Today, Chinatown is a place where every ethnic group enjoys the trendy divide, ironically giving people a destination in which to get together. Whether you are looking for a cultural dining experience, wishing to wow your date with a ethnic restaurant option, or simply want to meet friends for authentic Chinese and Asian cuisine …Chinatown delivers all these options and more!

Top Chinatown Restaurants

Phnom Penh – is a well-known Chinatown restaurant original that offers Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine. Whether you are looking for a quick lunch with coworkers or an ethnic dinner, this flavourful option is sure to please!

Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie – is more of a trendy Chinatown restaurant that offers a Western twist to their dishes for those who are more apprehensive about the culture shock of dining on “other worldly” dishes. Whether it’s a table for 10, 2 or 1, it’s a true dining delight!

Ba Le Sandwich Shop – is a brilliant alternative to the “eat fresh!” sub chain option. These Vietnamese (banh mi) subs offer a flavourful mouthful with each bite, and are priced economically at around $3. Cheap, flavourful, and cultural fun!

Bestie – if you feel like getting your German on in Chinatown, this beer pouring, sausage-o-plenty, pretzel ready establishment is sure to please any palate!

The Union – this communal dining option is as trendy as they come. With wooden tables and street light fixtures, the warehouse feel is nothing short of fabulous, and the music is likely to please even the DJ-centric crowd. The cocktail list is plentiful, and the Asian themed menu is not in the least bit intimidating to any novice Chinatown goer.

Other Chinatown Restaurants to Try

Other honourable mentions include: the eccentric and oh-so-good Mamie Taylor’s, the freshly shucked oysters at Oyster Express, the diner’rrific Goldstone Bakery and Restaurant, or the take-home delights of New Town Bakery.

Not all restaurant roads in Chinatown lead down an overtly ethnic path, so if you’re feeling even slightly adventuresome, hit it up for your next hungry pursuit!

The post 5 Must Try Restaurants in Chinatown appeared first on Vancouver Home Living | Andrew Szalontai.

More Places to Eat in Gastown

131 Water Kitchen & Bar

Tel: (604) 669-7219
www.131water.com

Al Porto Ristorante

Tel: 604-683-8376
www.alporto.ca

Bambudda

Tel: 604 428 0301
www.bambudda.ca

Bao Down

Tel: 778-123-3455
baodown.ninja

Bauhaus Restaurant

Tel: 604 974 1147
bauhaus-restaurant.com

Black Frog

Tel: 604-602-0527
www.theblackfrog.ca

Blacktail Restaurant & Lounge

Tel: 604-699-0249
blacktail.ca

Chill Winston

Tel: 604-288-9575
www.chillwinston.ca

Cork & Fin

Tel: 604-569-2215
www.corkandfin.ca
So whether you are looking for a great craft beer, a locally designed dress, or your very own Vancouver condo, Gastown is – without a doubt – the up-and-comer you want to be a part of!

By Xiao23 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The post Best Restaurants in Gastown appeared first on Vancouver Home Living | Andrew Szalontai.

Or, leave the picnic basket at home and head over to The Mill Marine Bistro where you will find a delightful secret under Cordova St @ Broughton accessed through the seawall entrance. With a patio for people watching and pints-o-plenty, it’s a great spot to unwind or to start the night off for your next downtown destination.

Cactus Club Coal Harbour is an all-round Vancouver favourite, no matter what corner of the city you’re from. With a West Coast inspired menu and a variety of cocktails to choose from, this dining destination is backed by a fire pit riddled outdoor space, and is a great and affordable dining choice in the area.

Other Coal Harbour Restaurants

Hapa Izakaya – a Japanese tapas lounge, Cardero’s – a upscale pub and restaurant combo located directly on the water at the end of Cardero Street.
Lift Bar and Grill – another dining location that can only be accessed via the seawall, and one that hovers over the water with breathtaking views of Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains.

Hotel Dining in Coal Harbour

The view is about as delicious at the food at the local hotel dining spots within Coal Harbour, which include: ORU Restaurant at the Fairmont Pacific Rim; Preston’s in the Coast Coal Harbour; Seawall Bar and Grill at the Westin Bayshore; and Tableau at the Loden Hotel. Grab a meal and spend the night, or simply enjoy a drink before heading back to your Coal Harbour home.

The Convention Centre West is also a beautifully expanded space that is worth mentioned as a Coal Harbour destination, and was added on to for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. It’s known as a “green building”, and is accompanied by a green roof that maintains the lush green landscape Vancouver is so well known for.

As far as things to see in Coal Harbour, this is a community destination worthy of the destination itself. The quiet nature of the area is largely due to the fact that it is mostly the scenery people come for along the seawall. From the floatplane docks, to the boat docks …this entire area is afloat with beauty and bays well worth a visit, or an investment in real estate luxury!

photo credit: Vancouver Skyline via photopin (license)

The post Where to Eat in Coal Harbour appeared first on Vancouver Home Living | Andrew Szalontai.