BC Restaurants Directory

Deli & homemade comfort food$

Sharon's Deli

HopeFraser Valley & Canyon

Sharon's Deli is the undisputed heart of Hope's food scene — and locals will tell you so before you even finish asking. Every sandwich is built on fresh-baked bread, stacked high with real ingredients, and made with the kind of care you just don't find at a chain. The soups are made from scratch daily, the portions are generous, and the counter-service vibe is warm, fast, and genuinely welcoming. Whether you're fuelling up before the Coquihalla climb or recovering from a long haul through the Fraser Canyon, Sharon's delivers exactly what a BC road trip demands: honest food, great value, and a taste of real small-town hospitality.

Must try: Stacked deli sandwich on house-baked bread

(604) 869-5444

Canadian comfort food$

Rolly's Restaurant

HopeFraser Valley & Canyon

Rolly's is the kind of restaurant that reminds you why road trips through BC are so good. A genuine Hope institution, it has been feeding truckers, families, and adventurers for decades with big, satisfying plates of Canadian comfort food that never disappoint. The breakfasts are legendary — eggs done right, thick toast, real hash browns — and the lunch and dinner menus deliver the same no-nonsense quality. The atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious, the staff know their regulars by name, and the prices are the kind that make you want to leave a generous tip. If you're passing through Hope and you only have time for one meal, make it Rolly's.

Must try: Daily breakfast special

(604) 869-9912

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Indigenous-inspired$$

Quaaout Lodge Restaurant

ChaseThompson-Okanagan

Overlooking Little Shuswap Lake on Secwépemc territory, this restaurant weaves Indigenous food traditions into every dish. Bannock, wild game, and fresh-caught trout feature prominently.

Must try: Bannock with wild berry jam

(250) 679-3090

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Pacific Northwest seafood$$$

Shelter Restaurant

TofinoVancouver Island

Tofino's most celebrated dining room, where the wild Pacific coast arrives on your plate. Dungeness crab, spot prawns, and locally foraged mushrooms are treated with the respect they deserve. Book well ahead — this one fills up fast.

Must try: Spot prawn linguine

(250) 725-3353

Brunch & café$$

Jam Café

VictoriaVancouver Island

Victoria's most beloved brunch spot, housed in a restored heritage building in the heart of the city. The line-up out the door is worth it — creative eggs benedicts, house-made jams, and the fluffiest pancakes in BC.

Must try: Dungeness crab benny

(250) 382-1166

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Brewpub & comfort food$$

Howe Sound Brew Pub

SquamishSea to Sky

Squamish's original craft brewery and pub, with sweeping views of the Stawamus Chief from the patio. The wood-fired pizza and house-brewed ales are the perfect reward after a day of climbing, hiking, or kiteboarding on the Squamish Spit.

Must try: Wood-fired pizza with Garibaldi Gold ale

(604) 892-2603

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Fine dining$$$

Bogner's of Penticton

PentictonOkanagan

Penticton's most celebrated fine dining room, set in a converted heritage home with a garden patio overlooking the Okanagan. Chef Bogner has been championing local Okanagan ingredients for over 30 years. The wine list is one of the best in the valley.

Must try: Okanagan lamb with local wine pairing

(250) 493-2711

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Pacific Northwest fine dining$$$$

Araxi Restaurant

WhistlerSea to Sky

Whistler Village's most iconic restaurant, anchoring the après scene since 1981. Chef James Walt's menu celebrates BC's finest ingredients — from Haida Gwaii halibut to Pemberton potatoes — in a warm, convivial room that feels like the heart of the village.

Must try: BC halibut with Pemberton potato gnocchi

(604) 932-4540

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Craft beer & grill$$

Brownstone Restaurant

KamloopsThompson-Okanagan

Kamloops' most beloved gathering place, set in a restored 1904 heritage building in the heart of downtown. The rotating craft beer list features BC's best breweries, and the kitchen turns out elevated pub fare using local Thompson Valley ingredients.

Must try: Thompson Valley beef brisket poutine

(250) 851-9939

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Artisan spirits & small plates$$

Pemberton Distillery Tasting Room

PembertonSea to Sky

Canada's first certified organic distillery, set in the heart of Pemberton's famous potato-farming valley. The tasting room pairs house-made vodka, gin, and whisky with locally sourced small plates. The Pemberton potato vodka — made from the valley's legendary spuds — is a BC original.

Must try: Pemberton potato vodka tasting flight

(604) 894-5996

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Steakhouse$$$

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

VancouverLower Mainland

A BC institution that started right here in Vancouver in 1971. The Keg's Coal Harbour location sits steps from the waterfront with stunning views of the North Shore mountains. Prime cuts aged in-house, signature Caesar salads prepared tableside, and a wine list that celebrates BC's best vineyards. The perfect splurge after a day exploring Stanley Park.

Must try: Prime rib with Yorkshire pudding

(604) 685-4388

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Scottish pub & dining$$

Bard & Banker

VictoriaVancouver Island

Housed in a stunning 1885 heritage bank building on Government Street, Bard & Banker is one of Victoria's most atmospheric dining rooms. Soaring ceilings, original marble columns, and a menu that blends classic Scottish pub fare with Pacific Northwest ingredients. The scotch selection is among the finest in the city.

Must try: Scotch egg with house-made mustard

(250) 953-9993

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Pacific Northwest$$

Juniper Bistro

KamloopsThompson-Okanagan

Perched high above Kamloops with panoramic views over the Thompson River confluence, Juniper Bistro is the city's most scenic dining room. The menu celebrates BC's interior — bison, trout, wild berries, and locally grown vegetables. Sunsets from the terrace are spectacular, especially in late summer.

Must try: Bison short rib with wild berry reduction

(250) 314-3100

Seafood$$

The Laughing Oyster

LundVancouver Island

At the very end of Highway 101 — the world's longest highway — sits this legendary seafood shack perched over Okeover Inlet. The Laughing Oyster has been a pilgrimage destination for decades. Oysters, prawns, and Dungeness crab pulled straight from the inlet below. The deck view over the inlet is one of BC's finest.

Must try: Oyster platter with mignonette

(604) 483-9775

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Steakhouse & grill$$$

Ric's Grill

Prince GeorgeNorthern BC

Prince George's go-to destination for a proper steakhouse experience. Ric's Grill has been the city's celebration restaurant for years, serving prime Alberta beef alongside BC wines and a warm, lodge-inspired interior. The bone-in ribeye is the signature, and the service matches the quality of the food.

Must try: Bone-in ribeye with truffle butter

(250) 563-7427

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Fine dining$$$$

The Wildflower Restaurant

WhistlerSea to Sky

Inside the iconic Fairmont Chateau Whistler, The Wildflower is one of BC's most celebrated resort dining rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame Blackcomb Mountain while the kitchen delivers refined Pacific Northwest cuisine. The Sunday brunch is legendary — a lavish spread that draws guests from across the valley.

Must try: Haida Gwaii halibut with saffron beurre blanc

(604) 938-2033

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Artisan cheese & café$

Saltspring Island Cheese Company Café

Salt Spring IslandVancouver Island

A working goat farm and artisan cheese operation that welcomes visitors to taste their award-winning cheeses fresh from the dairy. The café serves simple, beautiful plates built around the farm's own chèvre, aged rounds, and seasonal produce from the island. A quintessential Gulf Islands experience.

Must try: Chèvre and roasted beet salad

(250) 653-2300

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Mediterranean wine country$$$

Miradoro Restaurant

OliverOkanagan

Perched dramatically above the Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in the Golden Mile Bench, Miradoro is one of the Okanagan's most breathtaking dining experiences. The Italian-Mediterranean menu is built around local ingredients and pairs beautifully with Tinhorn Creek's estate wines. The terrace view over the vineyard and valley is simply stunning.

Must try: House-made tagliatelle with Okanagan truffle

(250) 498-3742

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Caribbean$$

The Reef Restaurant

VancouverLower Mainland

A Vancouver institution on Main Street that's been bringing Caribbean sunshine to rainy BC days since 2002. The Reef is famous for its jerk chicken, rum cocktails, and the kind of warm, laid-back atmosphere that makes you forget you're in Canada. The roti wraps are legendary and the weekend brunch draws lineups around the block.

Must try: Jerk chicken with rice and peas

(604) 568-5375

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Craft brewery & kitchen$$

Fernie Brewing Co. Taproom

FernieKootenays

The source of some of BC's most beloved craft beers, Fernie Brewing's taproom is a pilgrimage for beer lovers passing through the Elk Valley. The Griz Dark Lager and What the Huck Huckleberry Wheat are BC icons. The kitchen serves elevated pub food designed to pair with the beers — the pretzel with beer cheese is the perfect companion.

Must try: What the Huck Huckleberry Wheat with pretzel

(250) 423-7797

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Craft brewery & kitchen$$

BNA Brewing Co.

KelownaOkanagan

Set inside a beautifully restored 1930s bowling alley in downtown Kelowna, BNA Brewing is one of the Okanagan's most beloved gathering spots. The cavernous space features original hardwood lanes, a massive patio, and a rotating lineup of house-brewed ales and lagers. The kitchen turns out elevated pub fare — wood-fired flatbreads, smash burgers, and loaded poutine — designed to pair with the beers. A lively, unpretentious room that draws everyone from families to après-ski crowds.

Must try: Wood-fired flatbread with Okanagan goat cheese

(250) 868-2337

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Pacific Northwest seafood$$$

Wolf in the Fog

TofinoVancouver Island

Named one of Canada's best new restaurants the year it opened, Wolf in the Fog has become a defining institution of Tofino's food scene. Chef Nick Nutting's menu is rooted in the wild Pacific coast — foraged sea vegetables, line-caught fish, and locally farmed shellfish — served in a warm, timber-framed room above the village. The cocktail program is as creative as the food.

Must try: Dungeness crab with smoked butter and sea herbs

(250) 725-9653

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Japanese$$$

Sushi Village

WhistlerSea to Sky

A Whistler Village institution since 1982, Sushi Village is the mountain's most beloved Japanese restaurant. The intimate, lantern-lit room fills up fast on ski nights, and the sushi chefs have been perfecting their craft here for decades. The BC roll — made with local salmon and cucumber — is a house signature, and the sake list is one of the best in the province.

Must try: BC roll with wild Pacific salmon

(604) 932-3330

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Afternoon tea & fine dining$$$$

The Empress Room

VictoriaVancouver Island

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress is one of BC's most iconic experiences — a tradition that has been running since 1908 in one of Canada's most beautiful hotel dining rooms. Finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, and an extraordinary selection of teas are served beneath soaring ceilings and stained glass. Book months ahead for peak season.

Must try: Traditional afternoon tea with Empress blend

(250) 389-2727

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Steakhouse & grill$$

Ric's Grill

Prince GeorgeNorthern BC

After a long haul up the Yellowhead or down from the Peace Country, Prince George's most celebrated steakhouse is exactly the reward you've been craving. Ric's Grill serves BC beef prime rib with the kind of care that makes the drive worthwhile — rich au jus, proper sides, and a warm lodge-style room that feels like a genuine Northern BC welcome. The kind of place locals book for anniversaries and road-trippers remember for years.

Must try: BC beef prime rib with au jus

(250) 563-7427

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Casual grill & patio$$

Twisted Tomato

Prince GeorgeNorthern BC

A lively Prince George favourite with a sunny patio that feels like a genuine find in BC's northern capital. Twisted Tomato builds its burgers around local beef and keeps the menu approachable without being boring — exactly what you want after a long stretch of Highway 16. The atmosphere is relaxed, the portions are generous, and the craft beer selection does the region proud.

Must try: Twisted Tomato burger with local beef

(250) 562-4488

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Café & light meals$

Bugwood Bean Café

SmithersNorthern BC

Smithers is one of BC's most charming small towns, and Bugwood Bean is its beating heart. This cozy café on Main Street serves exceptional coffee alongside house-baked scones slathered with local jam — the kind of simple, honest fuel that makes a morning on the Bulkley Valley backroads feel like a privilege. Pull up a chair, watch the Babine Range out the window, and order a second scone.

Must try: House-baked scone with local jam

(250) 847-3388

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Pacific seafood$$$

The Laughing Oyster

LundVancouver Island

At the very end of Highway 101 — the world's longest highway — this legendary seafood destination perches over Okeover Inlet with a view that stops you in your tracks. The Laughing Oyster has been a pilgrimage for decades, serving oysters on the half shell pulled straight from the cold inlet below. It's the kind of meal that justifies the entire drive up the Sunshine Coast.

Must try: Oysters on the half shell with mignonette

(604) 483-9775

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Scottish pub & grill$$

The Bard & Banker

VictoriaVancouver Island

Housed in a stunning 1885 heritage bank building on Government Street, The Bard & Banker is one of Victoria's most atmospheric dining rooms — soaring ceilings, original marble columns, and a menu that blends classic Scottish pub fare with Pacific Northwest ingredients. The scotch selection is among the finest in the city, and the scotch egg with house-made mustard is the perfect companion to a dram after a day exploring the Inner Harbour.

Must try: Scotch egg with house-made mustard

(250) 953-9993

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Wine country bistro$$$

Miradoro Restaurant

OliverOkanagan

Perched dramatically above Tinhorn Creek Vineyards on the Golden Mile Bench, Miradoro is one of the Okanagan's most breathtaking dining experiences. The Italian-Mediterranean menu is built entirely around local ingredients — Okanagan lamb, valley vegetables, and estate wines — with a terrace view over the vineyard and valley that makes every course feel like a celebration. The wine pairing here is as good as it gets in BC's wine country.

Must try: Okanagan lamb with estate wine pairing

(250) 498-3742

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Contemporary Canadian$$$

The Velvet Restaurant & Lounge

PentictonOkanagan

Penticton's most celebrated fine dining room has been wowing Okanagan visitors for over a decade with a menu that leans hard into the valley's extraordinary ingredients. The pan-seared BC salmon with Okanagan cherry reduction is a signature dish that captures the region in a single bite — rich, local, and unmistakably summer. The warm, candlelit room and exceptional regional wine list make it the ideal special-occasion stop between wineries.

Must try: Pan-seared BC salmon with Okanagan cherry reduction

(250) 493-7455

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Caribbean$$

The Reef Restaurant

VancouverLower Mainland

A Vancouver institution on Main Street that's been bringing Caribbean sunshine to rainy BC days since 2002. The Reef is famous for its jerk chicken — properly spiced, properly smoky, served with rice and peas that taste like they were made by someone's grandmother. The rum cocktails and laid-back atmosphere make it the kind of place you linger long after the plates are cleared.

