, it says that the breakfast poutine is topped with a fried egg. The pricing for this poutine is a bit odd as well; $8 for breakfast poutine vs. $6 for a burger with cheese and bacon and a side. I tasted the biscuit that accompanies the chilli; it was delicious. The bite of savoury pancake I had was very tasty as well. I need to come back to try something other than the breakfast poutine. I also ordered a coffee milkshake and I'm very glad I did. It was smooth and creamy with the perfect amount of coffee flavour. Service was awesome. Our server made us feel welcome and was attentive. One of my friends mentioned that she was gluten intolerant and when he noticed that her chilli was served with crackers, he took them away. He also genuinely seemed disappointed that I wasn't entirely happy with my food. It's a great little diner with an awesome vibe. I will be coming back.

Underrated and understandably scary, this amazing butcher shop is located right beside some of the more blatantly outdoor homeless hotspots, with Pigeon Park on one corner and the Old Woodsworth social housing project on the other. But it is visible on Hastings, with the neon lit pink pig on the front banner holding a bag of money. And it's true, the prices are so good that some of the moms from the suburbs brave their scrutiny and buy enough ribs here for an entire summer of family bbqs. I'm not sure how they do it, and I'm not sure I want to know, but it's pound for pound some of the best prices on decent cuts of meat in the entire city. Once again, it might have something to do with lowered property values. At the back there's a little diner and an open grill that seats about 8 people and prepares the food in front of you. They make tasty homemade patties and fresh fries for about $4, and it seems to be the secret place where the hobos eat at and walk away feeling smug.

Excellent meats at a fair price. The chips/potats were generously served along side some lovely poached eggs and fantastic bacon. Our server Baylee made the experience particularly enjoyable.

Awesome diner, great story but not the best location. No parking or street parking right outside. There is a lot just around the corner. Ordered the save on meats burger with bacon and egg and the chicken and waffles. The chicken is hand breaded and really good. The burger meat was juicy and flavorful. I really liked the decor of the diner and I would highly recommend checking this place out. Just be aware it isn't in the best part of town so there will be a variety of people in and around the diner.

We wanted to visit this place because of the butcher shop but it was under construction and thus closed. But we had also planned lunch here, kinda wished we hadn't. We decided to share a burger and fries, with a side of ham and an adult milkshake. First sign of trouble was tho we were at the bar, it was very difficult to get get one of the 4 people back there to take our order. Once someone finally did (with attitude I might add), we waited about 15 minutes (very reasonable) for the food but it was missing the ham. When we inquired we were told by someone other than who took our order that it wasn't on the ticket and she pretty much left it at that. By then my husband decided it wasn't worth trying to get because we still didn't have our shake, nor did they bother with a second plate, even though it was clear we were sharing. By the time the shake arrived, we were mostly done with the over cooked burger and decent fries, but it did end up being the best part of the meal, even if it had chocolate chips on it (that were not part of the order). So if I was to ever be here again, I would come prepared for attitude and only order a shake!

Came with the family after checking out the dragonboat festival at false creek. Atmosphere: not bad, a little loud. Service: pretty decent. Menu: the make-your-own burger works pretty well. Food: too heavy for me.. Price: mid-range, not bad for a quick sit-down. Would I come back? Most likely not, though I wouldn't mind recommending to burger-loving friends.

like other reviewers, I really wanted to this to be good, but truthfully, it just wasn't. I'm giving 2 stars because our server was good and I love the decor. the food, however, was disappointing at best. I had the chicken pot pie. the crust was on the top only and undercooked. the chicken inside was good, but so so under salted and the sauce was gloopy like flour paste. my friend had a very mediocre open faced turkey sandwich that had what looked like someone else's old garnish under the fries. so it was either a dirty plate that was used or they reused the fries. either way, gross. I had previously done a class with the butcher shop and was appalled at the lack of hygiene, so a dirty plate didn't surprise me that much. should have stuck with my instincts and stayed away.

THE Save On Meats burger. Yes, it's lived up to its hype. A juicy patty, bacon, lettuce, cheese, in a soft bun, and add a fried egg (+$1.00) to it, and you've got yourself a pretty satisfying meal. Comes with fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes or tossed salad. All for $6!! Love the whole diner atmosphere, and they've also got sundaes, floats, and shakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. Coming back very soon!

