Food in Vancouver: Cruise to Taste the Pacific
The Asian and Pacific Northwestern influences on Vancouver, British Columbia, are especially evident in the city's food scene. With a stunning array of cuisine from different cultures, access to fresh seafood and a strong trend toward "locavore" dining, Vancouver offers a variety of dining options. From casual to fancy, you can find food in Vancouver to satisfy any palate. The city's dedication to fresh and local means that some dishes might switch in and out from season to season (spot prawns, for example).
In addition to culinary delights, Vancouver is also host to a number of distilleries and breweries, while nearby vineyards provide the wine. You can find the perfect pairing to any meal in this town, from dumpling soup to sushi. Before or after you cruise, leave time to enjoy some of the best food in Vancouver.
Sample the Seafood in Vancouver
Vancouver's location is prime for fantastic seafood. You'll find the menus of local restaurants filled with oysters, salmon, prawns, mussels, Dungeness crab, and many other forms of Pacific Northwest seafood.
Traditionally an English favorite, fish and chips is a top seller in Vancouver, too. Many Vancouver seafood menus will offer their own versions of this dish made with halibut, a popular fish in this area. However, some restaurants will make it with snapper or salmon as well.
Savor Asian Cuisine
Much of Vancouver's food has been heavily influenced by Asian cultures. Some dishes have become especially popular:
Izakayas. Essentially Japanese tapas restaurants, izakaya bars have exploded in popularity over the past few years. Locals and visitors alike flock to these venues for the atmosphere, as well as dishes like the pan-fried gyozas and seared mackerel.
Japadogs. You don't have to book a table to get a Japanese-style hot dog. These hot dogs are sold on the street through popular Canadian vendor Japadog. Don't look for your typical mustard and relish here — these dogs are usually topped with items such as seaweed, kurogoma (black sesame), and wasabi.
Authentic Chinesefood. Vancouver is also the place to indulge in authentic Chinese food. Check out one of the city's Chinese restaurants for soup dumplings, curried beef brisket, and hot pot soup that will transport your taste buds to China.
Gorge on Granville Island
Whether you take a Coastal cruise or an Alaska cruise, it's impossible to taste all the local delicacies offered by food in Vancouver before you sail, but you have a good chance of trying many varieties if you head to Granville Island. The enormous market here is known for a selection of ethnic food, as well as fresh fish, bakery goods, and produce. There are tables inside and outside by the water, so everyone in your group can enjoy a snack or meal together.
Before you leave Granville Island, be sure to sample some of Vancouver's famed coffee — a cappuccino here will rival anything you'll find at home. One sip, and you'll feel brand new.
Ready to plan your cruise from Vancouver? Discover the Pacific Coast cruise that's perfect for you. View California Coast cruises.