Known to be one of the most prosperous cities in Canada, West Vancouver is home to some amazing places, including beaches, parks, and ski hills. With such extraordinary attractions in place, it is only fair that the neighborhood boasted some incredible West Van restaurants.
If you are in search of the best West Vancouver restaurants, or some classics you missed trying, here is a list of our recommendations:
10. Beach House Restaurant
Up for a true West Coast dining experience? The reimagine Beach House Restaurant has got everything right. What they offer is a rotating seafood-centric menu, made with in-season local ingredients, carrying fresh and bright flavors.
To start, the Ahi Tuna Tacos, with house guacamole, ponzu, and charred jalapeno, would be perfect to cleanse your palate. Not to exaggerate, but the soul of this dish is certainly the crispy wonton.
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes – if that made you think of a couple of chunky and meaty crab cakes, lightly panko crusted, non-greasy, and fully highlighting the freshness and sweet taste of the crab, you are spot on!
What to order: Ahi Tuna Tacos, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl
Address: 150 25th Street, West Vancouver, BC V7V 4H8
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9. Lao Cai Chinese Cuisine 老蔡食府
Lao Cai has been serving the West Coast for over 15 years now, and it is their Xi’an cold noodles and specialty hotpot dishes that have made the restaurant a crowd-pleasing Chinese hotspot. The restaurant brings to you authentic northern Chinese flavors, which is guaranteed to stay in your memory for a long time to come.
The House Duck Soup is a house special; the phenomenally flavorful broth, tender duck pieces, served with rich condiments will leave you wanting to go sip after sip.
The Spicy Hot-Oil Noodle, as the name suggests, brings about that spicy kick that food adventurers love, thanks to the strong seasoning.
If you wish to taste the traditional Xi’an flavor in every bite and sip you take, the Prime Lamb Hotpot is for you. The dish combines thirty different Chinese herbs and spices stewed with lamb and bones for three hours to extract as much flavor from the ingredients as possible, and the whole aroma that you get as soon as it is served to your table is the only evidence you need.
What to order: House Duck Soup, Spicy Hot-Oil Noodle, Prime Lamb Hotpot
Address: 130-1425 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC
8. Feast The Neighbourhood Table
Inspired by the West Coast, Feast features a menu that celebrates the region’s freshest and finest. With spectacular food and service, this neighbourhood restaurant can easily become your local favorite.
Now, don’t be surprised if we say that the Feast Fried Chicken should certainly be your first choice here. A nice healthy portion of perfectly cooked and juicy fried chicken, served with honey and gravy – the heartiest brunch you can have. Oh, did we mention that it is gluten-free?
The Feast Burger is another popular choice here; choose between house-made beef patty or Feast Fried Chicken, and enjoy your burger with a side of soup, parmesan fries, or gathered greens.
What to order: Feast Fried Chicken, Feast Burger, Eggs Benedict
Address: 2423 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
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7. Wooden Fish
Vietnamese is one of the few cuisines that relies on the fresh flavors of vegetables and herbs, and not so much on dairy and fat, which makes the food light, filling, and flavorful. If you have never tried Vietnamese before, Wooden Fish will make you a devotee.
For appetizers, you should go with their Spring Rolls, hands down! Whether you choose ground pork with shrimp or the vegetarian option, the light and crispy wrapper will allow you to enjoy the taste and flavors of the filling to the fullest.
The Green Papaya Salad at Wooden Fish is a crowd favorite; perfectly seasoned, sweet, and sour, who thought a papaya salad could taste this good!
Their Hanoi Beef Noodle Soup, made in traditional Vietnamese style, with 12-hour simmered beef broth and perfectly cooked, tender pieces of beef, comes packed with flavor from the first mouthful to the last.
What to order: Spring Roll, Green Papaya Salad, Hanoi Beef Noodle Soup
Address: 1403 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B8
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6. Rose Persian Cuisine Restaurant
Rich, colorful, and full of enticing flavors, Persian cuisine is a jewel that food should not miss. In West Vancouver, the place to be for Persian food is Rose Persian Cuisine Restaurant. This cozy little spot serves some of the most delicious dishes from the cuisine, made by following century-old recipes, filling your mouth with flavor bursts in every bite.
Kashk Bademjan – a popular Persian appetizer – is a yoghurt-based eggplant dip that comes with fresh house-made bread you can enjoy it with. For entree, you definitely shouldn’t miss the Fava Bean Rice with Lamb Shank, which contains one full lamb shank covered in special gravy – succulent and delightful, you cannot refrain from licking your fingers.
What to order: Kashk Bademjan, Fava Bean Rice with Lamb Shank, Kubideh K-Bab
Address: 1746 Marine Drive, V7V 1J3 West Vancouver, BC, Canada
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5. Encore Cafe & Restaurant
Located fairly close to the West Vancouver Art Museum, Encore Cafe & Restaurant happens to be the everyday breakfast or brunch joint for many in the neighborhood. In addition to their all-day breakfast menu, the cafe also serves delicious sandwiches, burgers, sides, and hot & cold drinks.