Sure it's a diner, but you can opt for something healthy if you'd like. I did, and I didn't regret it! I skipped the many typical greasy spoon options and went for the spinach, mushroom, goat cheese omelette with egg whites. Instead of potatoes, I requested sliced tomato, and some whole wheat toast. It was no problem at all. My breakfast mates had a breakfast burrito and the vegetarian eggs benedict. We all had coffee, and were brought cinnamon upon request. (This is my new favorite thing to add to my coffee, thanks to Farrah in Houston). Our service was attentive, prices are moderate, and the place has a fun, retro vibe to it. One thing to know before you go: SOM is located on Hastings in a bit of a shady area... I was told you can actually purchase tokens for the homeless here too, but forgot to inquire about that during my visit. Maybe next time! Whether you're looking for some greasy food to cure a hangover or prefer something lighter like me, Save On Meats is A-OK in my book.

Servers have been nice each time I've visited. I like their chicken burgers more than there actual burgers. Fries are not bad too but I prefer soup.

I came here with my girlfriend and some friends for brunch and was not disappointed. The wait was longer than I'd anticipated (I was close to eating my arm by that point) but it was well worth it. The staff were courteous and thanked us for our patience once they were able to seat our party, I think they actually care about the customers! I ordered the savoury pancakes, my girlfriend had the breakfast poutine, and friends had the Save-on-Meats burger (x2), kid's cheezy burger, and corned beef hash. From the sounds of nom-nom'ing all around, everyone seemed to really be enjoying their food. Unfortunately my girlfriend's poutine was only so-so: fairly soggy with cheese that was just a bit too rubbery, and the gravy didn't really have any flavour. Of all the meals, that was the only disappointment. I was quite impressed with the savoury pancakes, which the server called "Champion Pancakes" due to a cute anecdote about a petite girl wolfing down all of 'em and winning herself a t-shirt. Bacon, onions, possibly some mushroom in there? They were a tiny bit on the dry side but the waiter was quite happy to bring me some HP sauce to make up for that. The service was excellent and made us feel very welcome. The waiter genuinely looked sad that my girlfriend's poutine wasn't up to par and he said he would have gladly made it up to her had she mentioned it during the meal. Ah well, sometimes you don't want to bring down the mood. Obviously the staff here actually like their jobs, it shows! Overall I'd say we had a good time and we'd definitely come back. I highly recommend the "Champion" savoury pancakes.

Saw this place on the food channel a few years ago, thought I would try it out. Also saw it on a movie that was filmed in Vancouver (Dreamcatcher) I like the ambience of the place Good lunch there I had the club sandwich, my girl friend had a sandwich called B.L.A.T bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato Went there 30 years ago when it was a meat store

I finally got around to trying the food and meaty goodness at the revamped Save On Meats, a former landmark in Gastown. Hands down, everyone told me to try the burger and the four of us all got it. The burger was wicked good. The meat was tasty, fresh, and grilled to perfection. The bun was massive and I only ate half of mine. For only 6 bucks, it's an incredible value, far better than any fast food joint for more money and less flavour. The fries were crisp and a meal all to their own. I really like the new incarnation of the diner with its old school vibe and atmosphere. It's a great spot for a bite to eat on a fine afternoon. It's definitely a recommend.

The $6 Cheese Burger with Bacon is the star here and it's one of the best burger deals in downtown Vancouver for what you are getting. You can choose from a selections of sides for no extra charge - I like mine with the Mash Potatoes and Gravy, though the fries are pretty decent as well. This was definitely one of the best burgers I've had in the city for a long time. The soda and sundaes are a bit on the pricey side ($4), but nothing beats a Root Beer Float to go along with a delicious and juicy burger. The service is really great, everyone is so nice and I know this is totally me, but every time I see the flying Pig blinking in neon - it just makes me so happy, to a point of getting uncontrollable giggles. I've also had the Clubhouse, the Chili and a salad too - nothing standout, but it's tasty and it does the job. The Chili came with a Biscuit and the Biscuit was worth Yelping about - warm and buttery good. Oh yeah, and I had a Strawberry Milkshake as well - which if I'm nitpicking here could be a lot thicker, but that's just me. The Butcher side of the store is no lame game either. It's a happy day to have local, more-than-decent quality meat selections in downtown Vancouver. The ladies behind the counter are friendly and super helpful, it just made the 11lb pork butt we got to make our own pulled pork sandwiches all the more heartwarming and special. They have daily meat specials on various items - so take note if you're looking for your next fix of what to cook. Would I recommend this place to peeps? HELLZ YEAH! I'm already looking forward to my next burger.

