Chinatown in Vancouver has been a cultural hub of the city for over a century. Some of the best restaurants in Vancouver are in Chinatown, along with Asian markets and bakeries, dim sum parlours, happening cocktail bars, and a classical Chinese garden with pavilions and tranquil paths. Vibrant, buzzing, and a real draw for entrepreneurial chefs from around the world. There are plenty of great Chinese restaurants that can be found in other areas of town too. If you have a hankering for some Chinese food and you’re in Vancouver, then you’re in luck. From modern classics to pan-Asian fusion, the best Chinese restaurants in Vancouver promise a memorable time.
In Chinatown itself, there’s a contemporary pan-Asian restaurant where East meets West in terms of both the food and the vibe. For some of the best dim sum in town, head to Granville, where you can combine your bite-sized balls of deliciousness with some local craft beers. One of the most internationally recognized Chinese restaurant brands in the world has a must-visit venue in Coal Harbour, and in Yaletown, there’s an elegant gem serving contemporary fine dining inspired by the recipes of Shaanxi cuisine.
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For delicious dim sum and freshly brewed Chinese tea and beers – book at Little Bird Dim Sum & Craft Beer in Granville
Little Bird Dim Sum & Craft Beer has a rich family history spanning decades. Originally conceptualized by Yuk Sing Lee, the vision began with the launch of The Flamingo, and later Little Bird under the leadership of son Joseph Lee and it’s become a cornerstone of Asian in Vancouver. The team have a passion for both craft beer and traditional dim sum which has led to recognition by the MICHELIN Guide with a Bib Gourmand recommendation. Chinese custom has for centuries paired bite-sized dim sum with freshly brewed tea. Little Bird takes this concept, known as “yum cha” one step further, with not only tea but also local craft beers. Yum cha not only means to drinking tea, it’s also a symbol of getting together with family and friends over a brew. Sample warm and fluffy pulled pork bao buns with a savoury barbecue marinade, Shanghai soup dumplings with pork and green onion in a chicken broth, and scallops and taro in a crispy, deep-fried puff pastry case. Pair these with an Ocean pale ale from 33 Acres Brewing or a Bourbon Orange from Bridge Brewing, or a fragrant jasmine tea infused with real blossoms.
For special occasions – check out Mott 32- Vancouver in Coal Harbour
The multiple award-winning Mott 32- Vancouver brings you authentic flavours crafted from meticulously sourced ingredients, creating dishes that shine. The brand is one of the most awarded Chinese restaurant brands in the world – Best Fine Dining Restaurant, Best New Restaurant and Best Restaurant Wine List to name but a few. Deriving inspiration from a variety of Chinese cuisines, including Beijing, Szechuan and Cantonese, it blends traditional Chinese culture with breathtaking views over downtown Vancouver from the outdoor seating area. The interior is intricately designed, combining New York industrial chic with a Chinese brasserie vibe. Pull up a chair in the expansive main dining area, or book one of the themed private dining rooms for a night to remember. Start with a premium Chinese tea – perhaps the house Dragonball Jasmine or a Supreme Phoenix – while you peruse the menu. Or maybe a signature cocktail – the Forbidden Rose with passionfruit and lychee is particularly refreshing. For something truly special, order the wok-fried double whole lobster with morel mushrooms and asparagus in XO sauce to share, or the signature apple wood roasted Peking duck with Northern Divine caviar. For something simpler, perhaps the bird’s nest soup with Yunnan ham or the sticky black cod with mustard yuzu sauce.
For local cuisine with an Asian twist – try Don at Kitsilano in Kitsilano
A unique culinary establishment serving Asian-inspired food fresh from Vancouver, Don at Kitsilano at Kitsilano will take you on an epicurean adventure. Under the leadership of chef Victor, whose background includes a MICHELIN star restaurant in Shanghai, Don focuses on using only the highest quality, sustainable ingredients presented beautifully. The menu takes the best ingredients and crafts them into exquisite, innovative dishes that you’ll be talking about for months. For starters, think duck yolk garlic brioche toast, dragonfruit salad with feta and hazelnuts, and ground bison skewers with edamame hummus and pomegranate. For mains, try the spicy crispy chicken fried in prawn paste and served with coconut ginger rice, the creamy lobster tail bisque with udon noodles and salted duck yolk, or the pork jowl, slow-roasted for 24 hours and served with sour poached tomato and mushroom rice. Finish with a house special homemade white rabbit ice cream, with a double shot espresso on the side, or, try a light and refreshing strawberry hibiscus sorbet with lactose-free cookie crumble.
