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Food tours in Vancouver: what to eat and which tour to book
Vancouver eats from the Pacific and from Asia. Wild salmon, spot prawns, Dungeness crab and oysters from British Columbia's coast are the local luxuries, while the city's large Chinese, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, Vietnamese and Filipino communities shape everyday eating. Sushi here is cheap and everywhere, Cantonese dim sum in Richmond is among the best in North America, and Main Street's Punjabi Market has sweets and curry houses. The city also has its own inventions: the BC roll (sushi with barbecued salmon skin), Japanese-style hot dogs sold from street carts, and the Nanaimo bar, a no-bake layered sweet named after the city on Vancouver Island. Granville Island Public Market is the main stop for most visitors.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in Canadian dollars (CAD; about 1.6 CAD to the euro) before tax and tip. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Vancouver
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Pacific salmon sockeye, chinook, coho salmon | Wild BC salmon grilled, cedar-planked, smoked or as 'candied' salmon (smoked and glazed with maple or brown sugar). Fresh wild salmon is best in summer and early autumn; much 'Atlantic salmon' sold is farmed. | Seafood restaurants, Granville Island Public Market and fishmongers; candied salmon in vacuum packs to take home. | roughly CAD 30–45 (€19–28) for a restaurant main |
| Sushi and the BC roll sushi / BC roll | Sushi is a daily food in Vancouver, from cheap takeaway rolls to omakase counters. The BC roll, with barbecued salmon skin and cucumber, and the California roll are both credited to Vancouver chef Hidekazu Tojo, though the California roll's origin is disputed. | Sushi restaurants across the city, especially in the West End, Kitsilano and downtown. | roughly CAD 8–15 (€5–9) a roll in a casual place; omakase from about CAD 100+ |
| Dim sum 點心 (dim sum) | Cantonese small plates such as har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, rice rolls and barbecue pork buns, eaten at brunch with tea. | Richmond (along No. 3 Road and Alexandra Road) and Chinatown; weekends are busiest. | roughly CAD 6–12 (€4–7.50) a plate; CAD 25–40 per person for a full meal |
| Spot prawns | Large, sweet local prawns caught in a short spring season (roughly May to June), sold live off the boats and served raw, grilled or in pasta. | Seafood restaurants and the docks at False Creek during the season. | roughly CAD 25–40 (€16–25) a pound off the boat; restaurant dishes CAD 30+ |
| Japanese-style hot dogs Japanese hot dog | Hot dogs topped with Japanese ingredients such as teriyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed and bonito flakes, sold from carts and small shops; a Vancouver street-food invention. | Street carts and stands downtown, including around Burrard and Robson streets. | roughly CAD 10–14 (€6–9) |
| Nanaimo bar | No-bake layered square with a crumb-and-coconut base, custard-flavoured butter icing and a chocolate top; a classic of British Columbia. | Bakeries and cafés; Granville Island Public Market. | roughly CAD 4–6 (€2.50–3.70) |
| Ramen and izakaya food ラーメン / 居酒屋 (ramen / izakaya) | Rich tonkotsu and other ramen styles, plus izakaya small plates such as karaage, takoyaki and grilled skewers. | Robson Street and Denman Street in the West End, and downtown. | roughly CAD 18–25 (€11–16) a bowl of ramen |
| Punjabi sweets and curry mithai / Punjabi curry | Indian sweets such as gulab jamun and barfi, samosas and Punjabi curries, from a neighbourhood shaped by the city's large South Asian community. | Punjabi Market on Main Street (around 49th Avenue) and in Surrey. | roughly CAD 15–25 (€9–16) for a curry meal |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Granville Island Public Market
Covered market on Granville Island in False Creek with fishmongers, butchers, bakers, cheese and produce stalls and a food court. Busy and touristy, but the produce and seafood are good.
Richmond (Alexandra Road and No. 3 Road)
Suburb south of Vancouver with a majority-Asian population and hundreds of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese restaurants, plus Asian malls with food courts. Reached by the Canada Line SkyTrain.
Richmond Night Market
Large seasonal outdoor night market with hundreds of Asian street-food stalls, popular with locals and visitors.
Chinatown
One of North America's larger historic Chinatowns, with older bakeries, barbecue shops and dim sum halls alongside newer restaurants and bars.
Punjabi Market, Main Street
Stretch of Main Street around 49th Avenue with sweet shops, curry houses and South Asian grocers.
West End and Robson Street
Dense downtown neighbourhood with ramen shops, izakayas, Korean restaurants and cafés on Robson and Denman streets, near Stanley Park and English Bay.
Food tours in Vancouver compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver: The 6 Tastings Food Tour of Gastown District | 3 hours | from €97 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Vancouver: Granville Island Market Tour with Tastings | 2 hours | from €102 per person | — | Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source. | Check dates |
| Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour | 3 hours | from €90 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Vancouver: Craft Beer Culture & Tasting Tour | 3 hours | from €55 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour | 3 hours | from €87 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Vancouver: Mount Pleasant Food and Street Art Tour | 3 hours | from €68 per person | max 10 | First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go. | Check dates |
Vancouver: The 6 Tastings Food Tour of Gastown District
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €97 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 66 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- 10am tour: Hand-Made Donut, fried fresh daily since 1979 Fermented Veggie Toast on house-baked sourdough Slow-Roasted Pork Sandwich, carved to order on ciabatta Handcrafted Dessert Bar, salted caramel and dark chocola…
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- This activity has 2 meeting points. Your meeting point depends on the option you select.