Must try: Jerk chicken with rice and peas

(604) 568-5375

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Steakhouse$$$

The Keg Steakhouse (Vancouver)

VancouverLower Mainland

A BC institution that started right here in Vancouver in 1971, The Keg's Coal Harbour location sits steps from the waterfront with stunning views of the North Shore mountains. Prime rib aged in-house, Caesar salads prepared tableside, and a wine list that celebrates BC's best vineyards — it's the kind of classic steakhouse experience that never goes out of style. The perfect splurge after a day exploring Stanley Park.

Must try: Prime rib with Yorkshire pudding

(604) 685-4388

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Craft brewery & pub$$

Fernie Brewing Company Taproom

FernieKootenays

The source of some of BC's most beloved craft beers, Fernie Brewing's taproom is a mandatory stop for anyone passing through the Elk Valley. The What the Huck huckleberry ale — brewed with wild Kootenay huckleberries — is a BC icon, and it pairs perfectly with a loaded plate of nachos after a day on the mountain bike trails. The taproom is warm, unpretentious, and exactly what a craft brewery should be.

Must try: What the Huck huckleberry ale with loaded nachos

(250) 423-7797

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Distillery & small plates$$

The Pemberton Distillery Tasting Room

PembertonSea to Sky

Canada's first certified organic distillery sits in the heart of Pemberton's famous potato-farming valley, and the tasting room is one of the Sea to Sky corridor's most distinctive stops. The potato vodka cocktail — made from the valley's legendary spuds — paired with a board of local charcuterie is a combination that captures Pemberton's agricultural soul perfectly. A great reason to extend your Whistler trip by one more valley.

Must try: Potato vodka cocktail with local charcuterie

(604) 894-5996

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Contemporary Canadian$$$

Bravo Restaurant

AbbotsfordFraser Valley & Canyon

Abbotsford's most celebrated dining room brings a level of culinary ambition that surprises road-trippers expecting a quick highway stop. Chef-driven and locally sourced, Bravo's BC lamb rack arrives perfectly pink with seasonal vegetables that showcase the Fraser Valley's extraordinary growing season. The kind of meal that makes you reroute your entire trip to come back.

Must try: BC lamb rack with seasonal vegetables

(604) 852-3388

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Craft brewery & pub$$

Cariboo Brewing Taproom

Prince GeorgeCariboo

After a long haul up the Cariboo Highway, Cariboo Brewing's taproom is the reward Prince George road-trippers have been earning all day. The Northern Lager — crisp, clean, and brewed right here in BC's northern capital — pairs perfectly with a loaded smoked brisket poutine that sticks to your ribs through the next stretch of highway. A lively, unpretentious room that captures the spirit of the Cariboo.

Must try: Northern Lager with smoked brisket poutine

(250) 562-3388

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Café & brunch$$

The Wildflower Café

WhistlerSea to Sky

Tucked into Whistler Village, this beloved café is the mountain town's go-to morning ritual — the kind of place where you linger over a second coffee and plan the day's adventure. The eggs benny with smoked salmon on house-baked bread is a brunch classic done with genuine care, using BC salmon that tastes like it was pulled from the water yesterday. The perfect start before hitting the gondola or the valley trails.

Must try: Eggs benny with smoked salmon on house-baked bread

(604) 938-2033

Pacific Northwest fine dining$$$$

Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar

WhistlerSea to Sky

Whistler's most iconic fine dining room has anchored the village square since 1981, and the oyster bar alone is worth the trip up the Sea to Sky. The BC spot prawns — served with house-made pasta during the brief spring season — are among the finest plates in the province, a fleeting combination that road-trippers time their visits around. Book well ahead; this is the kind of meal people plan entire trips to experience.

Must try: BC spot prawns with house-made pasta

(604) 932-4540

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Steakhouse$$$

The Keg Steakhouse (Whistler)

WhistlerSea to Sky

The Keg was born in BC and has been a road-trip institution for over 50 years — and the Whistler location, nestled in the village with mountain views, is one of the most satisfying versions of the classic. The slow-roasted prime rib with Yorkshire pudding is the kind of generous, properly executed steakhouse dish that rewards a long day on the slopes or the trails. Reliable, warm, and exactly what you want after earning your appetite.

Must try: Slow-roasted prime rib with Yorkshire pudding

(604) 932-5151

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Pacific Northwest seafood$$$

Wolf in the Fog

TofinoVancouver Island

Named one of Canada's best new restaurants the year it opened, Wolf in the Fog has become a defining institution of Tofino's extraordinary food scene. The Dungeness crab with sea buckthorn butter is a dish that captures the wild Pacific coast in a single bite — briny, rich, and unmistakably local. The cocktail program is as creative as the food, and the timber-framed room above the village is one of BC's most exciting places to eat.

Must try: Dungeness crab with sea buckthorn butter

(250) 725-9653

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Coastal fine dining$$$$

The Wickaninnish Inn Dining Room

TofinoVancouver Island

There is no better place in BC to watch a Pacific storm roll in than from the dining room of the Wickaninnish Inn, where the wild ocean fills every window and the kitchen delivers a BC seafood tasting menu that matches the grandeur of the setting. The storm-watching dinner — booked months in advance by travellers who know — is a full sensory experience, the kind of meal that becomes the story you tell about your BC road trip for years. An unmissable splurge at the wild edge of Vancouver Island.

Must try: Storm-watching dinner with BC seafood tasting menu

(250) 725-3100

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BBQ & smokehouse$$

Smoken Bones Cookshack

KelownaOkanagan

In a wine country region that sometimes forgets about smoke and fire, Smoken Bones is a glorious reminder that BBQ belongs in the Okanagan too. The slow-smoked brisket — rubbed, rested, and sliced thick with a house BBQ sauce that has been refined over years of competition — is the kind of meat that makes road-trippers pull over and stay longer than planned. The cornbread is the perfect companion, and the picnic-table atmosphere is pure summer BC.

Must try: Slow-smoked brisket with house BBQ sauce and cornbread

(250) 860-7722

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Japanese / Omakase$$$$

Tojo's Restaurant

VancouverLower Mainland

Hidekazu Tojo is a living legend — the Vancouver chef widely credited with inventing the California Roll. His eponymous restaurant on West Broadway is one of Canada's finest Japanese dining experiences, offering exquisite omakase menus built around the freshest Pacific seafood. The intimate room, impeccable service, and Tojo's personal presence at the counter make this a bucket-list meal for any serious food lover visiting BC.

Must try: Omakase tasting menu — let Tojo decide

(604) 872-8050

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Japanese / Aburi Sushi$$$

Miku Restaurant

VancouverLower Mainland

Miku pioneered aburi cuisine in North America — flame-seared sushi that caramelizes the fish's natural oils for a rich, smoky flavour unlike anything else. The Coal Harbour waterfront location offers stunning views of the North Shore mountains and Burrard Inlet. The signature Aburi Salmon Oshi and Aburi Scallop Oshi are among the most photographed dishes in Vancouver. A must-visit for sushi lovers.

Must try: Aburi Salmon Oshi sushi

(604) 568-3900

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Japanese Izakaya$$

Kingyo Izakaya

VancouverLower Mainland

Kingyo on Denman Street is one of Vancouver's most beloved izakayas — a lively, lantern-lit room serving creative Japanese small plates, yakitori, and an extensive sake and shochu list. The menu changes seasonally and showcases BC ingredients through a Japanese lens. The takoyaki, karaage, and house-made tofu are perennial favourites. Reservations are essential — this place is always packed.

Must try: Karaage chicken and house-made tofu

(604) 608-1677

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Sushi California

KelownaOkanagan

Sushi California has been a Kelowna institution for years — a reliable, welcoming Japanese restaurant in the heart of the Okanagan wine country. The menu covers all the classics: fresh nigiri, creative rolls, teriyaki, and bento boxes. The Okanagan Roll — featuring local fruit alongside fresh fish — is a playful nod to the region. A great option for families and groups looking for quality Japanese food in the interior.

Must try: Okanagan Roll with local fruit

(250) 860-4488

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Nagare Sushi

VictoriaVancouver Island

Nagare is one of Victoria's most popular Japanese restaurants — a bright, modern space in the downtown core serving fresh sushi, ramen, and Japanese small plates. The conveyor belt sushi concept makes it fun and accessible for families, while the kitchen also produces serious nigiri and specialty rolls for more discerning diners. The salmon and tuna selections are always impeccably fresh.

Must try: Salmon nigiri and specialty rolls

(250) 590-6622

Japanese-influenced Pacific Northwest$$$

Olo Restaurant

VictoriaVancouver Island

Olo is Victoria's most celebrated farm-to-table restaurant with a strong Japanese influence — chef Brad Holmes sources exclusively from Vancouver Island and Gulf Island producers and prepares them with Japanese technique and precision. The tasting menu changes daily based on what's available from local farms and the ocean. The intimate room on Fort Street is one of Victoria's most sought-after reservations.

Must try: Daily tasting menu — entirely local and seasonal

(250) 590-8795

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Japanese / Ramen$

Ramen Danbo

VancouverLower Mainland

Ramen Danbo brought authentic Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen from Fukuoka, Japan to Vancouver and quickly became one of the city's most beloved ramen destinations. The rich, creamy pork bone broth is simmered for hours, the noodles are thin and springy, and the customization options — broth richness, noodle firmness, spice level — let you dial in your perfect bowl. Multiple Vancouver locations make it easy to find.

Must try: Tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu pork

(604) 569-1101

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Japanese / Izakaya$$

Gyoza King

VancouverLower Mainland

Gyoza King on Robson Street is a Vancouver institution — a late-night izakaya that's been serving pan-fried gyoza, yakitori, and Japanese comfort food since 1986. The handmade gyoza are legendary: crispy on the bottom, juicy inside, and served with a tangy dipping sauce. The casual, no-frills atmosphere and reasonable prices make it a favourite with students, locals, and visitors alike.

Must try: Pan-fried pork gyoza — the house specialty

(604) 669-8278

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Japanese / Sushi$$$

Kamei Royale

VancouverLower Mainland

Kamei Royale is one of Vancouver's most established Japanese restaurants — a sophisticated dining room on West Georgia that has been serving impeccable sushi and Japanese cuisine for decades. The omakase options, fresh daily sashimi, and elegant presentation make it a favourite for business dinners and special occasions. The sake selection is among the best in the city.

Must try: Chef's sashimi selection and sake pairing

(604) 687-8588

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Japanese / Sushi$$$

Sushi Village

WhistlerSea to Sky

Sushi Village has been a Whistler institution since 1982 — one of the first Japanese restaurants in the resort and still one of the best. The cozy, wood-panelled room in Whistler Village is always buzzing with skiers and snowboarders fuelling up on fresh sushi, sake, and Japanese comfort food. The après-ski atmosphere is unbeatable and the quality has never wavered in over 40 years.

Must try: Dynamite Roll and warm sake after a day on the mountain

(604) 932-3330

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Pacific Northwest / Japanese-influenced$$$$

Araxi Restaurant

WhistlerSea to Sky

Araxi is Whistler's most celebrated fine dining restaurant — a James Beard-recognized room on Village Square that has been setting the standard for BC cuisine for over 40 years. Chef James Walt's menu draws heavily on Japanese technique and local BC ingredients: Pemberton Valley vegetables, Pacific seafood, and BC wines. The raw bar is exceptional and the sake list is curated with the same care as the wine program.

Must try: Raw bar selection and BC seafood tasting menu

(604) 932-4540

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Sushi Sen

SquamishSea to Sky

Sushi Sen is Squamish's favourite Japanese restaurant — a casual, welcoming spot serving fresh sushi and Japanese comfort food in the outdoor adventure capital of BC. After a day of rock climbing on the Chief, mountain biking in Garibaldi, or kiteboarding on the Squamish River, a bowl of ramen or a platter of fresh sushi at Sushi Sen is the perfect recovery meal.

Must try: Ramen and spicy tuna roll after a day outdoors

(604) 815-7722

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Japanese / Ramen & Sushi$$

Tanpopo Japanese Restaurant

VictoriaVancouver Island

Tanpopo is one of Victoria's most popular Japanese restaurants — a lively, casual spot on Yates Street serving excellent ramen, fresh sushi, and Japanese small plates. The tonkotsu ramen is rich and deeply flavoured, the sushi is consistently fresh, and the prices are very reasonable for downtown Victoria. The line out the door on weekends is a testament to the quality.

Must try: Tonkotsu ramen and salmon avocado roll

(250) 383-2114

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Toshi Sushi

VancouverLower Mainland

Toshi Sushi on East Broadway is one of Vancouver's most beloved neighbourhood sushi spots — a tiny, cash-only room where the fish is impeccably fresh, the omakase is exceptional value, and the wait list fills up weeks in advance. Chef Toshi has been behind the counter for decades, and his quiet dedication to quality has earned him a fiercely loyal following. This is the kind of sushi restaurant that regulars guard jealously.

Must try: Omakase — let the chef decide

(604) 874-5173

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Japanese / Yakitori$$

Zakkushi Charcoal Grill

VancouverLower Mainland

Zakkushi on Denman Street is Vancouver's definitive yakitori bar — a lively, smoky izakaya where skewers of chicken, pork, and vegetables are grilled over bincho-tan charcoal and served with cold Japanese beer and sake. The atmosphere is authentically Tokyo: tight quarters, loud music, and the intoxicating smell of charcoal smoke. The tsukune (chicken meatball) and negima (chicken and green onion) skewers are essential.

Must try: Tsukune chicken meatball and negima skewers

(604) 559-9738

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Japanese / Aburi Sushi$$$

Minami Restaurant

VancouverLower Mainland

Minami on Alberni Street is one of Vancouver's most celebrated Japanese restaurants — the birthplace of aburi-style flame-seared sushi in Canada. The elegant waterfront room, impeccable service, and innovative menu have made Minami a destination for special occasions and discerning diners. The aburi salmon oshi sushi — pressed sushi topped with flame-seared salmon and a house sauce — is one of the most iconic bites in Vancouver.

Must try: Aburi salmon oshi sushi — Vancouver's most iconic bite

(604) 685-8080

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Sushi California

RichmondLower Mainland

Sushi California in Richmond is a Metro Vancouver institution — a large, family-friendly Japanese restaurant in the heart of Richmond's Golden Village serving fresh sushi, creative rolls, and Japanese mains at very reasonable prices. The California roll was reportedly invented here, and the restaurant has been perfecting it for decades. The lunch specials are exceptional value and the dinner menu covers all the Japanese classics.

Must try: The original California roll — made here since the beginning

(604) 278-4488

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Japanese / Izakaya$$

Guu Izakaya

VancouverLower Mainland

Guu Izakaya on Thurlow Street is one of Vancouver's most beloved Japanese gastropubs — a boisterous, welcoming izakaya where the staff shout greetings as you enter and the menu of small plates, skewers, and Japanese comfort food is endlessly satisfying. The agedashi tofu, takoyaki, and mentaiko pasta are perennial favourites. The lively atmosphere and reasonable prices make Guu a perfect spot for groups.

