Whether you love sushi or tacos, fancy seafood or messy BBQ ribs, Vancouver is the place to be if you like to eat. There are so many restaurants in so many neighbourhoods it can be hard to choose which ones to try. If you're new to the city, then you're in for a treat. We've listed out a very important list of some of Vancouver's best restaurants that you have to try. If you've been a Vancouverite since day one, we've got a few spots that you may not have heard of... or at least you haven't tried yet. Some of them are local favourites and others are new kids on the block, but what do these OGs and newbies have in common? They serve drop dead delicious food. Now sometimes the biggest problem when it comes to dining out is choosing which neighbourhood you want to be in. Maybe you're going on a night out after dinner and need a restaurant that's close by, or perhaps you're already in downtown but too lazy to transit to a place to eat that's on the other side of downtown, so to ease your stress, we've categorized these restaurants by neighbourhood. So without further ado, here are some of Downtown Vancouver's best restaurants by neighbourhood. West End Coal Harbour Central Downtown Gastown, Chinatown & Railtown Yaletown & Crosstown Click "Next" for the best restaurants in West End. Forage Where: 1300 Robson St via @ssimo1218 via @michell.e.e.e Type: Casual, Comfort Food Most popular item: Corned Bison Hash and Two Rivers Turkey Sausage Hash Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: If you're craving breakfast food but it's not the weekend yet, Forage has got your back. They serve breakfast every day of the week from 6:30 to 10 AM, and 7 to 10 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. The atmosphere is super cozy and the food is definitely comforting. Website Hook Sea Bar Where: 1210 Denman St via @hookseabar via @hookseabar Type: Seafood Most popular item: Oishi Sushi and Raw Oysters Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸 Why you should go: If you're by English Bay and you just can't get enough of the gorgeous ocean views but you're getting hungry AF, you should definitely head on over to Hook. Located right by the waterfront, this seafood restaurant is serving up some tasty surf and turf and the space itself is very hip. Great for dinner, late night drinks or even brunch. Website Zabu Chicken Where: 1635 Robson St via @saoriosa1009 via @therabbit_90 Type: Korean Most popular item: Spicy and Soy Fried Chicken Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: Zabu Chicken is one of my favourite restaurants to go to for beer pitchers and finger lickin' good chicken. The atmosphere is always bumpin' with booming loud K-Pop, I swear it's almost like the club in there... but with amazing chicken. If you're looking to have a good time with your squad, this is the spot. Website Ritual Where: 774 Denman St via @mrs.glukhov via @604now Type: Farm-to-Table, Comfort Food Most popular item: Seasonal Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: Ritual is probably one the cutest brunch spots to go to on a rainy afternoon in Vancouver. The interior is super cozy and they even have a massive French window on one end of the restaurant where you can dine in front of and watch the rain dance outside. Their menu is always changing so make sure you ask one of their ever-so-friendly waiters what's good. Website Zakkushi Where: 823 Denman St via @vancouverfoodie via @ryan.russell1 Type: Japanese Izakaya and Yakitori Most popular item: Yakitori Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: If you love Japanese izakayas and yakitori (skewers) then you will absolutely love Zakkushi. You can choose your skewers by the stick and they even have some unique options like chicken heart, chicken gizzard, and even liver... of course, if you dare to try it that is. Website Honourable Mentions: Yuzu Shokutei // 854 Denman St Kosoo // 832 Cardero St Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Coal Harbour. Tableau Bar Bistro Where: 1181 Melville St via @themisterwayne via @knowwhere.van Type: French Bistro Most popular item: Chicken and Waffles and Seafood Tower Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: When you're craving some chicken and waffles, but also want a fancy new restaurant to try, Tableau is the spot. Their brunch is absolutely to-die-for and so is their seafood