Local Favorites, Hidden Gems, or New Date Spots?
Colin and I have lived in Vancouver our entire lives, and we wanted to create a list of top spots that we, as locals, frequently revisit. This list is quite affordable, and for many, it might just be a hidden gem or a new favorite date spot!
Table of Content:
- Deer Garden Signature
- ETEA Cafe
- Lady 3 Kitchen
- Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen
- Trocadero Pizza & Steak House
- Sushi Mura
- Sushi Garden
- Fat Boy Kitchen
- Happy Lamb
- Cabana Vancouver
- Motonobu Udon
- Ramen Danbo
Want to see fancy restaurants in Vancouver? click here.
Want discounts on activities/hotels? Check out Klook.
Deer Garden Signature:
Deer Garden Signature is undeniably one of our very top favorite spots for Hong Kong-style food, especially their fantastic customizable noodle soups. Diners can perfectly personalize their comforting bowl by choosing their soup base, toppings, and noodles, which often comes with a choice of drinks or side dishes. We highly recommend either the Laksaor the Chaochou-styled dried fish and minced pork soup base. For those who prefer a non-soup option, the Cajun Chicken with Rice is also an excellent choice.
ETEA Cafe:
ETEA Cafe recently reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s fantastic to have them back! In the past, ETEA Cafe was always our go-to spot for delicious bubble tea and meals. We highly recommend trying their Thai Chicken Fried Rice or their Popcorn Chicken Fried Rice—both are incredibly flavorful and mouth-watering.
Lady 3 Kitchen:
Lady 3 Kitchen sells multiple selections of amazing rice pots! We had ordered 2 dishes one being the rice pot with Pork belly and perserved tofu sauce and the a Satay sliced beef with vermicelli and Rice. The Pork belly dish had a good amount of pork belly ,but the tofu sauce wasn’t as good as it gets more solidifcated and dry. The Satay had a good flavor that kept you wanting more. With the dish, you can always order a drink. We would highly recommend giving it a try.
Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen
Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen has been a staple for us for many years and hits the spot when it comes to their fish cakes and dill in a flavorful broth. It’s a must-try for those looking to explore and try a new dish. We were too hungry and forgot to take a photo.
Trocadero Pizza & Steak House
Trocadero Pizza & Steak House is a long-standing establishment offering classic comfort food. We love their Pizza and Calamari Dinner here. They make fresh Tzakiki to die for. Highly recommened if you are looking for good Greek style, Pizza and Lasagna/Pasta dishes.
Sushi Mura:
Sushi Mura is highly regarded for its fresh and high-quality sushi. We love their unique rolls and classic rolls. We love how their Salmon Sashimi is alway generous in size. Sushi Mura has great interior design creating a lovely date vibe.
Sushi Garden:
Sushi Garden is a perpetually busy and popular sushi restaurant known in Vancouver. We love their Sushi combos and their great portion size. It is highly recommended if you love Japanese food.
Fat Boy Kitchen:
Fat Boy Kitchen was a place I had food online and every since the first meal, we always come back when we are craving a good generous, indulgent portions of their Chicken Nugget & Curry dish. We love how the curry is thick and flavorful that works with dipping in the chicken nugget or eating it with rice/french fries. It’s the kind of spot you go to when you’re truly hungry and ready to enjoy a fulfilling meal without holding back. Our photos were too blurry, but we highly recommend trying it out.
Happy Lamb:
Happy Lamb offers an authentic Mongolian-style hot pot experience. We love how Happy Lamb has multiple special offers and late night offers for discounted prices. Additionally a great place to make your own dipping sauces and enjoy a complimentary ice cream after the meal. It is quite affordable during special times like their late menu.
Cabana Vancouver:
Cabana Vancouver located on Commerical drive offers a tropical vibe, offering an escape within the city. We went for brunch and had to try their amazing Cabana Sandwich & The Skillet. The Cabana sandwich was flavorful and had a great amount of oozy gooey cheese. The side sauce was made well to be able to dip your sandwich or fries into. The skillet was good too, but we felt like their wasn’t enough meat leaving us still hungry.
Motonobu Udon
Motonobu Udon is a great place to stop if you craving udon noodles. This place has a great modern fusion vibe for their dishes. We had ordered the Spicy Tan Tan and the Maze mentai Hot version. The Spicy Tan Tan was not spicy at all, but it did not feel like it was enough for the cost ratio. Now the Maze Mentai Hot was delicious, but still left us wanting more. We highly recommend you stopping by to try it for yourself.
Ramen Danbo
Ramen Danbo is Colin’s favorite place to eat especially for Ramen. They have great options for pork bone or vegetarian broth. We love how you can choose ithe richness of the broth, noodle thickness, and spice level. We have went their a couple time and has been consistent. They also have a digital stamp card where you can free dumplings or a free ramen dish.
Conclusion:
We honestly have too many favorite restaurants to eat and drink from, but here is our top places we normally visit. Check out other Vancouver food places in our other blogs.