The best and most unforgettable dishes we ate in Vancouver this month

As professional foodies in Vancouver, we tend to do a lot of good eating. But some bites stand out more than others, and at the end of the month, we like to reminisce about some of our favourites.

From 16-course tasting menus that highlight Chinese Pacific Northwest cuisine to baked goods we waited over two hours in line for, these are some of the best bites we had in Vancouver this month.

Have somewhere you think we need to try? Let us know by sending us an email at dished@dailyhive.com.

Beef Siu Mai — Haisan

It was truly a challenge to narrow down our favourite bite from Haisan’s 16-course tasting menu (we contemplated starting a bracketed tier list), but what better way to encapsulate what a fantastic meal we had than with its first course: the Beef Siu Mai.

Chef and owner Steven Che is offering folks a look into Chinese Pacific Northwest cuisine with foods inspired by Macau (where he was born) and growing up in Vancouver. Trust us when we say every course is just as stunning as the last (a.k.a. now is the time to book your reservation).

Address: 2892 Commercial Dr., Vancouver

The Galbi — Jeju

Following its induction into the Michelin Guide (claiming the title of the first Korean restaurant in Vancouver to be Michelin Recommended), we stopped by Jeju to see what owners Sungeun “Sung” Kim and Yunyoung “Dylan” Kim were cooking up in their new Mount Pleasant space.

Among many incredible bites, the one that had us telling all our friends to try was The Galbi — a 35-day-aged prime short rib that just melted in your mouth. It also didn’t hurt that it was served with all sorts of tasty sides like bok choy kimchi and pickled veggies, and we gorged ourselves on the side of rice mixed in with the remaining sauce from the galbi.

Dry Age Duck — The Moon

We stopped by Vancouver’s new martini bar and restaurant, The Moon, on opening night and found plenty to be excited about, from a martini that tasted like an heirloom tomato to some delectable wagyu beef. But the dish that stood out the most to us was the Dry Age Duck.

While the duck was perfectly cooked with a crisp skin, we almost loved the corn element even more. From the arepa sabayon (think a corn cake turned into a sauce) to some crushed popcorn from a local farm dusted on top, this felt like a love letter to corn. Definitely worth trying

Address: 59 Powell St., Vancouver

Rotisserie Québécoise — Chez Cèline

People were raving about Chez Cèline’s rotisserie chicken dinner when the team debuted it last year, so as the dedicated journalists we are, we knew we had to go and check it out. What did we discover? One heck of a good chicken.

And it’s not just the chicken to get excited about. The sides are as equally important to the meal, from the crisp frites perfect for dipping in the provided ketchup and aioli to the coleslaw and the oh-so-droolworthy gravy; there’s plenty to love here. Oh, and the grilled potato bun is also fantastic.

Address: 4298 Fraser St., Vancouver

Wagyu Tartare — By Handson

We’ll be honest, we’ve been fans of everything By Handson has been cooking up since they launched the new concept (and honestly, back when they were Handson Steak and Frites too). Among the menu bites we got to try from its tasting menu (including some wonderful cocktails inspired by Vancouver neighbourhoods), we fell in love with the Wagyu Beef Tartare served in seaweed and topped with truffle potato.

Address: 847 Denman St., Vancouver

Lobster Pot Pie — Riley’s Fish and Steak

Lobster lovers, take note: the Lobster Pot Pie from Riley’s Steak and Fish is no joke. This features Atlantic lobster, brandied lobster cream, puff pastry, leeks, and an assortment of baby vegetables for one delicious dish.

Address: 200 Burrard St., Vancouver

Garlic Bun — AnA Bakehouse

Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking Dished always gets special treatment — we waited two hours in line to try this new Vancouver bakery pop-up, and it was well worth the wait. Some of the goodies were sold out by the time we got to the front; we did manage to grab a Banh Mi (made with a house-made baguette), a Matcha Pandan Coconut drink, and an addictive Garlic Bun stuffed with cream cheese and dipped in roasted garlic butter. We’ll definitely be back for their next pop-up, whenever that is.

Address: Watch Instagram for the next pop-up location

Karaage Burger — Lucky Lily Asian Brasserie

We had the privilege of being invited to a media tasting at Lucky Lily Asian Brasserie — a new dining concept from Top Chef Canada: All Stars champion chef Nicole Gomes — and were fortunate enough to sample some really tasty food. Among those, the Karaage Burger was a crowd favourite, served with an addictive togarashi mayo. Also important to note, this is typically served as a bigger burger, and we were served slider versions specifically for the event (next time we’re flying out of YVR, we’ll stop by and try the menu for “research” don’t worry).

Address: Inside YVR Airport, domestic terminal Gate C46 — 3211 Grant McConachie Wy., Richmond

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