23 B.C. restaurants worth a detour on your next road trip
The weather is starting to get warmer, which means it’s officially road trip season. Time to stock up on your favourite snacks, pack the cooler with some soda, and venture off somewhere fun.
For us at Dished, planning a road trip involves finding the best restaurants along the way for a bite (or planning a trip just to visit a specific restaurant in general).
But which restaurants are worth driving hours on end for? Well, we have some suggestions.
Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway to Whistler or venturing further into our beautiful province, there are plenty of great eats to be had.
Keep on reading to see some of the top B.C. restaurants worth a detour during your next road trip.
Did your favourite not make the list? Let us know in the comments.
Whistler
Mekong – South East Asian Kitchen + Bar
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Led by Executive Chef Boonyawee (Bonnie) Khummuang, each dish served here draws from traditions that have stood the test of time. Expect bold Southeast Asian flavours from dishes like its Geng Gola Beef Tenderloin, Mapo Tofu of Mushrooms, and Crispy Pork Jowl with Yellow Zucchini. Plus, be sure to stop by for its Wednesday Night Market menu, where it serves up a variety of street food-inspired skewers cooked over a traditional charcoal BBQ.
Address: 2067 Lake Placid Rd. #204, Whistler
Lorette Brasserie
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Lorette Brasserie is a new 90-seat spot serving French-Canadian cuisine. The menu includes bites like Onion Tarte Tatin (foie gras torchon, Oka cheese, veal jus), Lobster Vol-au-Vent (sweetbreads, lobster cream), Beef Cheek Bourguignon (champignons, Pemberton carrots, cipollini onion), and Suckling Pig Tourtière (suckling pig, confit duck, grandma’s ketchup, and optional pan-seared foie gras), to name a few.
Address: Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel — 102B-4359 Main St., Whistler
Araxi
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Looking for oysters on your latest trip to Whistler? This is the place. But don’t worry, its selection of Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes and cocktails is excellent as well.
Address: 4222 Village Sq. #110, Whistler
Wild Blue Restaurant
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Since it opened in 2022, Wild Blue has won numerous accolades, including being listed as second in Canada’s Best New Restaurant in Air Canada Magazine and securing the 66th spot on Canada’s 100 Best List for 2023, then climbing to number 33 in 2025. So it’s safe to say you’re in for a good meal if you visit here.
Address: 4005 Whistler Way, Whistler
Galiano Island
Lola
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While Lola is primarily reserved for retreats and special event programs at Bodega Ridge, it occasionally offers a can’t-miss dinner series a couple of times per year. Expect locally caught seafood and local produce from the island, most of which is from the Godega Ridge Farm.
Here, you’ll find a menu written in a blend of Tagalog and English, featuring a variety of Southeast Asian-inspired family-style share plates.
Currently, Lola is temporarily closed while it looks for a new home. But once it reopens, it is definitely worth the trip.
Address: 120 Manastee Rd., Galiano Island
Squamish
Unique Slow Rise Bakery
Marco Ovies/Dished
Unique Slow Rise is serving up dim sum in an outdoor, patio-like setting. Here you can enjoy plenty of siu mai and steamed buns while taking in the views of the falls above. Scenic views and tasty eats? Sign us up.
Address: 36583 Darrell Bay Rd., Squamish
Penticton
Kin and Folk
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When someone with the street cred of Vish Mayekar, chef and owner of one of Vancouver’s buzziest new restaurants, Elem (and Top Chef Canada season 10 contender), recommends a restaurant, we tend to pay attention.
Kin and Folk is a modern Asian fusion restaurant serving a menu inspired by global cuisines, contemporary techniques, fresh ingredients, and local producers. Plus, its cocktail program is nothing to sneeze at either. The team also recently opened a location in Kelowna.
Address: 557 Main St., Penticton
Address: 281 Lawrence Ave., Kelowna
Elma
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Experience a slice of Turkey along the water of Lake Okanagan at Elma. Expect a bright space with decor sourced from Turkey alongside modern Turkish-inspired food made with local ingredients. Plus, its upstairs patio is absolutely gorgeous.
Address: 994 Lakeshore Dr. W., Penticton
Gratify
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Just because Gratify boasts a menu that is free of gluten, dairy, and refined and artificial sugars, doesn’t mean it lacks in any flavour. From a selection of sandwiches to its irresistible Baklava Cheesecake, this is well worth the detour regardless of whether you’re vegan or not.
Address: 544 Main St., Penticton
Kelowna
Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery
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With ingredients sourced from CedarCreek’s own gardens as well as local farmers, foragers, and ranchers, you’ll find delicious home-style dishes that are inspired by the many wines that CedarCreek produces.