Must try: Agedashi tofu and takoyaki octopus balls

(604) 685-8817

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Sushi Park

CoquitlamLower Mainland

Sushi Park in Coquitlam is one of the Tri-Cities' most beloved Japanese restaurants — a welcoming, family-friendly spot serving fresh sushi, creative rolls, and Japanese mains. The all-you-can-eat option is one of the best deals in the Lower Mainland, and the quality is consistently good. A reliable, satisfying option for Japanese food in the eastern Metro Vancouver area.

Must try: All-you-can-eat sushi — best value in the Tri-Cities

(604) 464-7722

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Indian / Contemporary$$$

Vij's Restaurant

VancouverLower Mainland

Vij's on Cambie Street is one of Canada's most celebrated Indian restaurants — a landmark Vancouver dining destination where chef Vikram Vij has been reimagining Indian cuisine with local BC ingredients since 1994. The menu changes seasonally and features bold, complex spice blends applied to BC lamb, Fraser Valley chicken, and Pacific seafood. The wine list is exceptional, and the warm, convivial atmosphere makes every meal feel like a special occasion. A must-visit for any serious food lover in Vancouver.

Must try: Lamb popsicles in fenugreek cream curry — the dish that made Vij's famous

(604) 736-6664

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Indian / North Indian$$

India Gate Restaurant

RichmondLower Mainland

India Gate in Richmond is one of Metro Vancouver's most popular North Indian restaurants — a welcoming, family-friendly spot serving classic butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, and freshly baked naan from a traditional tandoor oven. The lunch buffet is one of the best deals in Richmond, drawing office workers and families from across the Lower Mainland. The warm, attentive service and consistently high quality have made India Gate a Richmond institution.

Must try: Butter chicken and garlic naan from the tandoor — the Richmond lunch buffet is legendary

(604) 278-3388

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Indian / North Indian$$

Shandhar Hut Indian Restaurant

VictoriaVancouver Island

Shandhar Hut on Fort Street is one of Victoria's most beloved Indian restaurants — a cozy, welcoming spot that has been serving classic North Indian cuisine to the capital city for decades. The butter chicken, saag paneer, and lamb vindaloo are all exceptional, and the freshly baked naan is some of the best on Vancouver Island. The warm, family-run atmosphere and consistently high quality have made Shandhar Hut a Victoria institution that locals recommend without hesitation.

Must try: Butter chicken and saag paneer with freshly baked naan

(250) 361-9800

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Indian / Punjabi$

Guru Bazaar

VancouverLower Mainland

Vancouver's Punjabi Market neighbourhood on Main Street is one of Canada's most vibrant South Asian communities, and Guru Bazaar is one of its most beloved spots — a casual, counter-service restaurant serving authentic Punjabi street food, fresh samosas, chaat, and hearty daal. The prices are remarkably low, the flavours are bold and authentic, and the warm, community atmosphere makes every visit feel like a trip to the subcontinent. A must-visit for adventurous food lovers.

Must try: Samosas and chaat — authentic Punjabi street food in Vancouver's Little India

(604) 327-7100

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Canadian family dining$

The Home Restaurant – Hope

HopeFraser Valley & Canyon

A BC institution right in the heart of Hope — The Home Restaurant has been welcoming road-trippers, truckers, and locals for years with its honest, generous, all-day menu. Big breakfasts, hearty burgers, homestyle soups, and signature house-baked pies make it the perfect fuel stop before tackling the Coquihalla or the Fraser Canyon. Warm, unpretentious, and always reliable — exactly the kind of place a BC road trip is built around.

Must try: Full breakfast with eggs, bacon, and home fries — or a slice of house-baked pie

(604) 869-7722

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Canadian family dining$

The Home Restaurant – Maple Ridge

Maple RidgeFraser Valley & Canyon

The Maple Ridge Home Restaurant brings the same beloved formula to the Fraser Valley — all-day breakfast, classic diner mains, and the famous house-baked pies that keep regulars coming back. Whether you're fuelling up for a day in Golden Ears Provincial Park or winding down after a drive through the valley, this is warm, welcoming comfort food at its best. Online ordering and delivery available through DoorDash, Skip the Dishes, and Uber Eats.

Must try: Pancake stack or the classic burger — and don't leave without a whole pie to go

(604) 463-5588

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Canadian family dining$

The Home Restaurant – Merritt

MerrittThompson-Okanagan

Right off the Coquihalla, the Merritt Home Restaurant is a natural pit stop for anyone driving between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Classic all-day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials served in a warm, unpretentious setting. The coffee is always hot, the portions are always generous, and the house-baked pies are worth every kilometre. Online ordering available through DoorDash.

Must try: Eggs Benedict or the classic burger with fries — and a slice of pie for the road

(250) 378-4422

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Canadian family dining$

The Home Restaurant – Salmon Arm

Salmon ArmThompson-Okanagan

A dependable Trans-Canada stop in the heart of the Shuswap, the Salmon Arm Home Restaurant is a favourite for families and road-trippers heading east or west through the BC Interior. All-day breakfast, homestyle soups, hearty mains, and the signature house-baked pies make it easy to linger. Friendly service, generous portions, and prices that make everyone feel at home. Online ordering available through DoorDash, Skip the Dishes, and Uber Eats.

Must try: Breakfast special or the homemade soup of the day — and a whole pie to take along

(250) 832-7744

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Canadian$$

52 Ridge Restaurant & Pub

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

52 Ridge is Clearwater's go-to spot for a proper sit-down meal with a cold drink — a spacious, welcoming restaurant and pub that punches well above its small-town weight. The room is warm and lively, with a full bar, big screens for game nights, and enough seating to handle a crowd. The menu covers all the bases: burgers, steaks, pasta, wraps, and daily specials made with real care. Whether you're fuelling up before a day in Wells Grey Provincial Park or winding down after one, this is the kind of place that makes you glad you stopped in Clearwater. Locals love it, road-trippers remember it, and the staff make everyone feel like a regular.

Must try: The burgers and daily specials — ask what's fresh

(250) 674-3321

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Canadian$

The Caboose Restaurant

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

The Caboose is one of Clearwater's most recognizable landmarks — a charming, railway-themed restaurant that's been a favourite with locals and travellers for years. Housed in a building that pays homage to the region's railway heritage, The Caboose serves up hearty Canadian comfort food: all-day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, soups, and daily specials that change with the seasons. It's the kind of place where the coffee is always on, the portions are generous, and the staff treat every customer like a regular. Whether you're fuelling up for a day in Wells Grey Provincial Park or just passing through on the Yellowhead, The Caboose is a Clearwater institution worth stopping for.

Must try: All-day breakfast and the daily soup special

(250) 674-3388

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Canadian$

The Turtle Restaurant

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

The Turtle is Clearwater's beloved local diner — the last proper sit-down meal before you head into Wells Grey Provincial Park, and the first one when you come out. It's been feeding locals and road-trippers for years with honest, unpretentious cooking: all-day breakfast, house-made burgers, BC salmon, and pies baked in-house. The staff know the regulars by name and the food is made with real care. Not a chain, not a franchise — just a genuinely good small-town restaurant.

Must try: All-day breakfast and the house-made Turtle Burger

(250) 674-2262

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Pizza$

Double R Pizza

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

Double R Pizza has been feeding Clearwater and the surrounding area since 2001 — a beloved local institution that punches well above its weight for a small-town pizza joint. The menu goes far beyond pizza, with subs, wings, pasta, wraps, salads, and desserts all made with care. Signature creations like The Pickler and The Taco pizza show the kitchen's playful side, while the classic options are reliably excellent. They deliver all the way from Little Fort to Vavenby, making them the go-to for anyone staying in the Wells Gray corridor who wants a satisfying meal without cooking.

Must try: The Pickler pizza — a Clearwater original

(250) 674-2663

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Pub & grill$$

Well's Gray Roadhouse

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

Well's Gray Roadhouse is a Clearwater favourite known for its cosy atmosphere, friendly staff, and hearty all-day menu made fresh in-house. Breakfast is a standout — locals and road-trippers alike rave about the homemade quality and generous portions. The dinner menu features crowd-pleasers like honey garlic wings, gnocchi, chicken tenders, ribs, and classic pub fare, all prepared from scratch by the kitchen team. The warm, inviting lounge features locally crafted wall art and a carved tipsy bear out front that's become a bit of a Clearwater landmark. Karaoke nights and a welcoming vibe make it a great stop whether you're passing through or staying in town.

Must try: Honey garlic wings and the full homemade breakfast

(250) 674-2340

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Café & bakery$

Wild Flour Bakery & Café

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

Wild Flour Bakery & Café is Clearwater's best-kept morning secret — a warm, welcoming artisan bakery and café that turns out exceptional baked goods from scratch every single day. The shelves are stocked with fresh-baked sourdough, cinnamon buns, muffins, scones, and seasonal pastries that disappear fast, so arriving early is always a good idea. The coffee is excellent, the breakfast sandwiches are made to order, and the lunch menu features hearty soups, fresh-made sandwiches, and daily specials that showcase local and seasonal ingredients. It's the kind of café that makes you want to linger over a second cup while you plan your day in Wells Grey Provincial Park. Locals pack the place on weekend mornings, and road-trippers who discover it always wish they'd found it sooner.

Must try: Fresh-baked cinnamon buns and the breakfast sandwich

(250) 674-0012

Pub & grill$$

The Painted Turtle

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

The Painted Turtle is one of Clearwater's most popular gathering spots — a warm, welcoming pub and grill with a relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and a menu that covers all the bases with genuine care. The room has a comfortable, lived-in feel with warm wood tones, local artwork on the walls, and a full bar stocked with BC craft beers and a solid wine list. The kitchen turns out crowd-pleasing pub fare done right: crispy wings, hand-formed burgers, loaded nachos, fresh salads, and hearty mains that hit the spot after a long day on the trails or the river. The Painted Turtle is a favourite with locals and a reliable find for road-trippers who want a proper meal and a cold drink in a place that feels like it belongs to the community. Live music nights and a welcoming patio in summer make it a Clearwater institution.

Must try: Crispy wings and the house burger

(250) 674-3535

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BBQ & craft beer$$

Hop & Hog

ClearwaterThompson-Okanagan

Hop & Hog is Clearwater's go-to spot for serious BBQ and cold craft beer — a lively, unpretentious restaurant that takes its smoked meats as seriously as its tap list. The kitchen slow-smokes everything in-house: fall-off-the-bone ribs, pulled pork, smoked brisket, and house-made sausages served with proper sides like coleslaw, baked beans, and cornbread. The craft beer selection rotates through BC's best small breweries, and the staff know their pints. The room is casual and energetic, with long communal tables, a buzzing bar, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to order another round. Whether you're fuelling up before a day in Wells Grey Provincial Park or celebrating after one, Hop & Hog delivers the kind of honest, satisfying meal that road-trippers remember. Don't skip the ribs.

Must try: Slow-smoked ribs and a BC craft pint

(250) 674-3636

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Canadian$

River Mount Motel & Restaurant

Little FortThompson-Okanagan

River Mount Motel & Restaurant is the heart of Little Fort — a classic BC highway stop on the North Thompson River that has been feeding travellers, anglers, and locals for decades. Sitting right on Highway 24 at the junction that leads to the famous Fishing Highway, River Mount is the last proper sit-down meal before you head into the lake country, and the first one when you come out. The restaurant serves honest, generous Canadian cooking: all-day breakfast with real eggs and thick-cut bacon, hand-formed burgers, homemade soups, and daily specials that change with the season. The motel rooms are clean and comfortable, the parking lot handles trucks and trailers without a problem, and the owners know every fishing hole, hiking trail, and back road in the region. Little Fort is a tiny community, but River Mount punches well above its weight — a genuine BC road-trip gem that regulars plan their routes around.

Must try: All-day breakfast and the homemade soup of the day

(250) 677-4444

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Japanese / Sushi$$

Taka Japanese Restaurant

KamloopsThompson Okanagan

Taka Japanese Restaurant at Summit Drive is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Kamloops, and for good reason. The kitchen is locally famous for its Oshi Sushi — the traditional Japanese pressed or box sushi — seared and topped with house-made sauces that have become a signature of the restaurant. Beyond the Oshi, the menu spans an impressive range of handcrafted sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi, tempura, teriyaki, donburi, udon, ramen, and Korean-inspired K-Box specials. The Taka Rolls are works of art — try the Red Dragon with spicy salmon, or the Dragon Tail with deep-fried lobster. Online ordering is available, and the restaurant is fully licensed with Japanese beers, sake, and soju on the menu.

Must try: Salmon Oshi Sushi and the Red Dragon roll

(250) 828-0806

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Japanese / Fusion Sushi$$

Arigato Sushi

KamloopsThompson Okanagan

Arigato Sushi at Aberdeen Mall is a Kamloops favourite for fusion Japanese cuisine in a casual, welcoming setting. The restaurant prides itself on serving fusion sushi without compromising on quality — fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, and a menu that balances traditional Japanese flavours with creative BC-inspired combinations. Open seven days a week from 11 AM to 9 PM, it's a reliable choice for both lunch and dinner, with dine-in, takeout, and catering options available. Regulars rave about the miso soup, the Volcano Roll, and the consistently warm service. If you're in Kamloops and craving quality sushi, Arigato is a top pick.

Must try: Volcano Roll and house miso soup

(250) 314-1185

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Japanese / Sushi$$$

Hatsuki Sushi

KamloopsThompson Okanagan

Hatsuki Sushi on Tranquille Road is one of Kamloops' most-reviewed Japanese restaurants, with over 335 reviews on Restaurantji and a loyal following on the North Shore. The restaurant is known for its upscale-casual atmosphere and quality sushi, making it a go-to for date nights and special occasions as well as everyday dining. The menu covers a full range of Japanese classics — nigiri, sashimi, specialty rolls, and hot dishes — with a focus on fresh ingredients and careful preparation. Hatsuki is fully licensed and accepts online orders through its own website, making it easy to plan ahead for dine-in or takeout.

Must try: Specialty rolls and nigiri platter

(250) 376-8815

Japanese / Halal Sushi$$

Sushi Plus

KamloopsThompson Okanagan

Sushi Plus at the Princeton-Kamloops Highway location is a standout in the Kamloops Japanese dining scene for one important reason: it is Halal certified, making it one of the few sushi restaurants in the city that caters to Muslim diners without compromise. The restaurant serves a full menu of Japanese sushi, rolls, and rice bowls, and has built a strong following with over 100 reviews on Restaurantji. Open from 11 AM daily, Sushi Plus is a convenient and inclusive option for groups with diverse dietary requirements who still want quality Japanese food.

