Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games – Where to Eat?

To those who do not know yet, last Friday was   the opening ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. During the next two weeks, in addition to my regular food/restaurant blog posts, I will try to do photo essays of the city, specially of the Downtown Vancouver/Yaletown area and probably some of the other installations across town. Sorry, no Cypress or Whistler… I mean, you can watch the sport events themselves in TV and news you might not necessarily see the rest that Vancouver has to offer. And that brings the topic of this post…

In the last week or so, I have been receiving emails asking for suggestions on places to eat, things they have to try, restaurant they should visit and so on. And it goes all ways, some for cheap, something they should spare no expense and so on. The commonality of the request is the Downtown/Yaletown area of town. I tried my best answering those emails but, as explained in my response, in my opinion, Yaletown is full of expensive restaurants where the focus is not always in good food. Instead, I suggested expand a little bit more. Based on the couple of emails I have replied, I thought I should compile what I have written and put it in a post.

Update: The topic of price gouging has popped up in the comments section. I thought I should include some links here, as a caveat emptor for out of town customers. I love Vancouver but despise that restaurant owners is taking advantage of the Olympics to obtain additional revenues.

• An article in The Globe and Mail from Alexandra Gill, the newspaper’s food critic.
• A site maintaining a naughty or nice list of restaurants.
• An article (and video) from CTV.

Now, although I am an auditor by trade, at one time, I was also a network admin. One of the things you “learn” in this field is the concept of laziness. Specifically, if you had to put the effort on doing something, make it good enough so it can be reused at a later time. What this has to do with this post? Well, I could start with some suggestions already provided by fellow food bloggers.

Melody Fury (of Gourmet Fury) has been asking us Vancouver local food bloggers for suggestions on different best eats and has compiled as series of posts for Serious Eats.

Top 10 Grab and Go
Top 10 Ethnic Specialties
Top 10 Breakfast and Lunch
Top 10 Dessert Destinations
Top 10 Sips and Bites
Top 10 of City’s Best

Likewise, Michelle (of Cheap Eats 2010), has written some posts on restaurants in the area as well.

It is possible I will repeating some of those suggestions so bare with me, OK?

One more thing before we continue…! Depending on your accommodations or if you will be renting a car, the best way to move around town will be public transit. There are people who say the local transit system sucks but, believe me, it is not as bad as it sounds. Putting politics aside, if you know you will be travelling around, I highly suggest you get a Faresaver booklet, if not a 2010 Game Transit Pass (specially if you will be for a long period of time in town – I should have purchased one myself! >_< ). If you are only in Vancouver, a one zone pass/ticket will work fine. If you will be going to North/West Vancouver, Burnaby or Richmond, you will need a two zone pass/ticket (and some of the suggestions are not in Downtown Vancouver!). So, without further ado…

Things/Food types you should try:

• Poutine: If there is a Canadian dish in some straigh sense of the word, I think this should be it. This fries plus cheese curds plus gravy concoction might sound gross but, believe me, it tastes better than it sounds.
• Timbits: If you are Canadian, feel free to skip this one, you know what to expect. For non-Canadians, it is not the fact you should try these donut holes. Rather is that you should go there, order a double double and a pack of 20 timbits. Don’t ask, just do it.
• Seafood: Pacific Northwest is known for seafood so, if you can, give it a try. From Ocean Wise program down to Fish and Chips, you should be able to find something.
• Dim sum: I am skeptical about this but will take it anyway: Traveller’s magazine Conde Nast said Vancouver has the best Chinese food in the world. While dim sum served here is more on the Cantonese style (more often than not, with some flare and, to quote fellow blogger Sherman “more modern”), it is a good starting point. Aside from the usual pork and shrimp dumplings check if they have xiao long bao.
• Sushi: Similar to what is being said about Chinese food, it is also said that, outside of Japan, Vancouver has really good sushi. Once, again, I have doubts about this. Sure, a lot of sushi places; the problem is that there are a lot of run off the mill, mass produced sushi ones and the task is to separate the good ones from the bad ones without blowing a hole in your pocket.
• Izakaya: This is one of the current trends in Vancouver. Though the concept is similar to that of a small bar serving snacks, it has turned around into establishment serving both food and alcohol, often with more emphasis on food.
• Beers and wines: Despite what Stephen Colbert says about us Canadians being (maple) syrup suckers, not much maple syrup is produced in here in BC. However, there are microbreweries and local wineries. After all, the Okanagan Valley is sometimes referred to the Napa of the North. If you are a wine enthusiast, try the ice wine produced here in BC. On that note, if you are looking for wines, make sure they have VQA stamp (Vintners Quality Alliance), the entity that regulates wines in Canada.

