5 good churches in Vancouver

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Westside Church Vancouver - Good Vancouver churches

Updated September 19, 2018

This article may not represent the opinion of VancityAsks.com but represents the opinion of the editor/writer:

There’s no such thing as a best church in Vancouver. When it comes to faith, it’s about family and it’s not a competition for the best or biggest church. While there is no such thing as the best church in Vancouver, there are many good churches in Vancouver and many choices available.

At VancityAsks.com we hope to help locals and tourists find the best of Vancouver. Since there isn’t such a thing as the best church in Vancouver, we’re going to share some things to consider for when looking for a local church along with five good churches for your consideration.

Perhaps, you’re new to the city and looking for a Vancouver church. Maybe you’re simply looking for a community to grow, we hope the following list can help you along. Enjoy reading.

If you’re non-religious, feel free to skip on to another article. If you’re looking however for a supportive community founded in Love, I hope you consider reading the list and stepping into one of these cathedrals (building, community centers, or theatre nowadays). It may be the missing piece you’re looking for to fill that emptiness or desire?

 

Note: The church is His body and I believe He cares about it. Shouldn’t you? It’s the longest living organization on earth that has planted schools, advocated for education, advanced science, and built/staffed hospitals. (Look at St. Paul’s if you need a local example) It cannot be under emphasized that if you’re a Christian, you should get connected and serving in a local church. I cannot think of a government or society group that has made as much an impact globally than the Church. I believe the local church is one of many ways that God uses to help humanity and add to society tangibly, an expression of His care and His love.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” – Matthew 28:18

If you want to experience the full power of God then be connected to a local church; it’s the dispensation that it comes through imho. Much like how the feeding of 5000, the people set in groups (organization), and the disciples (church) distributed the food. The miracle was from the Lord, but the disciples were used and order was present. Order as you will find is very important for progress. Order such as the usage of gifts through the church.

 

How to find a good church in Vancouver?

As I mentioned, there is no such thing as the best church in Vancouver. There are many good options for community and fellowship. Here are some things I look for when trying to find a church in Vancouver. It’s by no means a definitive list but what I believe are important points.

Christ Centered church: Look for a church that emphasizes on the finish work of Jesus Christ and the second person of the God-head. You don’t have Christianity without Christ. It’s about God’s love towards humanity that He sent His Son; it should not be only about our frailties or God’s judgement.

Biblically based: A church should be grounded in the Bible. While I believe there’s an importance to relevance in society, it should be in context of the Word. Church goers did not go to church to hear what reader digest said about modern culture – they already do that in the washroom.

Triune God-head: It’s been said that how people live their lives are based upon (1) their view of God (2) their view of themselves. It’s been emphasized throughout the Bible the concept of the triune God-head. I believe it’s an important point that a Vancouver church acknowledges the triune God as it affects your view of God and hence how you live your life; it’s also a reflection of being Biblically based. (“Elohim” is a plural word with references in the Bible using “Let us” still further saying “the Lord is one!”)

New Covenant: In my humble opinion, it’s important that the church emphasizes on the New Covenant or grace. All books of the Bible are important for the full counsel is necessary and every word of God is profitable for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness. Let’s show the world love and grace because we have first been recipients of this love and grace from Him.

Community: Finally, community cannot be understated. We all have a longing to belong; maybe this branches to our desire to achieve, and to succeed. If Christianity is about a relationship with God then you would know your horizontal relationships matter as well.

Unfortunately by virtue that we’re humans and we make mistakes (sometimes wilfully), some people have been hurt by the church community itself. This should not mean that you put yourself at a distance from community always but maybe find another community.

 

Now that I’ve underlined what has been considered when creating the list of churches in Vancouver, here are some good churches for you to consider visiting.

 

Five Good Vancouver Churches:

Broadway Pentecostal Church Vancouver: Broadway Church in Vancouver is a modern church under the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and shepherded by lead pastor Darin Latham (who was a former police officer in Toronto area and enjoys apologetics).  Broadway Pentecostal plans their sermon series at the start of the year on different topics varying from money management to hung-ups; these effectively finding biblical answers to are life topics.

Broadway Pentecostal Church in Vancouver features a diversified international community comprising of many mature families (children in high school or universities) with elders and younger families. They don’t have a very active community group program at Broadway Pentecostal Church but feature other programs. Broadway Pentecostal church also runs various programs such as a day care and City Reach society (a separate non-profit association affiliated with Broadway Church) as well as contributing to the YVR airport Champlain program.

Since Broadway Pentecostal Church Vancouver is such an inter-generational church, they have elected to run three services with different styles of worship. The 9 AM service features the traditional worship service, the 11:15 AM service features a contemporary worship service and the 6 PM service features an emerging worship service (with loud music, and free food targeting young adults)

Broadway Pentecostal church - Good churches in Vancouver

Broadway Pentecostal church at 2700 E Broadway. Picture taken from Google maps, street view.

Address: 2700 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5M 1Y8

 

Willington Church Vancouver: Willington Church Vancouver is another Mennonite Brethren church just outside Vancouver in Burnaby by Metro-town area. It’s headed by pastor Mark Loewen and one of the largest church in the Vancouver area.

The community is once again very multicultural. The church also takes on various ministries for the betterment of their members and the city at large. The Willington Mennonite Brethern church has a strong emphasis on the gospel and prayer with open invitation for prayer on their website. Here’s their statement of faith:

I have not personally visited this church so don’t have much further information about it but I have had many friends who attend this church and enjoy the diversified community of people.

Willingdon church in Vancouver - Good churches in Vancouver

Willingdon Church at 4812 Willingdon Ave. Picture taken from Google maps, street view.

Address: 4812 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby, BC

 

Coastal Church Vancouver: Coastal Church is a non-denominational church in downtown Vancouver right in front of the Trump tower. The church’s lead pastor is Dave and Cheryl Coop. Coastal Church in Vancouver likes to ensure their sermons are relevant to modern living and the hub city of Vancouver (where people regularly transit in and out). Their self-professed mission at the church is to make the city of Vancouver a better place.

Coastal Church has a strong emphasis on community with life groups running throughout the year in cycles on different topic or sermon. Congregation is comprises a lot of students and working adults and couples in downtown Vancouver. The church also encourages entrepreneurship and positive thinking. They have a strong online presence and social media team which is unusual for a church.

Services run weekly on Saturdays at and Sundays at 9 AM, 11 AM and 12:30 PM for about 1.5 hours, an introduction followed by a brief 45 minutes sermon between worship. Coastal Church is built in a historical building on 1160 West Georgia Street where you can see drawings of the old architecture of the building pinned in the hallways.  They provide free coffee, apples, and snacks after service and also have a kiosk that serves ice cream, fresh squeeze orange juice at a nominal cost.

Coastal Church in Vancouver, BC

Coastal Church in Vancouver, BC. Picture courtesy of Google Maps, street view.

Address: 1160 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3H7

 

TBD: This is kept in the faith that another church will come to Vancouver that will contribute to the local community J

 

More Churches in Vancouver:

Here are many other churches in Vancouver.

West Coast Christian Fellowship: WCCF was suggested on our Facebook post. They are a non-denominational church affiliated with Salt & Light Ministries (http://www.saltlight.org/international/). Their statement of faith can be found here. Services start at 11:30 AM on Sundays.

“We believe God has called us to be a Christ-centered, Word-based, Spirit-led Family.” – WCCF website

Address – 3198 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V5K 2L1

Website – http://wccf.ca/

 

Salvation Army Cariboo Hill Temple: Located in Burnaby, Salvation Army Cariboo Hill Temple was suggested as well on our Facebook post. I was not able to find mentions of their denomination but I would assume affiliation to the Salvation Army? Their statement of faith can be found here. Services run on Sundays at 10:30 AM and 6 PM.

They value, “People, Word of God, Growth, Spiritual Gifts, Relationships, Service, Prayer” – http://www.cariboohill.ca/our-values 

Address – 7195 Cariboo Rd, Burnaby, BC V3N 4A6

Website – http://www.cariboohill.ca/

 

Bethel International Church: Bethel International Church was suggested from someone on our Facebook page. Services appear to be at 10 AM on Sundays. Not affiliated to Bethel music.

“We desire to make a lasting difference in people’s lives in the city of Vancouver and beyond. Our vision is to be a community of transformation: where people disconnected from God experience fullness of life through knowing Jesus.” – Bethel International Church website

Address – 739 33 AVE E, Vancouver, BC

Website – http://bethelinvancouver.com/

 

Redemption Church: Formally Point Grey Community Church which was joint with another church to form Redemption Church. They are a Pentecostal church with affiliations to the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Services run on Sunday at 9 AM and 11:15 AM.

“To follow our Redeemer and King Jesus in bringing his love and salvation to every person we can. To be a church that loves others in a generous, gracious, and joyful. To make disciples who are obedient to Jesus in thought, word, and deed. To bring the transforming and renewing power of God into the city and the world.”  – http://www.redemptionchurch.ca/about/

Address – 3512 7 AVE W, Vancouver, BC

Website – http://www.redemptionchurch.ca/

 

Relate Church: Relate Church was suggested by several on our Facebook page as well. Otherwise known as Victory Christian Centre, this congregation was renamed to Relate Church in 2009. It appears that Relate Church is affiliated to Hillsong Churches (Pentecostal) and have adopted a similar vision with the “Church that I see”.  Services are on Saturdays at 5:10 Pm and Sundays at 9:40 AM along with 11:40 AM.

“We exist to build the church by developing flourishing relationships with God and people.” – Relate Church Website

Address – 6788 152 St, Surrey, BC V3S 3L4

Website – http://www.relatechurch.ca/

 

Trinity Central Church: This church was also recommended by someone on our Facebook page. It’s a new church in Vancouver seeking to impact this city with the message of the gospel. They are part of Newfrontiers family of churches. Trinity Central Church meets in the Vancity Theater on Sundays at 10:30 AM.

“We’re a community that’s all about loving God and loving people. Our vision is to reach and influence Vancouver by building a Christ centred church that changes mindsets and empowers people to lead and transform society in every sphere of life.” – Trinity Central Church website

Address – 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2E8

Website – http://www.trinitycentral.org/

Take caution:

Think for yourself – I’ve heard it spoken before, “do not leave your brains at home when you come to church”. Remember to think for yourself. Church is not a place where you ignore logic or thought processes; God created your brain as much as he created you.

