British Columbia may be known for its stunning mountains and ocean views, but the province also has an incredible food scene.
When I first moved to B.C.'s capital city of Victoria years ago, I quickly began discovering many amazing restaurants all over the island and on the mainland.
What caught me by surprise was how many chain restaurants there are in the province that I had never heard about when I lived in Ontario.
From brunch at The Village to fish tacos at Tacofino and burgers at White Spot, there are lots of great spots that come highly recommended by locals.
Here are nine restaurants that you probably haven't heard of unless you've been to B.C. and should definitely try on your next trip to the West Coast.
Tacofino
Price: 💸💸
Locations: Tofino, Victoria, several in Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Stopping at the OG Tacofino truck in Tofino is a must when you're in the area.
The restaurant serves an assortment of tacos and burritos and if you go you should try at least one of each.
If you can't make it to Tofino, there are now locations open in Victoria and in Vancouver.
Seriously, the fish tacos are next level.
Tacofino Menu
Jam Cafe
Price: 💸💸
Locations: One in Victoria and three in Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: If you ask people in Victoria where they recommend going for brunch in the city, there's a good chance they'll suggest Jam Cafe.
The menu is full of drool-worthy breakfast and brunch items like the buttermilk biscuit melt, banana split french toast and lots of different eggs Benedict options.
You can also order a drink with a kick like a mimosa or a jam bacon Caesar (which I recommend) to go along with your meal.
Honestly, it's no surprise this place is so popular that it's almost guaranteed you'll be met with a line out the door when you go. If you have the time, it's worth the wait!
Jam Cafe Menu
White Spot
Price: 💸💸
Locations: All over B.C., and a few in Alberta
Why You Need To Go: White Spot is a restaurant chain that started out in Vancouver and now has many locations in Western Canada.
The restaurant is known for its hamburgers with a pickle slice on top, "Triple O" sauce and milkshakes.
It's a food spot that's loved by many British Columbians, including Canadian singer Michael Bublé who has been known to hype the place up.
In an Instagram post in 2021, Bublé encouraged anyone who comes to the province to check out White Spot and grab a burger and Caesar. I couldn't agree more!
White Spot Menu
Japadog
Price: 💸
Locations: Several in B.C. and one in California
Why You Need To Go: Japadog started out as a hotdog stand in Vancouver and has expanded to multiple locations in B.C. and even then the U.S.
Japadog serves Japanese style hot dogs and the variations are super innovative. Where else can you get Chicken Karaage or tempera on a hot dog?
Japadog Menu
The Village
Price: 💸💸
Locations: Several on Vancouver Island
Why You Need To Go: The Village is another extremely popular brunch restaurant in Victoria. It serves traditional style dishes like eggs Benedict, latkes and bagels with locally-sourced ingredients.
Even if you're not a fan of salad, you need to give the one at The Village a chance. The shredded veggies, greens and feta are topped with the most delicious vinaigrette you've ever had.
The Village Menu
Ali Baba Pizza
Price: 💸💸💸
Locations: Five on Vancouver Island, one on the mainland
Why You Need To Go: Ali Baba Pizza was founded in 1986 in Victoria and has since grown to six locations in B.C.
The family-owned restaurant makes gourmet pizzas with topping combinations on its premium pies that you would not normally consider like raisins and roasted pear.
While the food is a bit pricier than some of your other standard pizza joints like Dominos, these pies are loaded with toppings and it all sits on a pretty sturdy and crispy crust so you can't really compare the two.
Ali Baba Pizza Menu
De Dutch
Price: 💸💸
Locations: All over B.C. and has now expanded to Alberta
Why You Need To Go: Another great breakfast or lunch spot in B.C. is De Dutch.
With Dutch omelettes and breakfast platters, there is so much variety on the menu that everyone is bound to find something they'll enjoy.
You can also get the traditional pannekoek, which is a Dutch pancake that looks similar to a crepe.
De Dutch Menu
Little Thai Place
Price: 💸💸
Locations: Three in Victoria
Why You Need To Go: Anyone who loves Thai food needs to try out a popular Victoria restaurant called Little Thai Place.
The menu is loaded with rice, noodle and curry dishes. It also has a section dedicated to chef selections and each one sounds delicious.
Little Thai Place Menu
Romeo's
Price: 💸💸-💸💸💸
Locations: Three on Vancouver Island
Why You Need To Go: Romeo's is a business run by a Greek family that offers both traditional Greek dishes and popular Italian ones as well.
From pizzas, to pastas and chicken souvlaki, they have all the classic comfort meals!
Romeo's Menu
It looks like Ontario is catching on to how good the food on the West Coast is because it has opened up Noodlebox and Triple O's restaurants, both of which started out in B.C.
Noodlebox first opened as a small food cart in Victoria's Chinatown and Triple O's is part of the White Spot franchise, with a condensed menu. I hadn't heard of either of these before moving to B.C., but I do recommend both if you spot a location in Ontario.
These aren't the only amazing restaurants the West Coast has to offer.
While Vancouver may be the bigger city and known for its food scene, don't forget about Victoria because the city also has plenty of its own stunning restaurants, with many hidden gems as well if you know where to look.
There are also lots of great foodie stops no matter where you're headed, including several on the way from Victoria to Tofino.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
Food at Nourish. 