10 Places to Indulge in Comfort Food in Vancouver
Vancouver’s laidback, welcoming nature means that the food scene here is very approachable. Residents lead active lifestyles, and appreciate the best of eating. Most importantly, the city’s multicultural offerings mean you can eat a different favourite comfort food every meal, whether it be grilled cheese, a flavourful curry, or soup dumplings. Vancouver has it all!
Vancouver has so many incredible bakeries, including Beaucoup Bakery, Chinatown’s New Town Bakery, and the plant-based To Live For Bakery. If you’re looking for pure nostalgic comfort, visit Butter Baked Goods in MacKenzie Heights. In its charming space, you’ll find Canadian classics like Nanaimo Bars and Butter Tarts, in addition to other treats such as Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, and Campfire Bars. Your sweet tooth will thank you.
The Greek is four locations strong (Yaletown, Broadway, Gastown, and North Vancouver). This family-run business, in operation since 1984, brings you high quality, contemporary Greek food that maximizes flavour and comfort. If you’re looking for a good deal, head to their Happy Hour 2-5pm everyday; their Yaletown and Gastown locations have also recently added an After Hours menu from 9pm onwards Sundays to Thursdays, and 10pm until closing Fridays and Saturdays. Menus vary by location but you can expect dishes such as spanakopita, hummus and freshly grilled pita, calamari, and various souvlaki. And don’t forget to order the After Hours Anatoli Poutine, an indulgent take on a Canadian beloved that comes with lamb gravy and the option to add pulled lamb.
Nothing says comfort food like fried chicken, and you can find some of the best in the city at Juke Fried Chicken in Chinatown. They have a regular or a spicy version; or, you can order it with jalapeno and cheddar waffles, topped with pickled jalapenos, smaltz, and chipotle-maple drizzle. Other comfort options include nuoc cham ribs, crispy chicken skin, and their famous mac & cheese.
Sister restaurant to Fable Diner and Fable Kitchen (MICHELIN Bib Gourmand), Fable Diner Bar offers no shortage of comfort food, starting with their weekend brunch menu that includes cinnamon French toast waffles, a fried chicken Benny, and Laurie’s Brunch Poutine, which comes with hashbrowns with mushrooms, two soft poached eggs, and gravy. Dinner also features some very satisfying eats, ranging from a Diner Burger with a smash patty, streaky bacon, sunny egg, onion rings, lettuce, and garlic aioli—all on a potato bun; to a chicken and rib platter with slow cooked bbq ribs, fried buttermilk marinated chicken thigh, Cajun corn, and Caesar salad.
Vancouver has some of the best Chinese food in North America, where you can feast on dim sum at standout places like Kirin Restaurant and Dynasty Seafood Restaurant and enjoy hot pot at establishments like Liuyishou Hot Pot. Din Tai Fung, the popular Taiwanese chain, is soft opening on April 24 where you can get your full of XLB, chicken dumplings, and shredded Kurobuta pork fried rice. Meanwhile, Heritage Asian Eatery has two locations, their original Pender Street one, and a more cocktail-forward Main Street one. The latter, for example, has tons of comforting options, including their Heritage Platter of barbecued meat (char siu, chicken, roast duck), siu mai with truffle sauce; mala noodles with spicy beef ragu, cucumber, and pickles; and sesame balls.
Who doesn’t crave curry when you’re needing a cosseting meal. Outstanding spots include Tasty Indian Bistro and MICHELIN Bib Gourmands Karma Indian Bistro and Vij’s. A newer option is Lila Restaurant on Main Street, which specializes in plant-forward and seafood dishes. Dishes range from organic BC portobello mushrooms and paneer in a creamy onion curry with basmati rice to BC ling cod in a ginger-coconut curry with celeriac puree and basmati cumin rice. End your meal with gulab jamun in a light cream cardamom “ras.”
A classic steakhouse can also be high in upscale comfort food, evidenced by the menus at The Victor in Parq Vancouver. The Victory Hour in their bar and lounge (Mondays to Saturdays 5pm to 7pm, Sundays 3-7pm) serves mushroom arancini with saffron aioli, wagyu croquettes with arrabbiata sauce, and dynamite rolls. If you go for dinner Sunday to Thursday, you can order the prime rib with slow roasted Yorkshire pudding, served with Japanese milk bread, mashed potatoes, crispy Brussels sprouts, and chimichurri. And do not leave without ordering the mac & cheese waffles with jalapeno cheese fondue (divine), and their pretzel crusted onion ring stack with mustard sauce.
Burgoo has become synonymous with comfort food in the city. At their four locations (downtown, Mount Pleasant, Point Grey, and North Vancouver), their kitchens draw from the globe with starters like pork and shrimp Dicky’s Dumps, served with sweet chili sauce and sesame crunch; pierogi with smoked sausage, grainy mustard brown butter, and sour cream; and mini beef meatballs with sour cherry BBQ sauce. Opt for the Gooey Cheese Grillers with a taster of their Straight Up Tomato soup for the ultimate combo. Other selections include brie fondue served with crusty bread, apples, grapes, and cherry tomatoes; and beef bourguignon with mashed potatoes.
There have a lot of new delicious Vietnamese restaurants that have opened up in town, to add to some long-running favourites like the plant-based Do Chay, Anh and Chi, and The Lunch Lady (MICHELIN Bib Gourmand). For fans of Vietnamese noodle soup, The Saigonville has some outstanding options, including a Saigon Knocking Noodle Soup with meatballs, brisket, boneless pork hock, crispy pork crackling, noodles, chives, and crispy shallots, all in a 24-hour pork bone broth. The beef stew noodle soup is also a must.
Expertly cooked pasta is a steadfast comfort friend. It’s hard to pick one spot in Vancouver for excellent pasta. Casereccio Foods in Kits is amazing for a casual meal of fresh pasta served with a lot of heart. Italian Kitchen has one of the best lasagna in the city, available on Sundays: 100 Layers (yes, that’s right) in a three course menu for $45. And MICHELIN-recommended Ask for Luigi, always satisfies with dishes like duck ragu pappardelle and rigatoni alla bolognese. If you’re in Gastown, check out Di Beppe, who has not only some great pizza (e.g., fennel sausage, onion, provolone, and rosemary), but also classic pasta like cacio e pepe, carbonara, and puttanesca (choose between spaghetti or rigatoni).