Do not let anyone else think for you; esteem the teacher but do not regard anyone more highly than you ought. Christianity is not a brainless religion; that’s a cult. Christianity is about relationship between a Holy God and humanity saved by grace and love. Many of the greatest philosophers and individuals in academia are Christians.

Adding or Taking – Be careful when people make deviations from the Word. There are minor and major disputes as in life there are disagreements of opinion and interpretations although the crux of the gospel and the God-head should not be disputed neither should the instructions in the Bible be contradicted.

I believe God has made us all with an intuitive desire for worship and community. This leaves room for error when the desire is abused. In my opinion, this is why Cults and religions can catch on so successfully when people add or take from the Bible for their own profit. For example the “children of god” cult that abuses the name of Jesus for sexual exploitation but completely ignores the Bible talks about sexual purity and lust.

Be careful when leaders knowingly make a deviation from the Word for their own intents or profits. If someone takes the frame and fills it with their own opinion and junk, take caution. Learn but judge and do your own fact checking. Acts 17:11

Compromises – This last caution may be subjective. I believe a church should never compromise on their convictions and their faith. It should not be bended to societal influence or what is “acceptable” to man. This applies to what is good, just, and true. Accepting a lie doesn’t make it anymore true and any less hurtful. One should not accept compromise in their faith or conscience. However neither should we expect everyone to agree with our convictions or believes and neither should we force such believes upon others unwillingly. God gave man free will, shouldn’t we respect their free will as well?  (1 Peter 3:15)

Living in society with different believes requires acceptance but not compromises. Yes, compromise is necessary in daily life for a cohesive society though compromises should never be about Truths or facts.

 

Every individual is unique and different. Take the metaphor of plants, one plant may grow better in red soil with higher iron while another plant may grow better in soft, fertile soil with a lot of peat. I hope you find a good church in Vancouver and you enjoyed this article.

Note while denomination should not be a divisive factor, we have noted it because denomination represent slight differentiation in interpretation of certain scriptures or preferred style of worship. I find you may be more familiar or comfortable with a church that matches your denomination (upbringing or preference) enabling for fellowship in your community.

The purpose of this list is to help new Christians in Vancouver find a church they can get connected to and begin living life, growing, and serving the community and city at large.

 

Updates:

Here are some previous text which was removed or updated; I am placing a reference of this for transparency…

  • The following recommendation was removed on September 19, 2018:

Westside Church: A Christ-centered Mennonite Brethren church right in the heart of Vancouver pastored by pastor Norm Funk. This church has a history of going through books of the Bible for sermon series with relevance to modern living. It’s a great church that you can be sure is giving sound doctrine.

The community is friendly comprising of yuppies, young families, young professionals, and students. Westside also has a church in North Vancouver headed by pastor James Bonney. They run life groups throughout the year allowing for more tightly knitted fellowship in small groups.

Services throughout the year meet at 9 AM and 11 AM on Sundays though only one service per week during the summer at 10 AM on Sundays as well. The congregation is fairly large – may be the largest downtown Vancouver church with several thousand members. The Vancouver campus also features a cool café serving tea and pastries before and after service. It’s definitely one of my favourite churches in Vancouver.

Westside Church Vancouver - Good Vancouver churches

Westside Church at 777 Homer Street in Vancouver, BC. Picture taken from Google maps, street view.

Address: 777 Homer St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W1

March 27, 2018 – I have some concerns personally regarding Westside Church’s doctrine and cultural values, while listening to a few audio sermons and have temporarily removed it from our five good churches list while prayerfully considering the matter. Cultural and doctrinal concerns. For such reasons, I cannot in good conscience recommend the church for the benefit of the Church.

May 15, 2018 – I will be keeping Westside Church off our recommendations for churches in Vancouver in good conscience. Didn’t actually take a month to decided but was reluctant to change anything on this article because it was written after a time of prayer (inspired thereafter to write this initial article as above which was finished in an hour – typos and all Haha).

I will be keeping Westside Church on the other churches in Vancouver list. Westside Church has at various times taken a stance again nationalism; while I believe, ultimate allegiance is to Christ, I don’t think it is beneficial but rather divisive to take such a stance against nationalism. (Not intending to bring race into the matter but I think it’s easy as a majority Caucasian leadership with North American origins to overlook this matter but those who have grown up in Asian heritages are taught the importance of remembering those before and of heritage, respect, and honor. “Christianity is the religion by which I live my life, but I continue to draw insights from and be guided by Chinese philosophy. Harmony is the goal of Chinese philosophy. It stresses harmony with oneself, harmony with nature and harmony with humanity” – David Lam)  The Bible says every nation and every tongue – there is still a distinguishing between nationality and language but a unity in the body of Christ. They also take an unusual stance against commerce that Christians cannot accumulate any wealth but I would much rather see my brother with the wealth properly stewarded than not. I have several other observations that resulted the decision but I am very very cautious about what I write negatively of any church (not to say my opinion matters per say). I am also inclined to think they believe in replacement theology but the Bible says the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable further saying “God has not forgotten His people”. I also observe concerns about some sermons which have suggested believers visit temples and shrines for the “cultural experience”. As someone growing up in Singapore, where religious and racial harmony is emphasized. where Buddhist temples are common, I am not at all against temples or other religions however I find it hard to imagine reading the Bible about how God chastens the children of Israel not to learn from the Baals and to shun idols that it would say “when you go into the land I am giving to you, seek it out, observe their idols, and learn from their temples for cultural experiences for you will worship me as they worshiped their gods” (the Bible doesn’t say it – it actually says the opposite).

Further with regards to nationalism, Paul intently spoke, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” There are different fractions, nationality, and races of society – to each one is called to one… remain as you are called and be whom the Lord has called you to be. I do not think it beneficial to necessarily white-wash every individual to be bland and boring where nationalism is frowned upon in the church (in Singapore, many church pastors choose to honour government for a cohesive society). I for one, am thankful and glad to say I’m a Canadian emphasizing on Canadian cultural values. People are better reached when there are mutual ground, to be void of all nationalistic identity (or heritage) removes opportunity for connecting with others (or to seek the good of the country). It is not good for the Body and not good for the country of which the Bible says to seek the good of where you are. (both old and new testament) Nationalism is necessarily for nation building.

I suppose both concerns go hand in hand, when you remove something good it can easily be replaced with something perverse (unintentionally presumably). When you remove the cultural experience learning from heritage and history, you suggest replacing it with learning “cultural experience” from idolatry. I personally think error comes when we ignore the old testament as it was written. The Bible has both the new and old testaments and both are equally important to learn from. I believe there is grace and we live in the new covenant but I believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same character and jealously (good jealously – one that is jealous for His people, that is good for His people) that we see in God is the same God today. Although we don’t sacrifice sheep and oxen because the Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world to take away our sins and to know that salvation is in no other name than the name of Jesus. Simply by believing in His finish work and calling Him Lord have we received the salvation, freedom, liberty, and forgiveness that is found in Christ… By grace we have been saved through faith and not of ourselves so that no man can boast. (There is a measure of sovereignty in this whereby anything we do, it is permitted by God or it would not happen.)

I also have observed a lack of brotherly love and community at Westside Church as a few might attest to. The warmth of family; there will always be cliques in any society group however it seems very important to have a wide variety for a broader audience to belong somewhere; why I would also recommend people see out nationality churches like Indonesian Church with Indonesians or Korean Church with Koreans if that is their preference; a direct connection and belonging but ultimately all under Christ as head.

I am convinced it is also very socialist to the point of weakness (socialism works in places like Acts – within family context of which the Church is also family) however to suggest in a sermon that once your business starts making money to give the money away – (1) you will not be able to grow the business larger and (2) you are weakening the body collectively if it is stewardship and (3) it is not equality that the Bible teaches. You do not know the risks and things which an individual goes through which God teaches and trains an individual to handle His purpose. Such blanket statements/instructions are not ideal in my opinion. It is like saying once you build up a church, divide the members and go to another country – you shouldn’t have churches with more than 100 people. (not the case – there is no specific indication in the Bible about what sizes churches should be. Two person is a church if Christ is in the midst, 1000 is a church. In today’s context with society, I think mega churches have a role if their are doctrinally sound, strength in numbers with ability to impact the world greater.)

So alas, this is the lengthy discourse I wanted to write about why I have removed Westside Church from our recommended churches, not with spite, but in due consideration and prayer. This is a personal article which I hope will help new believers and this is a personal writing not void of errors so please share your opinions civilly bellow if you disagree. I am no theologian nor Bible student, just one who reads the Bible and knows Christ as Lord and Savior. As Elihu said in the book of Job, it is God who gives understanding.

UBC Prospective Undergraduate

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So you’ve applied to UBC and you’re awaiting for your admission decision.

It’s quite a nerve racking process; I remember four years back applying for UBC as my first choice for post secondary studies. Why UBC? There are many excellent universities to choose from in British Columbia. To name a few you have UBC, SFU, UBC-O, UVIC, UNBC, Langara, TWU.

 

Personally:

Yet my choice for UBC came while in high school in BC. I liked their campus. You really get to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of Vancouver.

Next, I like the large campus. UBC has a huge campus and almost like a city of itself, it makes for good exploring and things to do. Importantly, in my opinion, it’s part of the university process. To have somewhere away enough from your norm to experience something different. It’s an incentive to live on campus which is part of the experience you get at university (I’m of the inclination that university is more than education but the networks and experience you build).

Finally, I chose UBC because of the community. I like a big university with a big international community. It introduces thoughts and allows you to intermingle with other cultures and people. It’s interesting and it’s vibrant.

I’m not saying UBC is the university for you (there are a lot of difficult people there too lol), those are simply some of the reasons why I appreciated UBC (there’s lot of eagles too!).