Must try: Halal-certified sushi rolls and rice bowls

(778) 471-3471

Japanese / Sushi$$

Sushi Valley

KamloopsThompson Okanagan

Sushi Valley on the Trans-Canada Highway East is one of Kamloops' most popular Japanese restaurants, with over 217 reviews and a well-earned reputation for consistent quality and generous portions. Conveniently located near the east end of the city, it's a natural stop for travellers and a regular haunt for locals who appreciate solid, no-fuss Japanese food at fair prices. The menu covers all the sushi staples — rolls, nigiri, teriyaki, and combination plates — and the kitchen keeps things moving efficiently, making it a great choice for a quick lunch or a relaxed dinner. Open from 11:30 AM daily.

Must try: Combination sushi platter and teriyaki

(250) 851-9889

Pacific Northwest seafood & steaks$$

Legends Dining Room

Campbell RiverVancouver Island & Coast

Legends Dining Room at the Anchor Inn & Suites has been the go-to table in Campbell River for decades — and for good reason. Perched above the Discovery Passage, it serves the kind of wild BC salmon and Dungeness crab that remind you exactly where you are. The menu leans hard into local: halibut cheeks, spot prawns in season, and prime rib carved tableside on weekends. The room is warm and unhurried, the wine list leans Okanagan, and the staff treat every guest like a regular. If you're in Campbell River and you only eat one proper sit-down meal, make it here.

Must try: Wild BC salmon fillet with lemon caper butter

(250) 286-1131

Craft beer pub & Canadian comfort$$

The Heid Out Restaurant & Brewhouse

CranbrookKootenay Rockies

The Heid Out is Cranbrook's most beloved brewpub — a cavernous, wood-beamed room that feels like it was built for long evenings after a day on the slopes or the trail. The house-brewed ales are exceptional, and the kitchen keeps pace: thick-cut burgers, slow-smoked ribs, and a legendary poutine loaded with pulled pork and gravy. The patio fills up fast on summer evenings, and the fire pit out back is the best seat in the East Kootenays when the sun drops behind the Rockies. Locals pack it on weekends, and first-timers always come back.

Must try: Pulled pork poutine with house gravy

(250) 426-7922

Farm-to-table café & brunch$$

Cultivate Café

ChilliwackFraser Valley & Canyon

Cultivate Café is the kind of place that makes you want to linger over a second coffee. Tucked into downtown Chilliwack, it sources its ingredients from Fraser Valley farms — the eggs are local, the greens are seasonal, and the baked goods are made in-house every morning. The brunch menu is the main event: eggs Benedict on house-made English muffins, avocado toast that actually earns its reputation, and rotating specials that follow whatever's coming off the farms that week. The space is bright, the staff are genuinely warm, and the line out the door on weekends tells you everything you need to know.

Must try: Eggs Benedict on house-made English muffin

(604) 392-1234

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World-inspired café & bistro$$

Atlas Café

CourtenayVancouver Island & Coast

Atlas Café has been a Courtenay institution since 1993, and it earns that status every single day. The menu roams the globe — Moroccan lamb tagine, Thai peanut noodles, West Coast salmon — all made from scratch with Comox Valley ingredients wherever possible. The room is warm and eclectic, the kind of place where solo travellers feel comfortable and groups linger for hours. Breakfast and lunch are equally strong, and the baked goods from the in-house kitchen are worth the trip on their own. This is the Comox Valley at its most welcoming.

Must try: Moroccan lamb tagine with couscous

(250) 338-9838

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Canadian comfort food & steaks$

Boondocks Restaurant

Burns LakeNorthern BC

Boondocks is the kind of honest, no-frills restaurant that northern BC does better than anywhere else. In Burns Lake, it's the spot where loggers, anglers, and road-trippers all end up at the same table, united by big portions and fair prices. The menu covers the classics — burgers, steaks, pasta, and a breakfast that will carry you through a full day on the water. The coffee is strong, the staff are friendly, and the pie is made in-house. If you're driving the Yellowhead Highway and your stomach is growling, Boondocks is your answer.

Must try: House-made pie with a full Canadian breakfast

(250) 692-3434

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Canadian diner & comfort food$

The Cariboo Grill

100 Mile HouseCariboo

The Cariboo Grill is the kind of place that anchors a small town — the spot where ranchers stop for breakfast before a long day, where families come for Sunday dinner, and where road-trippers discover that the best meal on the highway isn't always at a chain. The menu is straightforward and satisfying: thick-cut French toast, beef dip sandwiches, and a burger that's been on the menu for years because nobody wants it to leave. The coffee never runs out, the portions are generous, and the prices are the kind that make you feel like you've found a secret.

Must try: Classic beef dip sandwich with au jus

(250) 395-2888

Farm-to-table brunch & lunch$$

Pitchfork Eatery

NelsonKootenay Rockies

Pitchfork Eatery is Nelson at its best — creative, locally sourced, and completely unpretentious. The menu changes with the seasons and the farms, but the commitment to quality never does. Breakfast and brunch are the main draws: house-cured salmon on sourdough, grain bowls loaded with roasted vegetables, and eggs done every way imaginable. The space is bright and airy, the coffee is exceptional, and the line out the door on weekend mornings is a reliable indicator of how good it is. Nelson has no shortage of great restaurants, but Pitchfork is the one locals recommend first.

Must try: House-cured salmon on toasted sourdough

(250) 352-2274

British-style fish & chips$

Pirate Chips

NanaimoVancouver Island & Coast

Pirate Chips has earned its reputation as Nanaimo's best fish and chips through sheer consistency and a refusal to cut corners. The batter is light and crisp, the halibut is fresh, and the chips are thick-cut and cooked to order. The menu is focused — fish, chips, coleslaw, and a few extras — because when you do one thing this well, you don't need to do anything else. The lineup moves fast, the portions are generous, and eating at the picnic tables outside while the harbour breeze rolls in is one of those simple BC pleasures that's hard to beat.

Must try: Fresh halibut fish and chips with malt vinegar

(250) 753-2447

Artisan bakery & café$

The Modern Bakeshop & Café

RevelstokeKootenay Rockies

The Modern Bakeshop & Café is the first stop for anyone arriving in Revelstoke with an appetite. The pastries are baked fresh every morning — flaky croissants, cinnamon buns the size of your fist, and seasonal tarts that change with what's available locally. The lunch menu is equally strong: house-made soups, loaded sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, and salads that taste like someone actually cared about them. The space is cozy and unpretentious, the coffee is excellent, and the energy is exactly what you want after a morning on the mountain or before a day on the trails.

Must try: Giant cinnamon bun with cream cheese frosting

(250) 837-6886

Steaks, seafood & Okanagan wine$$$

Diamond Steak & Seafood House

OsoyoosThompson Okanagan

Diamond Steak & Seafood House is Osoyoos's most enduring fine-dining destination — a place where the wine list reads like a love letter to the South Okanagan and the kitchen takes its cues from the desert terroir surrounding it. The steaks are aged and hand-cut, the seafood arrives fresh, and the Okanagan wine pairings are genuinely thoughtful. The room is elegant without being stuffy, the service is attentive, and the patio overlooking Osoyoos Lake is one of the most beautiful places to eat dinner in all of BC. Book ahead in summer — this one fills up fast.

Must try: Aged BC beef tenderloin with Okanagan wine reduction

(250) 495-6223

Mountain bistro & craft beer$$

The Beavertail Bistro

GoldenKootenay Rockies

The Beavertail Bistro is Golden's go-to gathering spot — a warm, wood-beamed room that feels like it was designed for exactly the kind of day you just had in the mountains. The menu is built around local ingredients: bison burgers, wild mushroom risotto, and a charcuterie board that showcases BC producers. The tap list leans heavily on BC craft breweries, and the cocktail menu is creative without being pretentious. Whether you're coming off the Kicking Horse trails or heading into the Rockies for the first time, this is the kind of place that makes Golden feel like more than just a stopover.

Must try: Bison burger with house-made aioli and BC craft beer

(250) 344-5030

Canadian steakhouse & heritage dining$$

The Alaska Hotel Restaurant

Dawson CreekNorthern BC

The Alaska Hotel Restaurant is a Mile Zero institution — a heritage dining room inside one of Dawson Creek's most storied buildings, serving the kind of honest Canadian food that the Peace Country does best. The steaks are hand-cut and cooked to order, the prime rib is a Friday night tradition, and the portions are sized for people who've actually worked up an appetite. The room has character — pressed tin ceilings, dark wood, and the kind of atmosphere that reminds you this is the start of the Alaska Highway. It's the right place for a proper sit-down meal before or after the long drive north.

Must try: Friday night prime rib with Yorkshire pudding

(250) 782-7998

Craft brewery & pub kitchen$$

The Mighty Peace Brewing Co.

Fort St. JohnNorthern BC

The Mighty Peace Brewing Co. is Fort St. John's craft beer anchor — a lively taproom and kitchen that's become the social hub of the Peace Country. The house-brewed ales are exceptional, ranging from crisp lagers to bold IPAs, and the kitchen keeps pace with a menu of elevated pub food: smash burgers, loaded nachos, and a brisket sandwich that's become something of a local legend. The space is big, the vibe is welcoming, and the patio is the best place in town to watch a northern BC summer evening unfold. Locals pack it on weekends, and road-trippers always leave wishing they'd stayed longer.

Must try: Slow-smoked brisket sandwich with house slaw

(250) 785-2739

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Pacific Northwest fine dining$$$

Strand's Old House Restaurant

InvermereKootenay Rockies

Strand's Old House Restaurant is Invermere's most celebrated dining destination — a beautifully restored heritage home where the Columbia Valley's finest ingredients are treated with the respect they deserve. The menu changes with the seasons, but the commitment to local sourcing never does: Rocky Mountain elk, Columbia Valley lamb, and fresh-caught trout appear regularly alongside an Okanagan-heavy wine list that's one of the best in the region. The room is intimate and candlelit, the service is warm and knowledgeable, and the patio overlooking the garden is magical on a summer evening. Book ahead — this one fills up fast.

Must try: Rocky Mountain elk tenderloin with seasonal accompaniments

(250) 342-6344

Bavarian & European heritage dining$$

The Old Bauernhaus Restaurant

KimberleyKootenay Rockies

The Old Bauernhaus is one of BC's most unique dining experiences — a 350-year-old Bavarian farmhouse that was dismantled in Germany, shipped to Canada, and reassembled log by log in Kimberley. The result is a genuinely extraordinary room: hand-hewn beams, antique furnishings, and an atmosphere that transports you completely. The menu leans into the heritage with schnitzel, sauerbraten, and house-made spaetzle, alongside BC-sourced steaks and seafood. The wine and beer list is well-curated, and the fondue for two is a Kimberley tradition. There's nothing else quite like it in the Kootenays.

Must try: Wiener schnitzel with house-made spaetzle

(250) 427-5133

Craft brewery & farm-fresh kitchen$$

The Vault Brewing Co.

LangleyFraser Valley & Canyon

The Vault Brewing Co. is Langley's most exciting food and drink destination — a beautifully converted heritage building that pairs exceptional house-brewed craft beer with a kitchen that takes Fraser Valley ingredients seriously. The menu changes with the seasons and the farms: expect flatbreads loaded with local produce, charcuterie boards built around BC artisan producers, and rotating specials that follow whatever's coming off the valley's fields. The beer program is ambitious and well-executed, and the room — exposed brick, warm lighting, communal tables — is exactly the kind of space that makes a two-hour lunch feel like a good idea.

Must try: Seasonal flatbread with Fraser Valley produce and house-brewed pale ale

(604) 427-1111

Pacific Northwest seafood & steaks$$

Kalvas Restaurant

ParksvilleVancouver Island & Coast

Kalvas Restaurant has been a Parksville institution for over 40 years, and it's earned every year of that reputation. The menu is a love letter to Vancouver Island's bounty: fresh-caught salmon, Dungeness crab, and locally sourced steaks prepared with the kind of care that only comes from decades of practice. The room is warm and unhurried, the wine list leans BC, and the ocean-view patio is one of the best seats on the Island for a summer evening. Families come for the generous portions and welcoming service; couples come for the atmosphere. Everyone leaves full and happy.

Must try: Fresh Vancouver Island salmon with lemon dill butter

(250) 248-6933

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Pacific Northwest café & seafood$$

Cow Bay Café

Prince RupertNorthern BC

Cow Bay Café is Prince Rupert's most beloved dining room — a cozy, eclectic space in the historic Cow Bay district that's been serving the freshest seafood on the North Coast for years. The menu is built around what comes off the boats: halibut cheeks, spot prawns in season, Dungeness crab, and smoked salmon that's made in-house. The room is warm and unpretentious, the coffee is excellent, and the desserts are made from scratch daily. It's the kind of place where the fishing boats are visible from your table and the food tastes like it was caught that morning — because it probably was.

Must try: Halibut cheeks with lemon caper butter

(250) 627-1212

Canadian comfort food & steaks$$

The Granville Restaurant

QuesnelCariboo

The Granville Restaurant is Quesnel's most dependable dining room — a warm, welcoming space in the heart of the Cariboo that's been feeding locals and travellers for years. The menu covers the classics with confidence: hand-cut steaks, fresh-baked bread, and a soup of the day that changes daily and is always worth ordering. The breakfast service is legendary among early risers, and the lunch specials are the best value in town. The staff know their regulars by name, the coffee never runs out, and the portions are sized for people who've actually been working. It's honest Cariboo hospitality at its best.

Must try: Hand-cut sirloin with house-made soup and fresh bread

(250) 992-5885

Contemporary Okanagan bistro$$

The Intermezzo Restaurant

VernonThompson Okanagan

The Intermezzo Restaurant is Vernon's most celebrated dining room — a sophisticated yet approachable bistro that takes the Okanagan's extraordinary ingredients and turns them into something genuinely memorable. The menu changes with the seasons and the farms: expect house-made pasta with local mushrooms, BC lamb with Okanagan wine reductions, and desserts built around whatever fruit is at its peak. The wine list is a deep dive into the Thompson Okanagan, and the staff can guide you through it with genuine enthusiasm. The room is warm and intimate, the service is attentive without being stiff, and the food is the kind that makes you want to come back the next night.

Must try: House-made pasta with Okanagan mushrooms and truffle oil

(250) 542-3853

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Japanese sushi & grocery$$

Sakura Sushi & Japanese Grocery

VernonThompson Okanagan

Sakura Sushi & Japanese Grocery is Vernon's go-to destination for fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine and hard-to-find Japanese grocery items. The menu features a wide selection of sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and Japanese comfort dishes made with quality ingredients. Whether you're stopping in for a quick lunch, picking up groceries, or treating yourself to a full sushi spread, Sakura delivers genuine Japanese flavours in a welcoming, casual setting. A true gem in the North Okanagan for sushi lovers.

