Top 10 Foods To Try In Vancouver, Canada

food to try in vancouver
Sidharth
Sidharth  
Updated
| 4 min read

British Columbia’s largest and most populous city, Vancouver is blessed with the abundance of dazzling natural beauty. Surrounded by the Pacific as well as snow-capped coastal mountain ranges filled with cedar trees, this vibrant city welcomes adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. With culturally diverse neighbourhoods and incredible natural splendour all around, it is no surprise that Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the top five cities for quality of life. Vancouver’s multicultural influences and abundant availability of fresh produce and ingredients has given the city an extraordinary selection of delectable local cuisines. From smoked salmons to buttermilk fried chicken, here is a list of 10 foods to try in Vancouver.

1. Nanaimo bars

Nanaimo Bars - flash
Source: Photo by user Sheri Terris used under CC BY 2.0

Named after the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, this bar dessert that doesn’t require any baking and is three-layered. The base layer is made up of a coconut crumb wafer, the middle one is made up of custard-flavoured butter icing which is topped by a layer of chocolate ganache. The bar is popular among the local residents and was once voted as Canada’s favourite confection in a national newspaper survey.

Try the best Nanaimo bars in Vancouver here:

Bonchaz bakery cafe

Address: 426 W Hastings St, Vancouver

Price: 2 - 10 USD

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 7 am - 7 pm, Sat 9:30 am - 4 pm, Sun 10 am - 4 pm

Website: Bonchaz bakery cafe

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2. Poutine

OriginalPoutineLaBanquise
Source: Photo by user Sjschen used under CC BY 3.0

Originating from the province of Quebec, this Canadian delicacy is made up of French fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. The dish is eaten so much in Canada that it has been called Canada’s national dish. Canadians call it the perfect thing to have after a night of drinking and celebrate the dish with poutine competitions and festivals devoted to it.

Try the best poutine in Canada in:

Fritz European Fry House

Address: 718 Davie St, Vancouver BC

Price: 7 - 15 USD

Opening hours: Tue 11 am - 2 am, Wed and Thu 11 am - 2:30 am, Fri 11 am - 4 am, Sat 1 pm - 4 am, Sun 1 pm - 2 am

Website: Fritz European Fry House

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3. Maple treats

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Canada’s most delicious creation, maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple, black maple or red maple trees. Most of it is produced in Quebec and has been long savoured by culinary experts for its unique flavour. The syrup is commonly used in pancakes, waffles, French toast, porridge and oatmeals although variants of the syrup are used in products such as maple beer and maple coffee as well.

Try the best Maple treats in Vancouver in:

Edible Canada

Address: 1596 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S2

Price: 11 - 30 USD

Opening hours: 9 am - 8.30 pm

Website: Edible Canada

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4. Bannock

Scrumptious Sage Smoked Salmon Bannock Flatbread !! New menu item ! #wildsalmon #vancouver

Posted by Salmon n' Bannock Bistro on Saturday, 7 July 2018

Bannock is a variety of bread that once formed the staple diet of early settlers and fur traders of Canada. It is flat and round and includes flour, lard, salt, water and baking powder. This simple fried bread is nutritious and is full of carbs and is traditionally made by mixing the ingredients in a frying pan and baking it into a large, hockey puck shaped biscuit.

Try the best Bannock in:

Salmon 'n' Bannock Bistro

Address: 7 - 1128 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Price: 5 USD onwards

Opening hours: 5 pm - 10 pm

Website: Salmon ‘n’ Bannock Bistro

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Vancouver Tour Guide

Nazila Najafi

Nazila Najafi

I have over ten years of experience in the Tourism and Hospitality industry. My professional/volunteer background as a researcher, remote travel columnist, travel agent, travel consultant, and walking/step-on guide has helped me provide my VIP (private/group) tours with a memorable experience. As a professional Canadian Tour Guide Association of British Columbia member, I have been actively running mainly private cultural tours in Vancouver since 2019.