And BTW heads up, the picturesque photo they use in marketing UBC, IS NOT WHAT YOU ACTUALLY SEE…you know what I’m talking about. The sunny rose garden over looking the ocean and mountains. That’s real. It’s by the flag pole past Koerner and Sauder school of business. The sunny weather? Comes once every 7 days in the months from November to March 🙂

 

Who is this for:

Who is this article for? Well it’s for you, the one reading because you’ve applied to UBC. You’re a UBC Prospective Undergraduate. Congrats 🙂

 

Firstly, this article is more so intended for the international community coming to Vancouver to study at UBC. I hope it’ll help you get started and know what you can find in Vancouver. Feel free to browse this site for other information about Vancouver from a local’s view point.

 

Next, let me get this out there. I really enjoy meeting people and I enjoy helping people. I enjoy inviting and welcoming people and sharing any experience we can (partly the reason for VancityAsks.com). It’s something intuitive and something I enjoy (yes I used that word a lot). I find it exciting quite honestly.

We at VancityAsks.com would like to extend our genuine assistance for you moving from another country for your studies. If you have any questions about Vancouver please reach out and comment bellow! If you need a ride from the airport, we can help you too. (free) We just really enjoy welcoming people to this amazing city, even at our own expense of time and gas! Basically, this is a formal suggestion that we’d be happy to help you with your transition to Vancouver however we can at VancityAsks.com

 

Now, who else would be interested in reading this?

It’s for you who are still closing near the end of your high school education and looking for something to read while you procrastinate.

It’s for you who grew up in the suburbs of Vancouver (like me) in Coquitlam or maybe Port Coquitlam (good on you – your commute must be enjoyable) who perhaps may not know what Vancouver has to offer.

It’s for you, who’s perhaps currently in Singapore or New York and want to know more about what to expect in Vancouver and UBC.

 

Why is this on VancityAsks.com?

VancityAsks.com is a local question and answer site for Vancouver. We want to discover the best Vancouver has to offer. When you ask, where’s the best pizza in Vancouver, we have the answer from a first-hand local experience. When you’re wondering where you can get the best sushi in Vancouver? We got you covered. Something you’ll come really accustom to is drinking coffee and we also share the best coffee in Vancouver.

So it seems fitting that we also uncover our own experiences about UBC and I hope it’ll help in some way at all with your transition to university. We’re also writing this to get some likes here:

http://www.facebook.com/VancityAsks

 

What to expect:

The waiting process can be frustrating can’t it. I remember refreshing the UBC SSC again on a daily basis waiting for my admission. UBC goes on a rolling admission base on your application strength (the best application gets approved first). My grades weren’t so good, and so my application was the latter to be approved. Foolishly or maybe faithfully, UBC was the only school I applied for haha.

Once you’ve gotten your offer, really consider if you think UBC will be the best option for you economically and personally. (There are some really amazing people and professors at UBC although there are also the fair share of ummm. yeah.)

Now once you’re admitted and you’ve accepted your offer of admission. Up and coming for international students is Jump Start in August. I’ve talked to a lot of friends while at first year residence about their jump start experience and some loved it and some did not like it so much. It is a great way to make friends though. I knew some who simply came early to Vancouver with their family and explored the city together.

When school starts in September, the first week (and even the second) is really relax. It’s a great time to meet new people and get involved with on campus activities. Go to imagine day and check out the (student) club days later on.

Honestly speaking, this video is quite accurate to many experience of their four years at UBC (with some exceptions):

If you’re a keener, it can be definitely worth while to get involve in student government.

Apply to be the first year representative of your faculty student association. I’ve notice, it seems those who go on to further positions in the student government are typically first year reps. I would think because they have the experience, rapport, and network/familiarity to be elected for other positions.

So if you intend on being in the student government later on, be the keener in the first year and apply as a first year rep. I don’t think you get paid for being a first year rep (I was quite an introvert so it wasn’t my bid) but if I’m not mistake the higher positions later in student government do pay quite reasonably.

Also in my humble opinion, if you want to run for student president some time in your 4 years at university and score that $30,000+ salary for the year…you should know, it’s a lot of a popularity contest than a merits in some level. Most of the people who become student president have strong marketing campaigns and are typically part of frats or large clubs (whose members then help with word of mouth pushing for votes). As a voter, inform yourself of each individual platform and vote purposefully.

http://www.ams.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Budget-2013.pdf

Student execs are being paid what?

Learning also comes in different ways as cliche as it sounds. I wasn’t quite the fan of in-class learning and haven’t done so well in my classes (mostly those that I didn’t like) although keep reading outside of class on what interest you. Many of you I know are likely going through university to check that box for a degree. I’ve spoken to many who have gone on to do careers in things outside of their degree scope.

I personally find that university is essential not for the rigid academics (many of which you won’t actually use outside your classroom unless you pursue academia) particularly but for the life skills, experience, and networks.

Go figure this one out, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

That’s pretty much it I suppose in terms of expectation for your first year. Know also that the point above leads to the next, your grades are important but look at it with perspective. Many people (myself included) got really stress about first year grades. It doesn’t really hit you as much until probably 3 months into your first year when you realize relative to others, you appear behind.

Your 90%+ you got in high school is rare in university. Attaining a B is quite a feat for certain classes. Look at the grade distribution here (you’ll need your SSC login now it appears – previously you could access it public):

https://cas.id.ubc.ca/ubc-cas/login?TARGET=https%3A%2F%2Fwebprd01.pair.ubc.ca%2Freports%2Fgradesdist_request.action

You have pretty much everything you need on campus if you choose to live on residence but do take the time to explore Vancouver outside of UBC. UBC is situated to the west of Vancouver in the Point Grey community. It’s near by two communities: (1) Kitsilano – Otherwise known as Kits, check out the beaches, cafes, and eateries. You will find good coffee and donuts at 49th Parallel Coffee shop. You’ll find a beach (you can actually walk there from UBC through Spanish Banks if you’re up for a hike). You’ll find hippy stores. (2) Kerrisdale – It’s a nice, small community you arrive taking the 41 bus or the 43 bus. Here you’ll find good sushi and a nice family orientated neighborhood.  UBC is also 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver by transit for your downtown Vancouver adventures.

Follow Ricardo Seah for his downtown Vancouver adventures: https://www.facebook.com/ricardoseah

Read this Vancouver guide by Alvin Yu:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/alvin-yu/yus-guide-to-everything-vancouver/10151434883321618

Both are UBC students above. Well Alvin, went on to Edmonton to study at University of Alberta.

 

Some tips:

  • Go for the orientation. Go for the campus tours. Make those friends and networks. I attended several UBC events while in high school and it was really useful for me personally. Many of the seniors are very glad to share their experience and they are really friendly (contrary to a “friend” I remembered who told me if they knew we were from high school, we’d be scorned at the events – hence think for yourself.) Imagine what a easier transition it would be if you’ve met a few in your program (or one you wanted to transfer into 😉  ) who could tell you about courses and professors to expect. Imagine how much easier it would be to make friends if you could recognize people you met before on campus and get introductions. Imagine how much easier it is for positions at (student) clubs or events if you knew the individuals from a previous encounter. Networking isn’t only exclusive to a specific study. It’s a general good and it’s always nice to make meaningful relationships. Be genuine.
  • The AMS has some nice paid positions for the student government that can be worth applying for. IMHO if you’re looking some extra income, get involve in student government early on and build upwards. Also for international students, if I’m not mistaken you’re allow to work on campus without a work permit:http://students.ubc.ca/career/resources/working-canadaThe AMS does hire for a lot of position and UBC has quite a bit of programs to encourage on campus hiring. It appears you can work off campus too up to 20 hours.
  • Honestly, your first year grade doesn’t matter as much (it does matter) but there’s no point beating yourself up if you didn’t do as good as you expected when you first considered your goals. Sometimes our self expectation can be unrealistic. It’s sad to read occasionally about suicides because of grades that occur in university (and in certain south east asian countries). You have so much potential, you’re admitted into one of the top universities in Canada; you have other skills and gifting so be able to look beyond your grades but for where it matters, you’re paying (or your parents are paying) $10k/year for your studies so do make the most of it.The part it matters is largely with course selection for the second year. Your GPA determines your time for course registration; you want the good courses and good professors. Professors do matter a lot to your learning. Most the professors in the Math, Computer Science, and Economics department are amazing. (with a few exceptions)Study what you enjoy and take some GPA boosters 🙂 I use to think GPA boosters was a waste of credits but they do help and they do matter. Check with the grade distribution link I posted above and choose GPA boosters if you need it. Good GPA boosters are typically intro foreign language courses of course it depends on your bent as well.

 

Final thoughts:

University is an exciting time and a time of transition. You can waste it away or you can make the most of it; we suggest you consider what you hope to get out from your 4 years (or five) and go for it.

It cannot be understated but genuinely choose your friends carefully. Yes, it’s a time where many fool around and reckless decisions but it can also be a time for growth and genuine understanding of who you are. Will you use this four years for your life as a platform or will it be a waste?

Honestly, the programs are such that you can easily make it through without really getting much from your education but why would you? Lastly, control your thoughts and your consciousness. (don’t lose your chooser – don’t let others choose for you. Don’t listen to propaganda. Think for your life and be productive to society. We’re neighbors for a reason.)

I hope you’ll enjoy your university experience whether at UBC or wherever else you go. If you plan on studying in Vancouver from another country, please feel free to reach out to us at VancityAsks.com and we’ll be happy to help however possible. (whether be it question, or being a line of support, or a ride from the airport to your destination – if schedule permits. I may be in and out of Vancouver). Also follow VancityAsks.com to learn more about Vancouver!

 

I’ll probably update this article later when I feel like it; meanwhile after a straight 2 hours of writing, I’m simply going to post as-is. It’s not a graded essay after all. Please leave your comments and thoughts and suggestions. I’m sure there are many others who can provide better tips than these so please do!

Best Sushi in Vancouver

Published by:

Updated: July 14, 2021:

  • Replace Miku Restaurant back to #3, Sushi Bar Maumi to #1 (authentic Japanese sushi in Vancouver).

Updated: March 7, 2019

Updated: January 31, 2019

  • Moving Miku Restaurant from #3 to #1 (Significant improvements and continual innovation + growth on excellence)

Updated: March 5, 2018

  • Update sushi restaurant description. Add introduction & conclusion + good sushi restaurants in Vancouver.

