Vibe Like This

Travel Dates: August 25 - August 28, 2022

I’m back with another trip to Vancouver, BC and this time, I’m with my partner in crime, my lovely boyfriend. It’s our first trip together to Vancouver and we wanted to enjoy a mini getaway before the summer ends. We were in Vancouver from Thursday to Sunday therefore, I designated each day for certain areas of the city. We arrived late Thursday afternoon and took care of our bellies by enjoying a heart-warming bowl of ramen at Ramen DANBO. For dinner, we had to wait an hour at the very popular, Tom Sushi on Davie Street for fresh sashimi and melt-in-your-mouth chu-toro nigiri. It was definitely worth the wait!

On Friday, I had a photoshoot booked in Chinatown and we decided to slurp on delicious Thai noodle soups at Fat Mao Noodle. I highly recommend you try the Thai Spicy Boat Noodles! The broth is thick, intense and full of flavours, Afterwards, we sat down and enjoyed ice coffees at my usual Chinatown spot, Propaganda and made a pit-stop to Mello for the best donuts ever! We explored the streets of Chinatown and maneuvered our way to Gastown. For dinner we had some sushi at O’Sushi and finished a night cap at Guu with Garlic. I was pretty impressed with their izakaya menu and we came back the very next day. The grilled squid and beef tataki were great evening snacks to accompany with our drinks.

The many times I’ve been to Vancouver, I never had the opportunity to truly explore Mount Pleasant, hence Saturday was designated for it. I saw many great online reviews about Anh and Chi for modern Vietnamese food and we had to go there for their Pho and Bun Bo Hue. We were seated to our table and I was so impressed with their interior because it was very vibrant and picturesque. The owner definitely have a great eye and attention to details when it came to the decor. The noodle soups satisfied our Vietnamese food cravings and I would love to bring my family here. After lunch, we explored and partook in some happy hour drinks and snacks at Tocador. We snacked on delicious, fresh ahi tuna ceviche and I most enjoyed the refreshing Guava Spritz. Perfect summer weather so we continued our happy hour festivity to Smitty’s Oysters on Main. I desperately needed to satisfy my raw oyster cravings.

If I had to recap the best food I thoroughly enjoyed on this trip, I would have to tell you to hit up Fat Mao Noodles for the Thai Spicy Boat Noodles; the Bun Bo Hue at Anh and Chi; the Toroniku Hiyashi (Cold Ramen) at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. I never had amazing croissants before until I found Angust T Bakery in Yaletown and the izakaya snacks at Guu with Garlic were divine! I hope you enjoy the many places my boyfriend and I was able to explore in Vancouver, BC.

Downtown

View from our stay at the Century Plaza & Spa Hotel.

Angus T Bakery & Cafe

Address: 1036 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4

It’s a pleasure to stumble upon a little gem in an area you aren’t familiar with. We were exploring Yaletown and happened to be there during Pet Palooza. The streets were filled with big and little dogs and their pet owners mingling and partaking in the festivities. Chris and I were maneuvering our way and avoiding any little stinky surprises the dogs may have left behind when I see a line-up out the door for some CROISSANTS! If I visit a bakery, I’m always on the lookout for savoury croissants to compliment my cup of coffee. Angust T Bakery & Cafe had a great selection of croissants from sweet and savoury. My boyfriend and I are similar in the fact, we don’t have a sweet tooth so we went for two savoury croissants. I am not a croissant connoisseur but no word of a lie but I have to say, I had my BEST croissants here! The croissants were perfect because they were crispy, crunchy, flaky, buttery and golden brown. Both croissants were delicious but if I came here again I would purchase the Ham & Gruyere for sure! We situated ourselves facing the bakery’s kitchen where we were able to observe the bakers methodically begin the process of making batches of sweet and savoury croissants. I think the time I was observing, they were making butter croissants. Make your way to Angus T Bakery & Cafe for the best croissants ever!

Website: www.angust.com

What we ordered: Ham & Gruyere and Spinach & Feta

Kafka’s Coffee Roasting

Address: 872 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3B4

Kafka’s Coffee Roasting has three locations in the city and we were able to visit Kafka’s in the Park which is found in the corner of Smiths and Richard. What’s great about this location is that its open 365 days of the year from 7 am to 7pm. It is in a dynamic urban setting and has a community park called Rainbow Park. A great park in the city for family, kids and pets to visit and enjoy. We grabbed our coffee to go and sunbathed at Rainbow Park while watching the little kiddos play at the water fountain. We only had coffee but this spot has an extensive menu from all-day breakfast, yummy sandwiches for lunch and they serve soft-serve ice cream.

