Taqueria Jalisco

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It’s hard to find authentic Mexican food in Vancouver, so I was delighted to come upon this place on Davie. I’d walked past it quite a few times, but somehow or other it just didn’t draw my eye. I tried the one down on Denman, and it was pretty good, but it was more of a counter-service place. When I realized this was a full sit-down restaurant with a bar, I decided to check it out. I’m glad I did.

The space is nicely decorated. I guess it could be pretty loud and noisy when it gets crowded, but I was there at a quiet lunchtime.

The menu is short but has lots of authentic dishes on it. I was torn between the molcajete, mole, or the enchiladas, but I decided to go with the enchiladas because pastor was offered as one of the fillings, and that’s not all that common to find in enchiladas. They were really terrific. The pastor had more of a ground meat consistency to it, but was the right flavor, and the green sauce was the best that I’ve had in Vancouver, with just the right amount of bite from the peppers. The refried beans and rice were also decent.

I really liked the complimentary chips.

The margarita was a standout, hand-shaken and at a reasonable price. Probably the best margarita I’ve had in town.

Service was friendly and attentive since I was alone.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-jalisco-vancouver-2

Cozy Wok

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This place is indeed cozy. It serves classic Chinese dishes in cheerful surroundings with friendly service.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cozy-wok-vancouver

Vino Volo

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This place is pretty damn good for an airport restaurant. We have a nice selection of wines with an emphasis on wines from BC, but lots of international selections and a thoughtful selection of flights of four tastes of different wines contrasting new world with old world. The menu is also well thought out and pairs perfectly with the wines on offer.

This was a great place to spend an hour waiting for our flight. There’s not a lot of commotion, and the seating space is well separated from the gates around it.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/vino-volo-richmond

Afghani Kabul Kebab Donair

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I really enjoyed the falafel wrap I had here. The ingredients were very fresh and plentiful, with a liberal portion of a variety of sauces that merged well with all the traditional components. Service was friendly and quick. There are only a couple of small tables inside, so it’s mostly a to-go place, but if the weather is nice, there is a sidewalk eating area.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/afghani-kabul-kebab-donair-vancouver

Tim Hortons

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Somehow, in the forty years it’s been open, I’ve never made it to Tim Hortons. Well, now I have. It was… okay.

Preparing hot food quickly is not really their forte, but they’re great at coffee and pastries. If you’re looking for a cup of delicious coffee that is actually a cup of coffee and not some fancy schmancy beverage, it’s incredibly cheap. My decaf coffee with a pump of chocolate was the stand out of the meal.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tim-hortons-vancouver-47

Kuro Katsu

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This place is a terrific find. In an area dominated by excellent Korean restaurants and excellent sushi restaurants, it’s nice to have a Japanese alternative that offers a hot personal grilling experience.

The interior is open and inviting, and service is friendly and enthusiastic. The menu focuses on a range of set meals that generally include:

  • soup
  • salad
  • some Japanese pickles and side dishes
  • Shredded cabbage with dressing
  • an assortment of sauces depending upon which main protein you select

The protein choices for your personal grill are:

  • beef loin
  • premium beef
  • chicken
  • cheese
  • tofu

They also offer a chicken karaage meal that is some of the best fried chicken I’ve had anywhere. The pieces are much bigger than the traditional bite-sized pieces, and the mound of chicken was enough for two people. We took half of it home and shared it for dinner the next night.

I really can’t say enough nice things about this place. It’s very close to where we live, and I’m glad we discovered it.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kuro-katsu-vancouver

Mi Casa Mexicana

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I grew up in Southern California, and so I’m pretty picky about Mexican food. I wanted authentic, not Americanized. It matters whether the corn tamales are fresh and the right kinds of cheese are used. The quality of the jalapenos. The variety of the salsas. And especially the way the meats are seasoned and cooked.

It seems like the farther I get away from Mexico, the more unreliable the Mexican food becomes (although I must admit, I did once have a great Mexican meal at a hotel in Sweden!) Anyway, Vancouver is pretty far from Mexico. And so the results are pretty dicey at a lot of the Mexican places around here.

But Mi Casa really blew us away.

It’s a little hard to find, it’s just a door with stairs going up. But once you’re up there, it’s quite, spacious, with picture windows lining two walls.

