The Ultimate Vancouver Food Guide

Any Vancouver food guide will have you craving freshly caught seafood and bold international flavors. The city’s Pacific Northwest setting, combined with a diverse immigrant population, makes Vancouver’s culinary scene distinct from other parts of Canada.

From grabbing a sweet and tangy japadog from a street vendor to savoring the tender texture of BC spot prawns, there’s something to satisfy every craving in Vancouver. Here are some of the most iconic Vancouver foods to try on your trip.

Japadog

Japadog

Hands down, one of the most iconic foods in Vancouver is the japadog. As the name suggests, it’s a Japanese-style hot dog packed with flavor. Typically, japadogs are glazed with teriyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo, bonito flakes, and seaweed flakes.

Japadog was first introduced to the Vancouver food scene in 2005 as a single food cart. Since then, it’s become a local staple and a great example of dishes influenced by both North America and Japan. It’s usually one of the first things locals will encourage you to try when visiting Vancouver for the first time.

While japadogs are definitely unique to Vancouver, other cities like Los Angeles and New York have started adding this sweet and tangy snack to their menus.

BC Roll

BC Roll Photo by Underbar dk on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Like Japadogs, the BC roll, also known as the Tojo Roll, was invented in Vancouver by chef Hidekazu Tojo in 1974. The “BC” refers to British Columbia, the province where Vancouver is located.

A typical BC roll combines barbecued or pan-fried salmon skin with cucumber and sesame seeds, all wrapped in sushi rice and nori. While the roll originated in Vancouver, you’ll now find it on most Japanese restaurant menus across the country, as well as featured at some of the city’s main food festivals.

Candied Salmon

Candied salmon

Candied salmon gets its name from the sweet curing process, where salmon is smoked and then coated with either maple syrup or brown sugar. While it’s now a popular snack regularly sold at markets and food trucks, Indigenous peoples in British Columbia have smoked salmon for thousands of years, both as a way to preserve it and to bring out its strong flavor.

You’ll find candied salmon at food trucks, markets, and fairs, as well as sold as a packaged treat to take home. If maple syrup or brown sugar isn’t to your taste, you may find versions flavored with pepper, garlic, or honey.

BC Spot Prawns

BC spot prawns

Another local favorite is the BC spot prawn, known for its tender, lobster-like texture and sweet flavor. During prawn season, which runs from May to June each year, the best place to buy spot prawns is straight off the boats at Fishermen’s Wharf in False Creek or Ladner Wharf.

Alternatively, head to one of the city’s fish markets, like Fanny Bay Oysters or Lobster Man on Granville Island, for freshly caught prawns.

Dungeness Crab

Dungeness crab

Another popular seafood to try when exploring food in Vancouver is Dungeness crab, named after a small fishing village in Washington State. This particular crab is known for its tender, sweet meat and bright reddish shell once cooked. You’ll find it on many menus in Vancouver and in coastal towns across British Columbia.

Preparing Dungeness crab is simple. Most cooks either steam or boil them whole, then crack them at the table. Melted butter or other dipping sauces are usually served alongside, and it’s safe to say this is one dish worth getting your hands dirty for.

In Asian restaurants in and around Vancouver, you’ll also see Dungeness crab stir-fried with ingredients like ginger and green onion for added flavor.

Poutine

Poutine

While poutine originated in Québec in the 1950s, this beloved dish has become a staple across Canada, including Vancouver. It’s instantly recognizable: golden French fries topped with fresh cheese curds and smothered in savory brown gravy.

Unlike in the U.S., where ketchup is the go-to condiment for fries, poutine is all about the balance of crisp fries, melty cheese, and rich gravy. The fries are usually double-fried for extra crunch, while the hot gravy melts the curds into a gooey, comforting mix.

Poutine

You’ll find traditional versions across the city, along with creative twists topped with pulled pork, butter chicken, or seafood.

Read: Best Things to Do in Vancouver with Kids

Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bars

When it comes to desserts in Vancouver, Nanaimo bars are a must-try. These sweet treats are named after the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and are among Canada’s most delicious desserts.

