25+ Top Picks for Dine Out Vancouver You Will Not Want to Miss

Dine Out Vancouver is the most delicious time of the year for foodies in the city. It lets them explore the vibrant culinary landscape and savour Canada’s largest food and drink festival. For some, it’s about value. For others, it’s discovery. It’s a chance to try Michelin-starred restaurants, visit hot spots, enjoy unique experiences, or return to trusted favourites.

During Dine Out Vancouver, from January 21 to February 8, hundreds of Vancouver’s top restaurants offer fixed-price menus. These restaurants present three-course menus for brunch, lunch, or dinner at thoughtful prices. There are also standout culinary events, ranging from sea foraging adventures to dumpling festivals.

With limited evening availability, the festival offers an opportunity to enjoy Michelin-starred tasting menus. It’s a chance to appreciate refined dining experiences.

These are my top picks—places where food, atmosphere, and hospitality come together. Dine Out Vancouver is an excellent opportunity to enjoy good food with friends, family, or on a date night.

Don’t miss out—reserve your table now and experience these culinary delights before February 8.

Top Picks for Dine Out Vancouver

Let’s start with two of my favourites. Burdock & Co and Bar Gobo stand as defining forces of Dine Out Vancouver. With a Michelin pedigree and music-driven hospitality, the Burdock family lights up the 24th festival. Playful creativity shines, like their twist of house-made Vegemite.

Burdock & Co – Mount Pleasant

Burdock & Co extends its Dine Out offer by one night, through February 9, a fitting gesture for a restaurant that leads by example.
At Burdock & Co, the Dine Out menu is a three-course version of their usual tasting menu. It is priced at $110 (regularly $165) in the Michelin-star category. The menu is titled Australian Road Trip Under a Cold Moon.

Dishes feature native wattleseed and macadamia. Charred carrot comes with kumquat, and BC lamb is complemented by finger lime and eucalyptus. Chef Andrea Carlson draws inspiration from her travels in South Australia and Victoria. She incorporates bright Australian botanicals and sun-warmed flavours into a menu that reflects the Pacific Northwest.

British Columbia oysters are paired with medlars, an autumn fruit with a tart-sweet flavour, and passion fruit. Australian ingredients—Geraldton wax leaves (known for their citrus aroma), pepper berries (spicy, fruity notes), and wattle seeds (nutty, chocolaty flavour), add aromatic depth.

The meal may begin with a pho-like broth featuring tender kangaroo loin. Next, enjoy roasted lamb glazed with house-made Vegemite, made from local brewers’ yeast. Optional wine pairings and non-alcoholic cocktails are available to enhance this grounded yet adventurous experience. Read my review.

The Best Dine Out Vancouver Restaurants – Burdock and Co Chef Andrea Carlson prepares the new tasting menu, Australian Road Trip Under a Cold Moon. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Australian Road Trip Under a Cold Moon, Burdock & Co’s newest tasting menu. (Left) Australian native spice broth, Pepper Leaf & Cinnamon Myrtle, two-year-aged herring garum. Kangaroo Loin. (Right) Brassneck Vegemite-roasted lamb loin, squash, and Wattle Seed tart. caramelized onion and malt. Wattle Seed jus. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Bar Gobo – Strathcona/Chinatown

At Bar Gobo, the atmosphere changes but remains connected to Burdock & Co’s flair. Chef Ralph Cravalho draws on Filipino influences and French training. He anchors a $65 three-course menu blending comfort and finesse. Starters include beef tartare with crispy shallots and sweet, savoury fish sauce caramel. The main is bavette steak paired with lemongrass-infused pomme purée. This adds citrus brightness. Another dish features albacore tuna served with gnocchi in a tamarind beurre blanc. The sauce balances acidity with creaminess.

The Michelin-recommended hi-fi wine bar continues its vinyl program during the festival. Low-intervention wines and local produce pair with a custom sound system. Records play as intended—unhurried and immersive. This cements Bar Gobo’s reputation for thoughtful dining.

Burdock & Co and Bar Gobo show what Dine Out Vancouver can be. It is giving, creative, clear, and marked by service that goes further than just food. Read my review.

Bar Gobo GM/DJ Paul McCloskey spins some tunes with the restaurant’s co-owner Kevin Bismanis. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Seasons in the Park

Elevated by sweeping park and city views, it remains a favourite for its food and setting (Read my full review.)

Golden hour views of Seasons in the Park at Queen Elizabeth Park, one of the best summer patios in Vancouver. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Cardero’s

A waterfront restaurant that reflects Vancouver’s coastal identity.
 Seafood, marina views, and an easy pace make it consistently appealing. (Full review.)

The Teahouse in Stanley Park

A timeless Vancouver institution with a heritage setting in one of the city’s most loved spaces. (Read the full review.)

Coast – Downtown

A steady presence in Vancouver’s seafood landscape.
 People return for familiarity, reliable execution, and clean West Coast flavours. One of my favourites that I always return to.

Blue Water Cafe – Yaletown

Known for impeccable seafood sourcing, it is one of the city’s most respected seafood dining rooms.
 Its track record continues to set a standard. Blue Water doesn’t chase trends; it refines them.

Kobe Japanese Steak House – Downtown

Dinner and a show. A classic teppanyaki room where cooking happens in full view.
 The Kobe experience matters as much for its energy and tradition as for its food, in a fun and entertaining atmosphere. When I visited, many were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and I can see why.

Chambar – Downtown Eastside

A long-standing favourite inspired by Belgian and North African flavours.
 Known for mussels, waffles, and a room that feels lived-in and lively.

Desi Indian Lounge – Downtown

Indian cuisine presented with focus and restraint. 
Flavour is layered carefully, without leaning on heaviness or heat. It is one of the city’s best kept secrets. I’ve already booked again to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Executive Chef Bal Ajgaonkar, Desi Indian Lounge, Vancouver, tasting menu. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

C|Prime – Downtown

At C|Prime, chef Behshad Zolnasr and his exceptionally skilled team deliver a refined collection of seasonal dishes rooted in local ingredients and executed with precision. The kitchen’s commitment to craft is unmistakable, particularly in its fresh, handmade pasta, which has drawn praise from visiting chefs from three-Michelin-star kitchens. When chefs of that calibre describe a restaurant as underrated, it commands attention.

CinCin Ristorante + Bar – Robson Street

A cornerstone of Vancouver’s Italian dining scene.
 House-made pastas and a strong wine culture.

L’Abattoir – Gastown

French technique and West Coast ingredients meet without fuss. A Michelin-recommended dining room known for discipline and quiet confidence. Read about my last visit Québec Meets Vancouver: Culinary Magic at L’Abattoir

Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge – Downtown

Old-world elegance set within the Wedgewood Hotel. The menu reflects classical French technique executed with care and consistency. 
It matters for preserving a European sense of dining ritual. It’s also one of the best spots for Afternoon Tea in the city.

Hart House Restaurant – Deer Lake, Burnaby

Best Dine Out Vancouver Restaurants at the Top of My List to Try

TOUK – Mount Pleasant

Published on Main – Mount Pleasant

Mackenzie Room – Strathcona

Riley’s Fish & Steak – Downtown