A Health-Loving Intuitive Eater's Food Guide to Vancouver
I recently had the opportunity to visit Vancouver for work which quickly turned into a more extensive trip to make time for some play when I realized my trip fell right in line with the long Family Day weekend here in Canada.
I had been to B.C before (about 5 years ago) but was mainly in Whistler (don't get any ideas of me being swift on the slopes – it was an absolute shit show). Needless to say, it's been really nice to explore Vancouver and the surrounding area while not on skis this time haha.
Before I left for Vancouver, I put a call out on Instagram for food & drink recommendations (one of the main things I look forward to when traveling) and did you guys ever deliver! Not to mention, I think I tried almost every single thing that was recommended to me.
So naturally, I wanted to return the favour and put together a round up of the places I visited. I would strongly recommend almost all of them, but for the ones that I felt a little "meh" about, I made a point to note that. With that said, I'm a big fan of finding things out for yourself so don't let my opinions limit you in any way.
I also labeled this as the "health loving intuitive eater's" guide because that's exactly what I am and how I experienced the food scene of Vancouver (more like Kitsilano, downtown Vancouver and a hint of Squamish!). Not every single thing I've included is the healthiest (i.e. gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free etc), but in all things, I've prioritized finding high-quality foods made with wholesome ingredients as much as possible which is typically how I eat on a regular basis. It's perfect for the intuitive eater, because I have a recommendation for just about anything you might be in the mood for!
Coffee/Beverages:
49th Parallel Cafe: Americano and Housemade Hazelnut Milk Latte
Good coffee and if you’re in the mood for a doughnut, you can pick up a Lucky’s sourdough doughnut! I didn’t love the Hazelnut Milk Latte though because I found you couldn’t taste the hazelnut. But I did try the homemade almond milk on its own and that was super yummy!
Glory Juice + Co: Creamy Cacao Hot Chocolate
This isn’t your cheapest hot cocoa on the block, but you can definitely taste the quality in every sip. It was the CREAMIEST hot chocolate I’ve ever had, but without the dairy! They make their own almond milk at Glory Juice + Co which may have helped and it’s lightly sweetened with maple syrup.
Geo Cider Co. (Squamish): Cider Flight
I had never been to a ciderie before, so this was a super cool experience! I tried 4 different ciders from their New World Apple Cider (which had butterscotch notes – yum!), Navy Rum Cider, Iced Tea Apple Cider (which isn’t carbonated and was overly sweet – I actually didn’t like that one) and a Dark Fruit one. Worth checking out if you’re in the Squamish area!
Giovane: Banana Coconut Milk Coffee
It just so happened that my mom was in Vancouver at the same time as me and she also happens to be obsessed with Jillian Harris who frequents the Fairmont’s café, Giovane, to get their Banana Coconut Milk Coffee. Naturally, we had to follow suit and while it was both good and interesting, I wouldn’t say it’s anything crazy. But if you’re in the area, it’s worth trying. You can enjoy it at the café there or bring it into the seating area in the lobby of the Fairmont where there’s usually someone playing music and singing and it makes for a really nice experience
Eats (in order of breakfast / lunch / dinner options)
Olive and Ruby Cafe: Breakfast Croissant (organic egg, aged cheddar, micro-greens, tomato, cream dijon on a warmed croissant) and an Oat Milk Latte
I spent my first morning in Kitsilano here and it was the absolute coziest! It was a great place to enjoy breakfast (cafe-style, not restaurant-style) and get a bit of work done. The croissant was so fresh and their other baked goods looked amazing, but I had some treats planned for later in the day that I was saving myself for so I held off.
The Juice Truck: Green Protein Smoothie + Energy Balls
I’ve heard people rave about The Juice Truck so it was so exciting to finally experience it! They have a super fun smoothie menu, healthy treats, and to-go salads. I had the Green Protein Smoothie because I felt like I needed a dose of greens and tried the chocolate energy ball too which was super yummy! It honestly tasted like a brownie and was one of the better energy balls I’ve had.
Nelson the Seagull: Avocado Toast + Oat Milk Latte
I was told Nelson the Seagull had the best avocado toast, but that I might feel some buyer’s remorse after paying $9.5 + tax for it. That was my exact experience, haha! It was still good and had a super cute atmosphere, but my recommendation would be to try buy one of their homemade sourdough loafs for about $8, buying an avocado and enjoy it at home. That, or try one of their baked goods!