Updated: March 31, 2017

  • Removal of Hoshi Sushi at Sandbar: Hoshi Sushi was a sushi bar at Sandbar (operated by Sequoia Company of Restaurants) part of a Pacific-Northwest themed seafood restaurant… the sushi bar was ran by a Japanese sushi chef. It was recommended by other sushi chefs. However, as their specialty and focus isn’t sushi – the experience, quality, and freshness can vary. While the location is great for tourists being located on Granville Island, near the False Creek, the decor and vibrant atmosphere of a Western seafood restaurant certainly doesn’t reminisce much of a Japanese sushi restaurant; it may detract from your experience seeking for an authentic, best sushi restaurant in Vancouver …as it’s more a Pacific-Northwest atmosphere, and can be rather bustling than serene. Namely, the quality and reviews became inconsistent… hence not the ideal go-to recommendation for the best sushi restaurant in Vancouver.
  • Miku Sushi up from #4 to #3
  • Added updates about Sushi Bar Maumi and slight commentaries.

 

In This Best Sushi in Vancouver Article:

  • In Search for the Best Sushi in Vancouver: Finding the best sushi in Vancouver. Impartial, Non-bias.
  • Vancouver, The Sushi Capital of North America: What makes Vancouver the sushi capital of North America
  • What Makes Good Sushi: What we look for when finding the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver.
  • The 5 Best Sushi in Vancouver:
    • #1 Best Sushi in Vancouver: Sushi Bar Maumi (Downtown West End –  1226 Bute Street)
      • As authentic a sushi restaurant in Vancouver, as can be. They specialized in Omakase experiences.
      • Small, very small, restaurant in West End… but the best sushi in Vancouver.
      • Omakase menu depends on what fresh seafood they’ve imported that day from Japan, or local seafood.
    • #2 Best Sushi in Vancouver: Ajisai Sushi Bar (Kerrisdale – 2081 W 42nd Avenue)
      • Recommended by the Japanese-ran fish supplier on Granville Island, seafood city. (Eh, they may or may not get their fish from them. LOL.) Authentic Japanese sushi. Fresh fish, good prices.
      • Your standard sushi restaurant interior, but in a very walkable neighbourhood to work off your calories after.
      • Some of the best authentic sushi in Vancouver. (Recommended also by various sushi chefs.)
    • #3 Best Sushi in Vancouver: Miku Restaurant (Downtown Waterfront –  200 Granville Street, #70)
      • Pioneers of the aburi sushi style in Vancouver. Not the best sushi in Vancouver for authenticity but the best sushi in Vancouver for a uniquely Vancouver sushi-style.
      • Remarkable dining experience. Beyond sushi, and especially aburi sushi, their fish soup is well commended along with desserts like Miso Caramel Ice Cream or Green Tea Opera Cake.
      • Upscale prices, less value for money but a must-try in Vancouver.
    • #4 Best Sushi in Vancouver: Tojo’s (Fairview/West Broadway – 1133 W Broadway)
      • Possibly one of the first famous sushi restaurants in Vancouver, made popular by the likes of Anthony Bourdain.
      • Supposedly invented the “California roll” with crab meat sushi (We have a lot of Dungeness Crab and Red Rock Crab in British Columbia… actually, you can even catch them yourself in Port Moody inlet or at the pier in West Vancouver – if you had a recreational fishing license that is.)
      • Uses real wasabi as all good sushi restaurants in Vancouver. (rather than coloured horse radish that most sushi restaurants actually use)
    • #5 Best Sushi in Vancouver: Hiteo Sushi (Kitsilano – 3347 W 4th Avenue)
      • Fresh sushi. Japanese chef. Authentic. Good location.
      • Cozy and cute interior and Japanese decoration in a quaint neighbourhood reasonably near the beach.
      • Quality sushi at good, everyday prices. The best sushi in Vancouver that happens to be friendly on your wallet. This is the only restaurant (well, Ajisai is also reasonably good value) on our best sushi in Vancouver recommendations that is surprisingly cheap. The rest would ring you in at >$100 per couple.
  • More Good Sushi Restaurants in Vancouver: There are simply too many good sushi restaurants in Vancouver to only mention the top 5 best sushi restaurants in Vancouver. Here is where we have more creative freedom to share other good sushi restaurants that we’ve come across on our search for the best sushi in Vancouver. While these may not compete with the best sushi in Vancouver, they do hold well in their own right; any of these good sushi restaurants in Vancouver are well worth visiting or bringing along a friend/family to show what Vancouver has to offer in terms of sushi.
  • Sushi Fun Fact: Do you know the origins of “sushi”? Find out bellow if you’re keen to know where the word “sushi” is derived from.

In Search for the Best Sushi in Vancouver

Wondering where the best sushi in Vancouver, BC is? We got you covered! (Speaking of which, bring an umbrella if you’re visiting Vancouver anywhere between October-February… typically, it rains >50% around these five months; the ideal time to visit if you can choose is Spring-Summer which is around May-June where the weather is typically moderate temperatures with minimal rain.) This list on VancityAsks underlines the BEST sushi Vancouver has to offer.

Vancouver, The Sushi Capital of North America:

Vancouverites LOVE sushi. We have over 600 sushi restaurants in Vancouver; many are thriving.

  • Vancouver is a coastal city with accessibility to fresh seafood.
  • Vancouver locals love eating sushi because it’s healthy and tasty.
  • Vancouver is home to many Japanese expats who carry their cuisines from abroad or create inventive fusion of their authentic food for local taste.
  • Vancouver has more sushi and ramen stores than most cities in North America, not even Los Angeles has more sushi restaurants than Vancouver!
  • More competition generally means you must be good to survive; (although evidently with a good/significant market for sushi eaters, it makes it easier. Also, a tangent fun fact, as early as 1980s, the concept of eating raw fish like sushi was considered very foreign to Western taste/preference. Even then, because of the significant population of Japanese expats, Vancouver started the sushi craze earlier than most other North American cities.) so all this to say, we have some of the BEST sushi restaurants outside of Japan… because we also have the most sushi restaurants in Canada. Furthermore, you know they are good as they’ve been around for years (the test of time).

If you’re visiting Vancouver or have friends/family coming for a visit, then there is perhaps no better food to indulge than sushi or ramen (well, besides some of the best seafood restaurants in Vancouver… especially the best fish & chips in Vancouver). It may very well be some of the best sushi and ramen you’ve tasted.*1

We’ve endeavored to find and feature the BEST sushi in Vancouver from local reviews (We all know the stories of fake reviews that malicious businesses employ…is that where you really want to eat and trust your food safety if they don’t have the integrity to operate ethically?) and a local perspective. Our recommendations are based on experience, local feedback, and a deep fact-checking process along with taste-test where appropriate. The process takes no less than 10-15 hours so we can truly deliver accurate recommendations for the best sushi in Vancouver. This is not some quickly compiled list of the best sushi in Vancouver from Reddit Board or a copy of Yelp rankings. (as some reviews do.)

*1 [Now with that, an extension from the sushi craze in Vancouver – came the poke bowls, and so Vancouver is proliferated with poke restaurants.

If you’re unfamiliar with what poke bowls are; they aren’t short for pokemon bowls but rather raw fish, usually salmon or tuna, with an assortment of toppings & sauces on sushi rice, sometimes salad… but the commonly available poke bowls  in Vancouver are not like the ones in Hawaii – most of these poke restaurants in Vancouver are unseasoned raw fish on top of rice and toppings (think of it like a Japanese-themed Chipotle… I presume many readers will be from America).

It’s a healthy, quick-eat, take-out for locals… but is not as good as in Hawaii, nor comparable to the quality & variety of sushi you can get in Vancouver. These are perhaps less skilled (requirements) or advanced (in quality & competition) as the best sushi in Vancouver (Admittedly, you’ll probably enjoy poke better where it begun, in Hawaii) but nevertheless here are the best poke in Vancouver. (Unlike master sushi chefs with years of experience at their specialized craft of sushi making, most of these poke restaurants are staffed with your average Chipotle or Subways team – because it doesn’t require much training to add toppings and fish on top of rice.)

Also, many poke restaurants (especially those with several branches/franchise) and even sushi restaurants (your mall variety sushi restaurants at least) order their fish from the same few suppliers. Although, there many sushi restaurants who order, and filet their fish directly & fresh or specialized daily-flown suppliers from Japan, besides local seafood… such as Sushi Bar Maumi in Davie Village, and many other of the best sushi restaurants mentioned bellow.]

 

What Makes Good Sushi?

Before we share with you the best sushi restaurants you can find Vancouver, it helps to share what constitutes as good or the best sushi in Vancouver.

What makes for good sushi in Vancouver?

  • Freshness: We live in a coastal city with good accessibility to fresh seafood. The freshness of the seafood is not only for the quality and taste of your sushi dining but also for your safety. Raw food can spoil easier without proper handling.
  • Rice: The rice is actually one of the MOST important characteristic to good sushi. The temperature, texture, and flavor of the rice is what makes a good sushi and a great sushi. The consistency with the sushi rice is a must if a restaurant is considered as the best sushi in Vancouver.
  • Taste – Authenticity or Creativity: Whether you’re looking for authenticity or creativity are two different approaches. Some say change is inevitable and the best sushi in Vancouver would be a reinvention and fusion. Majority of people would look for authenticity of the purest form to be considered the best sushi in Vancouver.

Beyond consideration of finding the best sushi in Vancouver, food wise, the service, menu, and atmosphere are also important considerations. After all, humans are rarely rational, our enjoyment of any dining experience has largely to do with the presentation, service, and environment that collectively formulate our experience. It’s been known that a significant portion of customer loyalty to local/artisan businesses lies with the customer experience with the local business.

Most of the recommendations are carefully curated to ensure we have truly found the BEST sushi in Vancouver.

Best Sushi, Not Best Cheap Sushi in Vancouver

This is not the best cheap sushi restaurants, we have that too! If you’re looking for the best cheap sushi then check out our Vancouver’s best cheap sushi here. The best cheap sushi recommendations would be for those looking for well price sushi that taste good; good value for the most part. Large portions, reasonable quality, and amazingly shocking prices. Yeap! They exists.

 

The BEST Sushi Restaurants in Vancouver:

These best sushi in Vancouver recommendations are for you sushi experts looking to savour the best of the best. Whether you’re a visitor who have been told about Vancouver’s awesome sushi scene, or a local sushi fanatic…these are the sushi restaurants in Vancouver, you want to try! These sushi spots are known for the best quality, best flavors, best freshness.

