Dine Out Festival has long been THE perfect excuse to explore new restaurants and revisit local favorites with fixed menus at a steal.
But times have changed from the good old days when the highest price point was $35.
And it’s no fault of the festival or restaurants.
Blame time (“$35 dine out” feels like 15 years ago), inflation, and the freaken economy.
This means restaurants can’t offer the same crazy-good deals we all feel nostalgic about.
BUT the festival is still a fantastic excuse to kidnap your friends for a night out or plan an easy date night.
So, the Dine Out tactics of the past don’t apply anymore.
Now, it’s more about getting a variety of dishes (multi-course!) at spots you’ve been curious to try or restaurants that are usually on the high end but feel more accessible during the festival.
Here’s a short list of Dine Out restaurants worth checking out!
1. ELEM – Dinner
ELEM is no doubt on of the hottest new restaurants in town, that everyone has been talking about.
ELEM’s Dine Out menu highlights BC’s bounty with dishes like winter chanterelle risotto or Hokkaido scallops.
Finish your meal with sticky toffee pudding or white chocolate cremeux, all while soaking up the Main Street vibe.
Price for this Menu: $65
Cuisine Type: West Coast
Neighborhood: Main Street / Mt. Pleasant
Address: 2110 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
2. Pepino’s – Dinner
Step into old-school Italian charm at Pepino’s, where hearty classics reign supreme. They’ve brought back their Dine Out offering from last year and kept the same price.
Start with mozzarella sticks or garlic cheesy bread, then savor rigatoni alla vodka or spaghetti & a giant meatball.
End on a sweet note with their signature tiramisu (we think this is one of the best in the city).
Price for this Menu: $49
Cuisine Type: Italian
Neighborhood: Commercial Drive
Address: 631 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
3. Archer – Dinner
Archer’s Pacific Northwest-inspired menu takes diners on a luxurious journey by a Michelin-recommended restaurant.
Try the hamachi crudo or artichoke endive salad before indulging in mains like sablefish or truffle cavatelli.
For dessert, the matcha terrine with strawberry hibiscus consommé is a must-try.
Price for this Menu: $65
Cuisine Type: Canadian
Neighborhood: Downtown Vancouver
Address: 1152 Alberni Street, Vancouver, BC
4. Carlino – Dinner
Inspired by northern Italy, Michelin Recommended Carlino is situated inside the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel. Their dinner Dine Out menu brings rich flavours to the table.
Appetizers include a trio of house-made bread or prosciutto plates. For mains, highlights include butternut squash risotto or braised lamb shank.
For dessert, the tiramisu is a must if you like a lighter punch of flavour but a great night finish.
Price for this Menu: $65
Cuisine Type: Italian
Neighborhood: Downtown Vancouver
Address: Level 3, 1115 Alberni Street, Vancouver, BC
5. Water Street Cafe 2nd Floor Gastown – Dinner
Water Street Cafe’s 2nd Floor is a hidden gem, tucked inside a historic 1906 building in Gastown.
Known for supporting local musicians, this spot offers a taste of BC with a side of good tunes.
Their endlessly customizable tapas menu is a perfect deal for a classy night out.
Price for this Menu: $20
Cuisine Type: West Coast
Neighborhood: Gastown
Address: 300 Water Street, Vancouver, BC
6. Bombay Kitchen + Bar – Dinner
Unlimited Indian Thali anyone?
Bombay Kitchen + Bar’s dinner menu is a spice-lover’s dream with its all-you-can-eat format.
Choose between the Veggie or Non-Veggie thali options and let the flavors transport you to India without breaking the bank.
Each table-served feast comes with starters, curries, rice, naan, and a dessert — no refills denied!
Price for this Menu: $24.95
Cuisine Type: Indian
Neighborhood: Commercial Drive, West End
Address:
-1018 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
-1061 Denman St, Vancouver, BC
7. Fufu Pancake – Lunch
Fufu Pancake’s souffle pancakes are a fluffy, dreamy experience for brunch lovers.
