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The Scout Guide to Chinatown

We scoured blocks and gained pounds to find good things to eat, drink and do in one of Vancouver's most interesting neighbourhoods.
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The Scout Guide to Chinatown

Chinatown, a commercial (and increasingly residential) neighbourhood within the Downtown Eastside, has been one of Vancouver’s most vibrant areas since the City’s beginnings. It got its start as a ghetto on the edge of the Granville Townsite in the late 1880s when scores of Chinese immigrants arrived to work BC’s mines and build its railroads. Despite the institutional racism of the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act and the anti-animated neon signage laws of 1974, it has endured with outside forces doing little to curb its vibrancy. Today it is home to an eclectic mix of traditional and trendy eateries, markets, gardens, temples, and a wide assortment of businesses ranging from tea shops and apothecaries to art galleries and vintage stores. Its future is uncertain, however, as developers are cashing in on its cool cachet and consequently – dramatically – impacting the neighbourhood’s affordability while also eroding its unique character. How much more of this it can take remains to be seen, but the tipping point between its survival and its end feels closer than ever. Chinatown’s borders are debatable, but for the purposes of this guide they are squared by Abbott St. in the west, Gore Ave. in the east, E. Pender St. in the north and E. Georgia St. in the south.

THINGS WE’VE SEEN HEREABOUTS

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  • The Talent | Chinatown Night Market
  • Snow in Chinatown
  • It's half a pig over your shoulder day in Chinatown. #specialdelivery
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  • Chicken sandwiches with grainy mustard mayo, slaw, BBQ sauce | Juke
  • Parkade view
  • Chinese New Years
  • Chinatown
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  • A Soggy Chinese New Year Parade
  • Bestie | Chinatown
  • Snow Day in Chinatown
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  • Umaluma ext line up 2
  • Dumpling Eating Contest at the Chinatown Night Market
  • Chinatown Paste-up
  • Ken Tsui | Chinatown Night Market Wrangler
  • Favourite Rooftop Parkade
  • Chinatown
  • The Keefer
  • Dollar Meats | Chinatown
  • Anna & Anna - Duchesse Vintage and Such
  • Fat Mao
  • After the fire on East Pender St.
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  • Meatballs at Mamie Taylor's
  • Butcher Shop
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  • Snow Day in Chinatown
  • Kissa Tanto
  • Chinatown lunch break
  • The Classic at The Ramen Butcher
  • propaganda
  • Kissa Tanto
  • The Ramen Butcher on opening day
  • Fried chicken skin with sour cream and onion mousse | Juke
  • Chinatown paste-up
  • Chinatown Doorway
  • BBQ Window Chinatown
  • Rooftop Parkade
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  • Night Market Vendors and their unbridled enthusiasm
  • Chinatown
  • Kents Kitchen | Chinatown
  • Chinatown Fancy Lady
  • Chinatown Sky
  • Maya Sciarretta | Pazzo Chow
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  • BBQ Duck window | Chinatown
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  • On The Bus in Chinatown
  • Bartender Of The Year | The Keefer
  • The Pie Shop
  • Umaluma close up product shot
  • Kissa Tanto Tortellini
  • Chinatown Street Scene
  • Fried Fish | Chinatown
  • Matchstick Coffee Roasters | Chinatown
  • Sun Ah Hotel 2017
  • Cocktailery | Juke
  • Bestie | Chinatown
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  • IMG_0935
  • Autumn
  • Chinatown Street Scene
  • Food Ho Ho | Chinatown
  • On Columbia Street
  • At The Keefer
  • Kissa Tanto | Peacock Baby (junmai sake, cucumber, maraschino liquer, pastis, lime, egg white)
  • Alley in Sunlight | Chinatown
  • Looking across Chinatown to North Shore Mountains
  • Chinatown
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  • Red Light on Pender | Chinatown
  • Snow in Chinatown
