Unsung Eats: 5 best places to eat in Vancouver
From vegetable-forward tasting menus and Cambodian fine dining to Northeastern Chinese hotpot, these picks showcase the city’s diverse dining scene
Nero Tondo Restaurant
Nero Tondo, committed to celebrating British Columbia’s organic produce and seasonal ingredients, is an intimate restaurant with only 18 seats. The two co-founders and chefs are alumni of zero-waste kitchen Acorn, where they honed their vegetable-forward knowledge and philosophy.
Nero Tondo’s menu showcases their mastery of seasonal produce. The plates are modern, and flavours are layered with interesting components such as the lobster mushroom seasoning used in the tempura squash, paired with Blue Hubbard squash and elderflower ponzu.
Location: 1879 Powell Street
Must-order: The seasonal menu means dishes are ever-changing. Opt for their Chef’s Prix Fixe menu to try a range of their dishes
Happy Valley Village Restaurant
This Northeastern Chinese hotpot restaurant will transport you straight to China. Vivid, floral-patterned booths face a communal iron pot, where a mixture of seasoned meat, vegetables and broth will be added, then simmered into a rich stew. The most interesting part of the meal, however, has to be the dough that gets slapped onto the edge of the hot iron, where it gets steamed while the bottom crisps up.