Johnson Nguyen on What to Eat When You are Visiting Vancouver
Vancouver is situated on the west coast of Canada, not far from two other foodie travel destinations in the US cities of Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. For travelers looking for great food destinations, Vancouver should be considered along with these two other destinations as a spot not to be missed.
Whether you are visiting Vancouver for the first time or have already explored its cultural delicacies before, the city’s vibrant food and beverage scene is only growing in prestige. Vancouver is recognized world-wide as a top culinary destination that mixes West Coast flavors with diverse world cuisines. From innovative food trucks to Asian-inspired eats, hip cafes and pricey seafood selections; Vancouver has it all. Johnson Nguyen, Vancouver resident and owner of an online marketing company, highlights his favourite food choices in Vancouver.
Seafood
Vancouver’s proximity to the Pacific Coast has ensured a diverse selection of seafood restaurants featuring local delicacies from salmon to shrimp that are served up just hours after being caught in the waters surrounding the area. Speaking of salmon, if you’re looking for something sweet, one Vancouver staple to try is the highly addictive salmon candy, which is smoked and glazed with either maple syrup or locally produced honey. It’s a great gift to bring home to your friends and family to let them know what they are missing in Vancouver. In addition, other local seafood dishes to try in Vancouver include prawns and West Coast Oysters. Johnson Nguyen highlights the Spot Prawn Festival that the city of Vancouver hosts every year to celebrate this local dish.
Asian-inspired Foods
Vancouver is also well-known for its diverse Asian-inspired eateries and especially for the world-renowned ‘JapaDog,’ which are Japanese-inspired hotdogs served at numerous downtown locations, from food trucks to trendy indoor cafes. Johnson Nguyen believes that the best toppings to try on your JapaDog include seaweed flakes, teriyaki sauce, wasabi, kimchi, and miso.
The city has been called the best place to eat Chinese food outside of China, including throughout its own Chinatown area, which offers a variety of restaurants featuring dim sum and traditional dishes. Mix in a collection of ramen shops, Korean barbeque, and Asian-inspired food trucks and it’s hard to figure out where to start. A visit to Vancouver is not complete without tasting the city’s various pork buns, as well as a ‘BC roll,’ the city’s take on sushi, which includes grilled salmon skin as its main ingredient.
Coffee
Like its southern Seattle neighbor, Vancouver is known as a selective coffee destination, with a variety of coffee shops featuring pour-over and flavored espresso drinks. Local coffee chains abound throughout the city, as well as a mix of independent coffee shops featuring creative takes on the West Coast staple. Vancouver residents take coffee very seriously and they’re happy to share their knowledge with visitors.
Food Trucks
If you’re looking for even more culinary diversity, don’t miss Vancouver’s vibrant food truck scene, where new and well-known chefs offer a diverse mix of innovative dishes. Johnson Nguyen believes that some of the best trucks to try include: The Praguery, featuring Czech-inspired cinnamon funnel cakes; Wakwak Burger, offering a variety of standard and Japanese burger toppings; Mom’s Grilled Cheese, which will take you back in time; and Waikiki BBQ, known for its bright and delicious flavors.
With the fantastic variety available within the city of Vancouver, Johnson Nguyen firmly believes that there is a cuisine for everyone.
