Local Top 10
James Iranzad's Top Ten Restaurants in Vancouver
James Iranzad – local entrepreneur and operating partner/co-owner of Vancouver hotspots including Abigail's Party and The Flying Tiger – dishes up his favourite Vancouver dining haunts to UJ.
"Maybe it's due to great local ingredients," he says, "the mosaic of ethnicities, or the competitive camaraderie of the industry, but there aren't many better culinary cities than Vancouver in the world. Choosing ten to check out is hard work, but the below is a good start."
- Chambar
Steps from the stadiums and trains, Chambar is the sexiest room for a restaurant in town – with food and cocktails to match. The leader of the new school. - Medina
Chambar's sister restaurant and neighbour makes the best breakfast and lunch in downtown Vancouver period. Sexy food not greasy spoon though – think cassoulet or liege waffles and milk chocolate lavender, with first rate coffee. - Bao Bei
Brand new and one of the most anticipated restaurants in some time, this beautiful Taiwanese cuisine in a stylish Chinatown room is operated by some of Chambar's top alumni. - The Flying Tiger
Pan-Asian street food in a narrow Kitsilano room with a positively electric open kitchen, a menu-conscious wine list and killer cocktails. - Vij's
Not to be missed on any trip to Vancouver, the lineups start early but are worth every minute. Hands down Vij's is the best Indian restaurant in North America. - Salt Tasting Room
In Gastown's famed Blood Alley, this is your place for wine, cheese and charcuterie from the city's best butchers and importers, served on communal tables by truly knowledgeable staff. - Hapa Izakaya
An izakaya is a style of casual boozy Japanese restaurant, and Vancouver has tonnes of them. Hapa leads the way at all three locations. - Abigail's Party
This little late night Kitsilano wine bar also happens to serve some of the city's best brunch to a loyal local following, just two blocks up from Kitsilano beach. - La Brasserie
Classic Alsatian comfort food: suckling pig, roast chicken, house-made sausages, well-chosen wine and beer. Legit. - Cioppino's
Perhaps the best Italian in a town (and even better on someone else's dime), Chef Pino's Yaletown hot spot is where you go if you've just won a gold medal. Monied foodies and celebs love it, but it's just as good to mellow it out and saddle up to the bar for the best bowl of pasta of your life.
Click through on each restaurant to read our full listing.