Website: www.kafkascoffee.ca

What we ordered: Ice Latte and Espresso

Aina Floral Pop-up at Honolulu Coffee

Address: 888 Nelson St g1, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H1

My friend had a pop-up on the weekend at Honolulu Coffee and I had to go there and support. When she had her floral business in Edmonton, it was located on the main floor of my workplace and I would always visit her to purchase some fresh cut flowers. Everybody at work knew I loved her flowers! I remember the time when I was transitioning to a new role and my colleagues bought me flowers from her flower shop. They didn’t have to tell her anything. My friend knew my style and preference and I received the most beautiful floral arrangement.

She resides in Vancouver now and runs a lovely local floral business called Aina Floral. Aina Floral specializes in designing with tropical flowers while promoting sustainable practices. Please show love and support Aina Floral by visiting Honolulu Coffee Kerrisdale and Honolulu Coffee on Nelson Street for their unique tropical flowers.

Website: www.ainafloral.ca

W/ my lovely friend, Zi the owner for Aina Floral.

Pallet Howe

Address: 980 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1N9

Pallet Coffee is locally owned company established in 2014 in East Vancouver and currently has seven locations spanning across Metro Vancouver. Their mission is to serve exceptional coffee experiences to the community.

Chris ordered an ice latte and I got myself an ice Americano and the coffee drinks were pretty good. I looked around the cafe and I saw plenty of people ordering food from their menu. The location in Howe serves an array of sandwiches, avocado toast, mushroom toast and Hawaiian granola. Great location and atmosphere serving wonderful coffee!

Website: www.palletcoffeeroasters.com

What we ordered: Ice Latte and Ice Americano

Tom Sushi

Address: 1175 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1N2

This is my second visit to Tom Sushi and this time it’s not take-out but for dine-in service. Tom Sushi is a place that is always busy. I remember asking the server when it’s a good time to visit and she told me 3:00 PM! We were here for a late dinner but we still had to wait in line for an hour. No worries because there was a near-by pub in which we sat at their patio and enjoyed a Corona while we wait.

It’s worth the wait because everything we ordered were fresh and tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed the three dishes we ordered but I was most impressed with the Chu-toro Nigiri. It will set you back $9.00 a piece but the Chu-toro just melts in your mouth! Totemo oishi!

Website: www.tomsushi.ca

What we ordered: Chu-toro Nigiri, Assorted Sashimi, and Devil’s Roll

Guu with Garlic

Address: 1698 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7

Guu with Garlic is a lively and bustling spot. A great place to come with friends and love ones to enjoy great izakaya and inventive drinks. If you want a good time, you must come here! I was so impressed with the vibe and daily menu, we had to come here two times after dinner! A must try dish to accompany your drinks has to be the Ika-Maru which is grilled squid. The squid was grilled to perfection. It had a lovely texture. It was very tender with a nice chew.

Website: www.guu-izakaya.com

What we ordered: Edamame, Beef Tataki, Ika-Maru, Sapporo beer and Passionfruit Highball

Ramen DANBO

Address: 1333 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C6

Yes, I’ve shown Ramen DANBO in my previous travel blog to Vancouver but I have to add it again because it’s still a great spot for ramen in downtown Vancouver. I have yet to find another ramen spot in the city that can compete with Ramen DANBO. It’s my second time here and it’s Chris’s first time here. We enjoyed our classic ramen. The ramen broth was flavourful, rich and not too greasy. The Kyushu-style noodles had a great texture and chew and the succulent tonkatsu melts in your mouth as you barely chew. And yes, you cannot forget about the soft boiled egg cooked to perfection. A great topping to a lovely sized bowl of ramen to nourish the soul.

Website: www.ramendanbo.com

What we ordered: Classic Ramen - Tonkutsu Pork Broth

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Address: 1690 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7

This was Chris’s choice for ramen and I swear he wanted to compete with my Ramen Danbo pick! I can’t compare the two restaurants and tell you which one is better for ramen because I didn’t order ramen but went with their summer special, Toroniku Hiyashi which is a cold ramen. I was utterly surprised how enjoyable the Toroniku Hiyashi was! When the server brought it out, I was shook. It was a rather large serving of cold noodles and I doubtful if I could even put a dent. The dish is beautiful with the various toppings of julienned cucumbers, shredded eggs, spinach, pickled ginger and mushrooms. I sprinkled the toppings over my plate of ramen noodles and had a bite. What an amazing first bite! It over-exceeded my expectation. The sauce accompanied with the cold noodles was citrusy, sour and sweet. The texture of the noodles were chewy and the toppings were fresh and it added a great texture to the dish. Believe it or not but I destroyed that dish! Nothing left on my plate!

