Vancouver, a west coast seaport city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, is one of the densest and most ethnically diverse cities in Canada. It is surrounded by vast valleys, temperate rainforests, and mountains. There are hundreds of campsites, hiking areas and parks, and many lakes and rivers. Popular for art, music, and theater, it is also famous for being a filming location. Museum of Anthropology features ancient and contemporary Aboriginal works, while Vancouver Art Gallery has creations by regional artists. You shouldn’t miss Christ Church Cathedral with its Gothic Revival structure or exploring Chinatown. Being ethnically diverse also means that eating here is like taking a world gastronomical tour. There are so many food trucks and shops selling local specialty treats around that you won’t stay hungry, as long as you know where they are. Here are some of the best street food you must try in Vancouver.
1. Terimayo dog
The terimayo dog is a popular hot dog in Vancouver. It is a mouthwatering hot dog made using traditional Japanese ingredients. You get a toasted wheat bun, hot dog, homemade teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, seaweed, and fried thinly sliced onions. It is unlike any hot dog you have had before and delightfully tasty—the reason why it is currently popular in both Canada and USA. You will surely find a lot of street carts with this tasty treat in a lot of areas in and around Vancouver.
2. Tacos
While in Vancouver, you shouldn’t miss having the tacos here. People have fallen for the traditional Mexican dish, which comes with a corn or flour tortilla enveloping meat and vegetable fillings. You get different versions of it in Vancouver. Try the popular crispy chicken taco, fish taco, and also the Maui Pork Al Pastor. While you are at it, make sure you taste the burritos, nachos, salad, chips and salsa, and beef taquitos too.
3. Lamb kebab
There are a lot of places in Vancouver where you will find good lamb kebabs, along with kebabs made using chicken and beef and other tasty dishes from Middle Eastern cuisine. There are different methods to prepare lamb kebab. On Vancouver streets, you will find them made using lean ground lamb, hot pepper, ginger, garlic, cumin, cilantro leaves, garam masala, gram flour, Worcestershire sauce, onion, and salt. The ingredients are mixed together and left for a few hours. Then the mixture is taken and made into small equal portions and shaped around skewers. Then you just barbecue them. Good to have with a salad. Mouthwatering, right?
4. Fried beets
Beets are really healthy, providing many essential vitamins and minerals. So adding it to your diet is really good for you. People of Vancouver like to have their beets, but they like them deep-fried. These unique treats available on the city’s streets are made by lightly battering beet wedges sprinkled with plum powder, and then the mixture is fried to make the tasty, crispy snack. The city’s folks like to have this food with chopped fresh cilantro and a seven-spice mayo to dip into.
5. Grilled cheese
Sometimes all we need is a good old home-style treat, right? No worries—this city has got you covered. There are a lot of street carts and restaurants here that specialize in grilling cheese. There are different variations—like the cheddar-only sandwich or one that comes with slow-roasted chicken, sriracha mayo, and garlic. It can also come in an old-school wrapper with pickles and chips. Grilled cheese sandwiches can be served on sourdough with sides like tomato soup and orange pop too.
6. Dairy-free ice cream
A lot of people are going the vegan way these days. That is not at all an issue. But you don’t have to worry if you are a vegan exploring the streets of Vancouver and you get a sudden urge to have ice cream. There are a lot of popular places in the city offering non-dairy ice cream that is as good as all the high-quality, regular ice creams we see around. There are ice creams made using cashew milk, coconut milk, organic agave nectar, and various other natural ingredients. You will also find soft-serve that is made with coconut water, vegetable-sourced stabilizers, and organic bio-fermented coconut powder. And you get everything in a ton of flavors too.
7. Burger
Vancouver is a place where you can find all kinds of burgers. Whether you are looking for top-quality beef patties or very cheap but tasty versions or those covered in bacon or classic cheese, you will find them in a corner of this city. There is a popular burger made using Blue Goose organic beef patty, Fontina cheese, truffle aioli, and caramelized onions—all stuffed inside a challah bun. Another version uses 45-day aged, fresh-ground beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, a tasty sauce, butter, and bun. If you look at the right places, you can also find Japanese variations—remember to ask for teriyaki cheeseburgers.
8. Breakfast sandwich
Your day of exploring the wonderful streets of Vancouver will only be fruitful if your first meal is a good one. Most travelers probably look for meals that can be easily grabbed—but one that makes any foodie satisfied, such as a perfectly tasty breakfast sandwich. There are many places specializing in breakfast and brunch in the city. Keep in mind the name eggs benedict, which comes with two poached eggs served on a double-toasted English muffin, slathered with white cheddar béchamel sauce or hollandaise sauce, and offered with a side dish. You might even find a popular brunch spot here that offers buttermilk biscuits, sausage patties, fried eggs, hash browns, and cheese. Also don’t forget to ask for The Doug—with scrambled eggs, maple bacon, cheese, caramelized onions, chives, and aioli.
9. Kürtőskalács (Czech chimney cakes)
You shouldn’t miss going to the West End in Vancouver, where you can try a popular sweet treat from Transylvania. Known as kürtőskalács, it is also called horn pastry. A wooden form is wrapped with sweet lemony bread pastry and grilled. Then it is rolled in finely crushed walnuts while it is still warm. You should look for other treats from the Czech Republic as well, such as fresh-baked, sweet and savory pastry cones called chimney cakes and Prague cones served with tasty soft-serve and different sauces. Chimney cakes are inspired by trdelník, a traditional Czech street food, and are available in cinnamon, almond, coconut, and walnut flavors with lemon curd, Nutella, or cream cheese as the filling.
Have a foodie adventure in Vancouver
Ready to explore the world of street food in the wonderful city of Vancouver? We have done the hard work by finding out about all the best food you can try to satisfy your foodie soul. All you have to do now is to book your tickets and enjoy the trip. Happy vacation!
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