Other Asian
Wendy Underwood
FAT MAO NOODLES
983 Helmcken Street – Downtown, 604.801.5088
fatmaonoodles.com
Distance: 2-minute walk
Price: noodles ~ $22 – $25
Right across the street from the hotel are the best bowl of noodles you’ll find in the city! From the team at Maenam (see below), you can expect soups filled with fresh noodles, high-quality ingredients, with a Thai and South East Asian touch. Our favourite is the Khao Soi, a Northern Thai-style curry with flat egg noodles that comes in both a vegetarian (cauliflower and tofu puffs) version and a chicken version.
MAENAM
1938 West 4th Avenue – Kitsilano, 604.730.5579
maenam.ca
Distance: 30-minute walk, 5-minute drive
Price: Chef’s menu $88 per person
Not just Vancouver’s best Thai restaurant, but according to Vancouver magazine, one of the city’s best restaurants, period! A beautiful, modern room with Thai food that’s not dumbed down for the Western palate, but paired with a fantastic wine list. Note that at dinner, a la carte options are only available for walk-in guests, not those with reservations.
TORAFUKU
958 Main Street – Chinatown, 778.903.2006
torafuku.ca
Distance: 30-minute walk, 10-minute drive
Price: small plates ~ $17 – $23, large plates ~ $27 – $52
What started as the spin-off of a super-popular food truck, Torafuku is now a bona fide pan-Asian fusion space with dishes that take inspiration from around the continent. For a quick bite, try their legendary chicken wings and a cocktail. For a bigger commitment, the seven-course tasting menu for two at $70/person is a great deal.
LILA
3491 Main Street – Mt Pleasant, 604.620.3256
lilarestaurant.ca
Distance: 20-minute drive
Price: mains ~ $16 – 24
A brand-new “modern Indian” spot with unbeatable pedigree: brought to you by the founders of The Acorn and Vij’s. Mainly plant-based with a couple of pescatarian exceptions.
DO CHAY
1392 Kingsway – East Vancouver, 604.225.8349
dochay.ca
Distance: 20-minute drive
Price: share plates ~ $15 – $24
Describing themselves as “Saigon Vegetarian”, if all you know about Vietnamese food is pho, then this spot on Kingsway is about to rock your world with its delicious, fresh and vibrant plates.