Normally we don't write about food on our website, but we are making an exception this week to tell the YMCA/NAYDO delegates coming to Vancouver about some of our great restaurants.  

Fundraisers!

Welcome to the YMCA/NAYDO conference.

While you are here we assume that you would like to eat food. Preferably great food. So I have prepared a list of some of my favorite restaurants for you. I hope that this little guide leads you to sample some great food, and enjoy some of the best of what our city offers.

Vancouver is a great restaurant city. It's full of creative chefs, and an abundance of local delights.

You can dine out at our many “100 mile diet” gems, or sample the amazing ethnically diverse restaurant scene.

You will not go hungry.

I've split this recommendation list into three different categories to make it somewhat easier for you. First, since virtually all delegates will be staying in downtown Vancouver, I focused my choices on what will be close by. Second, I've tried to divide it into low-budget, medium, and high end. Frequently, but not always, the best restaurants tend to charge you a lot more money. Nonetheless, sometimes it's worth it.

My co-worker Glenn also added some vegan and vegetarian friendly recommendations. All restaurants are in the downtown core unless indicated. Other restaurants I mention are still within 3 to 7 miles from the Conference Centre.

Good Budget restaurants

Simpatico's: Greek restaurant, 2222 W. 4th Avenue (Kitsilano, 4 miles from downtown). http://simpaticorestaurant.ca/  

Nando’s: Portuguese chicken, various locations. http://www.nandoscanada.com/

Siegel’s Bagels: Just off the downtown peninsula, and fantastic. http://siegelsbagels.com/  

White Spot: Successful local chain. Various locations. http://www.whitespot.ca/  

Flying Wedge: Local, creative pizza you can order by the slice. Various locations. http://www.flyingwedge.com/  

East is East: Silk road restaurant on West Broadway (5 miles from downtown), with lots of charm and great reasonably priced food. http://www.eastiseast.ca/  

Vera’s Burger Shack: You can order organic burgers or lamb burgers. Various locations. http://www.verasburgershack.com/

Banana Leaf : Good Indonesian food, and a place for a large group of people. Make sure you have the Sambal green beans. Various locations. http://bananaleaf-vancouver.com/

Save on Meats: 43 W. Hastings. Pretty close to the conference center. http://www.saveonmeats.ca/  

Whole Foods Markets/Capers: Various locations, with inexpensive healthy options. http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/canada/
Robson: 1675 Robson Street
Cambie: 510 West 8th Avenue
Kitsilano: 2285 West 4th Avenue

Medium priced

Earl’s: A chain, but fun atmosphere and decent menu. http://www.earls.ca/  

Maenam: Best Thai in the city, on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano. http://maenam.ca/intro.html  

Thai House: Very cheap lunch specials, various locations. http://thaihouse.com/  

Jules: A French restaurant in Gastown. Great steak and fries, fish. http://www.julesbistro.ca/

Baru: Great ceviche, paella and more.  http://www.barulatino.com/index.php

High-end

Chambar: Frequently cited as the best restaurant in Vancouver, and also difficult to get into. But worth it. http://www.chambar.com/  

Vij’s: Easily one of the best Indian restaurants in North America. They don't take reservations, and even Oprah had to stand in line to get in. But a great low-budget option is Rangoli, owned by Vij, and it shares the same kitchen. http://www.vijs.ca/    http://www.vijsrangoli.ca/

Tojo’s: Often called the best Japanese restaurant outside of Japan. Make sure you have Tojo's Tuna if you go. Just outside downtown, about 4 miles from the conference center. http://www.tojos.com/Splash.html  

Bishop’s: Wonderful creative menu based on local foods. Service is impeccable. http://www.bishopsonline.com/  

Best Italian

I added this section because there are so many good Italian restaurants in Vancouver. The restaurants listed have higher priced entrées, which can be great, but the pastas are reasonably priced.

