Legendary Vancouver eateries with delicious specialities

Vancouver is full of gifted chefs and confectioners with a wide range of culinary skills. However, some local foodies are known for honing in on their talents and sticking to what they're best at. When it comes to specializing in one specific thing, these local legends are the best in town.

Legendary Vancouver eateries with delicious specialities
Gurleen Boparai By

Grounds For Coffee Inc

1
2565 Alma St, Vancouver, BC V6R 3R8

If you’re craving warm and sticky cinnamon buns, put your trust in the outstanding baking team at Grounds for Coffee. Every morning and throughout the day, visitors stop by this Alma Street café to watch the kitchen staff expertly roll out their legendary cinnamon buns. If you’re lucky, you might even get one of these ooey-gooey treats fresh and hot out of the oven. Smothered in house-made frosting, these tasty baked goodies are the best cinnamon buns in town.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Mike Cheescake Ltd

2
2141 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3E9

Cheesecake Etc. first opened its doors back in 1979, and the legendary family recipe still remains unaltered to this day. Inspired by their travels in Paris, owners Mike and Edith Sim have created a warm and inviting café space with glowing candles and live jazz music. End your night here with a slice of cheesecake topped with a generous amount of strawberry sauce and fresh whipped cream. All other cheesecakes in the city pale in comparison to Cheesecake Etc’s signature slices, which are soft, airy and divinely decadent.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe

3
2150 Fir St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3B5

Beaucoup Bakery has been making their signature flakey, buttery croissants since the winter of 2012. Tucked away on a relatively quiet street just beyond the hustle and bustle of South Granville, pastry chef extraordinaire Jackie Kai Ellis prepares her Parisian-inspired croissants in a wide variety of flavours. From classic butter to divinely sweet and nutty almond to classic pain au chocolate, everyone will have his or her own favourite. Be prepared to leave a trail of crumbs, as these croissants are by far the flakiest in Vancouver.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Pajo's Fish & Chips

4
12351 3 Ave, Richmond, BC V7E 2Z1

Pajo's has been serving up their notorious fish and chips right on the docks of Steveston Village for 25 years. You really can’t beat the location; grab a seat on the waterfront patio and bite into a filet of crispy golden fried fish while you listen to the water crashing underneath you and enjoy the smell of the ocean in the air. The seagulls too know that Pajo’s Fish n Chips are amazing and will not miss a chance to scoop in and steal some from you!

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Beta5 Chocolates

5
413 Industrial Ave, Vancouver, BC V6A 2P8

If you want to hunt down the best cream puffs in the city, Beta 5 is the place to go. The bakery has won numerous industry awards for their confections and its no secret that these talented chocolatiers and pastry chefs are innovative in their approach. Located off the beaten track and surrounded by industrial buildings near Science World, this dessert destination is definitely a hidden gem. Their signature cream puff selection features classic flavours like vanilla and salted caramel alongside seasonal specials such as apple pie and carrot cake.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Steveston Pizza Co Ltd

6
100-3400 Moncton St, Richmond, BC V7E 3A2

Head pizza chef and owner Nadar is renowned in Vancouver for his culinary talents, and he strives to deliver exceptional flavour and unbeatable pizza at this Steveston pizza joint. Pizza dough is made in-house with 100 per cent organic ingredients, and the toppings are always fresh. Be sure to try their Princess pizza, it comes with six butterflied tiger prawns, fresh crab and scrumptious shrimp –all the seafood fresh from the Steveston Pier of course.

Lucky's Doughnuts

7
2902 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G3

Five years in the making, this coffee and doughnut shop first opened its doors on Main Street in June 2012. You might come to 49th Parallel for a caffeine fix, but it’s hard to say no to a sweet treat on the side. The love and care behind Lucky’s delicious doughnuts is evident in every bite. They keep it real with fresh, high quality ingredients. The PB & Jelly doughnut is a perennial favourite; this square doughnut is filled with tangy fresh jelly and glazed in a sticky peanut glaze with a final garnish of fresh peanuts for crunchy texture.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bella Gelateria

8
1001 Cordova St W, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B7

Bella Gelateria uses fresh in-season fruits and the highest quality ingredients in their icy treats, resulting in the most delicious gelato imaginable. The lavender Earl Grey tea base is steeped overnight before it’s churned in-house using Bella’s custom gelato machines. The result: complex layers of flavour in each bite! Its not surprise Bella’s Coal Harbour and Yaletown locations have permanent lineups snaking out the door on hot summer days.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Mexicano Taco Ltd

9
2450 Yukon St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 0A4

La Taqueria serves up authentic soft tacos prepared with organic and sustainable ingredients. They keep the Mexican tradition alive with mouth-watering fillings like Rajas Con Crema – a delicious combination of roasted poblano peppers and fresh creamed corn garnished with a dollop of sour cream and Mexican cheese. These soft tacos may be small in size, but they are packed full of real Mexican flavour.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Gurleen Boparai Gurleen Boparai
Gurleen Boparai is a Vancouver-based lifestyle blogger behind Pink Tea Latte. Gurleen is a pastry obsessed undergrad student at UBC, who is determined to find every bakery in the city. You can always count on Gurleen having a smile on her face and a matcha latte in hand. You can follow all of her adventures in fashion, food and travels on her blog.
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