Paired with appetizers like mini tamago sando or Nutella banana sando and indulgent entrees such as hojicha mochi pancakes or tiramisu pancakes, this Japanese-inspired cafe brings decadence to every bite.
Pro tip: patience is key as these pancakes are made-to-order.
Price for this Menu: $26
Cuisine Type: Japanese
Neighborhood: Cambie Street / Fairview
Address: 1266 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC
8. Kinton Ramen – Dinner
Kinton Ramen’s dine-out menu makes it hard to resist as it is actually a great deal if you compare it with their regular pricing.
Choose from pork, chicken, beef, or vegetarian broth, topped with your choice of miso, shoyu, or spicy garlic flavours.
Pair it with gyoza or Tokyo fries for a comforting, wallet-friendly Japanese dinner.
Price for this Menu: $20.99
Cuisine Type: Japanese
Neighborhood: Downtown, Vancouver, Surrey, UBC
Address: Multiple Locations
9. Nook – Lunch
Casual Italian dining gets a stylish upgrade at Nook.
Start with a burrata & prosciutto crostini, then dig into classic entrees like Margherita pizza, spaghetti aglio e olio, or a hearty meatball sandwich.
Finish with their signature tiramisu for a satisfying meal.
Price for this Menu: $25
Cuisine Type: Italian
Neighborhood: Kitsilano, West End
Address:
-1525 Yew Street, Vancouver, BC
– 195 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver, BC
10. Potluck Hawker Eatery – Lunch
Dive into Southeast Asian street food at Potluck Hawker Eatery.
Their customizable Dine Out lunch lets you pick a drink, snack, and main dish.
Highlights include the nasi lemak fried chicken sandwich, salted egg yolk prawns, and potluck pad thai — all served with vibrant flavours and bold spices.
Price for this Menu: $28
Cuisine Type: Pan Asian
Neighborhood: Cambie Village
Address: 3424 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC
11. Water Street Cafe – Lunch
Classic Italian-West Coast cuisine meets Gastown’s cobblestone streets at Water Street Cafe.
Their lunch menu features burrata with pesto, spaghetti autunnale, or chicken & waffles with mochi.
Pair your meal with a house-made tiramisu to round out the indulgent experience.
Price for this Menu: $30
Cuisine Type: Italian
Neighborhood: Gastown
Address: 300 Water Street, Vancouver, BC
12. Yuu Japanese Tapas – Dinner
If fusion is your vibe, Yuu Japanese Tapas delivers with bold creations like chashu miso carbonara, ebi high dive don, or golden nest unagi don.
Pair your dish with unique appetizers like crispy fusion bombs or garlic butter edamame.
For dessert, try their ube dream cupcake — it’s as dreamy as it sounds.
Price for this Menu: $20
Cuisine Type: Japanese
Neighborhood: Richmond
Address: 1118-3779 Sexsmith Road, Richmond, BC
13. Glowbal – Dinner
For a finer dining experience, Glowbal’s $49 dinner is a luxurious affair.
Start with albacore tuna or acorn squash soup (this one was like a warm hug), followed by mains like king salmon or NY prime striploin.
Elevate your meal with various enhancements like scallops or truffle.
Don’t miss the cheesecake brûlée for dessert!
Price for this Menu: $49
Cuisine Type: West Coast
Neighborhood: Downtown Vancouver
Address: 590 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC
14. L’Abattoir – Dinner
Gastown’s iconic award-winning L’Abattoir serves elevated West Coast fare in a historic setting.
Begin with baby gem lettuce or octopus ceviche, then enjoy entrees like parmesan chicken or squash & ricotta agnolotti.
End with their indulgent sticky toffee pudding.
Price for this Menu: $65
Cuisine Type: West Coast
Neighborhood: Gastown
Address: 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC
Dine Out was partially created to help restaurants out during the slowest periods of the year (like right now).
So even if a restaurant is NOT listed here, we highly recommend continuing to our local support restaurants.