Nothing beats the warm, comforting taste of asian cuisine. The spices, texture and appearance all blend together to create an edible masterpiece. With 715 restaurants (and counting), Metro Vancouver is one of the most food-diverse cities in Canada; there are always plenty of choices to satisfy your cravings. From Dim Sum to Korean barbecue, Vancouver has it all. Looking for a good sushi spot to visit with friends? Or how about picking up a dozen Korean-Style donuts? From Japanese to Korean to Chinese to even Vietnamese, here are some of the best restaurants you need to try in Metro Vancouver. 1. Phnom penhLocated in Chinatown, The "Best South East Asian Restaurant" award-winning restaurant, Phnom Penh, has been around since the 1980s and business doesn't seem to be dying down anytime soon. They've even been recognized by American actor, Jimmy O. Yang in a vlog he did while in Vancouver. Yang ended his video by saying, " it's great value!... for all this food, good quality food," which goes to show how much effort is put into each dish. Phnom Penh offers a mix of Cambodian and Vietnamese-style dishes with 124 items on their menu, one of their most popular items being the Phnom Penh Deep-Fried Chicken wings at item #78. Although there is no physical parking lot, customers can find parking along the street. In order to keep food fresh to order, Phnom Penh doesn't offer delivery but, they will gladly take an order for pick up. To keep up with the growing price of importing fresh produce, Phnom Penh charges around $10-20 per dish and ensures the best quality in all of their food and drinks. Lastly, due to the popularity of this fusion restaurant, wait times can be long, so be prepared to wait for a while or come early to secure a table. 2. Fortune terraceSituated across the street from the Richmond Oval, Fortune Terrace is known to offer traditional Dim Sum favourites with an additional, elegant touch. They offer underground parking and the restaurant is conveniently located next to the asian chain grocery store, T&T. Not only are dine-in and takeout options available, but Fortune Terrace is also ready to order on UberEats and DoorDash. The restaurant itself is clean and elegant and the staff are very friendly. The menu has a plethora of different dishes and desserts commonly eaten at Dim Sum, such as Congee, Har Gao, and even Xiao Long Bao. Because dishes are made with only the finest ingredients, prices for dishes commonly range from $10-30, but it is definitely worth every penny. As for wait times, be sure to make a reservation to guarantee a table or succumb to the long, weekend wait times. 3. Mello CaféWith their signature brioche dough and assorted, asian inspired flavours, Mello Café has made a name for themselves in the donut world. Found in Chinatown, Mello Café offers a variety of different flavours, with classics such as vanilla bean and lemon curd, as well as flavours you wouldn't expect, namely their matcha creme and even a savoury, everything bagel-flavoured donut. They also offer seasonal donuts, available for preorder with flavours such as black sesame and raspberry mascarpone creme. As for accessibility, Mello Café has no actual parking lot; instead, parking on the street is available at certain times of the day. Due to the popularity of Mello Café, be prepared to wait in line, as the queue usually goes out the door or, skip the line entirely and order donuts off of DoorDash or UberEats. As far as prices, Mello Café sells their donuts at $3.75 for a regular brioche donut and $4.74 for a specialty brioche donut. 4. sushi muraLocated on Oak street in Vancouver, Sushi Mura is well-known for their excellent service and affordable prices. Sushi Mura offers a modern take on traditional sushi rolls and includes many other cooked menu items such as rice bowls, appetizers and noodle dishes. One customer left a review saying that Sushi Mura offers “generous portions of dishes with fresh ingredients & tasty sauces,” reflecting the care and quality staff put into the food. Although they have reserved customer parking, the lot will likely be full and parking may need to be found elsewhere or in the residential area. The service itself is quick and the food reaches tables quite fast. Their menu is also available on DoorDash, UberEats, and SkipTheDishes for an increased price, if customers wish to eat from the comfort of their homes. Rolls go for around $3 for regular rolls and $10-15 for special rolls. 5. Daan korean cuisineNestled in the Garden City Shopping Centre and conveniently located in close proximity to a Shoppers Drug Mart, Daan Korean Cuisine is all about Korean dishes meant to be shared with family and friends. Their dishes contain quality ingredients at affordable prices and are even delicious when eaten as leftovers the next day. Their most popular menu items are the rice cake stew and the seafood pancake. Parking is available right outside the restaurant and is easily accessible via Garden City road. To guarantee a table, make a reservation or come earlier to put a name on the waitlist. The staff are incredibly friendly and the service is fairly quick. One can expect $10-20 per dish that can serve up to 4 people and can either order for takeout, or grab a table and dine in. Unfortunately, Dana Korean Cuisine is not available on any delivery services but that doesn’t hinder their quality as a restaurant and the rare wait times are worth it once you've tried the food.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or going out for a meal with friends, do not hesitate to try these restaurants. With this in mind, hopefully you can enjoy all the good stuff Metro Vancouver has to offer and discover a variety of different cultures and cuisines. Finally, don’t forget to leave reviews at all the places you’ve tried and feel free to recommend them to friends and family if it was worth your while! This list contains only some of the many eateries in Metro Vancouver; feel free to try other restaurants that are mentioned in the links below as well:
Images: “Daan Korean Cuisine Chicken Wings.” Everyday is a Food Day, 13 May 2017, https://everydayisafoodday.com/2019/05/13/daan-korean-restaurant/, Accessed: 15 may 2022. “Fortune Terrace Dim Sum.” Four Square, 25 February 2022, https://foursquare.com/v/fortune-terrace-chinese-cuisine/56d404a3498e02f906cc1666/photos, Accessed: 15 May 2022. “Fortune Terrace Entrance.” Sherman’s Food Adventures, no date, http://www.shermansfoodadventures.com/2017/10/fortune-terrace.html, Accessed: 15 May 2022. “Mello Donuts.” Eats With Mo, June 4 2022, https://eatswithmo.com/mello-donuts/, Accessed: 15 May 2022. “Phnom Penh Chicken Wings.” Picky Diners, no date, https://www.pickydiners.com/www/phnom-penh-one-best-places-dine-chinatown/, Accessed: 15 May 2022. “Volcano Roll.” Sushi Mura Oak, no date, https://sushimura-oak.com/products/Volcano-Roll-Tuna-p183322473, Accessed: 15 May 2022. |