Stop by Encore Cafe & Restaurant any time of the day to enjoy their filling Breakfast Wrap, containing 2 scrambled eggs, ham, cheese, salsa, and tomato. Their Smoked Turkey Sandwich will make a great choice to-go, accompanied by hot or cold coffee.
What to order: Breakfast Wrap, Smoked Turkey Sandwich, Seafood Melt
Address: 281 17th Street, West Vancouver, BC V7V 4T1
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4. Thai Pudpong Restaurant
The first Thai restaurant in West Vancouver, Thai Pudpong is where you will get authentic Thai food, served in an elegant and cozy atmosphere. The friendly atmosphere makes the place perfect for family/friends gatherings, and the food is sure to remind you of the glorious Thailand.
When you are at a Thai restaurant, you cannot start without ordering Chicken Satay. Marinated in Thai herbs and spices, and served with delicious peanut sauce, this would be the perfect appetizer to start your Thai meal with.
Thai Pudpong is also famous for their Phad Thai, which you can have with chicken, prawn, or vegetables. Their Red Curry (chicken, pork, or beef) with a bowl of steamed rice will make a soulful meal, lunch or dinner. For dessert, Fresh Mango with Sticky Rice it is!
Note that you can have the spice level of your dishes adjusted to your taste.
What to order: Chicken Satay, Red Curry, Phad Thai, Fresh Mango with Sticky Rice
Address: 1474 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B7
3. Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio – Ambleside
Romantic date night, family dinner, or lunch with colleagues, both the ambience and menu of Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio are designed right to accommodate guests with diverse needs and culinary desires. Combining Peruvian and Japanese cultures, the menu here is curated with both local and international ingredients as its base, and highlights the West Coast’s sustainable seafood.
Their Dungeness Crab Causa, a Peruvian delight elevated by the subtle yet flavorful huancaina sauce, available for both lunch and dinner, is a must-try. Ever tried sushi in the form of pizza? Ancora’s Sushi Pizza, with crispy rice base, salmon, crab meat, tuna, and more Japanese goodness will make you a sushi fan, if you aren’t already. Oh, and they have tacos as well, but with a Japanese twist, of course!
What to order: Dungeness Crab Causa, Sushi Pizza, Soft Shell Crab Tacos
Address: 1351 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver BC
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2. Raku Japanese Kitchen
If you are in the mood for exquisite Japanese food and live in or around West Vancouver, Raku Japanese Kitchen is the place to be. Offering a wide range of dishes, from aburi oshi to sashimi to signature rolls, this restaurant is equally preferred for its casual-elegant atmosphere as much as its food.
Starting your meal at Raku Japanese Kitchen with a tempura dish would be perfect; try their Prawn Tempura, or Cauliflower or Vegetable Tempura for a vegetarian option. In entree, their Rack of Lamb, marinated with miso-sake is a hit. As for their signature rolls, Nova Scotia, containing steamed lobster and a lot of other good stuff, would make you very happy. You can enjoy your meal with hot or cold sake, or even beer or wine, because why not?!
What to order: Prawn Tempura, Rack of Lamb, Salmon Aburi, Nova Scotia roll
Address: 1860 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
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1. Casa Di Amici
What’s better than Italian food? Italian food paired with global wines enjoyed in a romantic setting! That would make the apt description of Casa Di Amici, one of the best Italian restaurants in West Vancouver. Serving a comprehensive lineup of house-made pasta, pizzas, and more, this restaurant could easily become your preferred spot for Italian cuisine in the neighbourhood.
Containing perfectly cooked minced chicken breast, classic Italian tomatoes, crushed pink peppercorns, and covered in a special spicy tomato sauce, their Linguine Amici is a crowd favorite. If you love spaghetti and seafood equally, you should choose Spaghetti Pestacore. Make your Italian feast complete with Casa Di Amici’s delicious tiramisu, and your night couldn’t end on a better note!
What to order: Linguine Amici, Spaghetti Pestacore, Tiramisu
Address: 1747 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, V7V 1J5
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If you thought Vancouver’s North Shore is where you could find a food scene as diverse as your culinary desires, this list of the best West Vancouver restaurants should have brought to limelight a surprisingly comprehensive food scene you never imagined. Celebrating fresh, local, in-season ingredients, and combining them with international flavors, these restaurants make West Coast’s paradise.
How We Create Our “Best” Lists
All Noms Magazine’s “best” lists are created using multiple factors and signals to help readers find the best restaurants, things to do, and places to stay at. Some of these factors and signs include personal experiences, correspondence with locals, and compiling experiences from review sites.
Each list is also created to be balanced (in terms of price, cuisine type, ambiance, and more) as possible. This means that the lists are not specifically created in ranking order. You should be comfortable picking from any of the spots on the list and generally have a good time. But of course, YMMV (your mileage may vary) and everyone may have different experiences/palates.