Market Hauls and Local Noms

Spotlighting Local Businesses Around the Globe

Around the World in Metro Vancouver: Local Noms Guide

Here’s a list of my favorite places to eat in Metro Vancouver, organized by country or region.

BAKERIES AND DESSERT SHOPS

CHINA

Level V Bakery: A wonderful vegan bakery and café in Mount Pleasant offering an impressive lineup of traditional pastries like macarons, croissants, and cream puffs, alongside Asian-inspired treats like hojicha opera cake and mochi muffins. They also offer vegan takes on classic Chinese bakery items, such as pineapple buns, egg tarts, and barbecue pork buns. Click here to learn more about the owner, Monica, and the story behind the bakery.

Clockwise from left: Ube & Pineapple, Tiramisu & Chestnut, Matcha Mung Bean, and Red Bean Moon Cakes.

FRANCE

Bon Macaron Patisserie: A Granville Island Public Market vendor offering an extensive array of sweet and savory macarons—airy French treats made with two meringue shells and a scrumptious filling—along with weekly and seasonal specials. NB: You can also take French Macaron Baking Classes at their Granville Island and downtown Victoria locations. Click here for more information.

Macaron flavors, from left to right, top to bottom: Goat Cheese, Beetroot & Honey, Gouda & Chives, Truffle & Pink Salt, Blue Cheese, Pear & Walnut, Tomato Basil, and Goat Cheese & Fig.

La Bise Bakery: An artisanal bakery specializing in canelés, a delectable French pastry with a crunchy, caramelized exterior and a moist, rum-and-vanilla-infused custard interior. Click here to learn more about owner Nicole Scriabin and the story behind La Bise Bakery.

Sampler box of mini canelés. Flavors pictured, from top to bottom, left to right: Chocolate Hazelnut, Passionfruit Curd, Bitter Orange Marmalade, Spiced Pumpkin, Black Sesame White Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Pistachio Cream, Cookie Butter, and Lemon Curd.

INDIA/JAPAN

Tokyo Mithaiwala: An innovative Surrey-based business offering Indian sweets (mithai) with a Japanese soul. Click here to learn more about owners Raji and Tomoko Sandhar and the story behind Tokyo Mithaiwala.

9-Piece Signature Diwali Collection Mithai Box. Top row, from left to right: Purple Yam Roll, Rose Elaichi Barfi, and Motichoor Pista Barfi. Middle row, from left to right: Matcha Barfi, Motichoor Kesar Bon Bon, and Neapolitan Barfi. Bottom row, from left to right: Cappuccino Kalakand, Bounty Barfi, and Oreo Besan Barfi.

JAPAN

Kanadell Japanese Bakery: A Japanese bakery owned by Keiko Nakanishi, who came to Vancouver from Japan on a working holiday visa in 2011 with no intention of staying long-term. The name Kanadell comes from the Japanese verb kanaderu (奏でる), which Keiko translates as ‘making great sounds with objects in great harmony.’ Click here to learn more.

Matcha, Red Bean, Black Sesame, Coffee, Chocolate, and Earl Grey Vegan Mini Mochi Bites surrounding a Pumpkin Spice Melon Pan.

Wa-Bagel by Aburi: A popular downtown Vancouver spot offering Japanese-style bagels. Click here to learn more about Wa-Bagel’s head baker, Yukiko Iikura, and how she crafts her beloved bagels.

Strawberry Cheesecake, Sweet Potato & Black Sesame, and Matcha Cheesecake Japanese-style bagels.

MEXICO

La Bakeria Bakeshop: An unmissable destination for plant-based, Mexican-inspired baked goods, including unique and delicious conchas—a type of brioche-like pan dulce named for its crunchy, seashell-shaped topping. Click here to learn more about the founders, Lucía and Estefanía, and the story behind their women-owned and operated business.

Spooky Concha 4 Pack (an assortment of Halloween-themed vanilla conchas), Pan de Muerto filled with chocolate ganache and topped with sugar, and Pan de Muerto filled with guava paste and cream cheese, topped with sesame seeds.

ROMANIA

Transylvanian Traditions: A petite West End bakery offering an impressive and extensive array of decadent delights, including over a dozen preservative-free European cakes, macarons, and Transylvanian breads and pies. Click here to learn more about the owners, Alexandru and Narcisa Stoian, and the story behind their business.

Savarina (Romanian bread crumbs cake soaked in syrup infused with lemon juice and rum, topped with a generous heap of homemade whipped cream and drizzled with crushed strawberry sauce), Amandina (Romanian chocolate sponge cake soaked in rum syrup, filled with layers of homemade chocolate cream, and garnished with chocolate fondant), and Dobos Torte (Hungarian sponge cake with eight thin layers of cake filled with chocolate cream, Nutella, and buttercream).

