Discover what’s cooking in Vancouver’s food scene for 2024!
In this ever-evolving culinary landscape, we delve into the latest trends, changing consumer preferences, and new regulations shaping dining in the city.
Get the inside scoop with our predictions and hot takes on what’s next for Vancouver’s gastronomic scene.
Read on to uncover the flavours and experiences set to define the year ahead.
1. Brace For A Massive Wave of Restaurant Closures
If you thought 2023 saw a lot of closures…2024 maybe even more painful.
This big wave is largely accelerated by post-pandemic challenges and economic pressures.
The Vancouver Sun reported that approximately 50% of restaurants in BC are either losing money or barely breaking even.
With many establishments still struggling to break even, and the added impact of rising costs and retiring family-owned businesses, the industry faces a critical year.
It isn’t going to be pretty…
2. Fried Chicken Boom Is Gone
In 2024, Vancouver’s food scene may see a slowdown of fried chicken chicken joints.
The city is now saturated with a ton of fried chicken establishments, both franchises and independents, where it feels like there are two on every block.
This could lead to challenges in attracting and retaining customers, suggesting a market correction where only a select few will succeed and last.
3. Someone Will Lose a Michelin Star
In its second year, Vancouver’s Michelin Guide only added one one-star restaurant to its roster, Okeya Kyujiro. For many – and us – they are a well-deserved addition.
We predict that the 2024 Vancouver Michelin Guide will be a bit more spicy with one restaurant being demoted their one star. It may be a restaurant that many in the public have raised their eyebrows at when the news came out of their star designation. #iykyk
The decision by Michelin inspectors, known for their meticulous and somewhat secretive evaluation criteria, to revoke a star is always made with careful consideration.
4. “Affordable” Food Caps
In Vancouver, the rising costs are redefining what’s considered “affordable” in various cuisines.
Items like ramen, banh mi, and simple burgers, traditionally seen as budget-friendly, are now facing price hikes.
For instance, ramen can be seen starting at $19 and banh mi at $9…
As a result, we predict that consumers may seek more economical options outside of Vancouver.
This could see a rise in people traveling to other municipalities in search of these once-affordable dishes at lower prices.
5. Tipping Culture Continues To Be A Mess
Tipping culture was a hot topic in 2023.
Although it has got a lot of attention, we predict that tip culture will remain as chaotic and confusing in 2024.
The confusion over how much to tip, and in what settings (restaurants, cafes, pickup orders, food courts), shows no signs of consensus.
Many have pointed out the weird tipping phenomenon that the food industry has over other service industries.
This ongoing complexity in tipping culture reflects larger questions about service compensation and consumer expectations in Vancouver’s food and service sectors.
6. Non-Alcoholic Drinks and Cocktails Will Be More Prominent
The trend of non-alcoholic beverages in Vancouver, already noticeable in 2023, is expected to expand significantly in 2024.
Restaurants will likely add more non-alcoholic wines, beers, and cocktails to their menus, catering to those who enjoy the social aspect of drinking without alcohol’s effects.
Growing Consumer Interest: This trend caters to health-conscious individuals, those avoiding alcohol for personal reasons, and people who wish to enjoy a night out without alcohol-related aftereffects.
Retail Indication: The small sections of non-alcoholic options in BC Liquor Stores suggest a rising market demand.
7. Hand Rolls The Next Thing?
Japanese sushi hand rolls are not a new thing. Toronto and the States have had several hand-roll shops and omakase-esque concepts before.
In Vancouver, the fresh hand roll scene is dominated by Hello Nori, which is in motion to open two more locations.
But Hello Nori will no longer be the sole player in Vancouver’s hand roll market, as Jinya is entering the scene with a new restaurant in Kitsilano, and another venture is set to open in Yaletown.
For pre-made hand rolls, the only spot that comes to mind is Aburi Market in West Vancouver.
Considering that sushi hand rolls can be premade daily like onigiri, it’s likely that more to-go shops like Konbini-ya, Grab N Go, and Sushi Tree begin to offer hand rolls if the trend continues to pick up.
8. More Extended Food Festivals
In 2024, Vancouver’s food event scene is likely to see an expansion in longer-lasting festivals.
Addressing the limitation of short weekend events, newer month-long festivals like the Vancouver Ice Cream Festival and Vancouver Fall Food Fest have gained popularity.
These events, along with others like the Croissant Crawl, fill the void was mostly only dominated by Hot Chocolate Fest and Dine Out.
We predict longer food festivals will slowly increase, drawing crowds to various neighborhoods throughout the year.
9. Negative Stigma Around Solo Dining Will Disappear
Solo dining is transforming into a welcomed trend worldwide, shedding its past stigma of being a sign of being a loner or embarrassing.
In today’s fast-paced world, coordinating dinner plans among working adults, often with varied schedules, is increasingly challenging. And with nearly 40% of adults being single or living alone, dining out alone often becomes the most practical or only choice.
This trend, reinforced by social media where individuals celebrate their solo dining experiences, is becoming a symbol of independence and self-care.
In 2024, solo dining is expected to continue its rise, with more restaurants creating inviting spaces for individuals enjoying a meal on their own.
10. Nostalgic Dining To Be Embraced
Vancouver’s food scene in 2024 is expected to embrace nostalgic dining experiences.
People are increasingly drawn to eateries that evoke past memories, such as traditional dim sum restaurants with push carts, diners styled like the 1990s, and pho spots mirroring the 2000s.
You can see people gushing about push carts in various dim sum posts on Instagram.
This trend is fueled by a desire to relive ‘the good old days’. It reflects a yearning for simplicity and nostalgia in a rapidly evolving and difficult life Vancouverites are living.
11. Declining Trust in Food Influencers
In 2024, there will be a noticeable shift in how people view food influencers. With so many foodies popping onto TikTok & Instagram each year, people’s feeds are filled #media posts.
But people are increasingly able to sniff out influencers who aren’t genuine in their recommendations or only share restaurants where they’ve gotten free food.
This skepticism is leading to a decline in trust in food influencers.
With the economy in a challenging state, people will move towards trusting only a handful of foodies who not only offer authentic reviews but also share a similar taste profile to ensure the recommendations are relevant and reliable.
That means finding an influencer who shares the same sugar, spice, and salt thresholds for a more accurate gauge of where to eat.
Vancouver’s food scene in 2024 is set for a lot of important changes.
Considering that many of these predictions are influenced by economics, it will be a pivotal year to see whether the industry can bounce back positively.