The Surrey Spice Trail took me on a culinary journey around the world without leaving Metro Vancouver. From Mexican music and sizzling molcajete to Afghan family recipes, Indian street food and Japanese hot pots, the variety was remarkable. Even more surprising, every restaurant we visited was in a strip mall or shopping plaza. With more than 700 restaurants across Surrey, there’s a lot to discover and the curated Spice Trail is a great place to begin.
I came not only for the food, but to learn about the stories and inspiration behind it. I loved hearing how three generations help shape the menu at Afghan Kitchen, trying cactus for the first time at Guacamole Mexican Grill and learning the proper way to eat golgappa at Apna Chaat House. By the end of the day, I’d discovered much more than a few new favourite dishes. I’d met the people keeping their culinary traditions alive in Surrey, one family recipe at a time.
Guacamole Mexican Grill — Sizzling Molcajete and Live Music
We began the Surrey Spice Trail adventure at Guacamole Mexican Grill where the lively atmosphere immediately set the day’s mood. We were introduced to a new molcajete specialty served in a traditional heated Mexican stone bowl. The generous dish included a selection of Mexican favourites and cactus, a traditional ingredient in Mexican cooking. Our host explained how the cactus was carefully prepared, with its spines removed before cooking.
While we waited for our food, the owner, Marvin Magana, entertained us with Mexican songs, including Si Nos Dejan. A spectacular platter of nachos heading to another table also caught my attention. The portion looked enormous and it’s something I’d order on a return visit.
My recommendation: Visit when the live musicians are performing. The food, music and lively atmosphere make this a particularly enjoyable stop. Live music is normally featured on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Our first stop on the curated Surrey Spice Trail with owner Marvin Magana of Guacamole Mexican Grill and his signature dish, Sizzling Molcajete. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Kerala Kitchen — Discover the Flavours of South India
At Kerala Kitchen, Chef Sujith Raj introduced us to the culinary traditions of Kerala, a state on India’s southwestern coast. Kerala’s cuisine has distinctive flavours, with coconut, curry leaves, and aromatic spices featuring prominently in many dishes.
Our tasting included beef ularthiyathu, a richly seasoned Kerala-style beef dish, accompanied by flaky, layered parotta and curry. Parotta is a wonderful flatbread, with delicate layers that pull apart easily and are perfect for scooping up sauces. The combination of textures and spices made this the perfect introduction to South Indian cooking.
For anyone more familiar with butter chicken and naan on Indian restaurant menus, Kerala Kitchen offers a chance to explore a different regional cuisine.
On the Surrey Spice Trail with Kerala Kitchen Chef Sujith Raj. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Kerala-style beef dish, accompanied by flaky, layered parotta and curry. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Apna Chaat House — Indian Street Food and a Colourful Surprise
Apna Chaat House celebrates India’s vibrant street-food culture right down to the colourful artwork and an actual auto-rickshaw inside the restaurant. Naturally, I couldn’t resist climbing aboard for a photograph.
Our tasting featured golgappa. These delicate, hollow, crispy shells are filled with savoury ingredients and flavoured water. The trick is to eat each one in a single bite before the shell breaks. It’s messy if you get it wrong, but that’s part of the fun. Known as pani puri in many parts of India, this popular street food comes with different fillings and flavoured waters, ranging from tangy and spicy to sweet.
My recommendation: For a weekday visit, the unlimited street-food lunch special offers a weekly rotating selection of freshly prepared Indian street-food favourites.
Travel writer Wendy Nordvik-Carr in the auto-rickshaw displayed Apna Chaat House along with colourful street art on the curated Surrey Spice Trail. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Media tasting golgappa at the Apna Chaat House, part of the curated Surrey Spice Trail. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Afghan Kitchen — Family Recipes and Afghan Hospitality
Afghan Kitchen was one of my favourite stops on the Surrey Spice Trail both for the food and the family’s remarkable story. Ace, whose traditional name is Asan, welcomed us and explained how the restaurant was designed to share his family’s Afghan heritage.
The artwork immediately caught my attention. Each painting represents something meaningful about Afghanistan, including its landscapes and cultural traditions. In one corner of the restaurant, a traditional seating area invites guests to experience something closer to an Afghan family living room. Cushions and low seating recreate the way families gather to share meals at home.
The family connection continues in the kitchen. Ace explained that new dishes must earn his mother’s approval before they make it onto the menu. Sometimes, they take them home for his grandmother to taste, bringing another generation into the decision.