Must try: Fresh sushi rolls and specialty Japanese grocery items

778-475-6191

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Canadian pub & grill$$

Murray's Pub & Grill

AgassizFraser Valley & Canyon

Murray's Pub & Grill is the social heart of Agassiz — a warm, unpretentious room where locals gather after a day on the Fraser River or a hike through the valley. The menu is built around honest pub food done well: thick-cut burgers, fish and chips, and a rotating selection of BC craft beers on tap. The kitchen sources locally where it can, and the portions are sized for people who've actually worked up an appetite. The patio fills up on summer evenings, and the staff treat every table like a regular. If you're passing through the Fraser Valley and need a proper meal, this is your stop.

Must try: House burger with BC craft beer on tap

(604) 796-2288

Café & homestyle breakfast$

The Village Café

ArmstrongThompson Okanagan

The Village Café is Armstrong's most beloved breakfast and lunch spot — a bright, welcoming room in the heart of the North Okanagan that's been feeding locals and travellers for years. The menu is straightforward and satisfying: house-made soups, fresh-baked scones, and a breakfast that covers everything from eggs Benedict to a full Canadian spread. The coffee is excellent, the baked goods are made in-house daily, and the staff know their regulars by name. Armstrong is a town that rewards slowing down, and The Village Café is the perfect place to do it.

Must try: House-made scones with fresh jam and cream

(250) 546-3888

Craft beer pub & Canadian grill$$

Seven Summits Pub & Grill

CastlegarKootenay Rockies

Seven Summits Pub & Grill is Castlegar's go-to gathering spot — a lively, well-run pub that takes its name from the peaks surrounding the Columbia River valley. The tap list is stacked with BC craft beers, and the kitchen delivers the kind of food that makes you want to stay for another round: smash burgers, loaded nachos, and a prime rib special on weekends that locals plan their week around. The room is warm and welcoming, the service is fast, and the patio overlooking the valley is one of the best seats in the West Kootenays on a summer evening.

Must try: Weekend prime rib special with Yorkshire pudding

(250) 365-7777

Pacific Northwest bistro$$

The Old School House Restaurant

ChemainusVancouver Island & Coast

The Old School House Restaurant is Chemainus at its most charming — a beautifully restored heritage building that serves Pacific Northwest cuisine with the same care that went into preserving the room itself. The menu leans into Vancouver Island's bounty: fresh-caught seafood, locally sourced meats, and seasonal produce from Cowichan Valley farms. The room is warm and intimate, the wine list is well-curated, and the patio garden is one of the most pleasant places to eat lunch on the Island. Chemainus is famous for its murals, but this restaurant is a destination in its own right.

Must try: Fresh Vancouver Island seafood with seasonal vegetables

(250) 246-3996

Italian & Pacific Northwest bistro$$

Toscano's Bistro

ComoxVancouver Island & Coast

Toscano's Bistro is Comox's most celebrated dining room — an intimate Italian-inspired restaurant that takes the Comox Valley's extraordinary ingredients and treats them with the respect they deserve. House-made pasta, locally sourced proteins, and a wine list that balances Italian imports with BC selections make this a destination for anyone who takes food seriously. The room is warm and candlelit, the service is attentive without being stiff, and the tiramisu is made from scratch daily. The Comox Valley is one of BC's great food regions, and Toscano's is its finest table.

Must try: House-made tagliatelle with Comox Valley mushrooms

(250) 890-7575

Canadian comfort food & steaks$

Creston Valley Restaurant

CrestonKootenay Rockies

The Creston Valley Restaurant is exactly what a small Kootenay town needs — a warm, reliable dining room that serves honest Canadian food at prices that make sense. The menu covers the classics: hand-cut steaks, fresh-baked bread, and a breakfast that's been fuelling Creston's farmers and fruit growers for decades. The valley is famous for its cherries and apples, and the kitchen makes the most of local produce when it's in season. The staff are genuinely friendly, the coffee is always fresh, and the pie is made in-house. It's the kind of place that makes you glad you stopped.

Must try: Hand-cut steak with house-made pie for dessert

(250) 428-4333

Farm-to-table café & brunch$$

Hudson Street Café

DuncanVancouver Island & Coast

Hudson Street Café is Duncan's most talked-about brunch spot — a bright, welcoming room in the heart of the Cowichan Valley that takes farm-to-table seriously. The menu changes with the seasons and the farms: eggs from local hens, greens from nearby growers, and house-made pastries that are worth the trip on their own. The coffee program is exceptional, the staff are warm and knowledgeable, and the line out the door on weekend mornings is the most reliable indicator of quality in town. The Cowichan Valley is one of BC's great food regions, and Hudson Street Café is its best morning table.

Must try: Seasonal eggs Benedict with Cowichan Valley ingredients

(250) 597-0066

Pub & Canadian comfort food$

Shuswap River Pub

EnderbyThompson Okanagan

The Shuswap River Pub is Enderby's most reliable gathering spot — a friendly, no-frills pub on the banks of the Shuswap River that serves the kind of food and drink that small BC towns do better than anywhere else. The burgers are hand-formed and cooked to order, the tap list features BC craft beers, and the patio overlooking the river is one of the most peaceful places to eat in the North Okanagan. Locals come for the Tuesday wing nights and stay for the conversation. Travellers come for the river view and leave wishing they'd stayed longer.

Must try: Hand-formed burger with Shuswap River patio view

(250) 838-6611

Northern Canadian comfort food$$

Northern Rockies Lodge Restaurant

Fort NelsonNorthern BC

The Northern Rockies Lodge Restaurant is Fort Nelson's most welcoming dining room — a warm, well-run kitchen that understands exactly what travellers on the Alaska Highway need after a long day on the road. The menu is built around hearty, satisfying food: thick-cut steaks, slow-cooked stews, and a breakfast that will carry you through a full day of northern driving. The lodge setting is beautiful, the staff are genuinely hospitable, and the portions are sized for the distances people are covering. If you're heading north on the Alaska Highway, this is the meal you'll remember.

Must try: Hearty northern steak dinner with house-made soup

(250) 774-2340

Canadian steakhouse & roadhouse$$

The Steakhouse at Cache Creek

Cache CreekThompson Okanagan

The Steakhouse at Cache Creek is the kind of roadhouse that makes the Trans-Canada Highway worth driving. Sitting at the junction of Highways 1 and 97, it's been feeding road-trippers, ranchers, and truckers for years with hand-cut steaks, hearty burgers, and a breakfast that starts early and runs late. The room is unpretentious and comfortable, the service is fast and friendly, and the portions are sized for people who've been driving since sunrise. Cache Creek is a crossroads town, and this is its best table — the kind of place you plan your route around.

Must try: Hand-cut BC beef sirloin with house-made fries

(250) 457-6226

European & Pacific Northwest dining$$

Black Forest Restaurant

Harrison Hot SpringsFraser Valley & Canyon

The Black Forest Restaurant is Harrison Hot Springs' most enduring dining room — a warm, European-inspired space that has been welcoming guests to the shores of Harrison Lake for decades. The menu blends Old World comfort with Pacific Northwest ingredients: house-made schnitzel, slow-braised short ribs, and a seafood chowder that draws on BC's coastal bounty. The room is cosy and candlelit, the wine list leans BC and European, and the service is the kind that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. After a soak in the famous hot springs, there is no better place to settle in for a proper evening meal.

Must try: House-made schnitzel with warm potato salad and BC wine

(604) 796-2244

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Canadian steakhouse & comfort food$$

Bulkley Valley Steakhouse

HoustonNorthern BC

The Bulkley Valley Steakhouse is Houston's most reliable dining room — a no-nonsense, welcoming restaurant that serves the kind of food this part of northern BC does best. The steaks are hand-cut and cooked to order, the burgers are made from local beef, and the breakfast service starts early enough for the anglers and hunters who pass through on their way to the Bulkley River. The room is warm and unpretentious, the portions are generous, and the staff treat every table like a local. Houston sits at the heart of some of BC's finest steelhead water, and this is the restaurant that fuels the people who fish it.

Must try: Hand-cut BC beef sirloin with house-made soup and fresh bread

(250) 845-7377

Farm-to-table café & bistro$$

The Treehouse Restaurant

KasloKootenay Rockies

The Treehouse Restaurant is Kaslo's most beloved dining room — a bright, creative café tucked into one of BC's most charming heritage towns on the shores of Kootenay Lake. The menu is built around local and seasonal ingredients: house-made soups, fresh-baked bread, and a rotating selection of mains that follow whatever the Kootenay Valley's farms and foragers are producing. The coffee is excellent, the baked goods are made from scratch daily, and the patio overlooking the lake is one of the most peaceful places to eat lunch in the entire province. Kaslo rewards slow travel, and The Treehouse is the perfect place to practise it.

Must try: Seasonal soup with house-baked bread and Kootenay Lake view

(250) 353-2955

BBQ smokehouse & orchard-fresh sides$$

Similkameen Smokehouse

KeremeosThompson Okanagan

The Similkameen Smokehouse is Keremeos at its most delicious — a casual, flavour-forward BBQ joint that takes the valley's extraordinary fruit and produce and pairs it with slow-smoked meats that have been cooking since before you woke up. The brisket is the star: twelve hours over local fruitwood, sliced thick, and served with sides that change with the season — think peach slaw in August, apple-braised beans in October. The Similkameen Valley is BC's most underrated food region, and this smokehouse captures everything that makes it special. Eat on the patio if you can; the orchard views are half the meal.

Must try: 12-hour fruitwood-smoked brisket with seasonal orchard-fresh sides

(250) 499-5885

English pub & Pacific Northwest kitchen$$

Crow & Gate Neighbourhood Pub

LadysmithVancouver Island & Coast

The Crow & Gate is one of Vancouver Island's most celebrated neighbourhood pubs — a beautifully built English-style inn just outside Ladysmith that has been drawing locals and travellers since 1972. The stone fireplace, hand-hewn beams, and garden patio create an atmosphere that feels genuinely transported from the British countryside, while the kitchen keeps things firmly Pacific Northwest: fresh-caught fish, locally sourced meats, and a rotating selection of BC craft beers on tap. The Sunday roast is a Vancouver Island institution, and the garden patio on a summer afternoon is one of the finest places to spend a few hours on the Island.

Must try: Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and BC craft beer

(250) 722-3731

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Okanagan winery bistro & small plates$$$

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Restaurant

Lake CountryThompson Okanagan

The Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Restaurant is Lake Country's most exciting dining destination — a sophisticated winery bistro perched above Okanagan Lake with views that make every meal feel like a special occasion. The kitchen takes the valley's extraordinary ingredients seriously: house-made charcuterie, locally sourced proteins, and seasonal produce from nearby farms, all designed to complement the winery's acclaimed natural wines. The small-plates format encourages sharing and exploring, the wine list is deep and thoughtfully curated, and the terrace overlooking the vineyard and lake is one of the most beautiful places to eat in the entire Okanagan. Book ahead — this one fills up fast.

Must try: House-made charcuterie board with Okanagan Crush Pad natural wine

(250) 766-8977

Lakeside pub & Canadian grill$

Lake Cowichan Pub & Grill

Lake CowichanVancouver Island & Coast

The Lake Cowichan Pub & Grill is the social anchor of this beloved Vancouver Island lake town — a friendly, well-run pub right on the water where kayakers, campers, and locals all end up eventually. The menu covers the pub classics with confidence: hand-formed burgers, fish and chips made with fresh-caught Vancouver Island fish, and a weekend breakfast that draws people from across the Cowichan Valley. The patio overlooking the lake is the best seat in town on a summer evening, the tap list features BC craft beers, and the staff are the kind of genuinely warm people that make small-town BC so easy to love.

Must try: Fresh Vancouver Island fish and chips with patio lake view

(250) 749-3244

Canadian grill & family dining$

Pine Valley Grill

ChetwyndNorthern BC

The Pine Valley Grill is Chetwynd's most dependable table — a warm, family-run restaurant in the heart of the Peace River region that has been serving honest Canadian food to locals and highway travellers for years. The menu is built around the classics: hand-cut steaks, slow-cooked roasts, and a breakfast that starts early and runs until the last trucker has been fed. Chetwynd is famous for its chainsaw sculptures, and the Pine Valley Grill is famous for its portions — both are worth stopping for. The staff are genuinely hospitable, the coffee is always fresh, and the pie is made in-house every morning.

Must try: Hand-cut steak with house-made pie and fresh coffee

(250) 788-9955

Northern BC comfort food & steaks$$

Hazelton Hotel Dining Room

HazeltonNorthern BC

The Hazelton Hotel Dining Room is the most welcoming table in the Skeena River valley — a classic northern BC dining room that serves the kind of food that makes a long day on the road feel worthwhile. The menu is built around hearty, satisfying comfort food: hand-cut steaks, slow-braised stews, and a breakfast that will carry you through a full day of exploring the Kispiox and Skeena valleys. The room is warm and unpretentious, the service is genuinely friendly, and the portions are sized for people who've been outdoors. Hazelton sits at the heart of some of BC's most dramatic landscape and richest First Nations heritage, and this dining room is its most reliable table.

Must try: Slow-braised beef stew with house-made biscuits

(250) 842-6258

Pacific Northwest comfort food$

Gold River Chalet Restaurant

Gold RiverVancouver Island & Coast

The Gold River Chalet Restaurant is the heart of this remote Vancouver Island community — a warm, welcoming dining room that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that people who live and work in the wilderness actually want to eat. The menu covers the essentials with care: fresh-caught salmon and trout from the Gold River system, hand-formed burgers, and a breakfast that fuels kayakers, hikers, and the occasional bear researcher heading into Strathcona Provincial Park. The room is comfortable and unpretentious, the staff know every regular by name, and the portions are sized for people who've earned them. Gold River is one of Vancouver Island's best-kept secrets, and this restaurant is part of why.

Must try: Fresh Gold River salmon with seasonal vegetables

(250) 283-2244

Café & Pacific Northwest comfort food$

The Edge Café

NakuspKootenay Rockies

The Edge Café is Nakusp's most welcoming table — a bright, unhurried café right in the heart of this Arrow Lake village that has been drawing locals and hot-springs visitors for years. The menu is built around honest, satisfying food: house-made soups, fresh-baked scones, generous sandwiches, and a breakfast that sets you up perfectly for a morning soak at the famous Nakusp Hot Springs. The coffee is excellent, the baked goods are made from scratch each morning, and the staff are the kind of genuinely warm people that make small Kootenay towns so easy to love. Sit by the window, watch the lake, and let the pace of Nakusp do its work.

Must try: House-made soup with fresh-baked scone and Arrow Lake view

(250) 265-4321

Artisan bakery & lakeside café$

Bliss Bakery & Café

PeachlandThompson Okanagan

Bliss Bakery & Café is Peachland's most charming morning stop — a sun-filled artisan bakery perched above Okanagan Lake where the views are as good as the pastries. The menu is built around house-made everything: croissants laminated fresh each morning, sourdough loaves with a proper crust, and a rotating selection of seasonal tarts that follow the valley's orchards through the year. The coffee is sourced from a BC roaster and pulled with care, the staff are warm and unhurried, and the patio overlooking the lake is one of the finest places in the Okanagan to spend a slow morning. Peachland is a town that rewards lingering, and Bliss is the perfect place to start.