Heirloom Vegetarian: Heirloom Huevos + Kale Refresher
Those who know me, know that I hate going out for breakfast. The reason why is because I feel like it’s not usually very impressive and I hate spending money on food, like eggs and toast, that I can make very easily (and often better) at home. But I knew Heirloom Vegetarian would be different from the raving reviews I received. I had the Heirloom Huevos which was delicious! It consisted of 2 poached eggs, coconut milk black beans, smashed avocado, pico de gallo, almond cilantro cream and soft corn tortillas. It was very filling because of all of the healthy fats and protein! I also tried a bite of the apple spiced pancakes which may as well have been dessert, but they were also super delicious!
Tractor Foods: Mixed bowls of Roasted Cauliflower, Cooked Beets, Spicy Lime Tofu over Mixed Greens
I would describe my experience of going to this place as going to the salad/hot bar at Whole Foods. It was nice to have a healthy option like this available, but it wasn't anything special. I would recommend getting one of their pre-designed bowls because I found I just chose a bunch of things I thought I liked but they didn't really go well together. Regardless, it was fresh and nourishing and if I was looking to fill my belly with healthy food, I would go here again. Just wouldn't be my first choice :).
Aphrodite's Organic Cafe & Pie Shop: Turkey Pot Pie
This pie shop happened to be local to where I was staying and was super yummy! If I was in the mood, I would've tried one of their sweet pies but I was looking for dinner one night so I opted for the Turkey Pot Pie (one of my favourite comfort foods!). The crust was amazing and you could tell it was made with wholesome high-quality ingredients. The filling was good, but nothing crazy revolutionary. I think one of the sweet pies would be really good to try and they also have every kind of pie so definitely check it out! I did find it a bit pricey at $16 for a small pie but I got 2 meals out of it, so that made it worth it.
Nuba: Chicken Plate (chicken skewers, hummus, pita, pickled cabbage, fatoush salad, rice, potatoes), Crispy Cauliflower, Go Green Juice
Nuba came highly recommended to me and I now understand why. It's a haven for healthy, fresh Lebanese food which is actually one of my favourite cuisines because of all of the interesting and fun flavours. This would be a good place to go and do sharesies with other people, or you can get one of the plates like I did which was actually quite large. I managed to finish my plate, but you could definitely split a plate with someone else and get an appetizer. Another one that I'd highly recommend!
Tacofino: Chicken/Steak/Cod Tacos, Chips and Guac/Pico de Gallo/Black Bean Dip, Mixed Corn
Super yummy taco joint! I would put it on par with La Carnita in Toronto if you’re familiar but the food was really good and fresh and the atmosphere was awesome too. I should mention I also had a margarita (um, it was happy hour?!) which was super yummy too. Wouldn’t get the steak taco again but other than that, I would go again! They’re small tacos so you’ll want to order at least 2-3 and the corn was SO good! Getting a couple of tacos and a couple of appetizers is definitely the way I would do it if you’re dining with 2+ people.
Photo Credit: @mikurestaurant (Instagram)
I went at night so my photo was too dark!
I read great things about Miku prior to coming to Vancouver but immediately took it off my itinerary once I saw the price. Then I happened to be hanging out with my old roomie from university and her sister, Nathalie, when Nat mentioned that she works there and gets 40% off – um, HELLO. We scheduled a date for the next night and since I insisted she take the reigns on ordering, I have no idea what the names of what we ordered are (other than a Seafood Buckwheat Noodle Salad which I would definitely recommend, tempura shrimp and a mix of maki sushi) but it was super yummy! Their sake is amazing as well. If you’re looking for a fine-dining sushi experience and you’re not overly concerned about the price, you have to go here!
When you go to Vancouver, naturally you have to have sushi! This was my first stop right after I got off the flight as It came recommended to me and it happened to be conveniently located close to where I was staying in Kitsilano. The sushi was quite good. I couldn’t tell you what rolls I got (they have a lot of funky ones) but I really enjoyed it and the atmosphere is really cool too, being more of a cool hang out spot for drinks and eats rather than your traditional sushi restaurant.