Having said all that, the question now is, given that much time, which places should you go? This list is long and, despite some of them I have not visited myself, I trust the opinion given by fellow bloggers and I think it is worth mentioning (even on instances I have visited myself!). Of course, since budget is always an issue, I will add notes to indicate how cheap/expensive that place might be. So, without further ado and in no specific order, places you might want to visit if you are in the Downtown/Yaletown/Gastown area of Vancouver…

• Market by Jean-Georges: My blog post here. A celebrity chef restaurant in the Shangri-La hotel in Downtown Vancouver. If the Prix Fixe Olympic menu is too high ($95), you can always try lunch ($29).
• Le Crocodile: While not as “celebrity” as the previous one, if you want to splurge in classic French restaurant, this might be the place. Just check what Jessica (of Yum-o-Rama), Gigi (of Ho Yummy) and ET and Christina (of Doesn’t Tazte Like Chicken) have to say!
• Guu: One of the best known izakaya in Vancouver, it is better to go in a small group to be able to share several dishes. Out of their locations, I have visited the one in Gastown but, as for the other ones, you can check Gigi’s thoughts on its Thurlow location and Sherman’s (of Sherman’s Food Adventures) thoughts of its Robson location.
• Kingyo: Another izakaya. I have been there for lunch and, while good, for the better stuff, you should go for dinner. The same principle as Guu applies here: It is better to go in a small party. For thoughts about their afterhours fare, check Mijune’s thoughts.
• Hapa Izakaya: Out of all the izakaya, I have the feeling this is the most westernized. It is not that it is bad but it is not that good. However, I am aware some people like it. Just ask Victoria (of Victoria’s Food Secrets)!

I think I can keep on and on about izakaya but I think I can defer the other izakaya places to Melody, who did a crawl of such places… Brave girl I must say.

• Cactus Club Cafe: One of the many local chain restaurants where one of selling points is the view of girls in skimpy dresses. However, unlike other similar restaurants (which shall be left unnamed), the food here is actually good. Though the dishes are expensive on the expensive side, some of them are worth it. Check specially those “inspired” by Rob Feenie, a local celebrity chef.
• La Belle Patate: I mentioned poutine at the very beginning and it is something you can find in pretty much any restaurant that serves french fries. However, for a more “authentic” version, go to this place. Although I blogged about it, I think Mijune did a better job by actually doing a vlog! Check it here.
• Japadog, The DogFather and DougieDog: If you want hot dog, these are the places to go. Pretty much every blogger has written about Japadog and, for the most part, they liked it. As for the other two places, check my posts here and here.
• Raincity Grill: They have something for every budget, from $10 fish and chip lunch (from their take out window, my post here), to brunches (Victoria’s thoughts) to fine dining dinner (and Sherman’s thoughts).
• Provence Marinaside: I was asked a couple of times about brunch and, in addition of Raincity Grill, this is another suggestion. I haven’t been there myself by I will defer thoughts to, once again, Victoria and Sherman.
• Cafe Medina and Chambar: Located next to each other, the former offers breakfast and brunch (also well known for its waffles) while the later offers late night. I don’t like either one for personal reasons but I am sure there are people who will appreciate them, like Jessica (for Cafe Medina) and Joyce (of Vanfoodies, for Chambar)
• Ganache Patisserie: If you are up for sweets, this is one of the best locations in the Downtown area. Just ask Elaine (of Parker Pages)!
• The Irish Heather: I have only been to their Long Table Series, a dinner in a communal table, which requires reservation (sometimes there are cancellations so you might as well give them a last minute call). If you can score one, you can get a meal for cheap with beer for ~$15! I organized a food bloggers gathering there in the past (check here, with links to other bloggers posts) and Mijune (of Follow Me Foodie) did a “tw-EAT-up“.
• Kirin: A couple of weeks ago, traveller magazine Conde Nast Traveler wrote Vancouver has the best Chinese food in the world. I have issues with that statement but, still, if you are in Downtown Vancouver and want Chinese, specifically, dim sum, this might be the best place to go (though it did not really “wow” me – feel free to call it different standards). For different thoughts, check with Jenny (of My Secret Eden), hehehehe.
• Joe Fortes: Pretentious, over-rehearsed service and expensive, this is one of the best known seafood restaurants in Downtown. I did not necessarily like it but I am sure it has its crowd.
• H-Mart: OK, this is not the name of a restaurant but the name of a Korean supermarket. However, their food court serves quite good (and cheap!) Korean and Japanese food. Check Degan’s (of Ethnic Eats) thoughts about this place.
• Update! In addition to H-Mart, in the same block, there are a couple of small restaurants that might be worth for you to visit, specially if you are looking for cheap eats. They include GyuDonYa (soon to be open, as of Feb 14th), Kushi Box (just opened, thoughts from Gigi, here!), Beard Papa’s and Viet Sub (thoughts from Tana of Cheap Appetite, here)

