Category Archives: West End

The Red Accordion

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I love the cozy ambiance of this charming restaurant. Divided into two dining rooms, two lounges, a bar, and two patios, there’s an ideal spot for everyone. Reservations are available on Tock for each separate area.

The cocktail list and wine menu are both extensive. I loved all the cocktails we tried; my favorites were the espresso-based ones. There’s something magical about a tiki drink with espresso, but the one with Licor 43 is even better.

We started with the Aint No Thang spicy chicken wings, which had a delicious sweet heat, especially if you got one of the red chili slices. The cheese plate was also delicious, and the accompanying sourdough toast was delightfully charred.

Entree standouts were the curry mussels and the Caesar salad (ask them to chop it up in the kitchen if you don’t want a whole head of iceberg).

Service was friendly and attentive. Note that it does take a while for cocktails to be prepared, as they are done individually by a single bartender, so plan ahead.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-accordion-vancouver

Los Chavos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

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Los Chavos is probably the best Mexican restaurant in the West End, but that’s a low bar. The tacos are authentic, although my Pastor was hardly the rich succulent marinated pork from the most authentic places. The quesadilla is non-traditional, but tasty, with its sautéed vegetables. Guacamole was excellent, chips okay. The highlight was the Classic Lime Margarita, which was expertly made, and about as good as it gets. Kudos to the bartender, who was also our server.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-chavos-mexican-restaurant-and-cantina-vancouver-3

Holy Guacamole Mexican Grill

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There’s nothing terrible about Holy Guacamole, but there’s also nothing great. It’s not really Mexican food, but more like someone read a description of TexMex and tried to make it without any first hand experience. Cheese sauce on Nachos is an example. It’s a shame, because Vancouver really lacks Mexican restaurants, especially in the West End. But with ordering at the counter rather than the table, this isn’t really a restaurant, either.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/holy-guacamole-mexican-grill-vancouver

Banana Leaf

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Banana Leaf offers a nice variety of traditional Malaysian foods, well prepared. The seven course lunch is a great way to experience a broad range of flavors. Our favorites were the very refreshing salad, the curry sauce, and the vegetables. I thought the roti could’ve had a little bit more sear on it. Try their lemongrass and ginger iced tea.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/banana-leaf-vancouver-8

España Restaurant

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This cozy tapas bar offers an assortment of small plates that are interesting twists on traditional tapas. We particularly enjoyed the Spanish tortilla, the sautéed mushrooms on toast, and the cheese assortment. Be sure to try the churros, which are almost more like beignets, offered with two different dipping sauces. There’s a nice selection of appropriate wines by the glass. Reservations are needed on Friday and Saturday nights, even to sit at the bar.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/españa-restaurant-vancouver-2