Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia, home to about 700,000 people (about 2.7 million in Metro Vancouver) between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. This guide covers Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, SkyTrain transit, day trips and practical costs for visitors.
Vancouver's dining scene combines Pacific Northwest seafood and produce with some of North America's strongest Japanese and Chinese cooking. Sushi and omakase counters cluster downtown and along Main and Fraser streets, Cantonese dim sum and seafood restaurants are concentrated in Richmond and along Cambie Street, and Vietnamese, Thai and Indian restaurants are spread across Main Street, Commercial Drive and Kitsilano. The 2026 Michelin Guide Vancouver listed one two-star restaurant, ten one-star restaurants, 16 Bib Gourmand restaurants and 45 Recommended restaurants.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Vancouver.
Pacific Northwest oysters
Raw British Columbia oysters served on the half shell.
Where to try: Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, 762 Cambie St; Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, 845 Burrard St
Price: Varies by oyster and market price
Omakase sushi
Chef-selected sushi courses served at the counter.
Where to try: Sushi Masuda, Sushi Hyun, Okeya Kyujiro, Masayoshi
Price: CAD 200-400 (about USD 140-280)
Dim sum
Small steamed and fried Cantonese dishes served with tea.
Where to try: Chef's Choice Seafood Restaurant, 955 W Broadway; Seaport City Seafood, 2425 Cambie St; Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer, 2958 W 4th Ave
Price: CAD 25-50 (about USD 17-35) per person
Aburi (flame-seared) sushi
Pressed sushi lightly torched, a style associated with Vancouver's Japanese restaurants.
Where to try: Miku Vancouver, 200 Granville St, Suite 70
Price: CAD 90-180 (about USD 63-126) per person
Beijing roast duck
Roast duck carved at the table with pancakes.
Where to try: iDen & QuanJuDe Beijing Duck House, 2808 Cambie St
Price: CAD 90-180 (about USD 63-126) per person
Butter beef and fried chicken wings
Cambodian-Vietnamese house specialties.
Where to try: Phnom Penh, 244 E Georgia St
Price: CAD 20-45 (about USD 14-31) per person
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Japanese
Cantonese
Seafood
Thai
Vietnamese
Asian
Greek
Modern Canadian
Pacific Northwest
Vegetable
Food tours & tastings in Vancouver
Eat your way through Vancouver with a guide.
Browse food experiences in VancouverWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Granville Island Public Market stalls
Prepared food, baked goods and seafood counters inside the market.
Find it at: Granville Island Public Market, 1689 Johnston St
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Granville Island Public Market
Public market with produce, seafood, bakery, cheese and prepared-food vendors on Granville Island.
Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM daily per the Granville Island website; individual stalls may vary
Lonsdale Quay Market
Waterfront public market in North Vancouver beside the SeaBus terminal.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Tipping of 15-20% of the pre-tax bill is customary in sit-down restaurants.
British Columbia adds 5% GST to restaurant food, and liquor carries a 10% PST; menu prices exclude both.
Michelin-listed restaurants and omakase counters commonly fill days to weeks ahead; reserve early.
Dim sum is usually served from late morning to mid-afternoon, and weekend waits are common.
- Vegetarian
- Widely available; The Acorn is a vegetable-led restaurant and Indian and Chinese restaurants offer many vegetarian dishes.
- Halal
- Halal options are available at selected Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern restaurants; confirm with the restaurant.
- Gluten free
- Most restaurants can accommodate gluten-free requests when told in advance; soy-sauce-based Asian dishes need confirmation.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CAD 15-30 (about USD 10-21) per meal | Market food, noodle shops and casual Bib Gourmand restaurants. |
| Mid-range | CAD 45-90 (about USD 31-63) per meal | Sit-down dinners at Recommended-level restaurants and dim sum banquets. |
| Upscale | CAD 100-400 (about USD 70-280) per meal | Michelin-starred tasting menus and omakase counters. |