Nanaimo bars first gained fame in the mid-20th century and have been a hit with Canadians ever since. They’re perfect for picnics or potlucks because they’re easy to make and require no baking.

Each bar has three layers: a graham cracker and coconut base, a custard-flavored middle, and a glossy chocolate topping. When browsing local bakeries, you may notice some fun variations with flavors like mint or peanut butter.

BeaverTails

BeaverTails

Another beloved Canadian dessert, if not a little offbeat, is the BeaverTail. As the name suggests, this pastry is shaped like a beaver’s tail. The dough is deep-fried until golden brown, then topped with sweet extras like cinnamon sugar, chocolate, or fruit.

Although BeaverTails originated in Ottawa in the late 1970s, they’ve since become a staple across Canada, including Vancouver. People love their texture: crisp on the edges with a softer interior.

You’ll most often see BeaverTails at food festivals and markets. While they’re better known as a winter treat, their popularity is such that they are available year-round.

Read: Incredible Things Canada Is Known For

Bannock

Bannock

Bannock is a type of bread with Indigenous roots in British Columbia, and influenced by Scottish settlers who introduced wheat flour to the area’s local communities. It’s made with just a handful of ingredients, including flour, baking powder, water, and oil, and can be baked, fried, or cooked over an open fire.

For Indigenous communities, bannock has long been shared at gatherings and special events. Today, it’s a staple of food in Vancouver and can be found at Indigenous-owned restaurants like Salmon ‘n’ Bannock or from food trucks around the city. People often enjoy it with jam or butter, or use it as the base for grab-and-go dishes like tacos.

Aburi Sushi

Aburi sushi

Vancouver sushi restaurant Miku was the first to introduce its now-famous Aburi sushi in the late 2000s. Unlike traditional sushi, Aburi is lightly seared on top, giving it a smoky aroma while keeping the fish tender.

Miku’s most famous version is Aburi salmon oshi, which features sushi rice layered with seared salmon and the restaurant’s signature sauce. They add a thin slice of jalapeño for an extra kick.

Fish Tacos

Fish tacos

While fish tacos are a Mexican dish at heart, they’ve become a Vancouver favorite thanks to Tacofino. Now a well-established food brand, Tacofino started by selling its famous fish tacos from a humble food truck in Tofino, a small town on Vancouver Island. It was an instant hit among the local community, and Tacofino soon expanded to several locations in Vancouver.

What makes Tacofino’s tacos special is their Baja-inspired West Coast twist. Their signature version features beer-battered Pacific fish topped with cabbage, chipotle mayo, and fresh lime, all wrapped in a flour tortilla. It’s crunchy, creamy, and tangy all at the same time.

West Coast Oysters

West Coast oysters

Following the seafood trend, West Coast oysters are another must-try in Vancouver. These oysters are often small but briny and flavorful, harvested locally along the B.C. coast. You’ll find them at oyster bars, seafood restaurants, and food festivals throughout the year.

The classic way to enjoy them is raw on the half shell with a squeeze of lemon or a splash of mignonette. Some restaurants get more creative, serving them grilled, baked, or fried for added texture and taste.

Butter Tarts

Butter tarts

Butter tarts are a classic Canadian dessert that has been beloved by Canadians since it first appeared in the late 1800s. These small pastries have a flaky crust and a semi-solid filling made of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg. Butter tarts are sold at most bakeries in and around Vancouver, as well as markets and festivals.

Dim Sum

Dim sum

Although technically a Cantonese dining tradition, dim sum is also an integral part of Vancouver’s thriving and diverse food scene. A significant reason for this is the city’s large Chinese community, which has helped keep the tradition alive.

If you’re trying dim sum for the first time, it’s best to order a few different dishes to share with the table. Har gow—shrimp dumplings—and siu mai—pork dumplings—are usually safe bets. Another popular choice at dim sum restaurants is BBQ pork buns.

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