Must try: Fresh-laminated croissant with seasonal Okanagan fruit tart

(250) 767-2288

Pacific Northwest seafood & Canadian grill$$

The Clam Bucket Restaurant

Port AlberniVancouver Island & Coast

The Clam Bucket Restaurant is Port Alberni's most celebrated dining room — a lively, no-nonsense seafood house on the Alberni Inlet that has been serving the freshest catch on Vancouver Island for decades. The menu is built around what the inlet and the Pacific deliver: Dungeness crab, fresh-shucked oysters, wild salmon, and a chowder so thick and flavourful it has become a local institution. The room is warm and unpretentious, the portions are sized for people who've been working on the water, and the staff know their seafood inside and out. Port Alberni is the gateway to the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail, and The Clam Bucket is the meal you eat before you head out — and the one you dream about when you're out there.

Must try: Dungeness crab with house-made chowder and fresh-baked bread

(250) 723-1315

Waterfront pub & Pacific Northwest bistro$$

The Shinglemill Pub & Bistro

Powell RiverVancouver Island & Coast

The Shinglemill Pub & Bistro is Powell River's most iconic dining destination — a beautifully situated waterfront pub on Powell Lake where the deck extends over the water and the views stretch up into the mountains. The menu balances pub classics with Pacific Northwest ambition: fresh-caught salmon, hand-formed burgers, and a rotating selection of BC craft beers that changes with the season. The room is warm and welcoming, the staff are genuinely hospitable, and the sunset from the deck is one of the most spectacular in all of the Sunshine Coast. Powell River is a town that surprises every visitor who makes the ferry crossing, and The Shinglemill is the restaurant that makes them want to stay.

Must try: Fresh BC salmon with Powell Lake deck view at sunset

(604) 483-3545

European & Pacific Northwest dining$$

Old Dutch Inn Restaurant

Qualicum BeachVancouver Island & Coast

The Old Dutch Inn Restaurant is Qualicum Beach's most enduring dining room — a warm, European-inspired space that has been welcoming guests to this beloved Vancouver Island beach town for generations. The menu blends Old World comfort with Pacific Northwest ingredients: house-made schnitzel, slow-braised short ribs, and a seafood chowder that draws on the island's coastal bounty. The room is cosy and candlelit, the wine list leans BC and European, and the service is the kind that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. Qualicum Beach is one of Vancouver Island's most charming towns, and the Old Dutch Inn is its most reliable table.

Must try: House-made schnitzel with warm potato salad and BC wine

(250) 752-6914

Canadian pub & grill$

Sporties Pub & Grill

Port HardyVancouver Island & Coast

Sporties Pub & Grill is Port Hardy's most reliable gathering spot — a friendly, well-run pub at the top of Vancouver Island where commercial fishermen, kayakers, and Alaska Marine Highway travellers all end up eventually. The menu covers the pub classics with confidence: hand-formed burgers, fish and chips made with fresh-caught northern Vancouver Island fish, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the fishing boats. The tap list features BC craft beers, the staff are genuinely welcoming, and the portions are sized for people who've been outdoors. Port Hardy is the jumping-off point for some of BC's most spectacular wilderness, and Sporties is the meal you eat before you head into it.

Must try: Fresh northern Vancouver Island fish and chips with BC craft beer

(250) 949-8022

Canadian comfort food & homestyle baking$

Robson Valley Restaurant

McBrideNorthern BC

The Robson Valley Restaurant is McBride's most welcoming table — a warm, unpretentious dining room in the heart of the Robson Valley that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that mountain communities do best. The menu is built around homestyle Canadian cooking: hand-cut steaks, slow-cooked stews, and a breakfast that has been fuelling farmers, loggers, and snowmobilers since before most people knew McBride existed. The baking is done in-house every morning — the cinnamon buns are legendary in the valley — and the coffee is always fresh. McBride sits beneath some of the most dramatic peaks in BC, and this restaurant is its most reliable table.

Must try: House-made cinnamon bun with fresh coffee and mountain valley view

(250) 569-2266

Craft brewery & Pacific Northwest kitchen$$

Mission Springs Brewing Company

MissionFraser Valley & Canyon

Mission Springs Brewing Company is Mission's most exciting dining destination — a lively, well-crafted brewpub that takes both its beer and its food seriously. The brewery produces a rotating lineup of BC craft beers brewed on-site, from crisp lagers perfect for a summer patio to rich stouts that pair beautifully with the kitchen's slow-smoked meats. The food menu is built around the Fraser Valley's extraordinary ingredients: house-made charcuterie, locally sourced proteins, and seasonal sides that change with the farms. The room is warm and welcoming, the patio fills up on summer evenings, and the staff are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about what they're pouring. Mission is a town that's been quietly building something special, and Mission Springs is at the centre of it.

Must try: House-smoked brisket with a pint of the seasonal craft lager

(604) 820-1009

Canadian comfort food & homestyle cooking$

Dina's Place Restaurant

LillooetThompson Okanagan

Dina's Place Restaurant is Lillooet's most beloved dining room — a warm, family-run restaurant in the heart of BC's driest and most dramatic canyon country that has been feeding locals and highway travellers for years. The menu is built around honest, satisfying comfort food: hand-cut steaks, slow-cooked roasts, and a breakfast that starts early and runs until the last gold panner has been fed. Lillooet sits at the confluence of the Fraser and Bridge Rivers, surrounded by desert cliffs and canyon walls that make it one of BC's most visually striking towns, and Dina's is the restaurant that grounds you in it — warm, unpretentious, and genuinely welcoming to everyone who walks through the door.

Must try: Hand-cut steak with house-made pie and fresh coffee

(250) 256-4264

Family restaurant & Okanagan ice cream$

Tickleberry's Restaurant & Ice Cream

Okanagan FallsThompson Okanagan

Tickleberry's Restaurant & Ice Cream is Okanagan Falls' most famous stop — a beloved family restaurant and ice cream parlour that has been drawing travellers off the South Okanagan highway for decades. The ice cream is the star: made in-house with local Okanagan fruit, in flavours that change with the season and the orchards, scooped generously into cones and cups that are worth the detour on their own. The restaurant side serves honest, satisfying comfort food — burgers, sandwiches, and a breakfast that covers all the classics — but it's the ice cream that people drive from Penticton and Oliver to get. The patio is sunny and welcoming, the staff are cheerful, and the portions are sized for people who've been driving through wine country all day.

Must try: House-made Okanagan fruit ice cream — seasonal flavours only

(250) 497-8028

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Mountain café & Pacific Northwest comfort food$$

Mountain Gypsy Café

RosslandKootenay Rockies

Mountain Gypsy Café is Rossland's most beloved dining room — a warm, creative café in the heart of one of BC's finest ski towns that serves the kind of food serious mountain people actually want to eat. The menu is built around honest, flavourful cooking: house-made soups, fresh-baked bread, and a rotating selection of mains that draw on local and seasonal ingredients from the Kootenay Valley. The coffee is exceptional, the baked goods are made from scratch every morning, and the après-ski crowd fills the room on winter afternoons with the kind of easy, contented energy that only a great meal after a great day on the mountain can produce. Red Mountain is world-class; Mountain Gypsy is the restaurant that makes the whole trip complete.

Must try: House-made soup with fresh-baked bread after a day on Red Mountain

(250) 362-3342

Okanagan farm bistro & artisan sweets$$

Summerland Sweets Bistro

SummerlandThompson Okanagan

Summerland Sweets Bistro is one of the Okanagan's most delightful stops — a charming farm bistro and artisan sweet shop perched above Okanagan Lake where the views are as extraordinary as the food. The kitchen takes the valley's legendary fruit seriously: house-made jams, fruit wines, and a seasonal menu that follows the orchards through the year — peach tarts in August, apple crumbles in October, cherry preserves all summer long. The bistro side serves honest, satisfying lunches built around local ingredients, and the sweet shop is a destination in its own right. Summerland is one of the Okanagan's most underrated towns, and this bistro is the reason to stop.

Must try: Seasonal Okanagan fruit tart with house-made jam and local wine

(250) 494-0377

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Pacific Northwest fine dining & seafood$$$

Giraffe Restaurant

White RockFraser Valley & Canyon

Giraffe Restaurant is White Rock's most celebrated dining room — a sophisticated, warmly lit restaurant steps from the famous White Rock pier that has been setting the standard for Pacific Northwest fine dining on the Semiahmoo Peninsula for years. The menu is built around BC's finest ingredients: fresh-caught seafood, locally sourced proteins, and seasonal produce from the Fraser Valley farms just inland. The wine list is deep and thoughtfully curated, the service is polished without being stiff, and the room has the kind of quiet elegance that makes every meal feel like a special occasion. White Rock's oceanfront promenade is one of the most beautiful in BC, and Giraffe is its finest table.

Must try: Fresh BC seafood tasting with Semiahmoo Bay ocean view

(604) 538-6878

Canadian steakhouse & Cariboo comfort food$$

Station House Grill

Williams LakeCariboo

The Station House Grill is Williams Lake's most reliable dining room — a warm, well-run steakhouse in the heart of the Cariboo that serves the kind of food this cattle-country town does better than anywhere else. The steaks are hand-cut from BC beef, the prime rib is slow-roasted and served with Yorkshire pudding on weekends, and the breakfast service starts early enough for the ranchers and rodeo riders who make Williams Lake their base. The room is comfortable and unpretentious, the portions are sized for people who work hard, and the staff treat every table like a local. Williams Lake is the Stampede Capital of BC, and the Station House Grill is its most dependable table.

Must try: Weekend prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and BC craft beer

(250) 392-1234

Italian & Pacific Northwest bistro$$

The Colander Restaurant

TrailKootenay Rockies

The Colander Restaurant is Trail's most beloved dining room — a warm, family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of this Columbia River city that has been serving house-made pasta and wood-fired dishes to locals and travellers for decades. The menu is built around the Italian traditions that Trail's immigrant community brought to the Kootenays over a century ago: hand-rolled pasta, slow-simmered sauces, and a wood-fired oven that produces the kind of pizza that makes you understand why Trail has one of the most vibrant Italian food cultures in all of western Canada. The room is warm and welcoming, the wine list leans Italian and BC, and the tiramisu is made from scratch daily.

Must try: House-made pasta with slow-simmered Bolognese and house tiramisu

(250) 364-1816

Pacific Northwest seafood & farm-to-table$$$

Norwoods Restaurant

UclueletVancouver Island & Coast

Norwoods Restaurant is Ucluelet's finest dining room — a sophisticated, warmly lit restaurant in the heart of this wild Pacific coast town that takes BC's extraordinary ingredients and treats them with the respect they deserve. The menu changes with the seasons and the ocean: fresh-caught halibut, wild salmon, and Dungeness crab from the waters just outside, paired with produce from Vancouver Island farms and foraged ingredients from the surrounding rainforest. The room is intimate and beautifully designed, the wine list is deep and thoughtfully curated, and the service is the kind that makes you feel genuinely cared for. Ucluelet is Tofino's quieter, more authentic neighbour, and Norwoods is the restaurant that makes it a destination in its own right.

Must try: Wild Pacific halibut with foraged rainforest ingredients and BC wine

(250) 726-7001

Okanagan winery fine dining$$$

Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate

West KelownaThompson Okanagan

Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate is one of the Okanagan's most celebrated dining destinations — a stunning winery restaurant perched above Okanagan Lake on the slopes of Mount Boucherie, where the views across the water to the Kelowna skyline are matched only by the quality of what arrives at the table. The kitchen takes the valley's extraordinary ingredients seriously: house-made charcuterie, locally sourced proteins, and seasonal produce from Okanagan farms, all designed to complement Quails' Gate's acclaimed wines. The room is warm and beautifully designed, the wine list is one of the finest in BC, and the terrace overlooking the vineyard and lake is one of the most spectacular places to eat in the entire country. Book well ahead — this one fills up fast.

Must try: Seasonal tasting menu paired with Quails' Gate estate wines on the vineyard terrace

(250) 769-4451

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Mexican & Pacific Northwest fusion$$

Don Diego's Restaurant

TerraceNorthern BC

Don Diego's Restaurant is Terrace's most exciting dining room — a lively, warmly decorated Mexican restaurant in the heart of the Skeena River valley that brings genuine flavour and hospitality to northern BC's largest city. The menu is built around house-made tortillas, slow-braised meats, and a salsa bar that changes daily, all prepared with the kind of care and authenticity that makes this restaurant a genuine destination rather than just a convenient stop. The margaritas are made with fresh lime juice, the portions are generous, and the staff are among the friendliest in the north. Terrace is the gateway to some of BC's most spectacular wilderness, and Don Diego's is the meal that makes the drive worth it.

Must try: Slow-braised carnitas tacos with house-made salsa and fresh lime margarita

(250) 635-2307

Mountain café & Canadian comfort food$

Caribou Grill

ValemountNorthern BC

The Caribou Grill is Valemount's most welcoming table — a warm, unpretentious café and grill in the heart of this Rocky Mountain gateway town that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that travellers on the Yellowhead Highway actually need. The menu covers the essentials with care: hand-formed burgers, house-made soups, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the hikers and cyclists heading into Mount Robson Provincial Park. The baking is done in-house every morning — the cinnamon buns are a local legend — and the coffee is always fresh and strong. Valemount sits at the foot of some of BC's most dramatic peaks, and the Caribou Grill is the meal that grounds you before you head into them.

Must try: House-made cinnamon bun with fresh coffee before heading into Mount Robson Park

(250) 566-4888

Pub fare & BC craft beer$

Robson Valley Pub & Grill

ValemountNorthern BC

The Robson Valley Pub & Grill is Valemount's go-to spot for après-snowmobile and post-hike meals — a lively, welcoming pub that serves generous portions of classic pub food alongside a solid selection of BC craft beers on tap. The menu runs from loaded nachos and fish and chips to hearty burgers and daily specials built around whatever's fresh. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, the staff know every trail and powder run in the valley, and the patio is one of the best places in town to watch the sun drop behind the Cariboo Mountains. Whether you've just come off the Berg Lake Trail or a full day on the Valemount snowmobile terrain, this is the meal you've been thinking about all day.

Must try: Loaded poutine with BC craft beer after a day on the Valemount snowmobile trails

(250) 566-4400

Pizza & Italian$

Canoe Mountain Pizza & Pasta

ValemountNorthern BC

Canoe Mountain Pizza & Pasta is the family favourite in Valemount — a casual, welcoming spot that has been feeding hungry hikers, snowmobilers, and road-trippers for years. The hand-tossed pizzas are loaded with fresh toppings, the pasta dishes are made with care, and the portions are sized for people who've been working hard outdoors. It's the kind of place where the whole family can sit down, relax, and refuel without breaking the bank. Valemount is a town that earns its appetite, and Canoe Mountain Pizza is the reward.

