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Vancouver is a diverse city, home to people from all over the world. Due to lots of immigration from around the world, Vancouver has an outstanding international food scene. Many already know that our Chinese food is top tier, but there are many other cultures to explore through food. Here are some spots to take you around the world in the comfort of your own city!
First and foremost, we have to know that Vancouver sits on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. This means that this land was traditionally occupied by the Coast Salish peoples. It has been handed down from generation to generation and never turned over to the Crown by any agreement. We are so lucky to get to live and work on this land and must remember that when thinking of Canadian food – Indigenous food is the authentic Canadian food. Here are some spots to try:
This genre of food is what many associate “Vancouver food” with. The incredible climate has created a strong food identity emphasizing local products and farm-to-table eating. An emphasis on seafood, game meats, berries, mushrooms, and local vegetables makes up the heart of this style, and some restaurants elevate it incredibly. Examples include:
You can find burgers and hot dogs anywhere, but there are a couple special locations doing specific regional-style food from the USA. These include:
Tacos are in no short supply in Vancouver, especially with our love for the Cali-style Tacofino. However, there is much more to the food from Latin America than tacos (though we still include tacos because they’re great). Here are some spots that are a little bit more authentic to the variety in Latin America:
African cuisine is a little harder to find in Vancouver, but check out these for some delicious authentic eats.
European food goes so far beyond this list. There are Belgian spots, Ukrainian, Greek, food from the UK and more! But to start you off with some of the strongest restaurants in Vancouver, try these spots:
Vancouver has some top-tier food from many spots throughout Asia. Though there are quite a few more regions to highlight, some of the most prominent places are here.
There is so much excellent Japanese food in Vancouver that this could be a whole list on its own, but here are some basic spots for things that aren’t just sushi!
This region, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, has excellent representation in Vancouver. Some of the best include:
There are so many more spots for incredible international food in Vancouver. The list doesn’t stop here! Go out and search for locations on your own, and create your own list. You can learn so much about different cultures through food, so get eating!