Address: 5445 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna
The Old Vines Restaurant at Quail’s Gate
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Another great restaurant located at a winery. Expect a dynamic menu of wine-led contemporary cuisines inspired by seasonal local farms and suppliers from all over British Columbia.
Address: 3303 Boucherie Rd., Kelowna
Cawston
Row Fourteen at Klippers
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Located in the Similkameen Valley on the 14th row of Klippers Organic Acres’ apple orchard, you’ll find Row Fourteen. Using produce that is quite often harvested less than 500 meters away, you know you’re in for a very special farm-to-table experience.
Address: 725 MacKenzie Rd., Cawston
Crowsnest Vineyards
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One of our readers said that they would travel over four hours just to get the schnitzel from this restaurant, so we have a feeling it has to be good. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick snack, a full meal, or one of its wood-fired patio pizza nights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.
Address: 2035 Surprise Rd., Cawston
Oliver
Terrafina at Hester Creek
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This Tuscan-style restaurant is nestled among the vines of Hester Creek Estate Winery, so you’ll definitely want to enjoy a glass or two with your meal. What’s better than sipping on some wine and digging into a plate of charcuterie while enjoying the scenery?
Address: 887 Rd. 8, Oliver
Tofino
Wolf in the Fog
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Not only will you get a great view of the ocean, but Wolf In The Fog serves a stand-out menu of locally sourced plates and cocktails.
Address: 150 Fourth St., Tofino
Courtney
Pink Moon Cafe
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Our plant-based friends (or just anyone who enjoys good food, really) should bookmark Pink Moon Cafe next time they’re in the area. The food truck is best known for its selection of handhelds, bowls, and smoothies.
Address: 2855 Wentworth Rd., Courtenay
Vernon
Gerni’s Farmhouse
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Gerni’s has perhaps one of the best views on this entire list. Expect Austrian favourites like bratwursts, pretzels, and more traditional fare. To make it even cooler, Gerni’s Farmhouse is an original 16th-century building from Weerberg, Austria, that was dismantled in 2019, shipped to Canada, and rebuilt on the resort by Holzbau Maier.
Address: 888 Sparkling Pl., Vernon
Osoyoos
The Bear, The Fish, The Root, and The Berry
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This restaurant features a menu inspired by the chaptik story passed down through the generations of the First Nations people of the Okanagan. Here, the menu is split into four sections inspired by the four food chiefs: Skimxist Black Bear (chief of animals, representing self-sacrifice, leadership, giving), Ntytikxw Chinook Salmon (water creatures, perseverance, hard work), Speetlum Bitterroot (plants below the round, relationships to the land), and Seeya Saskatoon Berry (plants above the ground, growth, strength, community).
Address: 1200 Rancher Creek Rd., Osoyoos
Campbell River
Carve Kitchen and Meatery
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If your idea of a good meal is a big piece of meat cooked to perfection, then this is the place to go. Whenever we’re in the Campbell River area, we make a point to stop at Carve Kitchen to see whatever the team is cooking on the menu. Plus, produce is grown on site, which gives Carve extra style points.
Address: 700 Petersen Rd., Campbell River
Shelter Point Distillery
If you stop by Shelter Point, make sure to try to grab a tour of the distillery before embarking on some whisky tastings. This distillery is one of the few in Canada that uses barley grown on-site to make its whisky, making this a truly special stop.
Address: 4650 Regent Rd., Campbell River
Gibsons
Sunday Cider
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Not only is the garden here perfect for the summer, but the top-notch brunch truck Sea Monkey Coffee Co. is also quite often available here (alongside a rotating selection of other vendors), and there’s a little ice cream stand too. Oh, and did we mention the cider is great?
Address: 1632 Sunshine Coast Hwy., Gibsons
Sechelt
Gourmet Girl
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Those in search of huge portions of fish and chips are in the right place. Right across the street from the beach, Gourmet Girl is serving plenty of tasty options in addition to the aforementioned fish and chips. From brunch favourites like the Davis Bay Greakfast Burger and Eggs Benny to some tasty handhelds, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
Address: #6-4720 Sunshine Coast Hwy., Sechelt
The Breeze
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Perhaps the newest restaurant on our list, The Breeze, is serving up local flavours and laid-back vibes. The restaurant works closely with local farms, fisheries, foragers, and markets to create its seasonally inspired menus made to celebrate the region’s abundance. Think crispy fish and chips, burgers, and much more exciting stuff on its ever-changing chef’s feature menu. Plus, it’s located right along the water, meaning you’ll enjoy gorgeous views while you eat.
Address: 5570 Saltgrass Ln., Sechelt
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