Eat Your Lunch Out: 11 great lunches in Chinatown and Strathcona

Sep 3 2016, 2:35 am

Sandwiched between breakfast (the alleged “most important meal of the day”) and dinner (the meal that seems to get all the attention), there’s no good reason to overlook lunch.

Lunch can be the midday bright spot in the workday, or where you linger on a day off. From where to settle in for a marathon chat sesh with the ladies who lunch, to handy spots for quick bites, we’re exploring lunch of all kinds, all around Vancouver.

Here are 11 terrific restaurants for lunch in Vancouver’s Chinatown and Strathcona neighbourhoods.

Crumb Sandwich Shop

This isn’t exactly where you can go sit down and eat, but if you place a pre-order with Crumb Sandwich Shop, you’ll be picking it up from their Strathcona kitchen, and it’s a very worthy option for an easy, fresh, tasty lunch. Specializing in sandwiches and salads, Crumb’s menu includes a zingy Prawn & Bacon sammie on sesame bread, foccacia bread topped pizza-style with all sorts of tempting combos (like sweet potato, bacon, goat cheese, rosemary, thyme, and maple syrup), salads, soups, and they offer a “Lunch Box” combo deal of a sandwich plus side salad or soup for $14.50.

Address: 401 Industrial Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-724-6315
Instagram: @crumbvancouver

Juke

A photo posted by JUKE (@jukefriedchicken) on

Vancouver’s hottest new chicken joint runs an all-day takeout window, so you don’t have to wait until dinner time to get some of their popular fried chicken and sides. The menu is a touch different than what you’ll get in the evening sitting down, but the fried chicken is still finger-licking good (and gluten free!).

Address: 182 Keefer Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-336-5853
Instagram: @jukefriedchicken

Phnom Penh

Lindsay William-Ross/Daily Hive

Lindsay William-Ross/Daily Hive

If you haven’t been to Phnom Penh, make this your next lunch stop. Serving up storied Vietnamese-Cambodian fare in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, this bustling, budget-friendly spot is known for their fried chicken wings, butter beef, and luc lac (beef with rice and egg).

Address: 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-682-5777

The Ramen Butcher

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The first Menya Koji group restaurant in Vancouver (they’re also behind Ramen Gojiro on Dunsmuir), The Ramen Butcher is known for their pork (tonkotsu) ramen and gyoza. You’ll find their daily specials shared via their Instagram account.

Address: 223 East Georgia Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-806-4646
Instagram: @theramenbutcher

The Tuck Shoppe

Kale and Cauliflower Salad with chicken (Lindsay William-Ross / Daily Hive)

Kale and Cauliflower Salad with chicken (Lindsay William-Ross / Daily Hive)

Tuck into super soup, salads, and sandwiches at The Tuck Shoppe, tucked into a tiny spot on Union Street. The vibe inside is cheery and chill, with a bit of summer camp-inspired camp in the decor. If your boss doesn’t mind, knock back one of their Caesars with your lunch…we won’t tell.

Address: 237 Union Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-620-6773
Twitter: @the_tuckshoppe

Campagnolo

It’s hard to go wrong with a meal at Campagnolo, thanks to the enduring quality of their pizzas and pastas. At lunch they offer a shorter menu that includes salads, pizzas, pastas, and appies, like their not-to-be-missed Crispy Ceci (chickpeas).

Address: 1020 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-484-6018
Twitter@campagnoloMain

Axum

Open from noon to 10 pm daily, Axum on Hastings Street is a great spot if you’ve wanted to explore the flavours of Ethiopian cuisine. Their menu includes an array of traditional beef, chicken, lamb, and vegetarian dishes, many available in both hot and mild versions.

Address: 1279 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-253-2986
Twitter: @axum_restaurant

Fat Mao

Noodles, noodles, noodles…okay, and a few tantalizing sides…are on the menu at Fat Mao, Chef Angus An’s Chinatown spot for Thai-Chinese noodle dishes.

Address: 217 East Georgia Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-569-8192
Twitter: @fatmaonoodles

Ba Le Sandwich Shop

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A longstanding go-to for the Vietnamese lunch staple, Ba Le is considered by many to be home to Vancouver’s best banh mi in town. Of course, saying things like that might get you in trouble. Expect a crowded shop, hurried service, and cheap eats here.

Address: 638 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-662-8108

Red Truck’s Truck Stop Diner

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Why not make the beer your focus of your lunch? Even better when you can enjoy your suds with some solid grub. Red Truck’s Vancouver brewery includes their Truck Stop Diner, which offers burgers, sandwiches, wings, fries, and an all-day breakfast menu, too. Oh, and beer. Of course.

Address: 295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-682-4733
Twitter:  @redtruckbeer

Yolk’s Breakfast

Eggs Benedict topped with cheese (Jess Fleming/Daily Hive)

Eggs Benedict topped with cheese (Jess Fleming/Daily Hive)

There’s a reason why Yolk’s Breakfast is held in such high regards amongst foodies here in Vancouver; the casual eatery serves up reliably good brekkie fare all day, every day. Grab a seat and enjoy your eggs benny at their Strathcona outpost.

Address: 1298 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-428-9655
Twitter: @YolksBreakfast

Lindsay William-RossLindsay William-Ross

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