tower. Website Heritage Asian Eatery Where: 1108 W Pender St via @eatheritage via @kcdizonn Type: Asian Fusion Most popular item: Baos, Rice Bowls, and Fried Cauliflower Price: 💸 - 💸💸 Why you should go: Love the fried cauliflower from Nuba? Then you'll absolutely die when you try the fried cauliflower at Heritage. But not only is that delicious, so are their rice bowls and sweet matcha condensed milk with man tous to finish off your meal. Website Nightingale Where: 1017 W Hastings St via @edmondtc via @lookmoolm Type: Canadian Most popular item: Pizza and Roasted Bone Marrow Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸 Why you should go: Nightingale is just fancy enough to impress someone, but not so fancy that you'll feel too intimidated to order anything. They menu is rather simple but delicious with familiar items that you're sure to enjoy. Website Meat & Bread Where: 1033 W Pender St via @jessicacrumby via @meatandbread Type: Sandwich Shop Most popular item: Porchetta Sandwich Price: 💸 Why you should go: Don't be fooled by their simple sandwich shop concept. They may only serve sandwiches, but these sandwiches will make you fall in love. Their signature porchetta sandwich is made with tender slices of pork which they roast with love. One sandwich from here and you'll never want a sammy from anywhere else. Website Honourable Mentions: Prestons // 1177 W Pender St Yui Japanese Bistro // #102-1185 W Georgia St Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Central Downtown. Guu Garden Where: 888 Nelson St via @purplechives via @__seunz Type: Japanese Izakaya Most popular item: Saba Oshi Sushi, Chicken Karaage and Sapporo Mega Pints Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Guu Garden is one of the best spots to eat, drink, and chill with the squad. The environment is super fun and they have Sapporo MEGA PINTS! MEGA PINTS! Just, yas. Website Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Where: 845 Burrard St via @blvdyvr via @janicejoostemaa Type: Upscale Restaurant, Seafood Most popular item: Seafood Tower and Brunch Price: 💸💸💸 Why you should go: If you're trying to plan a fancy birthday dinner date for your bae or even your BFF, Boulevard is the place to go. The interior is super boujee and so is the food. And if you want to be extravagant without spending extravagant amounts of money, go during the Happy Hour for a good time with good bites. Website Bistro Verde Where: 799 Robson St via @chianti___ via @catrinamika Type: Bistro Most popular item: Short Rib Grill Cheese Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: Website The Pawn Shop Where: 1117 Granville St via @chelsbunns via @kjgraae Type: Tacos Most popular item: $1 Happy Hour Tacos Price: 💸 - 💸💸 Why you should go: The Pawn Shop always delivers good vibes all around, all the time. During their Happy Hour, they're always bumpin' early 2000s hip hop tracks and serving up $1 tacos and $3 tequila shots. I talk about this spot all the time because it's worth raving about. Website Honourable Mentions: Chancho Tortilleria // 1206 Seymour St Cafe Medina // 780 Richards St Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Gastown & Railtown. The MacKenzie Room Where: 415 Powell St via @b.e.t.h.e.l.i.g.h.t via @racheljiang Type: Farm-To-Table Most popular item: Current seasonal favourite - Chicken of the Sea Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸 Why you should go: Located in the up and coming trendy neighbourhood of Railtown, The MacKenzie Room is a breath of fresh air from your typical dinner service. Their menu is written on a chalkboard because it's always changing to what's fresh and in season, meaning you will only get served the best of the best food. The service is impeccable, the interior is rustic and cozy, and the food is to-die-for. Website La Mezcaleria Where: 68 E Cordova St via @lamezcaleriayvr via @lamezcaleriayvr Type: Casual, Mexican Most popular item: Queso Fundito Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: La Mezcaleria is notoriously known in Vancouver for their sinfully delicious Queso Fundito, a sizzling hot stone bowl oozing with an amalgam of molten cheese that you can dip with a crispy nacho. Tbh, there's not a whole lot in this world that's better than this - and this is why it's a Vancouver best. Website Peckinpah Where: 2 Water St via @ericajosie via @missmajaulakovic