You can rest assure that the five best sushi in Vancouver listed here will satisfy your craving for luxury or uniqueness in quality. Give it a read please (in good Canadian manners… eh).

 

1. Miku Restaurant

Miku is the epitome of fine Japanese dining, with a modern twist. It’s neatly located right by the waterfront (literally 5 minutes walk from Waterfront Station) with views of the Vancouver inlet by Canada Place. It is the mastermind of Seigo Nakamura. Miku is the sister restaurant to another top Vancouver sushi restaurant, Minami. Whether you’re looking for a celebration experience downtown or a romantic dinner for your significant other, Miku Restaurant is an experience you won’t soon forget.

Take a look at the pictures bellow. You’ll notice that Miku has some creative sushi creations that looks deliciously elegant. We’ve listed Miku as the #3 Best Sushi in Vancouver because their restaurant is not specifically a sushi bar. It’s easily one of the top fine Japanese dining in Vancouver however with delicious sushi. Their rolls are also rather creative and appealing. Miku is known for their aburi sushi, alluded by loyal patrons as the perfect combination of seared seafood, sushi rice, and seasoning.

Note that Miku Restaurant’s prices reflect the prime location and aesthetically crafted food. Their famous aburi sushi (which is a must-try at Miku) will cost you $17 for dinner. (typically not suffice in portion for a meal in itself.) Conveniently located on the side of 200 Granville Street, Miku overlooks the Vancouver waterfront being minutes from the busy Vancouver Cruise Ship terminal at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Miku makes for a perfect first date or business dinner; the ambiance, food, and service work in combination to delivery a remarkable experience. As some may know, Miku is no secret to Vancouverites who enjoy good sushi and Japanese cuisine.

Yelphttps://www.yelp.ca/biz/miku-vancouver-2

Trip Advisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d1212806-Reviews-Miku-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Read the following review by LongBoardTime on Trip Advisor:

“Was recommended by hotel front desk and did not disappoint. Their signature flame seared salmon sushi with jalapeno has been on my mind ever since.”

Best sushi in Vancouver by Miku restaurant

Miku Restaurant in Vancouver is easily Vancouver’s best sushi restaurant right in the center of downtown Vancouver by the waterfront. The best Japanese fine dining in Vancouver.

Address: Give Miku Restaurant a visit in Vancouver and try out their specialty aburi sushi at 200 Granville Street – Suite 70, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1S4
Enjoy great waterfront views at Miku Restaurant.

 

2. Ajisai Sushi Bar

Ajisai Sushi Bar is a little out of the way from downtown Vancouver. (If you’re looking for good sushi in downtown Vancouver, then Miku is the place to be.) Still, this hole-in-the-wall sushi bar within the Kerrisdale community is well worth the hike (It’s Vancouver, a green city, so you better be hiking, taking the transit, or biking on one of our many bike lanes in the city.)

If you’re looking for authentic Japanese sushi in Vancouver, then Ajisai Sushi Bar is the place to go; Ajisai Sushi Bar is as authentic as it gets. It’s run by a Japanese owner and notoriously recommended by other sushi chefs, Ajisai Sushi Bar has built a reputation of excellent quality sushi authentically created for your palate’s pleasure… dare we say, the best sushi Vancouver has to offer? (Maybe, depends on your palate and preference.)

Surprisingly, despite it’s reputation, Ajisai Sushi in Vancouver is reasonably priced with a spicy salmon roll at $4 (very standard pricing) and a salmon Nigiri at $2. This combines both quality and value which is why we’ve listed Ajisai sushi #1 in our list of best sushi in Vancouver.

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/ajisai-sushi-bar-vancouver

Trip Advisorhttp://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d809147-Reviews-Ajisai_Sushi_Bar-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Sushi Vancouver assortment at Ajisai sushi

An assortment of sashimi and sushi from Ajisai Sushi Bar in Vancouver, BC. Looks delectable.

Address: You can give Ajisai sushi a visit at 2081 W 42nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6M 2B4

 

3. Sushi Bar Maumi

Sushi Bar Maumi is a slightly lesser known Vancouver sushi restaurant (not anymore, it has been featured in various media since.) Among sushi enthusiasts, Sushi Maumi has been notoriously known as a taste of Japan in Vancouver with sushi chef Maumi serving memorable Omasake experiences for about just $70/person. Freshest seafood imported right from Japan, perfect sushi rice, exact temperature for your enjoyment – did you know, a good sushi chef warms the rice and fish in his hands bringing it to the right temperature before serving for your enjoyment during an Omasake? This is why, you ought to eat it immediately at serving…such a delicate art.

The sushi restaurant is located in the Davie neighborhood in downtown Vancouver. It’s very convenient location for many tourists staying in downtown Vancouver, and locals downtown. Nestled in Vancouver’s West End, Sushi Bar Maumi is the place to go for authentic sushi. Unfortunately, the seating size only accommodates 12 people with three tables and a sushi bar. They do serve take-out but not during Omasake sessions (available only by reservation). At VancityAsks, we like to feature these locally owned, specialty stores that may be overlooked and Sushi Bar Maumi tops the list. The BEST sushi in Vancouver hands down – for its type (authentic, no-frills dining with stupendous quality & freshness. A sushi chef’s attention.) They have local fish and fish freshly imported from Japan.

This Vancouver sushi bar is renown for it’s precise execution, freshness, and quality. Yet, the prices are surprisingly fair. It may not be the place you go for a large dinner party. They also don’t serve alcohol or rolls. This said, if you enjoy good sushi in Vancouver then Sushi Bar Maumi is your place to go. As a further note, looking through their Facebook page is much like browsing through a fish market. The owners at Sushi bar Maumi in Vancouver truly care about freshness and quality of their ingredients.

 

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/sushi-bar-maumi-vancouver

Hear from Scottie on Yelp:

“Best sushi in Vancouver. I’m half japanese and my wife was born in Tokyo, we know our sushi and this place is legit”

Trip Advisorhttp://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d4852892-Reviews-Sushi_Bar_Maumi-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Vancouver's Sushi Bar Maumi Nigri tray

Assorted nigiri at Vancouver’s Sushi Bar Maumi. Wishing you had some now didn’t you!

Address: Give Sushi Bar Maumi a visit at 1226 Bute Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 1Z8

 

 

5. Hitoe Sushi

Hitoe Sushi fully deserves it’s spot on the top 5 list of the best sushi in Vancouver. Hitoe Sushi is known for fresh and authentic sushi. It’s hard to go wrong with any sushi order at Hitoe Sushi. There’s a consistency with the quality and freshness of their food. Hitoe Sushi is one of many sushi restaurants in Vancouver run by an actual Japanese sushi chef who takes great pride in the food he makes. (Many sushi restaurants in Vancouver may actually be owned by Chinese or Korean as we’ve observed.)

The service is excellent, the decor is authentic and welcoming. The menu prices is a good deal for the quality and service you’ll find at Hitoe Sushi. With this, we’ve placed Hitoe Sushi as the #5 best sushi in Vancouver.

The sushi restaurant is situated in Vancouver hippy neighborhood, Kitsilano. (Case in point? This neighborhood is so filled with hipsters, their neighborhood party can’t be called Kistilano because that’s too main stream – it’s called Khatsahlano. In all seriousness, if you’re a tourist visiting Vancouver, pay a visit to Kitsilano – it is a beautiful community with a perfect blend of urban and nature landscape. It contrasts the metropolitan of downtown Vancouver with shop houses, artisan and boutique local stores, and no skyscrapers. It is also minutes from the beach. Vancouver beaches are not as other beaches however, it’s often filled with greenery and nature paths…and it’s often cold and rainy if you’re here November to February.) If you’re looking for a non-pretentious sushi restaurant in Vancouver with great sushi, then Hitoe Sushi is your pick. It is not fancy/fine dining and the restaurant is pretty small (about a 20 seats restaurant) neither is the decor elaborate but it is a local, authentic, sushi restaurant in Vancouver with a Japanese sushi chef preparing your food. A family-style restaurant with authentic sushi much like Ajisai Sushi.

4. Vancouver Sushi Restaurant

 

Yelphttps://www.yelp.ca/biz/hitoe-sushi-japanese-restaurant-vancouver

This is what Candy L. on Yelp shared about Hitoe Sushi in Vancouver:

“This place is one of Kitsilano’s, and even Vancouver’s, best sushi restaurants. It’s very well hidden. Upon first glance, Hitoe looks cheap and average (and it is definitely not badly priced!). Take a chance and step inside.”

Trip Advisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d2357901-Reviews-Hitoe_Sushi_Japanese_Restaurant-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Here’s what Starry4 on Trip Advisor has to say about Hitoe Sushi:

“A few years back, I would have given it 4 stars, but it certainly deserves 5 stars now. It’s not easy to find a restaurant that gets better over the years. A lot of them would just be the same or some may even slide backwards in either their taste or services once they thought they had captured the market. This makes me think that these people at Hitoe not just work hard, they work with their hearts.”

Address: You can give Hitoe Sushi a visit at 3347 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1N6
Don’t miss it!

 

Our Recommendations For The Best Vancouver Sushi:

There you have it. Hope you’ve enjoyed discovering the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver, BC. Don’t wait, give these delicious sushi restaurants a try then share your experience bellow. Your comments, feedback, and suggestions are welcomed!

As always, the recommendations/features on VancityAsks are not sponsored; we try to keep it as impartial as we can, disclosing any possible bias to truly discover the best of Vancouver together!

When you think of Vancouver, you likely think of rain, sushi, and beautiful scenery (in that order) so make sure you try Vancouver sushi if you’re visiting from out of town… at least, that’s what locals think.

 

Notable Mentions – Good Sushi in Vancouver:

Vancouver has over 600 sushi restaurants in this city. It’s hard to list just five great sushi places in Vancouver. Here are more excellent choices for good sushi in Vancouver that didn’t quite make the top 5 list. Difficult decisions had to be made. You may still enjoy these excellent sushi restaurants in Vancouver. Don’t hesitate to give these sushi restaurants a try.