Kokomo: Beet Poke Macro
OMG. This was actually SO good! I’m usually disappointed when I buy salads out on the go because usually they’re overpriced and I feel I can make them way better at home, but this one absolutely blew my mind. There was so much going on in it, that I wouldn’t even know how to make it (which is a sign of a super impressive dish!). The atmosphere was really nice too, with big windows, lots of natural light and coral/popsicle tones all around so even in the middle of February, you can feel a taste of the summer!
TurF: Vegan Kale Caesar with Wild Salmon (as an add-on)
I got a lot of funny responses to this when I shared it over on Instagram, like "Rach – why does it matter if you're eating a Vegan Kale Caesar if you're eating fish with it?". So just to clarify, I ordered the Vegan Kale Caesar and then ordered the Wild Salmon as an add-on for extra protein haha. As you know, I don't subscribe to labels and woudn't be able to classify my diet in a certain way but I know I feel best when I eat dairy-free and grain-free but that's not to say I don't enjoy foods outside of that from time to time. I really just listen to my body and what I feel it needs. But regardless, this Kale Caesar and Salmon was SOOOO yummy! I would definitely go back and order it again. It was so lemony, the croutons were amazing and the Salmon tasted so fresh. I actually spent most of a day working from here since they market it as a one-stop shop for communal working, fitness (they have a studio) and healthy eating. If you aren't feeling like the Kale Caesar, I would recommend the Farmer's Harvest. I saw a lot of people order it and it looked so good!
Treats:
Cartems Donuts: Coconut Cashew Cream Donut, London Fog Donut, Apple Fritter and an Earl Grey Tea
Wow, just wow. I'm not a huge doughnut person (I would rather have a cookie) but these blew my mind. They tasted so fresh and while they were sweet, they weren't sickeningly sweet like Krispy Kreme donuts. The atmosphere of the location I visited (downtown Vancouver) was really nice too. It was pretty busy but people were cozied up in booths with their donuts, coffee and tea and playing board games. It would be a nice place to spend a rainy Vancouver afternoon (which isn't anything out of the ordinary haha). They had Vegan options available too.
Lucky's Doughnuts (out of 49th Cafe): ANY doughnuts!
Apparently I fell in love with doughnuts while in Vancouver! I can't speak to all of the doughnuts because I only tried a bite of someone elses but it was SO good! They're made with sourdough and you can definitely taste the sourness – in a good way though! They have a ton of flavours and also have Vegan and Gluten-Free options available.
Grounds For Coffee: Cinnamon Buns
All I can say is, hot damn and holy shit. This was a total food freedom moment for me because in the past, I would've never just casually ordered a Cinnamon Bun with my coffee. The amazing thing that happens when you do that is that you're able to enjoy foods moderately and joyfully! I actually felt satisfied with half and then saved the other half for another day. More on that later. But this Cinnamon Bun is what oogey-gooey, cinnamon-y bun dreams are made of. They're made with wholesome, locally-sourced ingredients with Canadian flour and are fermented to precise standards and are also free of trans fat, hydrogenated oils, bleached flour and preservatives. The Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Icing added a nice special touch too! Highly recommend.W
Work-Friendly Places
TurF: This café has it all, from being a café/restaurant, retail shop and fitness studio. It was a great place to camp out for several hours and do work while enjoying a healthy meal, like the Kale Caesar Salad and Wild Salmon. I did find it a bit loud at times, so if you have to take any important calls, this might not be the best spot. But otherwise, I loved working out of here!
Glory Juice + Co: While smaller with limited outlets, this was a really nice place to finish off the work day with it being a quieter atmosphere so you can concentrate or take calls.
Grounds For Coffee: If you go early enough, you can likely get a spot at this cozy café which has food wifi and a reasonable amount of outlets. It wasn’t the most comfortable place to work out of, but I loved the cozy vibes of it and of course, enjoying a delicious cinnamon bun took that experience to the next level.
It's no surprise that I am leaving with a very full belly and a full heart after this trip. This trip was unexpected in many ways, but it felt very meant to be and came at the most perfect time to give me the space, clarity and new perspective of some things I've been challenged with this year.
I know it won't be long until I'm back in B.C (hoping to make it to the island next time), but until then, I hope you enjoyed this round-up and got a taste of the deliciousness to come during your next visit to Vancouver!