Best chili in Vancouver

When it comes to winter food staples there’s nothing more comforting than a hearty bowl of chili.

Whether you like your chili chunky with hunks of tender beef, topped with a dollop of cashew sour cream, or boasting a fiery bite, here’s our list on where to find the best soul-warming bowls of chili in Vancouver.

The Parlour

Mouthwatering pizzas topped with fresh, quality ingredients may be the first thing to come to mind when you think of The Parlour in Yaletown, however, the Hamilton Street eatery also whips up a sensational, thick, tomato-based chili. Comprised of The Parlour’s famous meatballs, fresh veggies, dried spices, kidney beans, chopped jalapeños, and tabasco sauce, The Parlour’s chili rotates as a soup of the day special, and is best savoured on a cold winters day.

Address: 1011 Hamilton Street
Phone: 604-568-3322
Twitter: @parlouryaletown

The Wallflower Modern Diner

Nathan’s Vegan Chilli has been a staple on the Wallflower menu since day one. Named after its creator Nathan, the first employee of The Wallflower and current Manager of Smallflower, the Wallflower’s chili comes served in a large bowl with focaccia. The chili boasts a medium heat and is comprised of black beans, corn, kidney beans, tomato, peppers, onion, celery, garlic, chipotle peppers, and chili spice. The dish is so popular that the Wallflower’s sister establishment Smallflower also offers it on their menu, although it is accompanied by grilled cheese.

Address: 2420 Main Street
Phone: 604-568-7554
Twitter: @wallflowerdiner

Liquid and Solids

As their name suggests, Liquid and Solids whips up a range of liquid and solid-based foods that will warm you up from the inside out. Using quality ingredients and no preservatives the team at Liquid and Solids make their five varieties of chili from scratch and make a concerted effort to use only locally grown produce. Chili bowl highlights include the Walter Spicy Chicken Chili, Smokin’ Chipotle Chili, and the Some Like it Hot Chili.

Address: Three locations (check website)
Twitter: @souperfantastic

Tractor Foods

Tractor Foods Turkey Chili is made in-house like everything else they serve. The ingredients include black beans, cannellinni beans, Crescendo red peppers, onions, tomatoes, extra lean ground turkey and turkey thighs, garlic, plus cilantro and sour cream for extra added flavour. The flavour profile is quite mild with a hint of smokey.

Address: 1903 West 4th Avenue, Kitsilano
Phone: 604-222-2557

Address: Marine Building, 335 Burrard Street
Phone: 604-979-0500

Twitter: @tractorfoods

Chili Tank

Apart from the novelty of eating chili cooked in a 1943 military soup kitchen, Chili Tank serves up some pretty sensational chili. Whether it’s the smoky beef or the vegetarian, each spoon full is a hearty treat. If you can’t decide which chili to go for, there is always the popular 50/50 mix (half veggie, half beef), so you can get the best of both worlds. With no brick and mortar store the Chili Tank can be found at a variety of food markets and festivals. For the Chili Tanks where abouts check its website and social media pages.

Twitter: @chilitank

Cioffi’s Meat Market & Deli

Burnaby’s favourite Meat Market & Deli rotates a chunky chili as a seasonal special. Once all combined, cooked and simmered, Cioffi’s Chef Jason Symington likes to finish off the dish with a little dressed arugula, grated pecorino cheese, a couple grinds of fresh pepper and a lightly poached egg. One of the unique things about Cioffi’s recipe is that 90 per cent of the ingredients used are available for sale within the Cioffi’s location.

Address: 4142 Hastings Street, Burnaby
Phone: 604-291-9373
Twitter: @CioffisMeat

Heirloom Vegetarian

Getting crafty in the kitchen, Heirloom Vegetarian throws their chili onto their nachos. Offered on the vegetarian dinner menu, Heirloom’s nachos, come with aged cheddar, and house-made guacamole, Pico de Gallo, pickled jalapeño and potato, and a pot of Heirloom chili on the side.

Address: 1509 West 12th Ave, Vancouver
Phone: 604-733-2231
Twitter: @HeirloomVeg

Meet on Main

The menu at Meet on Main dedicates itself solely to vegan and gluten-free casual comfort food, therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Main Street eatery creates a robust batch of house-made three bean and ground round chili. Finished with a cashew sour cream, Meet on Main will even throw in a couple of corn fritters too.

Address: 4288 Main Street
Phone: 604-877-1292
Twitter: @meetonmain

Deacon’s Corner

Meat eaters will want to lick the bowl of Deacon’s Corner’s heaping serve of homemade Southern Beef Chili. Deliciously tender, the casual restaurant’s slow-cooked beef chili comes adorned with sour cream and crispy tortilla chips.

Address: 101 Main Street
Phone: 604-684-1555

Address: 3189 West Broadway
Phone: 778-379-3727

Twitter: @Deacon’s_Corner

Lucy’s Eastside Diner

With chili brought in from a local supplier, GFS, Lucy’s Eastside Diner definitely stands by their product. And so they should; it has proved time and time again to be one of the eateries most popular dishes come the cooler months. The home-style chili consists of flavourful chunks of beef, kidney beans, chick peas, and is topped with a hearty dollop of sour cream, which provides just the right creamy deliciousness.

Address: 2708 Main Street
Phone: 604-568-1550
Twitter: @LucysdinerMain