Il Giardino: My personal favorite. Great food and wonderful ambience. Sadly closing in April 2013.  http://hotelvilladelia.com/restaurant_ilgiardino.cfm  

Cioppino’s: Located in Yaletown. http://cioppinos.wordpress.com/

La Quercia: 6 km from downtown, small, intimate and very hard to get a reservation. http://laquercia.ca/ 

Cin Cin: A fun place downtown on Robson Street, with excellent food. http://www.cincin.net/  

Fish

The Sandbar: On Granville Island, a great place to visit. Just outside downtown, usually packed and lots of fun too. http://www.vancouverdine.com/sandbar

Fish Café: 2053 W. 41st, Kerrisdale. Probably 6 miles from downtown, but it has a fabulous, fresh, reasonably priced menu. Not a huge number of seats, but my favorite place to eat fish. http://www.fishcafe.ca/ 

C Restaurant: Pretty stunning West Coast restaurant. #2-1600 Howe Street. http://www.crestaurant.com/  

Romantic

Seasons in the Park: The perennial winner for romance. About 6 miles from downtown in Queen Elizabeth Park with a great view of the city. http://www.vancouverdine.com/seasons-park  

New

I’ve not had the opportunity to eat here yet, but it has been highly recommended.

Hawksworth Restaurant: 801 W. Georgia Street. http://www.hawksworthrestaurant.com/

Breakfast

Medina: 556 Beatty Street. http://www.medinacafe.com/ 

Vegetarian and vegan friendly

Vancouver is one of the most veg-friendly cities in North America, so most restaurants will be able to serve you delicious vegetarian or vegan food. I've divided the list into Downtown and Outside of Downtown. Feel free to get in touch with me (glenn@harveymckinnon.com or via twitter @glenngaetz) if you have any questions about them.

Downtown area:

Gorilla Food 436 Richards Street (view map)
Innovative and cosy raw food restaurant. All vegan.

Loving Hut Express Food truck, located outside of the Roundhouse Community Centre (view map)
Some of the best vegan fast food in the city. Lots of old favourites made vegan (the reuben is highly recommended). All vegan.

Panz Veggie 1355 Hornby Street (view map)
Healthy (and delicious) Chinese vegetarian food with friendly and fast service. Quite possibly the best vegetarian Chinese restuarant in Vancouver. All vegan.

Organic Lives at the Chopra Yoga Centre 451 Granville Street (view map)
Tied with Gorilla Food for best raw food but slightly more sophisticated. All vegan.

Nuba 
Restaurant: 207-B West Hastings (view map)
Cafe: 1206 Seymour Street (view map)
Lebenese food with vegetarian and vegan options. The Najib's Special is highly recommended.

La Taqueria 
Downtown: 322 West Hastings (view map)
Outside of Downtown: 2549 Cambie (view map)
Some of the best tacos in Vancouver. Two vegetarian options and two vegan options. 

Wild Rice 117 West Pender (view map)
Gourmet Chinese food. Very vegan and vegetarian friendly. Can be pricey.

Outside of Downtown:

Bandidas 2781 Commercial (view map)
Best Mexican in the city, hands down. All vegetarian, and very vegan friendly. Great brunch, but can be crowded. 

Organic Lives 1829 Quebec (view map)
Inventive raw food with amazing desserts. 

Indigo Cafe 2589 West 16th (view map)
Another raw food gem. I've never eaten there, but have heard wonderful things about their high tea. All vegan.

Wallflower Moder Diner 2420 Main Street (view map)
Diner-esque restaurant with several vegan options (including vegan poutine). I usually go for the Thunder Fries. 

Grub 4328 Main Street (view map)
Quite possibly the best vegan food in the city. Omniviorous restaurant with a vegan entree and dessert on special every day. Reservations are recommended. 

Red Sea Cafe 670 East Broadway (view map)
Pretty much the best Ethiopean in Vancouver, with an extensive vegetarian selection (very vegan friendly). 

Dharma Kitchen 3667 West Broadway (view map)
Very zen vegan restaurant with wholesome delicious food. 

3G Vegetarian 3424 Cambie Street (view map)
Chinese vegetarian food, with all-day vegan dim sum. 

Chau Veggie Express 5052 Victoria (view map)
A new addition to Vancouver's veg options, but close to the best. Delicious Vietnamese noodle soups (yes, vegan pho!) made with fresh ingredients. Best tofu in town. Worth the long ride on the number 19 bus.

Fairy Cakes 3586 Fraser Street (view map)
All cupcakes, all vegan.

Edible Flours 2280 West Broadway (view map)
Vancouver very first all vegan bakery. Croissants, cupcakes, cookies, muffins and more.

Out of town but worth the trip if you have time:

Karmavore Vegan Shop 610 Columbia Street, New Westminster (view map)
Food and lots more, with two floors of goodness. A pretty easy ride (about 30 minutes) on the skytrain.