3 Best Restaurants in Vancouver, British Columbia

There might be other places in the world that sell Japanese-style hot dogs but the phenomenon is so very multiculti Vancouver, and this tiny storefront is the sit-down-at-cramped-counter spin-off of a wildly successful food cart with a loyal following. Bratwurst and wieners are topped with teriyaki sauce, nori, and other Asian condiments. You can still find the carts (usually) at two Burrard Street locations—one at the corner of West Pender Street between Robson Street and Smithe Street, and another near Waterfront Station on West Cordova Street at Granville. Keep an eye out for the JAPADOG food truck, which may be found in Kitsilano, South Granville, or the Olympic Village.

If your idea of a perfect light meal revolves around fine cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and a glass of wine from a wide-ranging list, find your way to this sleek cellar space beneath the Irish Heather Shebeen gastro-pub in Chinatown. Salt's concept doesn't involve a kitchen, per se; it's all about assembling the selection of top-quality provisions—perhaps smoked beef tenderloin or British Columbian–made Camembert, with accompanying condiments—into artfully composed delights. The whole shebang is more like an upscale picnic than a full meal; however, a three-course set menu is well-priced. 

At this casually cool restaurant and lounge whose tagline could be "Asia's greatest hits," the sharing plates and fun cocktails have elements from Japan to India and everywhere in between. Start with a Banga, a cocktail in a jar, then choose Thai papaya salad, a Vietnamese banh mi (sandwich), or Indonesian nasi goreng (fried rice). Banga #2 blends tequila, mandarin, lime, agave syrup, and galangal, while #3 is a mix of bourbon, mirin, mint, calamansi, and ginger beer. Nonalcoholic drinks with flavors like coconut, ginger, and Thai basil are also delightful. More great food choices include sweet and spicy chicken wings, Cha Ca Hanoi (Pacific cod, rice vermicelli, and greens in a turmeric-herb-coconut milk broth), and spicy sambal green beans.