Eating in Vancouver's Chinatown: what to know before you go

Vancouver's Chinatown is one of the oldest and most historically important neighbourhoods in the city, and it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2011. It has had hard years, and many old businesses have closed, but it is still a place where you can eat very well, especially at the bakeries, barbecue shops and long-running dining rooms that have served the community for decades.

Is Vancouver's Chinatown worth visiting for food?

Yes, for the right reasons. It is the place for history, bakeries and barbecue meat, and for a growing number of newer places and bars that have opened in old buildings. For the widest choice of Chinese restaurants, though, locals often go to Richmond. Think of Chinatown as a neighbourhood to walk, snack and explore, and Richmond as the place for a big Chinese feast.

What should you eat in Chinatown?

Look for	What to order
Chinese bakeries	Steamed or baked barbecue pork buns, egg tarts, pineapple buns, sponge cake
Barbecue shops	Roast duck, char siu (barbecue pork), crispy pork belly, by weight or over rice
Long-running dining rooms	Cantonese classics such as wonton soup, chow mein and sweet and sour dishes
Newer restaurants and bars	Modern takes on Chinese and Asian cooking, cocktails
Herbal and dry goods shops	Dried mushrooms, teas and snacks to take home

Chinatown bakeries are best in the morning, when the buns are fresh from the oven and the shelves are full.

When is the best time to visit Chinatown?

Daytime, especially mornings and early afternoons. Bakeries and barbecue shops do most of their business then, and many of the traditional businesses close by early evening. Evenings are more about the newer restaurants and bars. Weekends are livelier; some smaller shops close on certain weekdays, so check before making a special trip.

What else is there to see in Chinatown?

Combine your meal with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a Ming Dynasty-style scholar's garden completed in 1986 and described as the first full-scale classical Chinese garden built outside China. There is also a public park beside it. Walking the streets, you will see heritage buildings, traditional signage and the Millennium Gate.

How do you order at a Chinese barbecue shop?

1. Look at the window. Roast duck, char siu and crispy pork hang on display.
2. Order by weight or by portion, for example a half duck or a pound of char siu, or as a meal over rice.
3. Ask for the sauce. Ducks usually come with a little container of juices; char siu sometimes with a sweet sauce.
4. Bring cash just in case. Many shops take cards, but some smaller businesses prefer cash.

How can you support Chinatown's businesses?

Chinatown's long-running businesses have faced rising costs, changing neighbourhoods and fewer customers, and many have closed. Spending money at the ones that remain helps keep the neighbourhood's character alive:

• Buy from the bakeries and barbecue shops, not just the newer cafés.
• Visit in daytime, when the traditional businesses are open.
• Take something home: buns, roast meat, tea or dried goods.
• Go back. Regular customers are what keeps a family business going.

Is Vancouver's Chinatown good for dim sum?

It has some long-running places that serve dim sum, and a morning there can be a lovely, old-fashioned experience. For the biggest choice of dim sum halls, though, most locals head to Richmond, where there are many more large Cantonese restaurants close together. A good plan is bakeries and barbecue in Chinatown one day, and a weekend dim sum lunch in Richmond another.

Is Chinatown safe to visit?

Like several neighbourhoods in central Vancouver, Chinatown sits close to areas facing serious social challenges, including homelessness and drug use. Most visitors walk around during the day without problems. Use ordinary city sense, stay aware of your surroundings, and treat people with respect.

Where should you go next after Chinatown?

Chinatown is a short walk from Gastown, with its restaurants and cocktail bars, and from the Main Street area. Many people combine a morning bakery stop in Chinatown with lunch in Gastown or a walk up Main Street for coffee.

Mosey is built around the places people actually ate at, and what was good. In a neighbourhood like Chinatown, where the best thing might be a bun from a bakery that has been there for decades, that kind of specific memory matters.

More guides to read next:

• Holiday dining in Vancouver: the Christmas Market, festive menus and booking tips
• Vancouver food trucks: how to find them and what to expect
• Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free eating in Vancouver

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.