A casual lunch in Vancouver, BC

There are a lot of places to eat in Vancouver, but sometimes it can be hard to find an affordable restaurant serving high quality food. This list narrows it down a little, highlighting Asian eateries that are both cheap and delicious. Each of these restaurants also has its own unique features – some offer reliable takeout and delivery services, others have spacious dining rooms that can accommodate large groups.

What could be more comforting and nostalgic than a grilled cheese sandwich? In the recent trend of upscale comfort food, there’s no shortage of this lunch staple on menus in Vancouver. It’s simply understood that, if the below don’t come with tomato soup, you will definitely order a bowl.

Some may tell you that vegetarian and vegan pho is like a unicorn of the Vietnamese cuisine world, but finding an incredible bowl of this elusive soup isn’t nearly so difficult once you know where to look! Even for the die-hard ‘rare beef tripe’ pho lover, this is a definitive list of Vancouver’s best meat-free pho bowls. Dig in!

Stroll up and down the Gallery Row section of Granville Street (aka South Granville), and you’ll only spot one obvious patio (at Luke’s Corner Kitchen and Bar). But that doesn’t mean the South Granville neighbourhood is short on spots for outdoor dining. There are plenty of patios tucked away out of sight – you just need to know where to look.

Big, soft, doughy pretzels sprinkled with crunchy salt are one of the greatest foods to come out of Germany. But where can you find them in Vancouver? It turns out it’s surprisingly easy to satisfy your pretzel craving in this city. Whether you’re focused on authenticity, ambiance or just availability at 3:00 am, we’ve got you covered with this list.

You know how good it feels after a workout? Endorphins kick in and your energy is high; it’s a great place to be, so the last thing you want to do is to ruin that feeling with the wrong post-exercise meal. With that being said, here are some Vancouver spots for a wholesome bite when you want to refuel without negating all that hard work you just put in at the gym.

Ah, waterfront patios – does it get any more West Coast? False Creek provides a host of options for soaking in the sun on its south shore. With great views of the city, three bridges to frame the scene and plenty of sail-bys from beautiful people on beautiful boats, an afternoon on one of these Vancouver patios is sure to come with a healthy side of photo ops.

The Vancouver Fringe Festival returns to the city from September 7 to 17 and Granville Island is the main spot for this year’s event. The festival box office and most of the main stage venues are all located on the Island. With numerous restaurants, a Public Market and nightly food trucks, there are plenty of spots to grab a drink or a bite to eat before, after or in between shows. [Photo courtesy of Dockside Restaurant]

After a long and tiring day, sometimes it’s best to let someone else do the cooking. Chinese food is a classic option for those who want to order in and luckily Vancouver is home to numerous eateries to help satisfy your chow mein cravings. These local spots serve up traditional Chinese fare, inventive fusion flavours and tasty Westernized variations. Even better, they’ll deliver hot-and-ready dishes directly to your door.

Starving for some sushi? Feeling tempted by tempura? If you’re jonesing for Japanese but don’t feel like leaving the house, these sushi delivery spots can maki your life easy. Here are your best bets if you want sashimi, nigiri, teriyaki and more delivered to your door in under an hour.

You don’t have to travel across the world to sample authentic Indian cuisine; in fact, you don’t even have to leave your living room. Vancouver’s world-class Indian restaurants will deliver hearty curries, sizzling tandoori chicken, fragrant rice dishes and crispy naan bread right to your door. Skip the dishes and put these local spots on speed dial.

It’s a sunny day in Vancouver’s West End and you’ve been working or shopping up a storm all day, so why not relax and watch the sunset on one of these gorgeous patios? Grab a drink and let the beauty of the city end your day on a high note.