Website: www.santouka-canada.com

What we ordered: Shoyu Ramen and Toroniku Hiyashi (Cold Ramen)

O’Sushi Vancouver

Address: 742 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1E4

I asked my friend where we could find fresh sushi without breaking the bank and she highly recommended O’Sushi on Granville Street. Now seeing this spot on Granville Street got me a little hesitant. I think the location just screams, touristy to me. We came here for a late dinner and it wasn’t too busy. No reservation was required. The menu was pretty extensive but we ordered a couple of dishes. My friend was in fact accurate in that the prices were good and the sushi were fresh. I most enjoyed the Chef Special Nigiri combo. A great selection of fresh sushi.

Website: www.osushivan.com

What we ordered: Chef Special Nigiri Combo, Tamago Nigiri, Tuna Tataki and Chili Crunch Roll

Happy Noodle House

Address: 630 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2G5

Happy Noodle House is my haven for mouth-watering soup dumplings and delicious and authentic Chinese food. For dinner, we decided on Xiao Long Baos, Beef Rolls and Tan-Tan Noodles. The soup dumplings and beef rolls were delicious! Just how I remembered it. OMG! The Tan-Tan Noodles was the most surprising dish. I had the tan-tan noodles before but I completely forgot how spicy it was. Chris can eat a tad spicy and my tolerance is pretty good but damn was it ever spicy! A bite of the noodles and I can feel my pours opening up and a tingly sensation all over my face. I had a natural lip injection from devouring the spicy hand pulled noodles! We suffered but it was well-worth it!

Website: www.happy-noodle-house.business.site

What we ordered: Tan-Tan Noodles, Xiao Long Baos and Beef Rolls

Ebisu On Robson

Address: 827 Bute St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3Y4

My go-to spot on Robson Street for happy hour oysters and a cold glass of Sapporo! The happy hour at Ebisu on Robson is open 7 days a week and it’s from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. I love to come here for the fresh oysters because it’s only $1.49 a piece with a limit of 12 oysters per person. The Royal Miyaki Oysters are fresh, plump and a tad briny. I suggest enjoying each slurp of oyster with a fresh squeeze of lemon and a heaping spoonful of their sauce! I wish I knew how to make the sauce because it’s so damn good!

Website: www.robson.ebisu.ca

What we ordered: Royal Miyaki Oysters, Pork Gyoza and Sapporo beers for Happy Hour

Royal Miyaki Oysters for Happy Hour at Ebisu on Robson.

D'oro Gelato e Caffè

Address: 1222 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C1

There is ALWAYS room for dessert and if I had to choose, I would prefer a scoop of gelato or sorbet. Chris and I went to D'oro Gelato e Caffè because we always see a line-up out the door every time we pass by it. Even if it’s late in the evening, you will always see a handful of people at this place. We shared a scoop of mango gelato and I can definitely see why it’s a popular spot with locals and tourists.

Website: www.dorogc.com

What we ordered: Mango Gelato

Turnabout Luxury Resale - Oak & Fort Camel Coat / H&M - Green Dress

Chinatown

Fat Mao Noodles

Address: 217 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z6

There use to be a spot in downtown Edmonton my family and I would go to and we specifically would go there for their Thai spicy boat noodles. Due to the pandemic, the restaurant is no longer there so my cravings for boat noodles has not been meant in a hot minute! So while doing my research, I found Fat Mao in Chinatown and reviewed their menu and I was elated to see they served Spicy Boat Noodles. Thinking about the boat noodle from Fat Mao makes me salivate! It is better than the one I had in Edmonton!!! That’s saying A LOT!

Thai spicy boat noodles know as kuaytiaw reua were originally served by merchant on boats that traversed Bangkok’s canals. Now you can find kuaytiaw reua in restaurants in Thailand. The boat noodle at Fat Mao contains a rich beef and pork broth served with tender slices of beef shank, meatballs and fried pork cracklings garnished with bean sprouts, cilantro, green onion, basil and pak chi. It has great depth of flavours. It is spicy, tangy, sweet and salty. I did not have to add anything to my broth. I LOVE IT VERY MUCH and guaranteed, Fat Mao will be a staple restaurant for me when I visit Vancouver.

Note: Fat Mao Noodles just opened a second location in downtown which can be found at 83 Helmcken Street.

Website: www.fatmaonoodles.com

What we ordered: Spicy Boat Noodles and Braised Duck Noodles

Mello

Address: 223 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2T9

It’s always Mello o’clock when I’m down here visiting Chinatown. I heard they just open a new location at 4635 Arbutus Street.

