What’s happening in Gastown? More like what’s not happening in Gastown! Its Vancouver’s hot spot for arguably the last five years and it still hasn’t lost its hip factor. The neighbourhood is full of cafés, sandwich shops, long standing casual eateries and pubs, but in the last few years, there’s also been an increase of notable upscale restaurants. I have no problem committing to one restaurant, but it’s also a great area to restaurant or bar hop.
These are not necessarily “the best dishes” or in any particular order, but to get you started, here are 10 things you should try in Gastown.
The Pourhouse Burger at Pourhouse It’s in my top three favourite burgers in the city. Good quality beef served medium rare, cheese, and bread – simple and damn delicious. Don’t forget to start off with scotch eggs, Devils on Horseback and chicken liver toast.
The Porchetta Sandwich at Meat & Bread It’s an obvious choice. It opened five years ago and this sandwich has already become iconic in Vancouver, let alone Gastown.
Pan-fried veal sweetbreads on toast at L’Abattoir It’s served with sauce gabriche and veal tongue. I’m pretty confident this will never come off their menu, and if it does I might consider a protest.
Korean-style barbecued frog legs at Chambar The obvious recommendation would be the classic Congolaise moules et frites, but these frog legs are amazing. Sweet, spicy, savoury and addicting.
Johnston’s Farm Pork Chop at Blacktail Chef Geoff Rogers is really killing it here. Between the delicious pork, the Farmcrest Farms chicken and “Ducks & Waffles”, picking which to recommend was like picking a favourite child. Order all three.
Belgard bacon at Vancouver Urban Winery It’s a beautiful skillet of maple bourbon pork belly in maple caramel sauce. I cry thinking about it.
Peanut butter and milk chocolate bar at Mosquito It’s served with caramel popcorn, caramelized banana jam and popcorn gelato. Yes, please! Mosquito opened in February this year and it is Vancouver’s first dessert and champagne bar.
Bread at Nelson the Seagull People are obsessing over their avocado on toast for brunch, but I’ve been obsessing over their bread since they’ve opened.
Timbertrain Coffee Roasters It’s perhaps my favourite coffee shop to open in the last year in Gastown. Don’t forget to order a double baked hazelnut croissant from Chez Christophe (limited quantities available at the store) alongside your cappuccino.
Farm 2 Fork Secret Supper Club by chef Nicolas Hipperson Perhaps the most unexpected one I have on this list. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
