Save on Meats Coffee Shop
43 W Hastings Street (inside Save on Meats)
Vancouver, BC
In yesterday’s post, I wrote about my visit to Vancouver’s Chinatown to check the area for the preparations for Chinese New Year’s preparation. There was a second reason: Save on Meats Coffee Shop, a place I have (guest) blogged previously.
There is a reason why I came back and I am blogging it again: Save on Meats will be closing in March (check here, here and here) and, despite the shops inside will still be open, as they are leased to others, it is not sure how successful it will be after the meat shop is gone. As a result, I wanted to make sure I drop by before that happens (yes, I will try to go again).
The meat shop to the right; as mentioned above, there are other stands surrounding it, like the produce section to the left.
In the other post, I wrote my thoughts about this place. And, I have the following to add: (1) I am glad I came back – it is still good, (2) it has not changed much since my last visit and (3) despite it is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Canada, you could see all type of characters eating there. Here are the pictures of this visit.
Cooking area/kitchen
Double patty, cheese and mushroom… This time, the fries were undercooked but I was here for the burger.
Drool…. Again, I hope I will be able to come back for more…
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
It looks delicious. I’ll have to go back to the old neighborhood for lunch one day! The DTES is also the most HIV and Hep B infected neighborhood in North America.
I like your creative placement of your name in the pics! Especially the fry one.
That looks fantastic. I pass by that area on my commute everyday and I would’ve never imagined there’s edible, nevermind awesome looking food, to be had there.
cool pictures!
Jessica, yes, unfortunately, this is not one of the “best” areas in Vancouver.
Dan, to quote my previous (guest) post on this place “I am a firm believer that really good meals can be found in really odd places”.
In the case you decide to drop by, the close on 6:00 p.m. but, after 5:30 p.m., it is take-out only.
Pearl, thanks!
Ahh the loss of a landmark. I, like many outside of Vancouver, did not know about Save On Meats until Bourdain went. Unfortunately the last few times I’ve stopped in Van, the trips have been too short or rushed to make it out there. I’ve always wanted to go; hopefully I can make it back to the coast before it closes.
According to the different sources, it is the meat shop, not the cafeteria that is closing. But, for how long it can keep itself open? I guess that’s the main question. Oh, just as that clip mentioned (by the way, it is NOT in the Vancouver episode, it is instead “So Long, Summer” episode), Save on Meats is not a nice neighborhood so don’t feel bad if you can’t make it…
In my opinion, the neighborhood may look scary but just walk like you know what you’re doing. If someone says hello, say hi. You will be fine.
I lived in the neighborhood for a year (on East Georgia at Hawkes) and I absolutely loved it. I was a block from the Astoria hotel and always caught the busses on East Hastings. Walked home at 2am with absolutely no problems. People are actually really friendly there. There’s nothing to be scared of.
I love the neighborhood and would move back in a heartbeat. I only left because my room mate was annoying.
Jessica, it was a general note to people who have not been there and/or don’t want them to be surprised by it. As for myself, I personally don’t understand why people are “afraid” of it at all; however, the fact I used to live in a neighborhood “worse” than the Downtown Eastside might have something to do…
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