Yui Sushi –

Nestled in Yaletown neighborhood of Vancouver, YUI Sushi which was only opened 2017 is making quite a splash among local Vancouverites and foodies alike. It is starkly similar to the food at MIKU with an exact replica of their infamous Aburi sushi that made MIKU famous. The prices at YUI Sushi is much cheaper than MIKU and the quality is on par; it is founded by a former MIKU restaurant chef. The only thing lacking at YUI Sushi is the ambiance of a waterfront restaurant at the perfect location of 200 Granville Street overlooking Vancouver’s waterfront. (Evidently, this is an allure to be dining with great views of Vancouver that quintessentially Vancouver. Nevertheless, the food at YUI Sushi is just as good as MIKU if you’re willing to forgo the views for your wallet.)

Tojo’s –

Made infamous by the California Roll and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and Cook’s Tour television episodes of Vancouver, Tojo’s have frequently been the go-to spot for sushi in Vancouver. Some say it’s overrated. It is absolutely good sushi, real wasabi, and a great personality/experience. It is worth a visit if you’re from out of town. It is also a little pricey for its location on West Broadway. (It’s worth boasting… Anthony Bourdain called Vancouver a cool city in 2008.)

Shizen Ya –

Japanese owned, authentic, healthy sushi is what you’ll find at Shizen Ya. Japanese owned and operated, Shizen Ya is a popular spot for excellent sushi in Vancouver. They are often packed at night. They have organic brown rice as an option for replacement of white sushi rice; they make their broth from scratch and they emphasize on healthy dining. It’s phenomenal healthy sushi in Vancouver.

Toshi Sushi –

Located in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, this sushi restaurant is frequented by locals for fresh, authentic sushi and excellent prices. It’s a small sushi restaurant but certainly rivals some of the best Vancouver sushi restaurant.

Momo Sushi –

This is one of those Korean Japanese restaurants. They are known for their excellent value bento boxes and reasonably good sushi. It is worth a visit if you’re looking for sushi or Japanese food in Gastown.

Sushi Itoga –

Authentic Japanese sushi right on Robson Street (Robson Street rents are ridiculously expensive but the sushi prices are surprisingly cheap). The son of a successful sushi chef, his dad retired to help his son start Sushi Itoga on Robson Street. The sushi chef and his assistant makes all the sushi on the sushi bar at the store front of house so you can see it freshly made. My experience at Sushi Itoga was good service but the rice was a little overcook. Nevertheless, many echo the excellent sushi at Sushi Itoga. Good sushi if you’re looking for a sushi restaurant in downtown Vancouver that’s not pretentious serving authentic sushi and good value. Dining is at a communal long table in the centre of the Robson Street store or by the window so not a great pick for formal dining.

Kishimoto –

Founded in the Commercial Drive neighborhood, this quaint sushi restaurant is also known for their aburi sushi. There’s often a line-up for their delicious Japanese cuisine but it’s well worth the wait. If you visit try their aburi sushi and fresh sashimi. The service and ambiance is excellent as well; Kishimoto very rivals a spot for the best sushi restaurant in Vancouver. It is a little farther away for most being on the Drive however; not exactly a popular Vancouver neighborhood nor near any scenic water lookout.

 

Feedback Request – What’s your Favourite Vancouver Sushi Restaurant?

Are you a local Vancouverite? Have you visited Vancouver and tried an amazing sushi restaurant that wowed your trip? Please comment bellow if you think we’ve missed any of the best sushi restaurants in Vancouver. It will be properly considered and updated accordingly. We try to try all sushi restaurants before recommending it after a rigorous comparison of  digital reviews that had been checked for validity. (through identity verification and underlying tones)

Basically, we truly want to find the Best Sushi in Vancouver!

 

Sushi Fun Fact – Why is it Called Sashimi?

In case you were wondering, why is raw fished is called Sashimi…it means pierced body in Japanese.

(sashi = pierced) + (mi = body)

This is apparently from sticking the fish tail and fin to identify the fish being eaten. Besides that, it would make more sense to call it cut fish wouldn’t it? Although kiru, the word for cut, was inauspicious back then, so sashimi it is…so long as it tastes good.

 

Best Sushi in Vancouver Updates:

We keep all our recommendations on VancityAsks periodically updated and reviewed to ensure the validity and accuracy of our best sushi in Vancouver recommendations. As such, certain sushi restaurants are replaced or shuffled in our Best Vancouver sushi feature.

In case, you’re interested in reading about them, we’ve included the former suggestions here along with a chronological list of updates and when they occurred.

Any omitted recommendations will be copy and pasted here bellow in the next heading after Vancouver Sushi Forecasts. We are generally reluctant and slow to changing our list as we have confidence in its accuracy and put a lot of effort to writing it in the first place. Therefore, any changes will be contemplated (in the Vancouver Sushi Forecast) and then updated in the following update. (In short, it takes two update cycles to push a new restaurant or remove a restaurant from our top 5 list.) Our recommendations are reviewed for updates periodically every three to six months.

January 31, 2019: Removal of Hoshi Sushi @ Sandbar – revised recommendations due to declining experience & inconsistencies of guest experience. (Hoshi Sushi @ Sandbar was initially recommended due to some chef’s recommendations but one person’s taste/experience does not constitute the overall customer experience. Unfortunately, Hoshi Sushi @ Sandbar has by the majority of experience been bellow par.) We have included the original description here for transparency and your reference.

4. Hoshi Sushi at the Sandbar

Hoshi Sushi at the Sandbar is another must try. You get a waterfront sushi experience on Granville Island. You know it’s quality over quantity at Hoshi Sushi because the Sandbar is run by Sequoia Company of Restaurants. They are known effectively for good dining experiences; it’s the same company that runs the restaurant at Stanley Park.

The SandBar is actually a seafood restaurant but it has it’s own sushi bar and sushi masterchef, Hoshi Tsutomu, hence Hoshi sushi. If you’re planning something special and willing to splurge for a memorial night/afternoon then go for Hoshi sushi at the Sandbar. A fair warning however that experience can vary.

Conveniently located on Granville Island, Hoshi Sushi is also a great opportunity for tourists and visitors of Vancouver to stroll this former industrial island, now turned into a beautiful market, brewery, nightlife, and dining hot spot. Granville Island has many notable experiences including some of the Best Fish & Chips in Vancouver at Go Fish, craft beer at Granville Island Brewery, Roger’s Chocolate, and many artisan vendors within the Granville Island Market. When you’re done with enjoying some of the best sushi in Vancouver at Hoshi Sushi, save room for desserts as you try the best donuts in Vancouver at Lee’s Donut (It’s not the most fancy donut or unique creations but it is a good, old, classic that’s been around for decades and a Vancouverite favourite. Most Vancouverites know about Lee’s Donut; it’s an establishment.) If you prefer something more delicate, be sure to try ChocolaTas in the Granville Island market as well; the work of a chocolate maker who apprenticed at a Belgian chocolate maker who was the exclusive supplier to royalty. Basically, if you’re looking for good sushi and a memorable experience, then Hoshi Sushi at the Sandbar would probably be an excellent pick. It’s a great spot to visit as tourists and bring out of town guests. If you’re going to grab some fries at Granville Island Market, make sure the seagulls don’t steal them!

Yelphttps://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-sandbar-seafood-restaurant-vancouver-2

Trip Advisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d710048-Reviews-The_Sandbar_Seafood_Restaurant-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Address: Visit Hoshi sushi in Grandville Island at 1535 Johnston Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3R9

Vancouver Sushi Forecast:

  • We’ll likely be replacing Hoshi Sushi at the Sandbar with YUI Sushi in time. Yui Sushi is a restaurant opened by the former MIKU restaurant chef. They feature a very similar menu and quality to MIKU at a much value for money pricing. Same taste, different atmosphere.

 

Thanks for reading about the BEST sushi in Vancouver, BC on VancityAsks.com:

We hope you enjoyed learning more about the best sushi in Vancouver. If you have any questions, feedback or concerns regarding the content on this article, please feel free to comment bellow or use the contact us form. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and correct representation of the best sushi in Vancouver. We hope you found this to be a useful resource, if you would like to learn more about Vancouver and Metro Vancouver then please feel free to browse our other articles on Vancouver.

 

Best Pizza in Vancouver BC

Published by:

Firecrust Pizzeria Vancouver - Good pizza in Vancouver.

Last Updated: February 11, 2022

When it comes to pizza, you’re are not short of choices in Metro Vancouver, City of Vancouver proper, or even downtown Vancouver for that matter. Walk any two blocks and you’ll see plenty of options (for pizza, but especially cafes in Vancouver).

However, there are times you want to go for the best of the best pizza in Vancouver; these are times when you’re searching for something you can bring your out-of-town (even Italian) friends & family to, and savor what REAL good pizza in Vancouver should taste like.

This is what you’re going to find a few paragraphs bellow…the best pizzas in Vancouver, BC.

Many Good Pizzas in Vancouver, but we want to find & share the BEST Pizza in Vancouver:

There are many more commendable pizza restaurants that we unfortunately do not have the space to recommend onto the 5 best pizza in Vancouver article… Hence, difficult decisions had to be made; nevertheless please comment bellow to vouch for your favourite restaurants in Vancouver, for the best pizza in Vancouver.

Your opinion matters. We look to curate the local’s opinion together so your comments and feedback will directly improve the recommendations for the best pizza in Vancouver. However, not everything is taken equally; you can’t please everyone so we do careful fact-checking to ensure accurate representation of the best pizza restaurants in Vancouver. So much work for pizza you say? It is worth it!

Searching for the BEST Pizza in Vancouver, BC:

When looking for the best pizza in Vancouver, we looked for <1> authenticity, <2> taste, <3> quality of ingredients, <4> experience including service and atmosphere, and <5> value – because who doesn’t like good & cheap pizza! (only if it’s good.)

Non-Sponsored Recommendations for the BEST Pizza in Vancouver:

As always, all articles on VancityAsks are non-sponsored to minimize bias. We truly endeavour to find the BEST in Vancouver to help locals rediscover their amazing city, and visitors to experience the best of Vancouver.

BONUS – Free Gift Cards to the Best Pizza in Vancouver May be Given in Comments Periodically:

We may be giving away gift cards to the best pizza restaurants in Vancouver periodically to readers who comment on this article! (As and when…like when Vancouver is depressingly rainy.) So remember to share bellow this article what your favourite go-to pizza joints are to find the BEST pizza in Vancouver!