Is it a hipster fad, or up the hype? I was curious how the rebirth of Save On Meat's palace of animal parts would fare. The look and feel of the new cafe is great, just enough retro modern chic with little to no hipster pretense, which was a pleasant surprise. As a NY Jew I had to try the Ruben, it is staple NY sandwich and next to the classic Patty Melt or a pastrami one of my favorites. The Corned beef on the Ruben is made in house and is very good, just enough fat to lean. The chef must be using his own brine because it tasted a little different than most of the corned beef I have had (see above for vetting my deli credentials) Not bad good actually just different. If I have two ruben gripes it was there was no dressing on it. Every ruben I have ever eaten had Thousand Island Dressing. Not this one, secondly not enough buttery goodness on the rye bread. It was kinda dry. So yes Save On is good, good food, great value for your buck and not too hipstery. On the Butcher side, WOW, fresh sausages made in house, Offal, and even I hear an occasional rabbit. I will be getting meat here!

After reading some of the reviews I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. The food was great, the service was great, and the place is nice. I had the Blackstone Bennys and added avocado on the server's recommendation. Very well prepared and very tasty. We ate at Red Wagon Cafe yesterday and this breakfast was better. I'd definitely come back to save on meats, while I'd probably pass on red wagon next time.

Best casual diner in the City on the cheap! Save-on Meats is a bustling little diner in the heart of the downtown eastside - perfect to chill out to some tasty, casual eats with friends. Food is decent with great price points; staff are friendly; overall experience is deserving of a 4-star. Signature Save on Meats Burger - Highly Recommend! Oh so juicy, succulent and flavourful, the Save on Meats burger lived up to its hype in my books! It is truly delicious, and I`m not even a burger person. And for the price, $6 with fries and a salad, you can`t go wrong. Not everything on their menu was amazing. We also ordered the steak & eggs and pancakes (big portions, fyi), which were comparable to your typical breakfast spot, however the fresh whip for the pancakes was light, fluffy, infused with lavender and amazing. Definitely try out this neighborhood gem and go for their Signature!

Most butcher shops display their meat selection in the front window. What sets this particular place apart is the three story neon signage that adorns this store front. The place is located in a rundown part of Vancouver. In a way though, a store that advertises meat savings looks comfortable in this neighborhood. Upon entering the store you on surrounded on both sides by counters of every imaginable cut & variety of meat. It is not often that many of us are encompassed by this amount or variety. Walk the length of the counters, passed a couple rows of dried goods, to the back. There you'll see a low counter with barstools bolted to the yellow tile floor. Have a seat & pick up the laminated menu. In there you'll find most burgers under $6 including fries. I had the cheese burger which comes with 2 burgers & melted cheddar cheese. The meat is well cooked but very juicy. It tastes terrific which makes sense because you're really eating at a butcher's. All-in-all a great experience - especially if you're like the group of hipster kids sitting next to us. And even if you're a closet hipster - or just want a great burger & a great experience... You should eat here. If you needed any more reasons to visit, Anthony Bourdain featured it on his show No Reservations. http://hot-lunch.blogspot.com/2008/10/eating-out-save-on-meats.html

We heard so much good things about this place, so we stopped there for a late lunch. I ordered the meatball hash ($10) and hubby had the burger ($6). They ran out of the meatball, so I subbed with corn beef but I think the waitress gave me roast beef. Oh we'll, red meat is red meat. The dish also came with two eggs on top and bread on the side. Hubby said the burger was decent, but a little small. Hubby also had to order an adult milkshake ($10). He is usually not the adventure foodie, but this time the waitress talked him into getting the Bacon n Bourbon shake. He enjoyed it and said he can only taste the chocolate and bourbon. Then he hit the bottom which was nothing but bacon bits left, wasn't so good.

The only thing better than the service at Save On is the fantastic food! After trying thr Bacon Bourbon milkshake, The Burger, the Fried Chicken Dinner, and the Ribeye special I'm convinced the folks at Save On Meats have found the diner sweet spot and only hope they can keep it up! Note: Josh the manager is great people and awesome if you happen to have any questions about the menu or the restaurant.

I love this place! Didn't look like much but the food was pretty good. Giving this place a 5/5 because of the good hearts that work here. Homeless people walked in and they are able to get one sandwich for free! I love this place :)

This has really become my favourite place to go to on Saturdays! I've gotten the chance to try some other things and all have been really great! Le Croque: mmm cheese...ham...hash browns. So so good. The cheese is melted (a must) and the hash browns are cooked to perfection! Definitely prefer the hash browns to the fries. Reuben: The sandwich was pretty good to me. I know there have been mixed reviews on this sandwich, but I had no problem with it. There's plenty of meat, you've got your pickles, and fries. Sadly, the fries taste the same as before, so I wasn't too impressed with it. Steak and onions: 5 oz of meaty goodness! It comes with mashed potato, carrots, and peas, although I found the potato to be so-so. Overall, everything is still good and you really do get your value.

This is one of my favourite burger places. If your in the area I highly recommend. Service is pretty good depending on the waiter but food is always on point. Great price point and they are working for their community.