RESTAURANTS

AFGHANISTAN

Jamila’s Afghan Cuisine: A halal restaurant on Commercial Drive offering Afghan-Indian fusion eats. Click here to learn more about Malik and Jamila Malikzada, the award-winning husband-and-wife duo behind the business.

Aushak: Afghan dumplings stuffed with leeks, spinach, onions, and spices, served with garlic yogurt and a rich tomato-lentil sauce.

AUSTRALIA

Peaked Pies: A family-run business with locations in Burnaby, Vancouver, and Whistler, named for their iconic specialty: Aussie-style pies ‘peaked’ with mashed potatoes and mushy green peas, then smothered in gravy. Click here to learn more about the owners, Kerri and Alex, and the story behind their business.

Vegetable Medley Peaked Pie, Minington (mini Lamington—Aussie sponge cake covered in chocolate and grated coconut), and Anzac Biscuit.

BAHAMAS/JAPAN

The Lion’s Den Café: A legendary all-day breakfast joint founded by Bahamas native Ken Brooks. The café’s budget-friendly menu, curated by Ken’s wife and co-owner Junko, features breakfast classics, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, and ‘Japaribbean’ dishes that honor the couple’s Japanese and Caribbean heritage. Click here to learn more about Ken, Junko, and the café.

Japaribbean Curry Vegetables served with Rice & Beans and Cornbread.

BRAZIL

Brazilliant Café & Catering: A vegan-friendly downtown Vancouver spot offering authentic Brazilian fare. Options include dine-in, pick-up, delivery, catering, and meal prep. Click here for more information.

Vegan Feijoada (a flavorful black bean stew and Brazil’s national dish) with vegan sausage, smoked tofu, carrots, fresh mushrooms, rice, sautéed kale, farofa (roasted cassava flour), tomato, onion, and parsley vinaigrette, and a slice of orange.

EGYPT

Koshari Zooba: A Port Moody gem serving delicious homemade Egyptian cuisine. The name is an homage to Egypt’s iconic national dish, koshari—a hearty combination of rice, vermicelli, pasta, brown lentils, chickpeas, and fried onions. Click here to learn more about Ahmed and Asmaa, the lovely husband-and-wife duo behind the business.

Koshari served with tomato-based garlic sauce, da’ah (garlic lemon vinegar dressing), hot sauce, chickpeas, and fried onions.

EL SALVADOR

El Caracol Café: A colorful, casual, and incredibly welcoming three-generation family restaurant serving Mexican, Honduran, and Salvadoran street fare. Click here to learn more about the owner, Maria, and her family’s story.

Quesadilla Salvadoreña: A Salvadoran cheese cake made with rice flour and topped with sesame seeds.

NETHERLANDS

Dutch Wooden Shoe Café: A breakfast and brunch spot opened by the late John Dys, the BC legend who introduced pannekoek (thin Dutch pancakes made without sugar or leavening agents) to Vancouver in 1975. Click here to learn more about Dys and the Dutch Wooden Shoe Café.

Huevos Rancheros Pannekoek with tomato, onion, corn, and green pepper mixed into the batter, topped with melted cheddar, salsa, two fried eggs, vegetarian chili, and sour cream.

SOUTH KOREA

Illo Kimbap Café: A must-visit Coquitlam joint offering healthy and tasty Korean food made with handmade, non-processed ingredients. Owner Bona Kwon created Illo Kimbap Café to spread the joy of kimbap (김밥)—a beloved Korean roll made with seaweed (김) and rice (밥). Click here to read more about Bona and Illo.

Soba Kimbap with pickled radish, burdock, cucumber, yubu (fried bean curd), and a rolled egg omelette, all enveloped in soba noodles instead of rice, with an outer layer of seaweed and egg crepe; Pumpkin Sando; and Honey Sweet Potato Tiramisu.

SYRIA

Tayybeh: A fantastic social enterprise, caterer, and restaurant that helps newcomer women find employment, financial independence, and social integration while sharing the food they know and love. They offer a delightful Traditional Syrian Brunch and a Middle Eastern High Tea that I can’t wait to try next time I’m in the area. Check out their website to learn more.

Traditional Syrian Brunch with Fatteh (pita chips and chickpeas in yogurt-tahini sauce), Manakeesh Mhamarra (flatbread with roasted red pepper spread), Labneh (strained yogurt), falafel, veggies, olives, and pickles.

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Hannah

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