Most of our contests and giveaways will be administrated through our Facebook Page however… so check there.

 

Without further ado…

 

The 5 Best Pizza in Vancouver:

1. Lombardo’s Pizzeria:

Lombardo’s is easily one of the best Vancouver pizza restaurants. They offer both take-out and dine-in.

It’s unassumingly nestled in a mall (Il Mercato) by Commercial Drive (the vicinity of 1st Avenue and Commercial Drive is known as Little Italy for Vancouver) although they are famed for their delicious and authentic Italian pizzas for over 25 years! It’s family-owned and operated that uses local and fresh ingredients with an authentic Italian flavor.

Prices are very standard for upscale pizza in Vancouver around $13 – $17 for your Margarita to their signature Blanca (EVOO, grana padano, slow roasted red onions, garlic confit, gorgonzola, arugula). Mmmm.

If you’re looking for pizza that tastes like it was made by your Italian grandmother (if you had an Italian grandmother) then Lombardo’s Pizzeria is where you want to go for the best pizza in Vancouver.

Note of Caution however – Quality has since been hit and miss; almost comical is serving boxed ice cream sandwiches for desserts. (Honestly, embarrassing!) Skip their pasta and desserts, but pizza is good. Nevertheless, for these reasons, we may soon be revising Lombardo’s Pizzeria from the #1 Best Pizza in Vancouver to somewhere on our best pizza in Vancouver article; despite the article being about the best pizza in Vancouver, such lapse with other menu items may reveal a lack of attention to detail, or excellence and quality… that we look for on VancityAsks.

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/lombardos-pizzeria-and-restaurant-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/lombardos-ristorante-and-pizzeria-grandview

Trip Advisorhttp://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d706373-Reviews-Lombardo_s_Ristorante_Pizzeria-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Pics (for drooling):

Address: 1641 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y3

 

2. Via Tevere Pizzeria:

What does Via Tevere Pizzeria have to offer Vancouver? There aren’t any shortage of good pizza but Via Tevere is different in a good way, that’s why it’s earned the spot at numero due (I had to Google that admittedly.) on our list of the best Vancouver pizza restaurants in Vancouver.

Different as in using real wood-fire to make their pizzas with a crispy crust, and flavourful fragrance (Enjoy Neapolitan-style pizza with a burst of flavour & fragrance from the wood fire; the way it was made when pizza was first invented in Italy because they certainly didn’t have electric ovens in 997 AD ?). Different as in hand-kneading their pizza dough (Yes, it’s made fresh.) Different as in trying to serve true Neapolitan Pizza; they are first generation Canadians with deep roots in Naples.

The owner grew up in Naples and understands what it takes to make authentic Neapolitan pizza. Via Tevere even has a travelling Pizzeria in the form of a food truck that roams Vancouver streets; most often found at Burrard street and Pender street on Tuesdays to Fridays.

Via Tevere Pizzeria menu is not extensive but perfectly sized with only the best of Italian food in Vancouver. Dinner menu includes options such as their daily pasta, antipasto, home-style meatballs or polenta for appetizers. Their true specialty however is Vancouver pizzas (priced reasonably from $13 for the classic Margherita to $21 for the Capricciosa – Tomato, fior di latte, prosciutto cotto, salame, artichokes, mushroom, olive). Great for sharing as a family dinner or eating all by yourself. (I won’t be complaining about that when the pizza is this good!) Try their desserts as well specifically the “Graffe con Nutella” because who doesn’t like nutella on handmade Neapolitan fritters? You can be sure, Via Tevere Pizzeria in Vancouver won’t be serving you ice cream sandwiches as gelato (at least, I hope not!) Speaking of which, if you’re looking for the best gelato in Vancouver, then look here.

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/via-tevere-vancouver?osq=Via+Tevere+Pizzeria

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/via-tevere-grandview-vancouver

Trip Advisorhttp://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d3488975-Reviews-Via_Tevere_Pizzeria-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Drool-worthy Pics:

Best Pizza in Vancouver for good reason. Pizza by wood, stone oven.

Looks good doesn’t it? You should try it. That’s why we’ve listed Via Tevere Pizzeria as the #3 BEST pizza in Vancouver.

Address: 1190 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 4G5 (Further making the point of how many pizza restaurants there are in Vancouver – just look at this map of the Commercial Drive neighborhood. Within this area there are Lombardo’s Pizza, Fire Pizza, Pizza Garden, and Via Tevere Pizzeria! That’s not even considering the other generic options like Fresh Slice, Pizza Hut, or Domino’s – which isn’t really worth mentioning when you’re looking for the best pizza in Vancouver. Which we ended up mentioning, just like Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” song. He was Canadian till the Americans ruined him. Technically, still Canadian – once every five years when he comes to Vancouver to renew his passport…via private jet.)

 

3. Pizzeria Farina:

Pizza Farina is the product of Ask for Luigi and located well in Stratacona. (Pizzeria Farina is like the more liked younger child compared to Ask for Luigi because pizza > pasta.) This hole in the wall pizza restaurant is open from 5 PM (because nobody eats pizza at 5 AM unless they are drunk) till their dough runs out…and they run out of dough on a nightly basis! (rather quickly, so come early to avoid being disappointed.)

It’s a small restaurant. Pizza Farina in Vancouver, BC is known for old school design and quality with traditional ingredients on their homemade dough for some good rustic pizza. They have the classics but also a daily special if you want to eat there every day of the week (which you just might after you’ve tried pizza at Pizzeria Farina), you got variety still. If you’ve been to Ask for Luigi as recommended on our 5 Best Italian Restaurants in Vancouver then you should definitely give Pizzeria Farina a visit as well.

If you’re on a pizza crawl to find the best pizza in Vancouver, you can’t give Pizzeria Farina a miss. Surprisingly for such quality and artisan flavors, (add free hipster aromas) prices are similar to Via Tevere Pizzeria with a classic Margarita at $13. Drop in for the pizza but not for the ambiance because the restaurant is small, making it packed when crowded; best for takeout. No-frills, delicious authentic thin-crust pizza in Vancouver, BC.

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/pizzeria-farina-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/pizzeria-farina-strathcona-vancouver

Trip Advisorhttp://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d2390371-Reviews-Pizzeria_Farina-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Pics (for drooling):

Pizza of the day at Pizzeria Farina Vancouver pizza store

Pizza of the day at Pizzeria Farina in Vancouver.

Address: 915 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2V8

 

4. Pizzeria Barbarella

Pizzeria Barbarella is the epitome of good pizza as sworn by many pizza enthusiast. The fans of Pizzeria Barbarella are also some of the most committed and competitive Italian foodies; you’ll find them proudly claiming Pizzeria Barbarella as the best pizza in Vancouver (for good reason) as if they owned the restaurant themselves. You’ll find classic pizza made right at Pizzeria Barbarella; how you would find it in Italy. A little bit like this.

It’s a family owned and run pizza store that has quite a personalized experience. You can meet the owner and the pizza is good! They use fresh, local, and organic ingredients in their pizza – three wins! It’s good Italian style pizza in Vancouver.

Superb, outstanding, amazing, satisfied…these are some words that you’ll find customers of Pizzeria Barbarella describe the delicious pizza served at this cozy family pizzeria. The pizza restaurant in Vancouver is located about 20 minutes from downtown on busy Broadway street right about where Fraser street intersects. It’s an unassuming store nestled between various eateries (close to pho) and close distance to VCC (Vancouver Career College) – making it an excellent location.

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/pizzeria-barbarella-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/pizzeria-barbarella-mount-pleasant

Trip Advisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d2589348-Reviews-Pizzeria_Barbarella-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Pizza in the oven at Pizza Barbarella Vancouver

Pizza Barbarella Vancouver – Pizza in their stone oven.

Address: 654 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5T 1X6

 

5. Firecrust Neapolitan Pizzeria:

Here’s a little novelty pizza concept that has since became exceptionally popular among franchisees and patrons alike. It’s worth a mention. Unlimited toppings, you-choose, you-build, make-it-yourself, pizza that has caught on in Canada and the United States. (We’ve tried some build-yourself pizza in Vancouver that’s awful because the crust gets soggy without the proper dough or stone oven.)

Firecrust is one of several unlimited toppings pizzeria you will find in Vancouver. We have chosen it because their crust importantly is good and the location is conveniently nestled downtown on Davie street. The pizza is then baked in their stone oven; it’s as quick as 90 seconds when the oven is at 600 degrees. (The difference between a stone oven and those fake individual pizza ovens some other franchises use that leave the crust soggy.)

It may not be very authentic once you start loading your pizza with pineapple, bacon, and the likes but if you’re looking for delicious pizza in downtown Vancouver with unlimited toppings, then Firecrust Pizzeria is your pick. It is good value at $10.95 for a 12 inch pizza with as many toppings as they have (except prosciutto which costs an additional $3.) As they say in Naples, “Buon appetito!”

Yelphttps://www.yelp.ca/biz/firecrust-neapolitan-pizzeria-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/firecrust-neapolitan-pizzeria-downtown-vancouver

Trip Advisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d11728149-Reviews-Firecrust_Davie-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Pics:

Firecrust Pizzeria Vancouver - Good pizza in Vancouver.

Delicious pizza waiting to be eaten at Firecrust Pizzeria in Vancouver on 808 Davie Street. Choose your own toppings for one price.

Address: 808 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2S2

Honorable Mentions – Good Pizza in Vancouver, BC:

As mentioned, there are so many good pizza restaurants in Vancouver that it is hard to find only the five best pizza in Vancouver. As with competition, quality and value increases for customers. There are many other great pizza restaurants in Vancouver that haven’t quite edge it on to our top 5 list. These are still worth visiting and trying if you enjoy good Vancouver pizza.

Goldies: Not the best pizza in Vancouver BUT it is good pizza (albeit pricey – you’re better off at Firecrust or Farina around downtown Vancouver) but convenient location with good thin-crust pizza.

Address – 605 W Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1W7

Martini’s Restaurant: One of the original wholewheat pizza crusts in Vancouver. Excellent pizza. Highly recommended by our friends on Facebook.