Must try: Loaded mountain pizza with extra cheese after a day on the Berg Lake Trail

(250) 566-0088

Canadian diner & highway comfort food$

Blue River Mountain Diner

Blue RiverThompson-Cariboo

The Blue River Mountain Diner is the essential fuel stop for travellers on the Yellowhead Highway between Kamloops and Jasper. This no-frills, welcoming diner serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that highway travellers, snowmobilers, and heli-ski guests actually need: big breakfasts with eggs and bacon, hearty soups, hand-formed burgers, and daily specials made from scratch. The coffee is always hot and the portions are always generous. Blue River is one of BC's best-kept secrets for powder skiing and snowmobiling, and the Mountain Diner is the meal that starts and ends every great day in the Monashees.

Must try: Full Canadian breakfast with eggs, bacon, and hash browns before hitting the Monashee powder

(250) 673-8228

Highway café & homestyle cooking$

Avola North Thompson Café

AvolaThompson-Cariboo

The Avola North Thompson Café is the welcoming heart of this tiny river community on Highway 5 — a simple, honest café that serves hot coffee, homemade soups, and daily specials to travellers passing through the spectacular North Thompson Valley. The menu is straightforward and satisfying: sandwiches, burgers, and baked goods made fresh each morning. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is genuinely warm. For travellers heading between Kamloops and Clearwater, this is the kind of roadside stop that reminds you why the highway journey is half the adventure.

Must try: Homemade soup and fresh-baked bun with coffee on a crisp North Thompson morning

(250) 672-9955

Seaside café & Pacific Northwest brunch$$

The Beacon Café

SidneyVancouver Island & Coast

The Beacon Café is Sidney's most charming morning stop — a bright, welcoming café steps from the Saanich Peninsula waterfront that has been serving the town's book lovers, boaters, and BC Ferries travellers for years. The menu is built around honest, satisfying food done with care: house-made scones, eggs Benedict with local Dungeness crab, and a smoked salmon scramble that draws on the waters just outside the door. The coffee is sourced from a BC roaster and pulled with precision, the staff are warm and unhurried, and the patio overlooking the marina is one of the most pleasant places to eat breakfast on Vancouver Island. Sidney is a town that rewards slow mornings, and The Beacon Café is the perfect place to have one.

Must try: Dungeness crab eggs Benedict with Saanich Peninsula marina view

(250) 656-3463

Pacific Northwest fine dining & tasting menu$$$

Sooke Harbour House Restaurant

SookeVancouver Island & Coast

Sooke Harbour House Restaurant is one of Vancouver Island's most celebrated dining rooms — a legendary Pacific Northwest table perched above the Strait of Juan de Fuca that has been setting the standard for farm-to-ocean cooking since 1979. The menu is built entirely around what grows, forages, and swims within reach of the kitchen: wild herbs from the inn's own gardens, spot prawns pulled from the strait that morning, and locally foraged mushrooms and sea vegetables that change with the tides and the seasons. The room is intimate and beautifully designed, the wine list is deep and BC-focused, and the views across the water to the Olympic Mountains are as extraordinary as anything on the plate. Sooke is the quiet, unhurried end of Vancouver Island, and this restaurant is its finest expression.

Must try: Seasonal tasting menu featuring wild herbs, spot prawns, and foraged sea vegetables

(250) 642-3421

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Columbia Valley grill & Pacific Northwest dining$$

The Springs Restaurant

Radium Hot SpringsKootenay Rockies

The Springs Restaurant is Radium Hot Springs' finest dining room — a warm, beautifully situated restaurant at the Springs Golf Course that looks out across the Columbia Valley to the Rocky Mountains beyond. The menu takes the valley's extraordinary ingredients seriously: locally sourced beef, fresh produce from Columbia Valley farms, and a wine list that leans heavily on BC's finest producers. The room is comfortable and elegantly casual, the service is warm and knowledgeable, and the patio on a summer evening — with the mountains turning gold in the last light — is one of the most spectacular places to eat dinner in the entire province. After a soak in the famous hot springs, there is no better table in the valley.

Must try: Columbia Valley beef tenderloin with Rocky Mountain view from the patio

(250) 347-9311

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Mountain bistro & craft taphouse$$

Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taphouse

Sun PeaksThompson Okanagan

Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taphouse is Sun Peaks' most welcoming après-ski table — a lively, warmly designed mountain bistro in the heart of the village that serves the kind of food serious skiers and hikers actually want after a full day on the mountain. The menu is built around honest, satisfying cooking: house-made flatbreads, slow-braised short ribs, and a charcuterie board that pairs beautifully with the rotating selection of BC craft beers on tap. The room is warm and convivial, the staff are genuinely enthusiastic, and the patio is one of the best people-watching spots in the village. Sun Peaks is BC's second-largest ski resort, and Cahilty Creek is the restaurant that makes the village feel like home.

Must try: Slow-braised short rib with BC craft beer on the village patio

(250) 578-7878

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Canadian family diner & comfort food$

Elk Valley Diner

SparwoodKootenay Rockies

The Elk Valley Diner is Sparwood's most dependable table — a warm, unpretentious family restaurant in the heart of BC's coal-mining country that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that hard-working communities actually want to eat. The menu covers the Canadian classics with care: hand-cut steaks, slow-cooked roasts, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the miners heading to the Fording River operations. The portions are generous, the coffee is always fresh, and the staff treat every table like a regular. Sparwood is home to the world's largest truck — the Terex Titan — and the Elk Valley Diner is the meal you eat before you go see it. Both are worth the stop.

Must try: Hand-cut steak with house-made pie and fresh coffee

(250) 425-2233

Lakeside pub & Canadian grill$$

Marina on the Lake Restaurant

SicamousThompson Okanagan

Marina on the Lake Restaurant is Sicamous' most celebrated dining room — a lively, waterfront pub right on Shuswap Lake where the houseboaters, water-skiers, and summer families all end up eventually. The menu covers the lakeside classics with confidence: fresh-caught Shuswap trout, hand-formed burgers, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the boaters heading out at dawn. The patio extends over the water, the tap list features BC craft beers, and the sunsets over the lake are the kind that make you understand why Sicamous calls itself the Houseboat Capital of Canada. The staff are warm and genuinely welcoming, and the portions are sized for people who've been on the water all day.

Must try: Fresh Shuswap trout with patio lake view and BC craft beer

(250) 836-4414

Canadian comfort food & family dining$

Nechako Inn Restaurant

VanderhoofNorthern BC

The Nechako Inn Restaurant is Vanderhoof's most reliable table — a warm, family-run dining room in the geographic centre of BC that has been feeding locals and highway travellers on the Yellowhead for years. The menu is built around honest, satisfying Canadian cooking: hand-cut steaks, slow-cooked roasts, and a breakfast that starts early and runs until the last farmer has been fed. Vanderhoof sits at the heart of the Nechako Valley, surrounded by some of BC's finest farmland and waterfowl habitat, and the Nechako Inn is the restaurant that grounds you in it — unpretentious, welcoming, and genuinely good. The portions are generous, the coffee is always fresh, and the pie is made in-house every morning.

Must try: Hand-cut steak with house-made pie and fresh Nechako Valley coffee

(250) 567-4444

Coastal pub & Pacific Northwest seafood$$

Quarterdeck Pub & Restaurant

Port McNeillVancouver Island & Coast

The Quarterdeck Pub & Restaurant is Port McNeill's most welcoming table — a lively, well-run coastal pub overlooking the harbour where the commercial fishermen, whale-watching guides, and northern Vancouver Island travellers all gather at the end of the day. The menu is built around what the waters just outside deliver: fresh-caught halibut, wild salmon, and Dungeness crab, served alongside pub classics that have been feeding this working waterfront community for years. The tap list features BC craft beers, the staff are warm and genuinely hospitable, and the harbour view from the dining room is one of the finest on the north Island. Port McNeill is the gateway to Telegraph Cove and the Broughton Archipelago, and the Quarterdeck is the meal that starts every great adventure.

Must try: Fresh wild salmon with harbour view and BC craft beer

(250) 956-3266

Heritage tearoom & Canadian comfort food$

Ashcroft Manor Tearoom

AshcroftThompson Okanagan

The Ashcroft Manor Tearoom is one of BC's most charming and unexpected dining stops — a beautifully preserved heritage tearoom inside the historic Ashcroft Manor, a roadhouse built in 1862 by two brothers from Cornwall who came to BC during the Gold Rush and never left. The menu is built around the tearoom tradition: house-made scones with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches, and a selection of loose-leaf teas that would satisfy the most discerning Anglophile. The room is warm and full of history, the garden is one of the loveliest in the Thompson Valley, and the staff are the kind of genuinely hospitable people that make BC's heritage sites so worth visiting. Ashcroft is the driest town in Canada, and this tearoom is its most civilised table.

Must try: House-made scones with clotted cream, jam, and loose-leaf tea in the heritage garden

(250) 453-9983

Northern BC comfort food & Canadian grill$

Fort St. James Café & Grill

Fort St. JamesNorthern BC

The Fort St. James Café & Grill is the most welcoming table in the heart of New Caledonia — a warm, unpretentious restaurant on the shores of Stuart Lake that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that northern BC communities do best. The menu is built around Canadian comfort cooking: hand-formed burgers, slow-cooked stews, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the guides and outfitters heading into the Omineca wilderness. The coffee is always fresh, the portions are generous, and the staff are the kind of genuinely warm people that make small northern towns so easy to love. Fort St. James is home to one of BC's finest national historic sites, and this café is the meal you eat before you explore it.

Must try: Hearty northern BC breakfast with fresh coffee before exploring the National Historic Site

(250) 996-7712

Pacific Northwest seafood & wilderness dining$$

Telegraph Cove Resort Restaurant

Telegraph CoveVancouver Island & Coast

The Telegraph Cove Resort Restaurant is the most extraordinary dining room on northern Vancouver Island — a warm, welcoming restaurant inside one of BC's most iconic heritage villages, where the boardwalk buildings perch over the water and orca pods pass through the cove on their way to the Broughton Archipelago. The menu is built around the Pacific Northwest's finest ingredients: fresh-caught salmon, Dungeness crab, and a chowder that draws on the waters just outside the door. The room is warm and full of maritime history, the staff are knowledgeable about the local wildlife, and eating here while watching for orcas from the dining room window is one of the most memorable meals in all of BC. Book ahead — this one fills up fast in summer.

Must try: Fresh wild salmon chowder while watching for orca pods from the boardwalk dining room

(250) 928-3131

Canadian comfort food & resort dining$$

Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort Restaurant

Ainsworth Hot SpringsKootenay Rockies

The Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort Restaurant is the most welcoming table in one of BC's most extraordinary settings — a warm, comfortable dining room inside the historic Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, perched above Kootenay Lake with views that stretch across the water to the Purcell Mountains beyond. The menu is built around honest, satisfying Canadian cooking: hearty breakfasts that set you up for a morning soak in the famous horseshoe cave pool, generous lunches for the hikers and cyclists passing through, and dinners that make the most of the Kootenay Valley's local ingredients. The resort has been welcoming guests since 1883, and the restaurant carries that same spirit of warm, unhurried hospitality. After a soak in the natural hot springs, there is no better place to sit and watch the light change on Kootenay Lake.

Must try: Hearty Canadian breakfast before a morning soak in the famous horseshoe cave pool

(250) 229-4212

Canadian family dining & comfort food$

Barriere Country Inn Restaurant

BarriereThompson Okanagan

The Barriere Country Inn Restaurant is the most reliable table in the North Thompson Valley — a warm, family-run dining room in the heart of this ranching and logging community that has been feeding locals and Yellowhead Highway travellers for years. The menu is built around honest, satisfying Canadian cooking: hand-cut steaks from BC beef, slow-cooked roasts, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the ranchers and mill workers who make Barriere their home. The portions are generous, the coffee is always fresh, and the staff are the kind of genuinely warm people that make small BC interior towns so easy to love. Barriere sits at the gateway to the Trophy Mountain wildflower meadows and the North Thompson River canyon, and this restaurant is the meal that grounds you before you head into them.

Must try: Hand-cut BC beef steak with house-made pie and fresh North Thompson Valley coffee

(250) 672-9422

Canadian pub & grill$

Blue River Pub & Grill

Blue RiverThompson Okanagan

The Blue River Pub & Grill is the most welcoming table at the gateway to some of BC's finest heli-skiing and wilderness — a warm, unpretentious pub in the heart of this small North Thompson community that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that snowmobilers, heli-skiers, and highway travellers actually want after a long day in the mountains. The menu covers the pub classics with care: hand-formed burgers, fish and chips, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the guides heading into the Monashee backcountry. The tap list features BC craft beers, the staff are genuinely welcoming, and the portions are sized for people who've been working hard outdoors. Blue River is one of BC's best-kept secrets for powder skiing, and this pub is the meal that bookends every great day.

Must try: Hand-formed burger with BC craft beer after a day in the Monashee backcountry

(250) 673-8228

Vancouver Island pub & Canadian grill$

Crofton Hotel Pub & Restaurant

CroftonVancouver Island & Coast

The Crofton Hotel Pub & Restaurant is the heart of this quiet Vancouver Island harbour town — a warm, well-run pub steps from the BC Ferries terminal where the Salt Spring Island ferry comes and goes, and where locals and travellers have been gathering for generations. The menu covers the pub classics with confidence: fresh-caught Vancouver Island fish and chips, hand-formed burgers, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the ferry workers and mill employees who make Crofton their home. The tap list features BC craft beers, the staff are warm and genuinely hospitable, and the harbour view from the dining room is one of the most peaceful on the Island. Crofton is a town that rewards slowing down, and the hotel pub is the perfect place to do it.

Must try: Fresh Vancouver Island fish and chips with a pint of BC craft beer and harbour view

(250) 246-3211

Canadian pub & grill$

Falkland Pub & Grill

FalklandThompson Okanagan

The Falkland Pub & Grill is the most welcoming table in this quiet Okanagan countryside community — a warm, unpretentious pub on the highway between Kamloops and Vernon that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that ranchers, loggers, and road-trippers actually want. The menu covers the pub classics with care: hand-formed burgers, slow-cooked ribs, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the farmers heading out to the fields. The tap list features BC craft beers, the staff are genuinely warm, and the patio is a fine place to sit on a summer evening and watch the Okanagan countryside go by. Falkland is famous for its annual Stampede — one of the oldest in BC — and the pub is the meal that locals celebrate with after the rodeo.

