Follow Me Foodie: 10 things to eat on Main Street
Main Street – it’s everything but mainstream. It’s old and new with parts that are hip, hippy-ish, and hipster-ish. It’s charming, quirky and quaint with an eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes, and diners, and its “X-factor” just keeps growing.
The dining choices on the Main Street stretch vary, but I can almost find something delicious, interesting, and full of character on every block. And it’s not hard to find reasonably-priced options, either.
I’m not a fan of lists and these aren’t “the best dishes” or in any particular order, but it’s a good starting point. I snuck in a few places in Strathcona and the Riley Park/Little Mountain neighbourhoods, even though they are not technically in the official “Main Street” neighbourhood, but close enough.
Here are 10 (hopefully unexpected) dishes you should try and reasons why.
• Smoked sablefish at The Fish Counter. I’m a fan of their tacos, fish ‘n’ chips and many more items, but the smoked sablefish I could possibly live off of.
• Madras lamb curry at Chutney Villa Fine South Indian Cuisine. I’ve had this dish many times, but Chutney Villa’s version stands out. I also recommend the Manga Thenga Sundal, Chicken 65, Nandu Puttu, and Kothu Rotti.
• Breakfast at Marulilu Café. It’s the only place I know in Vancouver serving Japanese style breakfast for $6.99.
• Atun de tataki at Chicha. It’s black quinoa and rocoto (pepper) crusted Albacore tuna, pickled radish salad, avocado cream and passion fruit ponzu. It is a modern Peruvian creation done right.
• Pacific octopus and leek terrine at Burdock & Co. I visited right before the menu change last week, so I’ve only tried the Pacific octopus and leek terrine and locally grown Agassiz rice ‘risotto’, which stayed on the spring menu. Both good, but chef Andrea Carlson has a way with creative terrines.
• The Dirty Burger at Campagnolo Upstairs. This is expected, but I love it. Don’t be shy. Just say “yes” to everything.
• Coffee at Matchstick Coffee. Need I say more?
• Doro Watt at Cafe D’Afrique.It’s sort of an “insider secret” and shamefully I haven’t tried it myself yet. I’ve been to the restaurant which was good, but I didn’t know you could pre-ordering the off-the-menu “Doro Watt” – Ethiopian spicy chicken stew made with Korerima (Ethiopian black cardamom powder) and topped with hard boiled eggs. Beat me to it!
• Jerky at BKH Jerky. You have a very successful business essentially selling one thing? Do one thing well and do it right, and they do.
• Wine chicken at Long’s Noodle House. Yes, the Shanghainese soup dumplings are a must, but don’t miss out on the wine chicken. They do a great job of it here.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
