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Updating the Vancouver HeatMap: Where to Eat Now

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If you've been puzzling over where you should eat out, Eater is back to answer that very question with our newest edition of the Heatmap—a guide to what's new, what's hot, and which restaurants are causing most buzz in Van City.
While the Eater 38 is a resource that covers old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not necessarily a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. Thus, in no particular order, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change every month to continuously highlight where the food nerds are flocking to at the moment.
January may be cold and miserable but the city's food scene continues to shine. Breakfast gets celebrated when a food truck turns into a restaurant , Vancouver's love of fish and all things sustainable meet their logical conclusion on Main Street, Italian family-style dining gets a rush of gluten-free love and a DTES standby gets the Alexandra Gill seal of approval. Meet the new heat-makers.

IN: Yolk's, The Fish Counter, Ask for Luigi and the Dunlevy Snack Bar
OUT: Burdock & Co, Good Wolfe, Bambudda and Boneta
Got a suggestion for a restaurant you think deserves to be added to next month's Heatmap? Drop us a line or leave a comment and stay tuned for the next edition of the Heatmap, dropping the first Thursday of February.


Heatmap History

January
Added: Yolk's, The Fish Counter, Ask for Luigi and the Dunlevy Snack Bar
Removed: Burdock & Co, Good Wolfe, Bambudda and Boneta

December
Added:
Rain or Shine Ice Cream, Notturno, Craft Beer Market, Mosaic, Boneta
Removed: Gringo, Cuchillo, Emerald

November
Added:
Wagon Rouge, Gringo, Emerald
Removed: Earnest Ice Cream, Homer Street Cafe and Bar, The Farmer's Apprentice

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Bistro Wagon Rouge

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French bistro classics from the creator of one of the city's favourite diners, the Red Wagon. What's not to love at Brad Miller's new venture on Powell?
The city's beloved breakfast truck has found a bricks and mortar home in the old Brave Bull spot. Go, feast on free-range egg benedicts and definitely try the double-smoked bacon. Chicken and waffles fans are in for a treat thanks to guilt-free organic birds. The lack of a liquor license (yet) and long queues aren't putting people off.

Mamie Taylor's

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American comfort food “done right” in Chinatown from Simon Kaulback (ex Boneta) and Ron Oliver (ex-The Diamond). Ticking all the essential Hipster Hang Out boxes (exposed brick, taxidermy, cutesy condiment containers and vintage portraits) it’s scoring much love for its fried chicken, burgers and excellent cocktails.

Dunlevy Snack Bar

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A brace of good reviews has pushed the Dunlevy Snack Bar onto the Heat Map. Go and find out why their pork buns are on the city's Most Wanted List right now.

Ask for Luigi

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We're hearing nothing but good things about this Italian family-style restaurant on the DTES. And no wonder: at the helm is chef Jean Christophe Poirier - ex of Lumiere and Montreal's Toque. Pop by and welcome them to the neighbourhood and dive into their fresh-made pasta delights. Gluten-free pasta is available on request.

Notturno

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This tiny bar and restaurant tucked away on Carrall has cocktail fans thoroughly over-excited thanks to bartender H's creative concotions - impressively, William Robitaille's Italian tapas even delighted notoriously hard-to-please Globe & Mail critic Alexandra Gill.

Mosaic Restaurant & Grille @ Hyatt

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Really? A restaurant in a Hyatt hotel? Well, yes. Chef Thomas Heinrich's changing tasting menus are taking a walk on the pleasingly-inventive side and creating plenty of social media buzz. Add to that his selection as the sole Canadian chef for Taste Taiwan Culinary Tour and you'll see why people are excited about *just* a hotel restaurant.

Rain or Shine Ice Cream

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Another craft ice cream store hits the streets - bravely opening just in time for icy blasts and rain showers. Their ice cream "Taco Tuesday" and tasting flights are already crowd-pleasers.

Craft Beer Market

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With 140 taps, CRAFT has become an instant mecca for beer fans - it's actually Canada’s largest selection of draft beers - right here in the Village. Beer-buzz aside, we're also told that this is fantastic spot for singles too. Let us know how that works out...

The Fish Counter

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The creators of the city's Ocean Wise fish programme, Chef Robert Clark and Marine Biologist Mike McDermid have opened a fish counter on Main serving nothing but - of course - sustainable fish. As well as seafood to cook at home you can also dive into their delicious fried to order fish and chips (with possibly the city's best batter), tacos and hearty chowders and soups at the dining counter. Check out the stunning carved benches - loving attention to detail shines from every corner.

Bistro Wagon Rouge

French bistro classics from the creator of one of the city's favourite diners, the Red Wagon. What's not to love at Brad Miller's new venture on Powell?

Yolk's

The city's beloved breakfast truck has found a bricks and mortar home in the old Brave Bull spot. Go, feast on free-range egg benedicts and definitely try the double-smoked bacon. Chicken and waffles fans are in for a treat thanks to guilt-free organic birds. The lack of a liquor license (yet) and long queues aren't putting people off.

Mamie Taylor's

American comfort food “done right” in Chinatown from Simon Kaulback (ex Boneta) and Ron Oliver (ex-The Diamond). Ticking all the essential Hipster Hang Out boxes (exposed brick, taxidermy, cutesy condiment containers and vintage portraits) it’s scoring much love for its fried chicken, burgers and excellent cocktails.

Dunlevy Snack Bar

A brace of good reviews has pushed the Dunlevy Snack Bar onto the Heat Map. Go and find out why their pork buns are on the city's Most Wanted List right now.

Ask for Luigi

We're hearing nothing but good things about this Italian family-style restaurant on the DTES. And no wonder: at the helm is chef Jean Christophe Poirier - ex of Lumiere and Montreal's Toque. Pop by and welcome them to the neighbourhood and dive into their fresh-made pasta delights. Gluten-free pasta is available on request.

Notturno

This tiny bar and restaurant tucked away on Carrall has cocktail fans thoroughly over-excited thanks to bartender H's creative concotions - impressively, William Robitaille's Italian tapas even delighted notoriously hard-to-please Globe & Mail critic Alexandra Gill.

Mosaic Restaurant & Grille @ Hyatt

Really? A restaurant in a Hyatt hotel? Well, yes. Chef Thomas Heinrich's changing tasting menus are taking a walk on the pleasingly-inventive side and creating plenty of social media buzz. Add to that his selection as the sole Canadian chef for Taste Taiwan Culinary Tour and you'll see why people are excited about *just* a hotel restaurant.

Rain or Shine Ice Cream

Another craft ice cream store hits the streets - bravely opening just in time for icy blasts and rain showers. Their ice cream "Taco Tuesday" and tasting flights are already crowd-pleasers.

Craft Beer Market

With 140 taps, CRAFT has become an instant mecca for beer fans - it's actually Canada’s largest selection of draft beers - right here in the Village. Beer-buzz aside, we're also told that this is fantastic spot for singles too. Let us know how that works out...

The Fish Counter

The creators of the city's Ocean Wise fish programme, Chef Robert Clark and Marine Biologist Mike McDermid have opened a fish counter on Main serving nothing but - of course - sustainable fish. As well as seafood to cook at home you can also dive into their delicious fried to order fish and chips (with possibly the city's best batter), tacos and hearty chowders and soups at the dining counter. Check out the stunning carved benches - loving attention to detail shines from every corner.