Steveston food guide: fish and chips and fresh seafood at Richmond's fishing village

At the southwest corner of Richmond, where the Fraser River meets the sea, Steveston is a historic fishing village that still feels like one. Fishing boats tie up at the wharf, gulls circle the docks, and the boardwalk is lined with fish and chip shops, cafés and seafood restaurants. It is one of the most pleasant half-day food trips from Vancouver, especially on a sunny weekend.

Where is Steveston and how do you get there?

Steveston is in the south of Richmond, about 30 to 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver by car, depending on traffic. By transit, take the Canada Line to Richmond-Brighouse station and transfer to a bus heading to Steveston. Parking in the village fills up on summer weekends, so arrive early or take transit.

What is Steveston known for?

Steveston grew up around the salmon canning industry in the late 1800s, when it was one of the busiest fishing ports on the coast. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery, now a museum, tells that story and is worth a visit before or after lunch. Today, the village is known for:

• Fish and chips eaten by the water.
• Fresh seafood sold off the boats at the public fish sales float.
• Seafood restaurants along the boardwalk and Bayview Street.
• Cafés, bakeries and ice cream for a walk along the dyke.

Can you buy seafood straight off the boats in Steveston?

Yes. At the public fish sales float at Steveston's Fisherman's Wharf, fishers sell their catch directly from their boats. What is available depends on the season and the openings: salmon, prawns, spot prawns in spring, halibut, crab, rockfish and more. Go in the morning for the best selection, bring a cooler if you are driving, and ask the fishers how they would cook it. Some boats prefer cash, though many now take cards.

What is the history of Steveston?

Steveston grew up at the mouth of the Fraser River as one of the great salmon canning centres on the coast. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the village was lined with canneries, and thousands of people worked the fishing season, including a large Japanese Canadian community. That community was forcibly removed from the coast during the Second World War, and its losses are part of the village's story.

Two places tell that history well:

• The Gulf of Georgia Cannery, on the waterfront, is a former cannery turned museum about the West Coast fishing industry.
• The Britannia Shipyards, a short walk east along the river, preserve old boat sheds, houses and workshops.

Both pair well with lunch in the village, and they give the fish and chips on the wharf a little more meaning.

Where to eat fish and chips in Steveston

Fish and chips is the classic Steveston meal, and there are several places along the wharf and the boardwalk to get it, including a floating fish and chip stand that has been part of the waterfront since the 1980s. Expect a choice of fish, often cod, halibut or salmon, with fries and coleslaw. Halibut is usually the most expensive and many say the best. On busy days, expect a line; eat at an outdoor table by the water, but guard your fries from the gulls.

What else is there to eat in Steveston?

What	Where to look
Seafood restaurants	Along Bayview Street and the boardwalk
Japanese food	Steveston has a long Japanese Canadian history, reflected in several restaurants
Cafés and bakeries	In the village blocks around Moncton Street
Ice cream	Along the waterfront, busy in summer
Picnic spots	Garry Point Park, at the western edge of the village

When is the best time to visit Steveston?

Weekday mornings are the quietest, and a sunny morning is the best time to browse the fish sales float. Summer weekends are lively but crowded. Canada Day on July 1 brings the Steveston Salmon Festival, one of the village's biggest events, with a parade and a traditional salmon barbecue; check the festival's site for this year's details. In winter, Steveston is quiet and some places shorten their hours.

How should you plan a Steveston food trip?

1. Arrive mid-morning and browse the fish sales float.
2. Visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
3. Have fish and chips by the water for lunch.
4. Walk to Garry Point Park for views of the river mouth and the mountains.
5. Finish with coffee or ice cream in the village.

How do you cook seafood bought in Steveston?

Keep it simple. Fresh salmon needs little more than salt, a hot pan or grill, and a few minutes on each side. Spot prawns and other prawns cook in under a minute in boiling water. Crab is usually sold live; boil it in well-salted water and cool it quickly. Fishers and fishmongers are generally happy to give advice, and many will clean or fillet a fish if you ask. Keep everything cold on the way home, and cook shellfish the same day.

Do you tip at fish and chip shops in Steveston?

At counters, tipping is optional. At sit-down seafood restaurants, tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount. BC menu prices are before tax: 5 percent GST on food and 10 percent PST on alcohol.

On Mosey, you can rate the places you ate at in Steveston and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and see which fish and chip shop people you follow actually rated highest. A day like this is also a good start to a seafood list for the rest of the year.

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• Where to eat in Surrey: Punjabi food, sweet shops and the Vaisakhi Parade
• Takeout and delivery in Vancouver: how to get better food at home

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