Address – 151 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P4

Pizza Garden: The staple for many pizza enthusiasts looking to get a quick bite of delicious Neapolitan pizza. They make good and simple with a variety of delicious toppings, available by the slice or the whole pie. The pizza is baked in a stone oven for extra crispness for the crust with the right amount of chewy-ness to the crust (very important for good Neapolitan pizza). Reasonably priced at $6.50 for two slices and a drink/water. Nothing extravagant that

Address – Franchise with several locations in Vancouver, but downtown Vancouver @ 675 Smithe St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2C9

 

Well there’s our top 5 best Vancouver pizza recommendations. We want to hear your feedback. Feel free to comment bellow and share your opinion, thoughts, dissatisfaction on these recommendations… or suggest any other pizza restaurant you think should be in the top 5 best Vancouver pizza. Let’s give tourists and locals alike the chance to experience the best of our amazing city, yeah?

Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoyed our recommendations for the Best Pizza in Vancouver! We hope you go try them. (As usual, all content on VancityAsks is non-sponsored to truly find the best of Vancouver, impartial. Composed with community feedback, suggestions, and first hand experiences – we want to share the best of Vancouver…not just the fake touristy – often paid – suggestions you get from the concierge either. When voting system is in place only the biggest businesses who annoy their customers win – you end up getting only franchises winning with marketing budget, instead of the mom and pops style restaurants; we want to find the low-key spots and the well-known bests alike!)

Ps. It was hard to choose between good and best, but we’ve tried. We get it! If X store isn’t on the top 5, the list ain’t creditable. Well, if you insist so, leave a comment bellow and we’ll look at it. Note that everyone’s taste is different so we’ve tried our best to list the top 5 Best Pizza in Vancouver. I recommend you give each of these stores a visit.

Best Italian Restaurants in Vancouver

Published by:

Don Francesco's Italian Restaurant Vancouver BC spaghetti and meatballs

Vancouver has no shortage of Italian restaurants to savor authentic Italian cuisine from pastas, pizzas, to cannoli.

Unfortunately, with the multitude of choices, knowing which ones to visit can be tough. We’ve shared our opinions on the BEST Italian Restaurants in Vancouver on this article.

You can’t go wrong with most Italian Restaurants in Vancouver although there are those gems that are absolutely a top 5 MUST-try as far as Italian Restaurants in Vancouver are concerned. This is what we hope to identify on our Best Italian Restaurants in Vancouver article on VancityAsks. As usual, all content on VancityAsks.com are non-sponsored with revenue only coming from Google Ads. (So please unblock your ad-blocker as we take great effort to finding the best of Vancouver to help locals rediscover their amazing city, and visitors to experience the best that Vancouver has to offer.)

Feedback – We encourage you to share your own recommendations in the comments bellow about your favourite Italian food in Vancouver! We’ll be updating the list accordingly. It’ll be great to have the community’s opinion on which Italian restaurants in Vancouver are numbered by your count!

 

Here are the top 5 Best Italian Restaurants in Vancouver:

(Three are popular favourites, and 2 are up and coming for you hipsters!)

1) #1 Best Italian Restaurant in Vancouver – Nook:

Nook is an authentic Italian restaurant in Vancouver. Customary to any good food, there’s a wait but it’s well worth it. Well-deserved 4.5 star ratings across on Trip Advisor, Yelp, and Zomato. Pasta is made from scratch and fresh ingredients are always used in the kitchen. Nook’s customers know they are getting the best Italian food available in Vancity. What’s interesting is Nook doesn’t take reservations so get there early.  Don’t miss a visit the Nook for good Italian food in Vancouver.

“It was so good we had to go back and try something else! Service was friendly, prices were very fair and the food was amazing!” – Shauna P. (Trip Advisor)

Freshly made pasta at Nook Restaurant in Vancouver, BC

Freshly made pasta at Nook Restaurant Vancouver.

Website: https://nookrestaurants.com/

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d1468777-Reviews-Nook-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/nook-west-end-vancouver

Address: 781 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L6

 

2) Lupo: Lupo is a must-try in Vancouver if you’re seeking good Italian food. The restaurant is uniquely set in a heritage house near Smithe Street and Burrard easily accessible downtown. The food has their fans on edge with the carefully crafted Italian cuisine being served up (with a friendly service). Reviewers are closing in 5 stars for Lupo as a Vancouver Italian restaurant. If you’re giving Lupo a visit make sure to go for their freshly made pasta. One of the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver that you absolutely have to savour downtown.

“Right up there with some of the best Italian restaurants I have tried. Pasta dishes were fresh, with creative combinations of ingredients.” – comingforthesun (Trip Advisor)

Lupo Vancouver Italian Restaurant Google maps

It’s a homely Vancouver Italian Restaurant both in looks, experience, and taste. Lupo Vancouver street view on Google Maps

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d710524-Reviews-Lupo_Restaurant-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/lupo-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/lupo-yaletown-vancouver

Address: 869 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2R7

 

3) Ask for Luigi: Infamously the hole in the wall for Vancouver’s Italian cuisine, Ask for Luigi is a small dining area packed with tables that delivers on its name. The Italian food at Ask for Luigi is as familial as their name. (Closely set, cooking for friends and family with quality ingredients, decisively and thoughtfully put together). It seems as with most good Italian restaurants in Vancouver, Ask for Luigi does not accept advance reservations and is typically packed with a waitlist around. It’s located around Gastown towards East Hastings.

“Visited Ask for Luigi on 23rd August. Don’t be fooled by the location. We knew that they didn’t take bookings and being a little jet lagged we thought we would get there when it opened at 5.30. It didn’t seem like a great part of town but at 5.30pm there were already queues around the block and a waitlist. We were lucky enough to get in however. Service was exceptional. Relaxed, efficient, warm and the food was amazing. The style is quite rustic and the dining room quite small but it works perfectly. We loved it.” – hotski7 (Trip Advisor)

Ask for Luigi Vancouver pasta

Ask for Luigi Vancouver Italian Food. Spaghetti. Picture courtesy of Ask for Luigi

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d5562584-Reviews-Ask_for_Luigi-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/ask-for-luigi-vancouver?osq=Al+Porto

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/ask-for-luigi-downtown-eastside-vancouver

Address: 305 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1C4

 

4) Al Porto Ristorante: Arguably one of the iconic, authentic Italian restaurant in Vancouver; this Italian ristorante is located right by waterfront station. The Italian restaurant which was established since 1978 provides indoor and outdoor seating with delicious, mouth-watering food. I’m a little bias, reminiscence of personal experience. This Vancouver Italian restaurant is almost an establishment with it’s existence since 1978 situated in an old brick building at 321 Walter Street (this is approximately 5 minutes walk from Waterfront) and right in front of the Gastown Clock. It’s very decorated in it’s interior as a true Vancouver Italian restaurant which seems to inspire an cozy, Italian family like experience. Prices at Al Porto are very reasonable for fine Italian food in Vancouver. The food and service is phenomenal; Al Porto also offers excellent wine pairing recommendations for their food upon request. Be warned, as with any good Italian food in Vancouver, the restaurant is always packed with hungry guests and their a refined palate for good Italian food.

“Visitor or local, you will enjoy Al Porto’s menu, ambience and value. Given its location in historic gastown and close to the cruise ship terminal, Al Porto attracts many tourists. As locals, my partner and I have been going to Al Porto for many years and we recommend it wholeheartedly.” – bryanmcgrath2015 (Trip Advisor)

Al Porto Ristorante Vancouver Italian food in Gastown

Delicious Italian food at Al Porto Ristorante in Vancouver BC. Gastown.

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d762961-Reviews-Al_Porto_Ristorante-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Yelphttp://www.yelp.ca/biz/al-porto-ristorante-italiano-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/al-porto-ristorante-gastown-vancouver

Address: 321 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B8

 

5) Don Francesco Ristorante: If you’re looking for good rustic Italian cuisine with family-like service then Don Francesco is the place to go. This fine dining experience features top quality ingredients with “treasured” Sicilian family recipes coupled with fresh seafood. Don Francesco was opened by Francesco Alongi in 2002 with his experience in Italian food dating to 1975 (where he opened his first Italian restaurant in Vancouver – which had since closed). Today, Don Francesco is is located right across from Sutton Place Hotel on Burrard street in a small corner unit. They are known as a fine-dining Italian cuisine for romantic dinners along with their impeccable service. Prices are on the higher end even for fine Italian dining in downtown Vancouver. Known for their delicious Ceasar salad, lobster linguine, and  home-made deserts.

“The food was excellent! True Italian meal! The portions are huge but worth every bite! If you are looking for a good true Italian meal with a beautiful setting, this is the place to go! Will be back!” – Vantoptours M (Trip Advisor)

Don Francesco's Italian Restaurant Vancouver BC spaghetti and meatballs

Tastefully presented spaghetti and meatballs from Don Francesco’s Italian Restaurant Vancouver, BC.

Trip Advisorhttps://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d684207-Reviews-Don_Francesco-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Yelphttps://www.yelp.ca/biz/francescos-ristorante-italia-vancouver

Zomatohttps://www.zomato.com/vancouver/francescos-ristorante-italia-downtown-vancouver

Address: 860 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1X9

We haven’t quite made up our mind about the fifth recommendation of Italian restaurants to try in Vancouver so we’d like you to have the input.  Some further considerations are Yaletown L’Antipasto, Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria. There are too many wonderful Italian restaurants in Vancouver to choose from. Yaletown L’Antipasto is well known for authentic Italian food. Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca is also nestled in Yaletown, serving delicious Italian and Mediterranean food by Giuseppe “Pino” Posteraro; they truly make phenomenal food including their home-made pasta with a fresh taste to their dishes. Italian Kitchen is part of the Glowbal group of restaurants and have been known for precisely cooked Italian food, professionally prepared for a delicious meal. Trattoria is another Vancouver favourite for Italian food once again by the Glowbal Group. All of these make excellent options for Italian restaurants in Vancouver.

 

Thanks for reading our suggestions of the top 5 must-try Italian restaurants in Vancouver. If you have any suggestions or disagreements, please share in the comments bellow.

Top 5 Best Italian Restaurants

Soli Deo gloria |VancityAsks.com| Colossians 3:23