Best of Vancouver
Where locals eat in Vancouver
Start with Fat Mao Noodles in Chinatown for khao soi, Thai rice soup, griddled roti with curry, Hei Hei Rice Roll in Richmond Public Market (second-floor food court) for beef or shrimp cheung fun with soy and chili oil, fresh soy milk and Cafe Xu Hue in Vancouver (neighborhood not stated) for ún bò Huế. Here are all 7, with what to get at each.
- Hei Hei Rice RollRichmond Public Market (second-floor food court)
Get: Beef or shrimp cheung fun with soy and chili oil, fresh soy milk
- Gary'sSouth Granville
Get: The shared multicourse Menu for the Table, plus the chicken liver and foie gras pâté and the chocolate mousse, the only fixed dis
- Plaza ToyokanKitsilano
Get: Two-foot long sushi, dry-aged grilled chicken, garlic wagyu steak, grapefruit sour or Toki highball
- Zarak By Afghan KitchenMount Pleasant
Get: Roasted cauliflower with black-tea raisins, shor nakood, spicy chicken with naan, lamb shoulder, shir yakh
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Save the whole listAsk Chef for morePlan my Vancouver food tripWhere locals eat in Vancouver: questions people ask
What are the local restaurants in Vancouver?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Fat Mao Noodles (Chinatown), Hei Hei Rice Roll (Richmond Public Market (second-floor food court)) and Cafe Xu Hue (Vancouver (neighborhood not stated)). All 7 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Fat Mao Noodles, get khao soi, Thai rice soup, griddled roti with curry. At Hei Hei Rice Roll, get beef or shrimp cheung fun with soy and chili oil, fresh soy milk. At Cafe Xu Hue, get ún bò Huế. At Gary's, get the shared multicourse Menu for the Table, plus the chicken liver and foie gras pâté and the chocolate mousse, the only fixed dis.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Vancouver?
Most of these are in Chinatown. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Vancouver: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Vancouver
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.