You could probably eat yourself to death in the city of Vancouver, but you would likely go broke before you got to that point. Each corner of the metropolis bustles with restaurants of every imaginable cuisine. The smell of fresh food wafts through the streets and grabs you by the nostrils pulling you in off the sidewalk like something out of a Looney Toons cartoon. Your stomach then overrides your brain’s ability to handle finances and before you know it, you have a full belly and an empty wallet. To taste all that the city has to offer while still having enough cash for your return trip home, try a few of these places that have some of the best and most affordable food in Vancouver.
The Meatery
3108 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 2N6, Canada
Want to try some of the best pulled pork in Vancouver? Yeah, you do. The Meatery, located in North Vancouver near the Capilano Suspension Bridge, is a sandwich shop that is a favorite lunch destination for travelers and locals. It is connected to a butcher shop which is where the Meatery gets is meat for the sandwiches. The shop is small and only has one large communal table to sit at so it is not recommended for large groups of people. Luckily, you can take your sandwiches to go if the table is full. You can feed two people here for around $25 CA.
Granville Island Public Market
1669 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9, Canada
For a wide variety of different foods for you to sample and enjoy head over to the Granville Island Public Market. Croissants, perogies, brownies, cheesecake, sushi, pizza; whatever you’re craving is pretty much guaranteed to be here and at some of the most affordable prices you will find in Vancouver. Two people could feast for hours on less than $20 CA at the market.
Tommy’s Cafe
1308 Ross Road, North Vancouver, North Vancouver, BC V7J 1V2
Tommy’s Cafe is a small hole-in-the-wall diner that serves one of the best breakfast’s in Vancouver. Located on the North Shore of Vancouver, it is a great place to fuel up before hiking across the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Tommy’s has been in business for over 25 years and is a favorite weekend brunch spot for the neighborhood locals. Try the Monte, it’s a ham and chicken sourdough sandwich that is grilled like french toast and covered in powder sugar. A simple yet delicious breakfast will cost around $25 CA for two people.
The Flying Pig
3 locations
The Flying Pig is our favorite spot for affordable food in Vancouver. There isn’t a single thing on the menu that isn’t delicious. The best way to eat here is to share a few different dishes with friends and family. While the name of a restaurant may lead you to think of pork chops and bacon, there is a lot more than just pig on the menu. That being said, my two favorite dishes are the Maple and Mustard Crusted Pork Rack with a side of Andrews Pulled Pork Poutine. If you deem this food so good that you refuse to share it with others you are looking at around $80 for two people. If you are sharing with multiple people you could have a full belly for considerably less. If you are eating at the Gastown location, consider heading over to the Diamond Cocktail Bar after dinner for some of the best-handcrafted cocktails in Vancouver.
Cactus Club Cafe
Several Locations
If you are looking to try world-class cuisine from a famous chef but don’t want to have to put a second mortgage on your house to do so then the Cactus Club Cafe is your best option. While there are several Cactus Club Cafe locations spread across British Columbia, each restaurant has a different menu created by legendary Canadien Chef Rob Feenie. Each restaurant uses fresh, sustainable ingredients to make flavorful dishes. Plus, they have a killer happy hour and bottles of wine are half price on Tuesdays. For Dinner and Drinks for two people, you are looking at spending around $70 CA. While the Cactus Club is one of the more higher-end spots on our selection of places with affordable food in Vancouver, it is still very inexpensive when compared to the other famous restaurants in BC which can easily be $70 per person.
Our Selections for Affordable Food in Vancouver
We love to eat. We also love to travel. While these two activities go hand-in-hand they can also end up being expensive if you get carried away. To maximize how far our travel budget goes we look for places to eat that balance cost, quality, and local cultural cuisine. We have eaten at all the above restaurants, shops and markets, and have found them to be the perfect equilibrium between having the best tasting and most affordable food in Vancouver. If you can think of any others, leave us a comment!
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Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