I was pretty sure things were going to go well when I got my Margarita. None of that fake Margarita flavored syrup here, just real lime juice and a generous two ounces of tequila and a rim half salted without my having to ask.

Then the enormous pile of nachos showed up, thoughtfully layered and covered in the right kind of cheese. Plentiful pickled jalapenos with just the right spice level. A mound of delicious guacamole. And an incredible chorizo. I’ve never even been much of a fan of chorizo, and if I’d known it was going to be on there, I’d probably have had them leave it off, but it really made the dish. It was complex and smoky, and its flavors infused everything. Honestly, these were the best nachos I’ve ever had anywhere.

I also had the lunch special, which was two tacos. I chose pastor and cochinita pabil. Pastor is a longtime favorite of mine, and this was prepared in a very traditional way. It was excellent, but the cochinita pabil was even better. Succulent and plentiful. Some of the best I’ve had.

My wife had two tamales with chicken filling. You could tell they were homemade with perfectly done cornmeal wrappers and served on corn husks.

Service was friendly, and the server verified our suspicion that the owners were from Mexico City. I’ve dined in hundreds of Mexican restaurants, but I have to say this was the biggest surprise and was among the very top of all that I’ve been to. It really exceeded our expectations and will become a regular on our rotation.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/mi-casa-mexicana-vancouver

Osetra

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We had a delightful 70th birthday dinner here. I love the space with its modern styling and high ceiling but narrow profile so that it doesn’t get too noisy. The service was amazingly attentive and friendly, and the food was superb. It left us wanting to immediately go back and try all of their other dishes.

We arrived starving, so right off we ordered the sourdough bread, which was wonderfully grilled with a bit of olive oil on it. We added a little flaked salt, and it really accompanied the Champagne we ordered.

Because it was a special celebration, we of course had to have caviar. The offer for the complete raw bar assortment was the perfect way to go. It included a full tin of Osetra, plus half a lobster, a generous portion of truly jumbo prawns, a lot of oysters on the half shell, a large serving of a delicious scallop crudo. Slices of their red tuna and some very tender young octopus. Also on the plate were a variety of sauces including cocktail sauce, mignonette, and hey, delicious mayonnaise-based sauce.

It was a feast for two, and we could not do more, which left us craving all the delicious vegetable preparations on the other side of the menu. We almost went back the next day!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/osetra-vancouver

Anna Lena

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We had a delightful evening at Anna Lena. It easily demonstrated its reputation as one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Vancouver. It’s a small space that is both intimate and welcoming.

There are a lot of servers and staff here in addition to the kitchen personnel. I suspect the ratio is about one to one between employees and customers. Everyone was extraordinarily welcoming and gracious.

The menu is both fun and complex without being pretentious. My favorite dishes were:

The Cheeseburger 2050, a deconstructed combination of their amazing torn bread, oak tartare, and a lovely cheese dipping sauce.

The oyster with shaved foie gras was also remarkable.

The prawn that came with the off the coast course.

The frozen cookie at the end of the meal was also a lot of fun.

I thought the pricing was quite reasonable considering the quantity and quality of the food. There’s also an optional add-on that includes caviar, truffles, and wagyu, which I think is worth it if you particularly enjoy those things.

Two wine pairings are offered. I feel it’s worth upgrading to the premium pairing because it includes a lovely glass of Dom Pérignon and the spectacular 2021 Avrell Creek Barrel 36 Pinot Noir, which so impressed me that I ordered several bottles from the winery while we were still dining!

On all the delightful evenings, and I look forward to returning.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/annalena-vancouver

PaulPaul Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant

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I’ve always loved Paul in France. My favorite item there is a true French sandwich. A perfectly fresh baguette with a delicate crust served with ham, cheese, and butter. So of course that’s what I ordered at this Paul, the first I’ve been to outside of France. I was not disappointed. It was an absolutely delicious and authentic sandwich.

This Paul also has an assortment of pastries. You order the pastries or the sandwiches at the counter and then sit anywhere in the front of the restaurant to enjoy them along with your coffee drinks or what have you. There’s a separate seating section in the back where a full menu is served, including brunch, traditional dishes such as steak frites, and an elaborate formal tea. I’ll definitely want to go back and try those fancier options.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/paul-bakery-cafe-and-restaurant-vancouver-2