Vancouver restaurants: 6 new cheap recommendations

Looking for great food on a budget? On the Coast's food columnist has recommendations for six new restaurants to try in Metro Vancouver.

Last week, food columnist Anya Levykh suggested fine dining is experiencing a renaissance in Vancouver. But there's no denying the ongoing popularity of comfort food and cheap eats.

Here are her suggestions for new budget restaurants to try in Metro Vancouver.

1. Tacomio
Vancouver - Gastown

This new restaurant just opened. It focuses on authentic Mexican street tacos. The owner and head chef, Fernando Llana, is originally from Mexico and was the former executive sous chef at The Vancouver Club.

The meats are all stewed or braised, and there are some interesting variations, like the fresh cactus and chorizo taco, served in a kale tortilla. There is a salsa bar of about eight different salsas to choose from. 

2. Bao Down
Vancouver - Gastown

This spot will be opening in the next week or two. As the name suggests, it will be all about bao: the soft, white pillowy buns that house a multitude of fillings, like crispy pork belly or deep-fried chicken.

3. Ramen Butcher
Vancouver - Chinatown

This the first North American offering from a popular Japanese chain that has more than 200 restaurants throughout Asia.

There are four main ramens on the menu, all served with char siu, the braised pork belly, which you can order lean or fat, as well as a slow-cooked egg, and all based on the tonkotsu, pork broth.

It's best to go early, as the line-ups can get a little scary some nights.

4. Fat Mao
Vancouver - Chinatown

A new restaurant coming soon from Maenam owner and chef Angus An. The menu will focus on Taiwanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine, with a lot of the inspiration coming from An's childhood favourites, so think braised beef noodle, dry sesame noodles, braised duck noodles, and even a curry noodle.

5. Pepper Lunch
North Richmond

This is a very popular Japanese fast food chain that recently opened its first Canadian location. It serves do-it-yourself teppan food: you decide what you want to eat — like pepper, angus, or salmon steak, along with sides like noodles, vegetables, or rice. You then cook the ingredients yourself on the teppan (a hot griddle) that is brought to the table.

6. Soft Peaks Ice Cream
Vancouver - Gastown

This spot specializes in soft ice cream made from Avalon organic milk, topped with interesting items like honeycomb, Himalayan pink salt, matcha powder, various sauces, and corn flakes.

To listen to the full interview, click on the audio labelled: 6 cheap eats to try in Metro Vancouver