2022 Vancouver MICHELIN Bib Gourmands

Anh and Chi

Cuisine: Vietnamese
Sibs Lý and Vincent Nguyễn have created a clean, cool space that’s outfitted with mid-century modern furniture while also nodding to the past — a blue neon sign on the bar is a relic of the former restaurant. For more than 30 years, the parents’ restaurant stood on this spot. The menu is a declaration of love for Vietnam. Chạo tôm bánh hỏi is prepared the classic way, with grilled shrimp mousse served with an array of fresh herbs, and of course there’s pho.

Chupito

Cuisine: Mexican
You have to go to the alley behind La Taqueria to find this hidden gem. The beach may be absent at this fully covered outdoor taqueria, where pebbles crunch underfoot and a shipping container doubles as the bar, but the flavors still transport guests to Mexico. Come for a cocktail and the aguachile, but stay for the other award-winning dishes like a red pozole, topped with carnitas and plump hominy.

Fabulous kitchen

Cuisine: Contemporary
This popular farm-to-table cafe has been attracting crowds to Kitsilano for over a decade. During the day, the team whips up Eggs Benedict with hollandaise (and variations), Johnny Cakes with pulled pork and tomato jam, and thick-sliced ​​Challah French toast with caramelized apples and whipped mascarpone. Eating at dinner is just as hearty and filling as in a short rib with polenta and grilled leeks.

Fiorino, Italian street food

Cuisine: Italian
Giovanni “Gio” Mascagni runs this serious Italian spot, which showcases the bread-making skills he learned in Tuscany. At lunchtime, focaccia sandwiches and schiacciata, like the one filled with guanciale, drizzled with honey and topped with walnut cream, are the order of the day. Dinner is all about pasta.

Kin Kao song

Cuisine: Thai
Kin Kao Song’s dishes are fueled by a creative spirit and the richness of the region. A special surprise are the lemongrass wings. These bite-sized beauties are deep fried and tossed in a fragrant lemongrass casing for a flavorful punch that wows. Pad Thai may seem like a mandatory order, but this flavorful version vies for best in class.

Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer

Cuisine: Chinese
Longtime local restaurateur Jonathan Lee’s vision of pairing classic dim sum with local BC craft beer was the impetus for Little Bird. Of course, no dumplings are allowed, and Little Bird’s ranges from the traditional (ha gow) to the surprising, with corn, cilantro and shrimp. As promised, beer is king here.

lunch lady

Cuisine: Vietnamese
Much like a grandmother preparing a feast for her family, chef Nguyen Thi Thanh exudes a warm, loving presence as she gazes across her busy dining room. A far cry from Saigon, where she ran a successful food stand, she brought her charismatic cooking to East Vancouver. At the end of the meal, admirers rush to thank her like the local celebrity she is.

nightshade

Cuisine: Vegetarian
Here, diners will find a full list of well-crafted cocktails, local beers, and a respectable wine list, as well as a menu that roams the globe. Chef Chanthy Yen brings his unique touch to dishes like the highly original congee that meets East and West – creamy and fragrant, it’s topped with tender braised fennel and puffed rice.

Oca Pastificio

Cuisine: Contemporary
Though there are a number of Italian-inspired restaurants and pizzerias dotted throughout Vancouver, this no-frills pastificio invites diners to pull up a chair and enjoy authentic, well-prepared pasta dishes. Tagliatelle with a rabbit ragout braised in wine and rosemary is particularly tasty. There is only one dessert, but you are already pleasantly full.

Phnom Penh

Cuisine: Vietnamese/Cambodian
Since 1985, this family-run institution in the heart of Chinatown has been enchanting crowds with Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes. The menu is huge, offering almost 100 rice, noodle and soup concoctions, but everyone knows how to draw on the classics. You could almost make a meal out of No. 71, thin chunks of near-raw beef soaked in a flavorful concoction of pureed pineapple and fish sauce. It’s a deliciously original effort.

say mercy

Cuisine: Contemporary
The food here is a mix of Italian cuisine with a BBQ nudge. Crudo whets the appetite with sweet slices of amberjack in a caper and dill dressing, olive serrano pepper relish and paper-thin potato chips. Don’t even think about skipping the BBQ Bolo – it’s non-negotiable. Short for “Bolognese,” it’s a distinctive dish of homemade spaghetti with pancetta, smoked pork, and grana padana.

Vijs

Cuisine: Indian
When it opened in 1994, this local staple was at the forefront of Indian fine dining in North America and continues to make a compelling argument for the subcontinent’s gastronomic riches. Consider a signature dish of wine-marinated “lamb popsicles” with a fragrant fenugreek sauce, or opt for one of the vegetarian dishes like a curry of red peppers, portobello mushrooms and paneer. A list of unique cocktails provides a perfect foil to the well-seasoned cuisine.

Hero Image: Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer
© Anthony Pratico/Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer