October 24 2022, Dilawri BC
This season, get cosy by trying out some new restaurants in the Lower Mainland that feature comfort-food essentials, hot noodle soups, and more.
Downtown Vancouver
Fat Mao Noodles
Nothing says ‘comfort food’ like a bowl of handmade noodles in hot soup. Following his popular first outpost in Chinatown, Chef Angus An has opened a second location of Fat Mao in the heart of downtown. The 25-seat resto serves up Thai-style soups, including fan favourites like the rich Khao Soi chicken curry, and dishes unique to this location, like the not-to-be-missed Shave Ice dessert with Thai Iced Tea Panna Cotta.
Archer
A beautifully presented dish of umami-rich Foraged Mushrooms; Charred Octopus with baby beets; Hokkaido Scallops on little beds of arborio and cauliflower risotto. Modern West Coast cuisine is what you’ll find at Archer, which opened in late September on Alberni Street. With its super-chic coastal green interior design, this is the perfect downtown date spot.
Vancouver's Main Street
Suyo
Chef Ricardo Valverde moved to Canada from Peru at the age of 18, then worked in celebrated Vancouver kitchens like Blue Water Cafe and Ancora before opening Suyo. His restaurant is an ode to his heritage—the name is a South American Indigenous word that means homeland—and you can taste it via delicious dishes like Aji de Gallina Ravioli, a take on the creamy Peruvian chili-chicken stew, and Andean Tartare with steelhead salmon.
Afuri Ramen
The second location of this popular ramen restaurant (the other is in Richmond) is now open on the corner of 12th and Main. In addition to noodle soup, the Tokyo-based chain is known for its MSG-free dishes and delicious dumplings. Of note: this location also has a specialty Wagyu Shoyu ramen, made with Australian Wagyu beef.
Coquitlam & Port Coquitlam
On & Off
Serving up American and European breakfast and lunch (and, eventually, dinner), this beautifully designed resto specializes in decadent comfort foods. Think Prawn & Avocado Eggs Benedict, Porchetta & Truffle Belgian Fries, and Caramel French Toast made with brioche and served with ice cream. On & Off only had its grand opening in September and it’s already a neighbourhood favourite—go early to avoid disappointment.
Thai Coco House
Bold flavours and fresh ingredients form the base for Bangkok-born chef Jenny Lertvisudth’s deliciously authentic Thai cuisine. The menu is divided by various family members (Grandpa’s Noodle Bowls, Uncle Art’s Famous Rice Bowls) and boasts warming curries, fresh salads and cold wraps, flavourful fried rice and noodle bowls, and more.
Burnaby
Claudio’s Ristorante
Open since the summer, but definitely worth trying if you have yet to experience it, Claudio’s in North Burnaby showcases the very best of Italian cuisine: Venetian-style cicchetti, brick-oven pizza, and family-style share-plates. It replaces Pasta Amore—a neighbourhood fixture since 2000—and was started by founder Claudio Magagnin’s sons.
H&P Noodle House
Joining its first Lower Mainland location in PoCo, H&P Noodle House is now open in Burnaby. Vietnamese and Thai food is their specialty, so if traditional Beef Rice Noodle Soup, Pad Thai, and Shanghai Noodles are what warms your heart on cold winter nights, this place is for you.
Abbotsford
The Tavern on the Green
Go for the golf, stay for the fabulous cuisine—or don’t even golf, and just go for dinner. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Tavern on the Green boasts incredible views of the golf course and serves elevated dishes like Confit Fraser Valley Duck Leg, Apple Cider Brined Pork Tomahawk, and Charred Prawn Noodle Bowl. (Yes, they also have classics like burgers and fish ‘n chips.)
Old Yale Brewing
Put this on your radar for winter: Chilliwack-based Old Yale Brewing will be opening a 220-seat craft brewery in the heart of downtown Abbotsford in the next few months. This sure-to-be-busy gathering place will have a hectolitre brewery on site as well as a games ‘lodge’, beer shop, and ‘little explorers’ corner for the kids.
Honourable Mentions
If you have a sweet tooth and a love of caffeine, add these bakeries to your ‘must check out’ list. Passenger, serving up cakes, smoothies, and pastries in New Westminster; Faubourg Paris’ new location, on the ground floor of the OPUS Hotel in Yaletown; and local favourite Beaucoup Bakery’s soon-to-open second location in Vancouver’s St. Regis Hotel.
As the weather turns cooler, treat yourself to some warming meals at one of these new hot spots.
Dine in, or take out—whatever your cosy-weather cravings require.
