🌊 Vancouver Food Guide

Vancouver's food scene is defined by two things — some of the freshest Pacific seafood in the world, and one of the best Asian food scenes outside Asia. Richmond (a suburb often considered part of Vancouver) has the best Chinese food in North America, full stop.

28+

Food Guides

Hidden Gems

CAD$10+

Budget From

British Columbia, Canada

Region

Must-Try Dishes

What to Eat in Vancouver

The essential Vancouver dishes — from street food to signature plates.

🐟

BC Salmon

CAD$20-35

🥟

Dim Sum (Richmond)

CAD$5-12/dish

🦀

Dungeness Crab

CAD$30-50

🍣

Sushi

CAD$15-35

🍜

Japanese Ramen

CAD$14-20

🍜

Vietnamese Pho

CAD$12-16

🍜

Taiwanese Beef Noodle

CAD$14-18

🍫

Nanaimo Bar

CAD$2-4

Food Neighborhoods

Where to Eat in Vancouver

The neighborhoods with the most interesting food scenes — ranked by Otto.

🏮

Richmond

The best Chinese food in North America. Night markets in summer. Cantonese dim sum, Sichuan hotpot, Shanghainese soup dumplings, Taiwanese shaved ice.

🛒

Granville Island

Vancouver's famous public market — fresh BC produce, local cheeses, artisan bakeries, fresh seafood, and lunch on the pier.

🌍

Commercial Drive

Vancouver's multicultural food corridor — Italian cafés, Ethiopian injera, El Salvadoran pupusas, organic cafés.

🏮

Chinatown

Vancouver's historic Chinatown — old-school roast duck shops, herbal medicine, dim sum, and the best wonton noodle soup.

🐟

Steveston

Fishing village south of Richmond — fresh BC salmon from the docks, fish and chips at the wharf, the best seafood in the region.

Food Guides

Otto's Vancouver Articles

Deep dives into the food culture, street food scenes, and local secrets.

🏮

Richmond Night Market: Vancouver's Asian Street Food Paradise

The definitive guide to the best night market in North America.

Night MarketRichmond

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🥟

Dim Sum in Richmond vs Vancouver: Where to Go

Aberdeen Centre, Parker Place, the independent Cantonese spots — where to eat.

Dim SumRichmond

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🐟

BC Salmon: The Pacific's Finest Fish

Chinook vs sockeye vs coho — the salmon guide for the Pacific Northwest.

SeafoodBC

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🛒

Granville Island Public Market: The Complete Guide

What to buy, what to eat, who the vendors are, when to go.

MarketVancouver

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Local Knowledge

Things to Know Before You Eat

The insider context that changes how you experience Vancouver's food culture.

🏮 Richmond is the Key

Richmond (adjacent to Vancouver) has a Chinese population of over 50%. The dim sum, Cantonese roast meats, Sichuan hotpot, and Hong Kong-style baked goods here are better than anything in Vancouver proper.

🐟 BC Salmon

British Columbia has five species of Pacific salmon — Chinook (king), sockeye, coho, pink, and chum. Wild-caught BC salmon from the Fraser River or Vancouver Island is among the finest salmon in the world.

💸 Budget Reality

Dim sum in Richmond: CAD$20-35/person for a proper feast. Granville Island lunch: CAD$12-20. Restaurant: CAD$25-50. Vancouver is expensive but the quality is extremely high.