For one of the best Chinese restaurants in Vancouver for award-winning pan-Asian fare – head on over to Torafuku in Chinatown
The open concept space of Torafuku can be found right on the border of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown district – where east meets west, which is reflected in the menu. Taking pan-Asian flavours and creating contemporary dishes using ingredients sourced from local farms and suppliers, chef Steve Kuan combines his experiences of living in both Canada and Taipei to bring you innovative and unusual fare. The dynamic space invites you in warmly, and the decor is matched only by the aesthetics of the food itself, with natural greenery and plant life creating a botanical vibe. The chef’s tasting menu is the perfect way to sample as much as possible. While dishes change depending on what’s in season, you could encounter bison tartar with shaved cured egg yolks, pear galbi sauce and pickled kohlrabi, octopus in a Taiwanese sauce with sambal relish and almond crunch, and duck breast grilled with pickled radish and shimeji mushroom. Or pop in at lunchtime for some sharing plates – try the maitake mushroom tempura, the kakuni pork belly and crack salad rice bowl, and the Torafuku beef noodle soup with a soft poached egg. Add a Yuzu Luv cocktail with sake, maraschino, jasmine syrup and lemon juice as a refreshing palate cleanser between courses.
For one of the best Chinese fine dining restaurants in Vancouver – take a seat at Chang’an in Yaletown
Fine dining has never been so fine, with Chang’an serving up unique variations on traditional Shaanxi cuisine with modern innovations. Careful to preserve the historically significant culture of China yet bringing a new level of culinary artistry to the table. Over seven thousand years of civilization result in a diverse and fascinating cultural legacy that is honoured in both the menu and the decor. Named for an ancient Chinese capital city that was a seat for no less than thirteen dynasties, Chang’an celebrates the culinary heritage of one of the oldest nations in the world. Both the kitchen and the front-of-house staff uphold superior standards for presentation, flavour and all-round excellence. It’s been recognized in the 2022 MICHELIN Guide, and for good reason. Menu highlights include the signature roast Peking duck, which needs to be ordered when you book so it can be prepared for your table. Add black caviar for a truly special experience. Try a flower branch squid with chilli and garlic sauce, cold pressed lamb with crunchy onion and cilantro slaw or rosemary smoked squab to start. Family-style mains designed to be tasted by everyone at the table include beef tendon with truffle and Abalone sauce, Qin style roast lamb leg and Szechuan peppercorn shaved beef with tofu noodles and enoki mushroom.
For unique Indo-Chinese fusion – visit Momo Factory in West End
Explore a dining experience like no other at Momo Factory, where Chinese and Indian cuisines collide to produce bursts of unparalleled flavour. This distinct style of Chinese cuisine adapted to suit the Indian palette has many names – Desi-Chinese, Sino-Indian, Hakka Chinese and more – but whatever you call it, you can expect one-of-a-kind flavour combinations that melt in the mouth. This fusion originated in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) with the arrival of Chinese labourers in the British Raj. Many found work by opening restaurants and adapting traditional recipes to appeal to the Indian market. The vibrant setting welcomes you with open arms and a passion for flavour, taking you on an unforgettable culinary adventure. The extensive menu showcases classic dishes and innovative new ideas. Don’t miss the signature Momos – fried and steamed dumplings with a range of fillings including shrimp, chicken and paneer. If you like it hot, try the nep-chi chilli chicken with bell peppers and garlic, or for something more mellow, perhaps a chow mein with pork and Shanghai noodles. Take a look at the lunch specials for a combination of dishes for under $20.
For a bao and dim sum feast with a group – discover food and happiness at Jingle Bao in the West End
Launched by a consortium of restaurant professionals, Jingle Bao brings their combined passion, knowledge and expertise to your table. The principle is simple – to share the joy of the pork bun, a staple of Asian cuisine for thousands of years, with the Canadian audience. Juicy, fresh and flavourful, wrapped with a loving hand and presented artistically to you. And while the bao buns are a highlight, there’s also plenty more on the menu to whet your appetite. The Xiao long bao is the signature dish, served either classic or spicy, or mix it up with a magnificent seven bao platter – classic, spinach and cheese, curry, spicy, garlic, truffle and shrimp style on one plate. If bao is not your thing, you might want to try the Taiwanese salt and pepper chicken, seaweed salad or deep-fried garlic squid to start. For the main event, share a lobster seafood medley or order sweet and sour pork with pineapple. For something a little different, sample a dessert dim sum – phoenix balls or green tea sesame balls are popular choices.
Vancouver is home to some of the best Chinese restaurants in the West, from Chinatown to the suburbs and across the city. If you find yourself craving fluffy bao, spicy noodles or soft dumplings head to one of these seven restaurants for some of the best Chinese food in Vancouver.
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