Don’t-Miss Dishes in Vancouver

With the Pacific Ocean and fertile valleys on its doorstep, Canada’s west coast city of Vancouver is the recipient of lots of high-quality fresh produce, making it a happy hunting ground for hungry travelers. From delicious dim sum to give-me-more snacks, these are Vancouver’s don’t-miss dishes.

A Cantonese brunch staple, dim sum is made up of bite-sized edibles—from pork and shrimp dumplings (siu mai) to pork ribs (pai gwut). With Vancouver’s strong Asian influence, it’s no surprise that dim sum is big here. Chinatown and Richmond offer a wealth of dim sum dining options. 

Sushi is much loved in this part of Canada, so much so that the province of British Columbia even has its own signature roll—known as the BC roll—made with barbecued salmon and cucumber. You’ll find a concentration of sushi bars in Downtown Vancouver.

Seafood is a natural choice in an oceanside city such as Vancouver. Wild British Columbia sockeye salmon, Dungeness crab, and spot prawn are all local specialties. Buy them fresh from fishmongers at Granville Market or Fisherman’s Wharf.

Head to Commercial Drive in the east of the city for your fill of Italian cuisine. Here, you’ll find cozy neighborhood restaurants serving wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza and generous plates of pasta.

Strange as it may sound to the uninitiated, salmon candy is an unexpected delight. Made by coating smoked salmon with brown sugar or maple syrup, this sweet, smokey, and salty treat has long been a favorite of First Nations’ communities on Canada’s West Coast.