5. Termiayo hotdog

Posted by JAPADOG on Monday, 24 July 2017

Popularised by a chain of street food stalls in Vancouver, this dish with a unique Candian-Japanese flavour are hotdog topped with teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo and shredded seaweed. Originally prepared by a Japanese couple that opened their first hotdog stand in 2005, this hotdog is a hit among the locals and keeps them raving about it. If you have to try one street food item in Vancouver, go for this city classic, You will not be disappointed.

Try the best Terimayo hotdog in Vancouver in

Japadog

Address: 530 Robson St, Vancouver BC

Price: Under 10 USD

Opening hours: 11 am - 10 pm

Website: Japadog

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6. Smoked BC salmon


This preparation of salmon includes a fillet of wild salmon that is cured, smoked and wrapped in cedar or a bentwood box. You can also find smoked in beautifully decorated gift boxes that can be bought and shared with your families and friends back home. The species of wild salmon is usually one of chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum caught off the pristine, cold waters of the Western coast.

Try the best smoked BC salmon in:

The Lobby Restaurant & Lounge

Address: 138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver

Price: 15 USD onwards

Opening hours: 6.30 am - 9 pm

Website: The Lobby Restaurant & Lounge

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7. Black sesame choux


These delicious dome-shaped desserts are made up of black sesame cream puff on a plain choux base. They are slightly larger than the American varieties and are topped with a traditional choux that adds to the sweetness and crunch. They come in varieties ranging from simple vanilla to chocolate flavoured ones.

Bakery Sate

Address: 2879 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 0A6

Price: 11 - 30 USD

Opening hours: 7.30 am - 7 pm

Website: Bakery Sate

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8. Local dungeness crab

Sashimi Plate
Source: Photo by Flickr user kslee used under CC BY 2.0

Dungeness crab is a species of crab that is found on the western coast of North America with sweet, moist and delicate flesh that is enjoyed by the residents of Vancouver. The crustaceans are usually available during a season that starts from December and runs through spring. Usual preparations of the crab involve boiling the crabs and then eating them by cracking the shell but you can find restaurants that serve them with their shells cracked and the meat easily accessible.

You can try the best local Dungeness crab in Vancouver in:

Blue Water Cafe

Address: 1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4

Price: 31 - 60 USD

Opening hours: 4.30 pm - 12 am

Website: Blue Water Cafe

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9. Buttermilk fried chicken

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Buttermilk Fried Chicken is meticulously prepared and cooked till it attains a crispy, tangy, tenderized form. Chicken meat is tenderized with a brine solution and is made flavourful by battering it with spices and cornstarch. It can also be served with a range of sweet and savoury sides that include hot chilli sauce, honey, coleslaw and pickles.

You can try the best buttermilk fried chicken in Vancouver in:

Juke Fried Chicken

Address: 182 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X4

Price: 11 - 30 USD

Opening hours: 11 am - 12 am

Website: Juke Fried Chicken

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10. Caramel coffee frozen parfait

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

We have added a new menu which is called KINAKO Sundae!! Kinako means soybean powder that tastes delicious with sweets!!...

Posted by Bon Crepe on Friday, November 16, 2018

Originally from France, parfaits are made from boiling cream, egg, sugar and syrup. Caramel Coffee Frozen Parfait is a delicious dessert with a cream topping carrying a delicate flavour of Espresso. They can also be served with a topping of chopped nuts and cocoa powder.

Try the best caramel coffee frozen parfait in Vancouver in:

Bon Crepe

Address: 1238 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C1

Price: 10 - 20 USD

Opening hours: Wed, Thu and Sun 1 pm - 10 pm, Fri and Sat 1 pm - 11 pm

Website: Bon Crepe

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Tickle your taste buds

From finger-licking good buttermilk fried chicken to lip-smacking portions of gravy-rich poutine, scan the above list of foods to try in Vancouver, take your pick and get a taste of the city’s incredibly diverse gastronomic scene.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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When Sidharth is not traveling or writing, he can be found honing his Spanish, indulging in Netflix binges, reading, swimming in the ocean, or simply daydreaming in a hammock.

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