We enjoyed mantu, traditional Afghan dumplings filled with beef. Ace explained that in Afghanistan, mantu is often reserved for special occasions when family members gather to prepare the dumplings together.
The family has another restaurant on Vancouver’s Main Street, in the area known as the Michelin Mile, where a second location offers another take on their Afghan dining experience.
My recommendation: Order the mantu and take time to appreciate the artwork and traditional seating area. This is one restaurant I’d happily return to, both for the food and the warm family hospitality.
Asan and his mom at their restaurant Afghan Kitchen on the Surrey Spice Trail
Kin Thai Kitchen & Bar — Thai Flavours in a Relaxing Setting
Kin Thai Kitchen & Bar offers a relaxing place to enjoy Thai cuisine in South Surrey.
We sampled vegetable lettuce wraps and chicken satay, two dishes that showcase the fresh ingredients and aromatic flavours of Thai cooking. The menu offers a variety of Thai favourites, bringing together the sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavours characteristic of the cuisine.
Gamamaru Shokudo — Japanese Hot Pots, Soju and Sake
Our final restaurant stop introduced us to nabe, a traditional Japanese hot pot. The generous pot arrived filled with thinly sliced meat, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, vegetables and other ingredients ready to cook in a very flavourful broth.
Nabe, short for nabemono, is a popular Japanese comfort food, particularly during colder weather. It’s also a wonderfully social way to dine with ingredients simmering together in a shared pot. Gamamaru Shokudo offers several varieties, including sukiyaki, chicken nabe and assorted oden nabe. The extensive menu also features sashimi, grilled skewers and Korean-influenced dishes.
Japanese sake is available, as is a range of Korean soju in flavours such as grapefruit, plum, strawberry, peach and mango. There’s even a three-shot flavoured soju sampler for anyone curious to try a selection.
My recommendation: Come hungry, order a nabe to share and explore the sake and soju selections.
Nabe, a traditional Japanese hot pot and sashimi at Gamamaru Shokudo on the Surrey Spice Trail. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
More Surrey Spice Trail Treats Along the Way
We also sampled treats from three other Surrey businesses between our restaurant stops, including one of the best empanadas I’ve had.
Union Latinos — Empanadas Worth Seeking Out
Union Latinos provided a selection of beef, chicken and cheese empanadas. I chose the cheese and what a good choice that turned out to be. Warm, savoury and wonderfully comforting. I could easily become addicted to these.
My recommendation: Don’t overlook the cheese empanada.
Minh Sandwiches — Vietnamese Bánh Mì
Minh Sandwiches supplied bánh mì, the popular Vietnamese sandwich made with a crisp baguette, savoury fillings, fresh vegetables and herbs.
Bánh mì combines French-influenced bread with Vietnamese ingredients and seasonings, making it a convenient and satisfying option for lunch or takeaway.
My recommendation: Pick up a Bánh Mì for a quick lunch while exploring Surrey.
Mann & Co Bakeshop – Cakes That Fool the Eye
Our sweet treat came from Mann & Co Bakeshop, a Surrey bakery founded by award-winning pastry chef Jujhar Mann.
Mann has made quite a name for himself in the baking world, winning Netflix’s Is It Cake? Holiday in 2024 and competitions on Food Network. His creations combine French pastry techniques with flavours inspired by his South Asian heritage.
We sampled a cupcake with a cream-filled centre, but a visit to the bakery’s website afterwards really showed me how imaginative his cakes can be. One looks remarkably like a roasted chicken!
My recommendation: Take a look at Mann’s specialty cakes as well as his cupcakes. His realistic cake designs are quite extraordinary.
Ready to explore the Surrey Spice Trail?
Discover Surrey makes it easier to explore these restaurants independently with a new interactive Spice Trail experience and digital passport that turns Surrey’s diverse food scene into a culinary adventure.
The curated Surrey Spice Trail has evolved from a restaurant guide into an interactive, self-guided culinary experience. The new web app introduces participating restaurants through three elements: Dish, Vibe and Story. Visitors can discover signature dishes, learn about the people behind the restaurants and get a sense of the atmosphere before deciding where to eat.
The digital passport adds another incentive to explore. Visitors can collect badges by visiting featured restaurants and enter a draw for a Surrey staycation after completing the required stops. It’s a fun way to discover unfamiliar cuisines, support independent restaurants and explore neighbourhoods you might not otherwise visit.
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr attended a hosted Discover Surrey media tour. All opinions and editorial content are my own.
About the Author:
Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, an award-winning travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW, IFWTWA and NATJA.
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