The best and most unforgettable dishes we ate in Vancouver this year
A Fantastic Year for Burgers
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Vancouver restaurants and food trucks offer some staple stunners when it comes to burgers, and an array of new additions in beef also gave us a lot to chew on in this department. We had to give some fresh iterations and returning favourites a couple of nods this year.
We tried the newest version of Acquafarina’s Smash Burger this summer and it was very solid. It comes both plated or inside the fanciest dine-in “takeout” box we’ve seen, complete with a wax seal on top, making its arrival a good photo moment to boot, if that’s your thing. At $33, the price might not lock it down as your everyday burger, but if you love its sister restaurant, Per Se, and it’s now locally famous burger, we suspect you’ll enjoy this one too.
Jumping over to Main Street, we were thrilled to see the return of the King this year. Monarch Burger’s highly anticipated brick-and-mortar location opened in May. It’s comforting to know a Dirty Burger is now just a short trip or delivery order away.
The comeback of a popular handheld at Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie also has the burger community pumped. The Burrard Street restaurant’s Burger De Maison, available during lunch service and made from house-ground wagyu, gryueré, and special sauce, can’t be overlooked.
Brunch Pizza at Osteria Elio Volpe
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We went, we ate, we loved. Osteria Elio Volpe had been high on our list of hotly anticipated restaurant openings for 2024, so a visit to the new Cambie Village spot on opening night last spring was the natural move.
Dinner was tops, but a brunch session or two in the months following is where they really got us. The restaurant has a couple of its signature cracker-crust thin pizzas up for order during the mid-morning weekend service that we are crazy about.
The roasted mushroom, Elio’s bacon, potato, Calabrian chili, and hollandaise combo is a knockout. This dish had us pondering the fact that not all breakfast pizzas are made equally, and this one is the local brekkie ‘za to beat, in our opinion.
Address:Â 540 West 17th Avenue, Vancouver
Mussels from Dear Gus Snack Bar
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This European wine and snack bar might be small, but there’s a dish we had on its menu this year that packed a big punch.
After we put down our name on the waitlist at Dear Gus and wandered over to nearby La Fabrique St-George Winery, we had an hour to kill. One flight of wine later, we got the call our table was ready and we were able to check out the local wine bar on everyone’s lips at the time.
The Quebec Street destination served up a great atmosphere and a dynamite dish: Mussels in a spicy nduja saffron broth. Served with housemade bread on the side, we’ve been thinking about this one since we first tried it in the summertime.
Address:Â 2040 Quebec Street, Vancouver
The Fish Sandwich from Jack’s Chowder
Marco Ovies/Dished
This handheld is everything we want from a Filet-O-Fish and more. While Jack’s Chowder (brought to us from the same team behind Shameless Buns) is best known for its New England Clam Chowder, this sandwich is not to be missed.
It’s piled high with a larger-than-life filet of crispy beer-battered cod alongside some bread and butter pickles, ‘Merican cheese, and smothered in Matt’s Tartar Sauce. Be sure to order a side of salt and vinegar fries to complete your meal. You can thank us later.
Address:Â 5772 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Pineapple Coconut Cookie from Saan Saan Cafe and Restaurant
Marco Ovies/Dished
We used to think that there was nothing better than a freshly baked pineapple bun with a little bit of butter — that is, until we tried this cookie from Saan Saan.
The cafe serves an entirely gluten-free menu, but you’d never be able to guess it. And while all the baked goods on the menu are delicious (we’re looking at you HK Milk Tea Mochi Brownie), the pineapple coconut cookie was our immediate favourite. Think of all that crispy goodness on top of a pineapple bun turned into a cookie.
Address:Â 227 Main Street, Vancouver
Tiramisu from Amici Italian Wine Bar
Marco Ovies/Dished
Take this as your official sign to take a day trip out of the city and explore the food scene in Abbotsford, particularly to try all the mouthwatering options at Amici. This tiramisu alone was worth the time and gas we spent to get there.
This decadent dessert features all the things you’d expect in a tiramisu, including coffee and marsala-soaked poundcake and whipped mascarpone. But six months after we tried this heavenly creation, we’re still thinking about it.
Address:Â 33724 Essendene Avenue, Abbotsford
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