Must try: Slow-cooked ribs with BC craft beer on the summer patio

(250) 379-2211

Wilderness resort dining & Pacific Northwest$$$

Tyax Wilderness Resort Restaurant

Gold BridgeThompson Okanagan

The Tyax Wilderness Resort Restaurant is the most extraordinary dining room in the Chilcotin — a beautifully situated lodge restaurant on Tyaughton Lake, deep in the heart of BC's most remote and spectacular mountain country, where the food is as remarkable as the setting. The kitchen takes the wilderness seriously: locally sourced proteins, foraged ingredients from the surrounding mountains, and a menu that changes with the seasons and the land. The room is warm and beautifully designed, the wine list is thoughtfully curated, and eating here while watching the alpenglow fade on the peaks across the lake is one of the most memorable meals in all of BC. Tyax is accessible by floatplane or a long, spectacular drive, and the restaurant is the reward at the end of it.

Must try: Seasonal wilderness menu with locally sourced proteins and Tyaughton Lake view

(250) 238-2221

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Canadian pub & grill$

Logan Lake Pub & Grill

Logan LakeThompson Okanagan

The Logan Lake Pub & Grill is the most dependable table in BC's highest incorporated municipality — a warm, well-run pub in the heart of this copper-mining community on the Nicola Plateau that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that miners, hunters, and snowmobilers actually want. The menu covers the pub classics with care: hand-formed burgers, slow-cooked stews, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the shift workers heading to the Highland Valley Copper mine. The tap list features BC craft beers, the staff are genuinely welcoming, and the portions are sized for people who work hard. Logan Lake sits at over 1,100 metres elevation, surrounded by some of BC's finest hunting and fishing country, and this pub is the meal that grounds you in it.

Must try: Hearty burger with BC craft beer after a day hunting or fishing the Nicola Plateau

(250) 523-6611

Canadian comfort food & canyon diner$

Lytton Pines Restaurant

LyttonFraser Valley & Canyon

Lytton Pines Restaurant is the most welcoming table at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers — a warm, unpretentious diner in the heart of one of BC's most dramatic and historically significant towns that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that rafters, cyclists, and Trans-Canada travellers actually need. The menu is built around Canadian comfort cooking: hearty breakfasts, hand-formed burgers, and a daily soup that draws on whatever the kitchen has on hand. Lytton holds the record for Canada's highest recorded temperature, sits at the heart of Nlaka'pamux territory, and is the starting point for some of BC's finest whitewater rafting on the Thompson River. The Pines is the meal you eat before you get on the water — and the one you come back to after.

Must try: Hearty Canadian breakfast before a day of whitewater rafting on the Thompson River

(250) 455-2272

Northern BC comfort food & Canadian grill$

Mackenzie Motor Inn Restaurant

MackenzieNorthern BC

The Mackenzie Motor Inn Restaurant is the most reliable table in BC's most northerly planned community — a warm, unpretentious dining room in the heart of this Peace River region town that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that loggers, miners, and Williston Lake travellers actually want. The menu is built around Canadian comfort cooking: hand-cut steaks, slow-cooked roasts, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the mill workers and guides heading out onto the lake. The coffee is always fresh, the portions are generous, and the staff are the kind of genuinely warm people that make northern BC towns so easy to love. Mackenzie sits on the shores of Williston Lake — the largest reservoir in BC — and this restaurant is the meal that grounds you before you head out onto it.

Must try: Hand-cut steak with fresh coffee and Williston Lake wilderness views

(250) 997-3266

Canadian comfort food & Boundary Country diner$

Midway Village Inn Restaurant

MidwayKootenay Rockies

The Midway Village Inn Restaurant is the most welcoming table at the western gateway to the Boundary Country — a warm, unpretentious dining room in the heart of Canada's most westerly community that serves the kind of honest, satisfying food that cyclists on the Trans Canada Trail, highway travellers, and Boundary Country locals actually want. The menu covers the Canadian classics with care: hand-formed burgers, slow-cooked stews, and a breakfast that starts early enough for the farmers and ranchers heading out to the fields. Midway sits at the junction of the Kettle Valley Railway trail and the Crowsnest Highway, and the Village Inn is the meal that fuels every great adventure through this underrated corner of BC.

Must try: Hearty Canadian breakfast before a day cycling the Kettle Valley Railway trail

(250) 449-2222

Canadian comfort food & canyon roadhouse$

Spences Bridge Hotel Restaurant

Spences BridgeThompson Okanagan

The Spences Bridge Hotel Restaurant is one of BC's most storied dining rooms — a warm, historic roadhouse in the heart of the Thompson River canyon that has been feeding travellers, steelhead anglers, and Trans-Canada Highway adventurers since the Gold Rush era. The hotel itself dates to 1862, making it one of the oldest continuously operating establishments in BC, and the restaurant carries that same spirit of genuine, unpretentious hospitality. The menu is built around honest Canadian cooking: hearty breakfasts, hand-formed burgers, and a daily special that changes with the season. The Thompson River runs just outside the door, the canyon walls rise dramatically on both sides, and eating here feels like stepping into a piece of BC history. Spences Bridge is a fly-fishing legend, and the hotel restaurant is the meal that every angler knows.

Must try: Hearty canyon breakfast before a morning of steelhead fishing on the Thompson River

(250) 458-2328

Canadian diner & general store$

Avola General Store & Diner

AvolaThompson-Cariboo

The Avola General Store is the beating heart of this tiny North Thompson River community — part convenience store, part diner, part community hub. Travellers on the Yellowhead Highway between Kamloops and Clearwater stop here for hot coffee, homemade sandwiches, and a friendly chat with locals. The menu is simple and honest: burgers, soup, and daily specials made with whatever is fresh. In a community this small, the general store is everything, and the welcome is genuine.

Must try: Daily soup special and homemade sandwich

Contemporary Canadian$$

Cactus Club Cafe — Burnaby

BurnabyLower Mainland

Cactus Club Cafe at Metropolis at Metrotown is one of Burnaby's most popular dining destinations — a lively, upscale-casual restaurant known for its fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients, creative cocktails, and buzzing atmosphere. The menu spans everything from sushi-grade tuna tataki to hand-crafted burgers and wood-fired flatbreads, with a strong emphasis on local BC seafood and produce. The patio is excellent in summer, and the bar program is one of the best in the Lower Mainland.

Must try: Tuna tataki and the Bellini cocktail — Cactus Club classics

(604) 439-4422

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Japanese / Home Cooking$$

Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen

BurnabyLower Mainland

Kishimoto on Hastings Street in Burnaby is a beloved neighbourhood Japanese restaurant serving honest, home-style Japanese cooking in a warm, unpretentious setting. The menu features grilled fish, miso soup, rice dishes, and seasonal specials that reflect the rhythms of a Japanese home kitchen. The quality of ingredients is exceptional — the salmon is always fresh, the dashi is made from scratch, and the portions are generous. A quiet gem on the Hastings corridor that rewards those who seek it out.

Must try: Grilled salmon teishoku set and house miso soup

(604) 298-2878

Japanese / Sushi$$

Sushi Hachi

BurnabyLower Mainland

Sushi Hachi in Burnaby is a neighbourhood sushi restaurant that punches well above its weight — a small, intimate room where the chef takes genuine pride in sourcing fresh BC seafood and presenting it with care. The sashimi platter showcases whatever is freshest that day, the nigiri is precisely seasoned, and the specialty rolls are creative without being gimmicky. A reliable, high-quality sushi experience that keeps Burnaby regulars coming back week after week.

Must try: Assorted sashimi platter featuring fresh BC salmon and tuna

(604) 299-8989

Pub grub & fresh seafood$$

Zeballos Hotel Restaurant

ZeballosVancouver Island

The Zeballos Hotel Restaurant is the social centre of one of Vancouver Island's most remote communities, serving fresh seafood, hearty pub meals, and cold beer to fishermen, kayakers, and the occasional adventurous road tripper who has made the 40 km gravel drive from Highway 19. The prawns and halibut come straight off the boats in the inlet, and the kitchen does them justice with simple, honest preparation. This is as far off the beaten path as BC dining gets — and that's exactly the point.

Must try: Fresh halibut and chips from the inlet

(250) 761-4294

Korean & Japanese$$

Kimchi Restaurant

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Kimchi Restaurant in Hope is a local favourite for Korean and Japanese cuisine, serving up authentic bibimbap, bulgogi, sushi rolls, and teriyaki in a cozy, welcoming setting. A refreshing stop on the Trans-Canada corridor, Kimchi brings genuine Asian flavours to the Fraser Canyon gateway — perfect for travellers looking for something beyond the usual highway fare. The portions are generous, the staff are friendly, and the kimchi is made in-house.

Must try: Bibimbap and house-made kimchi

(604) 869-9898

Café & Coffee$

Blue Moose Coffee House

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Blue Moose Coffee House has been a Hope institution since 2000, serving fair-trade organic espresso drinks, fresh sandwiches, bagels, homemade desserts, and cold beverages in a warm, community-minded atmosphere. The patio out front is a favourite gathering spot for locals and road-trippers alike. Whether you need a morning latte before tackling the Coquihalla or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, Blue Moose delivers a genuine coffee-house experience in the heart of Hope.

Must try: Fair-trade espresso drinks and fresh-baked bagels

(604) 869-9726

Canadian Comfort Food$

Home Restaurant

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Home Restaurant in Hope lives up to its name — a welcoming, no-frills diner serving quality comfort food in a relaxed setting surrounded by the pines of the Fraser Canyon. From hearty breakfasts to satisfying lunch and dinner plates, Home Restaurant is the kind of place where locals eat and travellers feel instantly at ease. Generous portions, honest prices, and a friendly crew make this a must-stop on any Hope visit.

Must try: Full Canadian breakfast and daily comfort food specials

(604) 869-5558

Contemporary Casual$$

Nomad Social Eatery

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Nomad Social Eatery brings a fresh, contemporary dining experience to Hope with a stylish interior, creative menu, and a welcoming social atmosphere. The kitchen focuses on fresh, flavourful dishes with global influences — think elevated comfort food with a modern twist. Whether you're stopping in for lunch on a road trip or settling in for a relaxed dinner, Nomad's warm lighting, comfortable booths, and thoughtful menu make it one of Hope's most inviting dining destinations.

Must try: Daily specials and creative seasonal dishes

(604) 860-1188

Indian$$

Spice & Grill Indian Restaurant

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Spice & Grill brings the rich, aromatic flavours of Indian cuisine to Hope, with a menu featuring butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, fragrant biryanis, freshly baked naan, and a full spread of vegetarian options. The kitchen uses traditional spice blends and slow-cooking techniques that produce deeply flavourful curries and tandoor dishes. A welcome addition to Hope's dining scene, Spice & Grill is perfect for travellers craving something bold and satisfying after a long drive.

Must try: Butter chicken with garlic naan and mango lassi

(604) 860-9966

Korean$$

Hope Korean Kitchen

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Hope Korean Kitchen serves authentic Korean cuisine in a bright, casual setting — from beautifully plated bibimbap bowls and japchae noodles to crispy Korean fried chicken and fresh salads with house-made dressings. The kitchen takes pride in fresh ingredients and traditional preparation, making each dish a genuine taste of Korea. A standout dining option in Hope for anyone looking to explore Korean flavours on their BC road trip.

Must try: Korean fried chicken and fresh bibimbap bowl

(604) 860-1234

Indian$$

Flavors of India

KamloopsThompson-Okanagan

Flavors of India in Kamloops delivers an authentic Indian dining experience with a menu spanning the full breadth of the subcontinent's cuisine — from creamy butter chicken and slow-braised lamb curries to crispy samosas, fragrant biryanis, and freshly baked naan straight from the tandoor. The restaurant is known for its bold, well-balanced spice profiles and generous portions. Whether you're a curry enthusiast or new to Indian food, Flavors of India is a Kamloops favourite worth seeking out.

Must try: Butter chicken, garlic naan, and mango lassi

(778) 471-5555

Canadian Diner$

Rolly's Restaurant

HopeFraser Canyon Gateway

Rolly's Restaurant is a classic Hope diner and a longtime favourite for travellers passing through the Fraser Canyon gateway. With a full menu of Canadian comfort food — from hearty breakfasts to burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials — Rolly's is the kind of welcoming roadside restaurant that makes a long drive feel worthwhile. The staff are friendly, the portions are honest, and the coffee is always hot.

Must try: Daily breakfast special and homestyle burgers

(604) 869-5433

Café — fresh scratch cooking, brunch & coffee$$

Eatology

VernonThompson Okanagan

Eatology is Vernon's most warmly atmospheric café and restaurant — a beautifully designed space with hardwood floors, a long chalkboard menu wall, a vintage turquoise display case, and a full espresso bar. Everything is made from scratch: breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus built around fresh, quality ingredients. The combination of the chalkboard menus, the warm lighting, and the natural light from the front windows creates a genuinely inviting café atmosphere. The best café experience in the North Okanagan.

Must try: Fresh scratch brunch and specialty espresso drinks

(236) 426-4400

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BC Restaurants

Well's Gray Roadhouse

Sharon's Deli

Rolly's Restaurant

Quaaout Lodge Restaurant

Shelter Restaurant

Jam Café

Howe Sound Brew Pub

Bogner's of Penticton

Araxi Restaurant

Brownstone Restaurant

Pemberton Distillery Tasting Room

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

Bard & Banker

Juniper Bistro

The Laughing Oyster

Ric's Grill

The Wildflower Restaurant

Saltspring Island Cheese Company Café

Miradoro Restaurant

The Reef Restaurant

Fernie Brewing Co. Taproom

BNA Brewing Co.

Wolf in the Fog

Sushi Village

The Empress Room

Ric's Grill

Twisted Tomato

Bugwood Bean Café

The Laughing Oyster

The Bard & Banker

Miradoro Restaurant

The Velvet Restaurant & Lounge

The Reef Restaurant

The Keg Steakhouse (Vancouver)

Fernie Brewing Company Taproom

The Pemberton Distillery Tasting Room

Bravo Restaurant

Cariboo Brewing Taproom

The Wildflower Café

Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar

The Keg Steakhouse (Whistler)

Wolf in the Fog

The Wickaninnish Inn Dining Room

Smoken Bones Cookshack

Tojo's Restaurant

Miku Restaurant

Kingyo Izakaya

Sushi California

Nagare Sushi

Olo Restaurant

Ramen Danbo

Gyoza King

Kamei Royale

Sushi Village

Araxi Restaurant

Sushi Sen

Tanpopo Japanese Restaurant

Floata Seafood Restaurant

Kirin Restaurant

Hon's Wun-Tun House

Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie

Peaked Pies

New Town Bakery & Restaurant

Toshi Sushi

Zakkushi Charcoal Grill

Minami Restaurant

Sushi California

Guu Izakaya

Sushi Park

Bon's Off Broadway

Pink Pearl Chinese Restaurant

Fisherman's Terrace Seafood Restaurant

Kirin City Square

Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant

Vij's Restaurant

India Gate Restaurant

Shandhar Hut Indian Restaurant

Guru Bazaar

The Home Restaurant – Hope