Vancouver: Granville Island Market Tour with Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Vancouver Foodie Tours
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €102 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 61 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source.
Experience Gastown Vancouver's Elite Walking Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by DaExperience
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €90 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 44 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Sushi Delusions Attack: Prepare to be amazed by the finest sushi selections that showcase the pinnacle of culinary artistry in the sushi world. Sandwich Spot, which promises a return visit. Hidden gems await where the…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Waterfront Station
Vancouver: Craft Beer Culture & Tasting Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Vancouver Local Adventures
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €55 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 16 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- All the Beer! Enjoy 4 craft beer tastings at each of the 3 breweries. VIP Seating at Brewery Tasting Rooms Behind-the-Scenes Access at locally loved neighborhood breweries Expert Beer-Savvy Guide (Cicerone Certified B…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Main Street Brewing Co.
Vancouver Local Taste Trail Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Local Eats Food and Drinks Tour: Vancouver
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €87 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 7 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Smash burgers Fries Aquabus Chocolate chip cookies Local ice cream Coffee 3 x Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Your guide will be inside the Timbertain waiting for you. They will let you know what they are wearing. In reality, it's quite easy to meet up, as the place is small and everyone is looking for each other.
Vancouver: Mount Pleasant Food and Street Art Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Vancouver Local Adventures
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €68 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 7 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- 3-hour walking tour Food tastings at various eateries Stories about the neighborhood's history Viewing of street art and murals Meeting local makers Transportation to the starting point Additional food and drinks
- Suits
- First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go.
- Starts
- Heritage Hall
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Vancouver's street food is food trucks and carts downtown (licensed by the city), the summer night markets in Richmond, and the food courts in Asian malls. Japanese-style hot dog carts are the local classic. Many trucks serve lunch on weekdays only.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants range from cheap sushi and noodle shops to seafood and Pacific Northwest tasting menus. Prices on menus do not include tax (5% GST on food, more on alcohol) or tip (18–20% is now common). Popular places fill up at weekends; book or arrive early. Dim sum is a brunch meal.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are offered by cooking schools and kitchen shops, including on Granville Island, covering seafood, Asian and Pacific Northwest dishes over about 2–4 hours. Check current schedules; classes often sell out at weekends.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | CAD 50–70 (€31–44) (coffee, food-court or sushi lunch, noodles or takeaway dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | CAD 100–150 (€62–94) (dim sum or brunch and a restaurant dinner with a drink, including tax and tip) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | CAD 250+ (€155+) (a seafood or tasting menu with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Excellent: vegetarian and vegan restaurants are common, menus mark options clearly, and Indian, Chinese Buddhist and Japanese restaurants have many meat-free dishes.
Halal: Widely available, especially in Surrey and Burnaby and in Middle Eastern, Turkish, Afghan, Pakistani and Malaysian restaurants in Vancouver. Many shawarma and fried chicken places display halal certification.
Gluten-free: Very good: 'GF' options are common on menus, and sushi restaurants can often provide tamari (gluten-free soy sauce). Ask about tempura batter, soy sauce and shared fryers.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Card machines suggesting tips of 18–25% even for counter service or takeaway, calculated on the total including tax. For table service, 15–20% of the pre-tax amount is normal; for counter service, tipping is optional. Choose 'custom' if the suggested amounts are too high.
- 'Wild' salmon on menus that is actually farmed Atlantic salmon. Ask which species it is: sockeye, chinook (spring) and coho are wild Pacific species; 'Atlantic salmon' in BC is farmed.
- Tourist-area seafood restaurants with high prices and frozen fish. Check whether the menu names the species and origin, and compare prices with neighbourhood restaurants or Granville Island fish counters.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
How much should I tip in Vancouver?
At sit-down restaurants, 15–20% of the bill before tax is expected; 18% has become common. For counter service, takeaway and coffee, tipping is optional even when the card machine suggests it. Bartenders usually get CAD 1–2 per drink. On food tours, a tip of roughly 15% for a good guide is customary.
When is Granville Island Public Market open?
The public market is usually open daily, roughly from 9:00 to 18:00, with some closures on major holidays. Mornings are quieter and best for shopping; weekends and summer afternoons are crowded. Hours of individual stalls vary, so check the market's website before you go.
Is it worth going to Richmond to eat?
Yes, if you like Chinese and other Asian food. Richmond has a huge concentration of Cantonese, Taiwanese, Sichuan and other restaurants, plus Asian malls with food courts. The Canada Line SkyTrain takes about 25 minutes from downtown. Go for weekend dim sum, or for the Richmond Night Market in summer.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about CAD 50–70 (€31–44) a day covers coffee, a food-court or sushi lunch and a noodle dinner. A brunch and a restaurant dinner with a drink, including tax and tip, come to roughly CAD 100–150 (€62–94). Seafood and tasting menus start around CAD 120–200 per person before drinks.
When is spot prawn season?
The commercial spot prawn season in BC usually opens in May and runs for several weeks, often into June. During the season, fishermen sell live prawns off the boats at the docks in False Creek, and many restaurants add spot prawn dishes. Outside the season, spot prawns are usually frozen.
Is food more expensive than it looks on the menu?
Yes. Menu prices exclude tax (5% GST on food, plus provincial tax on alcohol) and tip (15–20% at table service). As a rough rule, add about 25% to the menu price for a sit-down meal. Counter-service places are cheaper because tipping is optional.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.