Type: Southern Comfort Food, BBQ Most popular item: Pork Robs and Hush Puppies Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: I once had a good friend who was born and raised in Kentucky and then moved to Vancouver. She brought me to Peckinpah and told me that it is by far one of the most real and authentic Southern style restaurants she had every been to... and she wasn't lying. The BBQ meats are smoked to perfection and the hush puppies are fluffier than real puppies. If you want a real taste of the South, this is the spot. Website Virtuous Pie Where: 583 Main St via @daniellee_kiss via @cafesherethere Type: Vegan Pizza Most popular item: Everything!! Price: 💸 Why you should go: Because everyone loves pizza! And this is the only place that will probably make you feel a little less guilty for horking an entire pizza in one bite... because it's vegan. There's also something just so warm and comforting about the exposed brick walls and arch shaped wall decor that makes you feel like you're inside of a pizza oven. Website Tuc Craft Kitchen Where: 60 W Cordova St via @phtgrph via @laura.ryu Type: Rustic, Comfort Food Most popular item: Fried Chicken and Waffles Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: Any true Vancouverite knows that Tuc Craft is famous for their crispy and juicy Fried Chicken and Waffles. It's a Vancouver classic that you have to try at least once in your life. They even have DIY Mimosas at brunch, so what's the hesitation? Website St. Lawrence Where: 269 Powell St via @stlawrencerestaurant via @ieremignon Type: French, Quebecios Most popular item: Oreilles de Crisse, Côte de porc and Steak tartare Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸 Why you should go: Hands down one of the best French restaurants in the city. The service is amazing, the atmosphere is always warm and inviting, and the food is authentically Quebecois. The chef himself, JC Poirier, is a native Quebecois and so are his staff (with a few exceptions who hail from France). If you're looking for a classy dinner date that will impress, St. Lawrence will sweep you and your date off your feet. Website Honourable Mentions: Tacofino // 15 W Cordova St Phnom Penh // 244 E Georgia St Rhinofish // 550 Main St Juniper // 185 Keefer St Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Yaletown and Crosstown. Banter Room Where: 1039 Mainland St via @serena604 via @pureimagetechnology Type: Lounge Most popular item: Southern Fried Chicken and London Broil Steak Price: 💸💸 Why you should go: Admittedly, Banter Room is more of a lounge than it is your traditional sit-down dinner restaurant, but the space is amazing for larger parties and the food is awesome. And how can you turn down a Moët Champagne vending machine? Website Blue Water Cafe Where: 1095 Hamilton St via @charizardshi via @karenicecat Type: Seafood, Raw Bar Most popular item: Seafood Tower and Sushi Price: 💸💸💸 Why you should go: Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar is one of the city's top rated restaurants and for good reason. This restaurant is known in Vancouver for it's amazing seafood and boujee interior. Wanting to splurge a little for the evening? This place is worth it. Website Fayuca Where: 1009 Hamilton St via @saraprestley via @hungrylorna Type: Pacific Northwest Mexican Most popular item: Seasonal Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸 Why you should go: Not only is Fayuca bringing the heat from Mexico in the tropical dining room, they're bringing the heat from the kitchen. This Pacific Northwest Mexican fusion restaurant is serves incredibly unique creations unlike any other Mexican restaurant in Vancouver and you won't be disappointed. Website WildTale Coastal Grill Where: 1079 Mainland St via @angep22 via @foodcdnaf Type: Seafood Most popular item: Seafood Tower, Raw Oysters, and Salt Spring Island Mussels Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸 Why you should go: If you couldn't already tell, we love our seafood here in Vancouver and we couldn't possible end the list without adding just one more seafood restaurant. WildTale is an exceptionally delicious restaurant that serves the West Coast's freshest and finest. If you've never tried Salt Spring Island Mussels, trust me, it will change your life. Website Honourable Mentions: Jam Cafe // 556 Beatty St Homer St. Cafe // 898 Homer St
