The best things we ate in and around Vancouver this month
We do a lot of good eating here at Dished, and January was no exception — especially when you consider we’re right in the middle of great food events like Dine Out Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.
But among all the great eats and sips we enjoyed (which there really were so many), some specific dishes really stood out to us.
That’s why we compiled a list of some of our favourite dishes we ate in and around Vancouver this month.
From matcha lattes to delectable desserts, special tasting menus, and hole-in-the-wall cafes, these are some of the best things we ate this month.
Goat Haleem from Kavita
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It’s no secret that we’ve been huge fans of Kavita ever since it opened in November, so when we had the chance to pop back in to see what it was cooking up for its Dine Out Vancouver menu, we couldn’t say no.
While everything on the menu was delicious (no surprise when Chef Tushar Tondvalkar and his team are in the kitchen), there was one dish on the menu that really stood out to us: the Goat Haleem.
The dish features braised goat with bulgar, lentil and garam masala, rose, ginger, and topped with crispy onion. This might have been one of the most comforting meals we ate this month.
Address: 250 W 3rd Ave., Vancouver
Fraser Valley Tomahawk from Touk
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There is so much to love from Touk, the new restaurant from Top Chef Canada season 11 winner Chanthy Yen. And even though the BorBor nearly brought us to tears (the same way it made Top Chef Canada judge and fellow Vancouverite Mijune Pak cry), there was one dish that really left an impression on us.
We still dream of the Fraser Valley Tomahawk, served in a bed of Cambodian mole. If Yen decided to jar that sauce, we think he could make millions.
Address: 1152 Alberni St., Vancouver
Fried Chicken Sandwich from Selene Aegean Bistro
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We already know that Selene’s brunch game is on point, but our most recent visit really reined us in how delicious it actually was.
Among the Shakshuka and the standout Amygdalota Ice Cream Sandwich, courtesy of Pastry Chef Calia Pacle, the Fried Chicken Sandwich was totally unexpected in the most delicious way possible.
Pair a perfectly seasoned piece of lime leaf marinated fried chicken with kiwi relish and caramelized onion yogurt, and you’re in for a great time.
Address: 360 Penticton St., Vancouver
Hunter’s Chicken from Published on Main
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A classic on the menu for a reason, we tried the Hunter’s Chicken as part of Published on Main’s Dine Out Vancouver menu.
This year, the team shared they opted to feature classic dishes for diners who had never visited before, with dishes like its Foie Gras NRG Bar and beloved Wintergreen dessert (who knew mushrooms belonged in dessert?!).
Some of the most juicy chicken you’ll ever eat is served with schupfnudeln (a type of potato noodle), wild mushrooms, and salsify. While we know everything Published serves will be a treat, it’ll be hard not to return for the Hunter’s Chicken.
Address: 3593 Main St., Vancouver
Matcha Oat from Paragon Tea Room
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It’s hard not to order a Matcha Oat every time we go to Paragon, but it just does such an incredible job with the now viral green tea latte. So, when we visited its newly opened Cambie location (conveniently located beside Street Hawker’s new trubo concept and the recently reopened Park Theatre), we knew we had to get at least one.
Make sure you don’t sleep on its other tea options like Hojicha, Genmaicha, and more. Basically, anything the team serves from its tea’spresso machines is guaranteed to be a hit.
While we ended up forgetting to take a photo at its Cambie outpost (sorry), please enjoy this photo of another particularly stunning matcha from Paragon’s Richmond location.
Address: 3432 Cambie St., Vancouver
Address: 4328 Number 3 Rd., Unit 140, Richmond
Address: Inside YVR Airport — 3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond
Pistachio Kulfi from ELEM
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Once again, ELEM was another spot that we visited to check out their Dine Out Vancouver menu (a.k.a. our favourite time of the year for obvious reasons). Among the many memorable bites like Beef Cheek that melted in your mouth and Mushroom Fried Rice, the Pistachio Kulfi ended up being our favourite.
Sweet, with the perfect level of salty to balance it out, this was a dessert we’ll be thinking about for years to come.
Quite literally everything we ate at Gary’s
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We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Gary’s continues to be one of our top dining destinations in the city that we keep coming back to.
Do yourself a favour and put your trust in the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant by ordering the Menu for the Table. The selection of bites is always changing, but during our visit, we enjoyed Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Pâté served on brichoe with preserves, Chicken Sausage with tomato braised cabbage and mustard sauce, Beef Carpaccio with tonnato, celeriac, and savello di roma, and one heck of a T-Bone Steak served with pommes dauphine.
Address: 1485 W 12th Ave., Vancouver
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Pineapple Coconut Cookie from Saan Saan
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We can’t speak highly enough about Saan Saan and its selection of delicious (and also gluten-free) treats. This Pineapple Coconut Cookie has been a favourite of ours ever since it opened, so when we were in the area, we couldn’t help ourselves from stopping by for a quick snack.
Plus, the team is currently serving an Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte made with house-made strawberry puree and matcha from Paragon.
Address: 227 Main St., Vancouver
Céline Breakfast Sandwich from Chez Céline
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This is the last time we’ll mention Dine Out Vancouver in this roundup, we promise. For $35 per person, Chez Céline was serving a three-course brunch menu that featured perhaps one of the sexiest breakfast sandwiches in Vancouver.
Simply called the Céline Breakfast Sandwich, this handheld comes with fried pork, maple and fennel sausage, cheese curds, two fried eggs, a little house mayo, and guindilla peppers between two fluffy buns. Plus, it’s topped with a drizzle of maple syrup, because what’s better than a sweet and salty combo?
If you’re visiting for Dine Out Vancouver, do yourself a favour and opt to add the poutine for the extra $5 (thank us later).
Address: 4298 Fraser St., Vancouver
Maple Cinnamon Hojicha at Slo Coffee
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After our visit to Chez Céline, we made a quick stop at Slo Coffee for an afternoon tea break. Here, in addition to its selection of espresso beverages and coffee, the team is serving up some top-notch tea lattes, including a Pistachio Matcha and Maple Cinnamon Hojicha.
Despite opting for our hojicha iced, this was such a comforting drink. Plus, it was sweet but not in a way that overpowered the roastiness of the hojicha. We’ll definitely be back for this one.
Address: 4160 Fraser St., Vancouver
Address: 609 Granville St. #102, Vancouver
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