Our family always raves about Mello to anyone who visits Vancouver. No word of a lie, but we told our cousins about Mello and they brought their friends from Surrey here. Apparently one of their friend loves it so much she drives all the way from Surrey, ALMOST EVERYDAY to eat Mello’s delicious brioche donuts! Now that’s a die hard fan! Chris and I enjoyed three donuts and by far I’m still a fan of the cereal & milk one! Their donuts always hits the spot. It’s fluffy, moist, chewy, and not too sweet. Mello donuts are tasty and just perfection.

Website: www.mellovancouver.com

What we ordered: Vanilla, Cereal & Milk and Matcha

Propaganda Coffee

Address: 209 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T8

I love to discover the best and new coffee spots when I travel but when I come to Chinatown, it’s a must for me to stop at Propaganda Coffee. It’s always a vibe and the coffee here is always good and consistent. Beautiful space, great customer service and a quiet spot to enjoy a nice conversation or do some work.

Website: www.propagandacoffee.ca

What we ordered: Ice Americano and Ice Latte

Main Street

Vintage & Shopping

Address: 3243 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M6

Address: 128 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7

The Corner Store - Address: 2601 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E7

Address: 2541 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E5

Tocador

Address: 2610 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E6

Tocador is a lively, chic and colourful Cuban restaurant situated in the heart of Mount Pleasant serving seasonal dishes and happy hour special. The weather was exceptional that day so it was obligatory we continue to enjoy it while we can. Plus, I cannot say no to an outdoor patio decorated with plants, straw umbrellas and a pink flamingo!

We ordered drinks from their happy hour menu but even though I was full from our lunch, I wanted to accompany it with a snack from their menu. I settled on their ceviche which had fresh ahi tuna, salsa bruja and house-made tortilla chips. It was killer! This trip to Vancouver, I've been having amazingly luck with ordering delicious dishes and the ahi tuna ceviche at Tocador is one of them. I sound redundant but it was the best ceviche I ever had! You know how some ceviche is just sour and nothing special. This ceviche was bright, refreshing and delightfully acidic. It was a party in my mouth and quenching my thirst with the delicious Guava Spritz made it even more satisfying.

Website: www.tocador.ca

What we ordered: Ceviche, Guava Spritz and Four Winds Lager

Anh and Chi

Address: 3388 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M7

Anh and Chi is an award-winning restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese fare, natural wines & creative cocktails. Not only is it a beautiful, vibrant place but we had great customer service and the noodle soups we ordered for lunch were utterly satisfying. Chris ordered the Phở Hoàng and I ordered myself my go-to Bún Bò Huế. Preferably, I would ask the server to substitute my noodles to pho noodles because I enjoy the texture better but I sticked to the original. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that it’s the best BBH I ever had! Even better than my usual spot I frequent back home. I didn’t have to add anything. The broth had lemongrass notes, it was salty, a tad spicy and great umami flavour. I tried Chris’s broth and it was also very good. A nice thin layer of fat surfaced the bowl. It was savoury and rich, while still feeling clean and refreshing at the same time. A well-balance note of sweet, salty and citrusy with cilantro and red onion toppings. I would come here again in a heart beat but this time I would love to bring my brother and sister.

Anh and Chi creates an inviting place that embraces group sharing and I would love to try the dishes from their bucket list which includes: Khay Bánh Hỏi Lụi Nướng – DIY Street-Side Platter; Bò Né - Vietnamese Steak & Eggs; and, Bánh Xèo – Turmeric Crêpe.

Website: www.anhandchi.com

What we ordered: Phở Hoàng - Beef Noodle Soup, Bún Bò Huế - Spicy Noodle Soup and Café Sữa

Smitty’s Oyster House on Main

Address: 3124 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7

Whenever I am in Vancouver, I have to satisfy my cravings of fresh sushi and raw oysters. It’s even better when I can get plenty of fresh raw oysters at a great price. Luckily, I was able to find Smitty’s Oyster House on Main during happy hour. The server told us the Prince Edward Island oysters were the ones on Happy Hour so I believe we ordered a dozen of them. I would say the east coast oysters were rather small in size compared to the west coast oysters I ate at Ebisu on Robson. Even though they are smaller in size, I must say I prefer the east coast oysters. I prefer it because it is less briny, sweet and leaves a clean aftertaste. Usually I eat my raw oysters with a fresh squeeze of lemon but this time, I tried their assortment of sauces and grated horseradish and I was extremely pleased.

Website. www.smittysonmain.com

What we ordered: Dozen of PEI Oysters, House Wine and House Beer