There is no shortage of iconic Canadian snacks and each province has their list of beloved treats locals love.
With Vancouver’s incredible culinary scene, it’s no surprise that the city has a variety of popular West Coast snacks.
From fish tacos to Lee’s Donuts and of course White Spot burgers, these are just some foods that you need to try if you want to call yourself a true Vancouver local.
Look through our list to see how many of these 15 iconic snacks you have tried and how many should go on your list ASAP.
Fish tacos at Tacofino
Address: 1025 Mainland St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: Tacofino was started in the back of a surf shop parking lot in Tofino and the chain now has several locations in Vancouver.
Fish tacos are a staple in West Coast cuisine since they are made with fresh seafood straight from the ocean. If you haven’t tried fish tacos from Tacofino you’re missing out!
Caesar from Score on Davie
Address: 1262 Davie St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: Caesars are Canadian cocktails, but how they’re served varies by location. Whether you love the cocktail or not, if you’re ever going to try one it should be at Score on Davie. This place is well-known for its massive Caesars that essentially come with appetizers or a meal on top.
Some of their Caesars come stacked with onion rings, chicken wings, a cheeseburger or corn dogs.
Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo
Why You Need To Try It: This dessert was created in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, but regardless of where its origin is, Vancouver locals should try this delicious treat.
Nanaimo bars are made up of graham wafer crumbs, coconut, a custard filling and are topped with a layer of chocolate.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can even hop on a ferry to Nanaimo to try the treat in the city it comes from.
Wild Pacific salmon
Why You Need To Try It: Vancouver is known for its seafood and that includes wild Pacific salmon.
Next time you head out for dinner, order wild salmon that is caught off the coast of B.C. It just doesn’t get fresher than that!
California sushi roll from Chef Tojo
Address: 1133 W Broadway, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: Even though it’s called a California roll, this sushi roll was invented in Vancouver by chef Hidekazu Tojo who emigrated to B.C. from Osaka, Japan.
After coming to Vancouver, Tojo realized how limited the sushi palates of Vancouverites were at the time so he created a much simpler roll consisting of sushi rice, dried seaweed, avocado, crab and cucumber, as per a report by Lonely Planet.
So if you’re going to try a California roll for the first time, there’s no better place than Tojo’s Restaurant.
JapaDog
Address: Multiple locations
Why You Need To Try It: JapaDog isn’t your ordinary hot dog stand. This spot makes Japanese-style hot dogs that many Vancouver locals have tasted. The menu includes hot dogs like the Cheese Tonkatsku, Chicken Karaage and Wagyu Terimayo.
If you haven’t had one yet, stop delaying it and go grab a Japadog!
Lee’s Donuts
Address: 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: Lee’s Donuts is a mom and pop shop located inside the Granville Island Public Market.
These delicious donuts are loved by many locals, including B.C. native Seth Rogen who has talked about how he grew up eating these treats.
Rain or Shine Ice Cream
Address: 1926 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: Rain or Shine Ice Cream is a widely popular ice cream shop in Vancouver that many locals will head to on a hot summer day.
This spot is known for its unique seasonal flavours that are made in-house using local ingredients.
Fresh spot prawns
Why You Need To Try It: Fresh spot prawns are a beloved delicacy in Vancouver and there’s no better spot than to get them right from the source at the Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf. If you don’t feel like cooking these up by yourself, you could also order them at a variety of Vancouver restaurants.
Spot prawns are such a Vancouver thing that the city even hosts an annual Spot Prawn Festival. This year’s event will be held on May 26 at Fisherman’s Wharf on False Creek.
B.C.’s 2024 spot prawn season will begin on May 15 and will continue for 30-40 days.
White Spot burger
Address: Multiple locations
Why You Need To Try It: If you haven’t tried a White Spot burger, how can you call yourself a true Vancouver local?
This chain restaurant originated in Vancouver and is known for its hamburgers, Pirate Pak children’s meal, “Triple O” sauce and milkshakes.
Fish and Chips from Go Fish
Address: 1505 W 1st Ave, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: Fresh fish and chips is the perfect takeout dinner in Vancouver on a nice hot day and what better way than to enjoy it by the water?
Candied salmon
Address: 1689 Johnston St #102, Vancouver
Why You Need To Try It: This snack is a local specialty on Canada’s West Coast. The salmon is brined, sugared and smoked which is how it gets its sweet and smoky flavour.
You can pick up candied salmon from a variety of stores in Vancouver, including at Longliner Seafoods inside Granville Island Public Market.
Shaft cocktail
Why You Need To Try It: There’s been a long debate about whether the shaft cocktail was created in Victoria, B.C. or Calgary, Alberta.
Nevertheless, this a drink you can find on the West Coast and it’s worth trying if you’re a coffee drinker.
Shaft cocktails are typically made with vodka, coffee liqueur like Kahlua and cold brew or espresso.
Fresh oysters
Why You Need To Try It: Since Vancouver is right by the ocean, oysters at one of the city’s restaurants are a must-try.
Many Vancouver restaurants even have $2 oyster daily happy hours so you can enjoy this treat for cheap next time you’re on a patio.
London Fog
Why You Need To Try It: Despite the name, the London Fog was created in Vancouver.
This tea latte is made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk and vanilla syrup. It’s a perfect beverage to drink at a Vancouver cafe during a rainy day.
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