By no means this list is inclusive – there are a lot of other good eats and trying to list them all will take me forever. Furthermore, Downtown Vancouver is not necessarily the best place for good eats. If you are willing to go around town (accessible by transit), here are some places you might want to consider:

• Vij’s/Rangoli: I haven’t been myself but it is said to be one of the best Indian food in town (modernized, thouhg). Since Vij’s does not take reservations, there seems to be always a line and despite being considered fine dining, Rangoli’s might be the backup plan (they have the same owners). Some thoughts of Vij’s by fellow blogger Jenny and Sherman.
• Thomas Haas: A lot of people believe the best pastries in Vancouver are done in either Ganache Patisserie (mentioned above) or Thomas Haas (and some people squeeze Kreation Artisan Cake in that mix as well, check Mijune’s post). In addition to me, Mijune believes it is good as well! (Note, they have two locations, one in Vancouver West Side and another in North Vancouver).
• DB Bistro Moderne: Another celebrity chef “run” restaurant located in Vancouver West Side. I haven’t been there myself but you can check Sherman’s post, here. It is not cheap so you might want to check also for some deals from Let’s Go for Dinner.
• Salade de Fruits Cafe: A French restaurant located in the Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver (remember, Canada is bilingual!). Overall decent prices and, as for the food itself, here are Polly’s (of Deeelish!) thoughts.
• Commercial Drive: Once again, not a restaurant per se but an area of Vancouver. If you are taking Skytrain, get off at Broadway Skytrain station and walk north (the direction of the mountains). There, you can find several type of restaurants, from African (Harambe, my thoughts here), Pastries (Fratelli Bakery, Jessica’s comments here), sandwiches (La Grotta del Formaggio, you can get cheese here, as well! Sherman’s thoughts about their sandwiches here) or even Salvadorean (Rinconcito Salvadoreño, my thoughts here). This is a really multi-cultural neighbourhood and chances are you will find something that will fit your bill.
• Three Lions Cafe: If you are British, this might be the place for you to go. And fellow blogger Tre (of Noshwell) seems to agree (check here)!
• Granville Island: Similar to Commercial Drive, Granville Island is an area but, this time, a market. When you have a market, good eats are expected; however, one of the bests in the area is Go Fish (as the name suggests, fish and chips). Check Sherman’s thoughts.
• Shanghai River and Shanghai Wonderful: If you are in Richmond (say, for the O Zone for skating events), these might be good places for Chinese. Notice the Shanghai part of the name; that means, if you are there for dim sum, you must order xiao long bao (a soup filled dumplings). For thoughts about Shanghai River, Mijune wrote three different posts (check here with appropriate links to the other two) and, for Shanghai Wonderful, check Jessica’s thoughts here.
• Yaohan Centre and Aberdeen Mall: Two malls located in Richmond, next to Aberdeen Skytrain Station, again, not that far from the O Zone. I am certain that most of you think “food court food sucks”. While that is true for the most part, these are not any food court. Instead, these are mostly Asian style; think a hawker centre.
• Main Street: For the third time, another area, rather than a specific restaurant. Similar to Commercial Drive, mentioned previously, you can find a bit of everything, from Chinese (dim sum) with Sun Sui Wah (though, a lot of bloggers, including the Foodosophy team, believe it has declined), Hawker’s Delight (for really cheap eats, once again, Foodosophy team’s thoughts) and some bagels rom Solly’s Bakery (again, thoughts from the Noshwell team, this time, Case)
• Chinatown: Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the largest historical Chinatowns. Just east of BC place, it might look run down to some people (not surprising, considering that it is next to the infamous Vancouver Downtown Eastside). If you choose to venture, really good eats can be found in Phnom Penh (go for their chicken wings and butter beef, as per Foodosophy team’s suggestion)

I will have to abruptly stop here because there are still a lot of places to check/visit. For example, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, etc. If I kept on going, I wouldn’t finish writing this until after the Olympics! So, instead, just give these places a try. Or, if you find an interesting one you want to share, let me know!

Tagged under: Breakfast • Dinner • Lunch • Olympic Games • Random • Richmond • Vancouver