The Best Vancouver Restaurants

Maenam in Kitsilano

Vancouver overflows with Asian cuisine, be it Chinese, Vietnamese, or Japanese. But Maenam is a rarity for its contemporary and flavorful Thai dishes that use quality, fresh ingredients. The Thai eatery is often overlooked as one of the best Vancouver restaurants perhaps because of its relaxed, un-flashy Kitsilano location. But a meal of Thai sausages, green papaya salad, or duck curry will soon convince you otherwise.

Organic Lives: A Raw Food Restaurant

Vegetarians will delight in visiting Vancouver, where some of the best Vancouver restaurants feature vegan, raw food, or organic menus. At Organic Lives the polished kitchen creates delicious raw food creations that span zucchini linguine, sushi filled with nuts and vegetables, and cacao-dipped cookies. And all the dishes use unprocessed, uncooked ingredients.

Hawksworth Restaurant at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Opened in 2011 at the completely renovated Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Hawksworth is the vision of Vancouverite David Hawksworth. Over the years the chef has helmed some of the best Vancouver restaurants. At his namesake, the chef surpasses all to create a menu featuring creative and tantalizing dishes such as Moroccan squab or bacon-wrapped elk loin. Diners can also savor the original art that dominates the street-level restaurant.

Sushi at Tojo’s Restaurant 

Sitting at the sushi bar of the chef who created both the California roll and the BC roll is a mighty, if expensive, treat. Open for more than two decades, Tojo’s endures as one of the best Vancouver restaurants for its supreme-quality fish, attentive service, and originality. Watch master sushi chef Tojo (he’s the one with the moustache) oversee a humming kitchen. The restaurant’s Omakase is unique among local sushi restaurants: diners state the amount they want to spend and chef Tojo oversees the menu. A friendly bartender will also mix you a sake martini or two.

Judas Goat

Venture down Gastown’s Blood Alley, which was named for the butchers that once operated here, to reach the tiny dining room at Judas Goat. The server will give you a photocopied menu and a pencil. Mark off what you’d like to try from the tapas-style menu – perhaps the baked clams, fennel salad, or Kobe meatballs. The tasty options and interactive discussion make for one of the best Vancouver restaurant experiences. You’re then already in Gastown to continue your evening at the liveliest Vancouver bars and nightclubs.

In a city of thousands of eateries, these are only a sampling of the best Vancouver restaurants. For more dining, have your pick of the best Vancouver sushi or opt for a casual meal at White Spot, an institution in Vancouver family dining.