First off:
Does Vancouver have good Asian food?
Yes, Vancouver has great Asian food!
You can find lots of tasty Asian restaurants in downtown Vancouver, near Stanley Park.
On Denman Street, between Davie and Georgia Streets, there are many yummy places. They have all sorts of Asian food like dim sum and Korean BBQ.
Why is there so much Asian food in Vancouver?
Lots of people from Asia moved to Vancouver, especially since the 1980s.
They brought their food and opened restaurants.
This is why Vancouver has so many Asian food places. It’s part of the city’s story and makes it a fun place to try different foods.
What Are the Must Eat Asian Foods in Vancouver?
There are so many choices but here are a few of the ones you should definitely try:
- Hot Pot
- Chinese BBQ
- Dim Sum
- Hainan Chicken
- Boba (Bubble Tea)
- Shaved Snow / Shaved Ice
To see our list, click the video above or continue reading.
The Guide to Must-East Asian Foods in Vancouver
Why Is Asian Food So Good in Vancouver?
There are several reasons why Asian food is highly regarded in Vancouver, British Columbia.
One reason is the diverse population in the city, which includes a large number of immigrants from various Asian countries.
This diversity has resulted in a wide range of authentic Asian restaurants that offer a variety of dishes from different regions in Asia.
Another reason is the abundance of fresh ingredients available in the area, which allows for the preparation of high-quality, flavorful dishes.
Additionally, Vancouver has a thriving food culture, with a focus on locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, which has contributed to the popularity of Asian cuisine in the city.
Overall, the combination of a diverse population, access to fresh ingredients, and a focus on high-quality cuisine has helped make Asian food a beloved and integral part of the culinary scene in Vancouver.
Chun Hing Cuisine – 3700 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 2C1, Canada
Here, you can get a combo meal with all types of different choices including rice or noodles.
It’s relatively cheap and it was less than $10 USD for a 3 item combo.
If you like quick lunch plates, especially ones close to the airport (this one is located at the Yaohan Centre, just 5km from the airport), a place like this is definitely for you.
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant – 108-777 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC
You should definitely look into getting dim sum while you’re in Vancouver.
Our choice was Dynasty Seafood Restaurant. It has a long wait time for a reason. The quality is outstanding.
We were really impressed by how great the shrimp items were. Very well-cooked and savory.
It is a bit on the pricier side however.
One of our favorites is the pan-fried turnip cake. It was not too greasy with lots of turnips/daikon.
Another highlight that you’ll probably find intriguing is their truffle dumpling. The truffle essence on these things are very prominent.
If you like truffle and or mushrooms, you’ll definitely like this one.
BlackBall – 8300 Capstan Way Unit 1063, Richmond, BC V6X 4B7, Canada
If you’re a fan of Taiwanese desserts and shaved ice, you’ll love BlackBall.
They have so many different options of ice and topping combinations, you’ll definitely find one that you’ll like.
It’s one of our personal favorite dessert places and unfortunately we don’t have one near us anymore. You can find these locations around the world.
We got the matcha shaved ice with condensed milk and matcha jelly. Red beans is also another good choice as well if you like sweet beans.
The Dolar Shop – 5300 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC
This is quite possibly our favorite hot pot experience. If you’re lucky enough to live near one, we definitely recommend giving it a try. (They have locations globally)
They give you quite a high-end experience and pride themselves on outstanding customer service (snacks while you wait, waiters come by often to make sure you’re doing well with your soups and anything else you need).
The meat is very high quality and the broth is extremely flavorful. You can also make your own sauce as well at the sauce-making station.
Another good thing is that you can get both spicy and non-spicy. If you’re into spicy foods, we highly recommend getting it.
And to top it all off, they give you ice cream at the end. Which is really satisfying after eating spicy hot pot. Make sure to save room for it because even the ice cream is delicious.
Mamalee – 3144 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC
The Hainan Chicken at Mamalee is definitely different if you’ve never had Malaysian/Singaporean Hainan Chicken.
It’s not as hot as it is at other places. It’s served lukewarm as the chicken is moved to an ice bath to stop the cooking process so it might come as a shock to you as you’re eating it.
Mamalee makes their chicken extremely flavorful where even the white meat almost tastes like dark meat.
If you’re in Vancouver, we definitely recommend giving it a try. Either at Mamalee or one of the other spots around town.
HK BBQ Master – 4651 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC
HK BBQ Master is another spot that has long wait times for good reason.
We really felt like this was the highlight of our entire trip.
The food here is really that amazing. The chicken is extremely flavorful and the pork is next level.
This food here is so delicious and well-prepared that it’s tough to image there being any type of alternative for Hong Kong Style BBQ.
If you know of one, let us know but until then we don’t want to miss out on eating here any time we come to Vancouver.