  • Jack Chow Insurance Rainbow | Chinatown
  • Selling Newspapers
  • Plump Crows In Chinatown
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  • A cupping at Matchstick
  • End of the day | Chinatown
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  • The bar | Juke
  • Alleyway shadows | Chinatown
  • Kissa Tanto creme caramel with rhubarb
  • A Crowd Gathers To Watch A Slide Show At The Chinatown Night Market
  • Clean Quiet Rooms | Chinatown
  • Kissa Tanto
  • Chinatown Night Market
  • Ni Hao
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  • New Sun Ah Hotel
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  • Smoke Break in Chinatown
  • Ken Tsui at Chinatown Night Market
  • Bestie - Packed to the rafters with sausage lovers
  • Kissa Tanto
  • Chinatown
  • Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens | Chinatown
  • View of the Night Market
  • The Emerald | Chinatown
  • Single yellow lantern in Chinatown
  • Chinatown Night Market
  • Georgia Street
  • Mamie Taylor's under construction
  • Jimi Hendrix Shrine, Union Street
  • The burger at Mamie Taylor's
  • Summer Night Market | Chinatown
  • Matchstick Chinatown location under construction
  • Chinatown delivery time
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  • Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens
  • Chinatown Night Market
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  • The Keefer
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  • Potato Tornado at the night market
  • Chinese New Year
  • View of the night market from inside the Tin Can Studio
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  • Bestie | Pender Street, Chinatown
  • Rhek makes dumplings | Chinatown
  • Chinatown moment
  • Fat Mao
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  • beautiful cuts at Mamie Taylor's
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  • Chinese New Year
  • In the kitchen at Bao Bei
  • Phnom Penh Lunch
  • The Mayor Of Awesomeness of Foursquare
  • Cupping at Matchstick
  • Bao Bei
  • IMG_3551_2
  • Chinatown Night Market
  • Waiting for the bus in Chinatown
  • Bao Bei Feast
  • Fresh Egg Mart | Chinatown
  • Chinatown Colour Study
  • Chinatown Night Market dumpling competition
  • The Shop Vancouver | Under Construction
  • Cold day in Chinatown
  • IMG_3360
  • Jimi Hendrix shrine
  • Foggy Night in Chinatown
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  • Fat Mao on East Georgia St.
  • Staff Meal at Bao Bei
  • Chinatown
  • Bao Bei feast
  • Chinatown goodies
  • The Emerald detail
  • Chinatown Rooftops
  • Foggy morning on Gore
  • Duchesse Vintage and Such
  • Chinatown lizards
  • Chinatown
  • Pender Street | Chinatown
  • Bar-Ate Kid Bartending Competition
  • Propaganda Coffee on East Pender
  • Sometimes the crowds in Chinatown can make one a little grumpy

ESSENTIAL FOOD & DRINK

Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie
163 Keefer St.

Bao Bei has been voted to every single Scout 25 since we started ranking Vancouver’s best restaurants. Expect thoughtful, interesting, French-meets-Shanghainese dishes served family style alongside excellent cocktails. Aim for the petit cadeaux and the best pina colada in BC.

Kissa Tanto
263 East Pender St.

A lot of people – especially local Italians and Japanese – would instinctively harumph at the thought of hybridising Japanese and Italian cuisines, but this here is a certifiable revelation. The pastas in particular are strokes of genius. The sexy second-storey eatery was named the Best New Restaurant in Canada in 2016. Excellent bar program. Best seat in the house? Table #43 (aka “The Hot Tub”).

Keefer Bar
135 Keefer St

The apothecary-themed cocktails here have been voted by Scout readers as some of the very best drinks currently being made in Vancouver. Unique atmosphere that gets better as the evening ages. Bonus: fantastic little patio with firepit.

Fat Mao
217 E Georgia St.

Owned by chef Angus An (see also Maenam, Freebird, Longtail Kitchen and Sen Pad Thai), this sliver of a small pan-Asian restaurant is focused on classic noodle preparations like hot and sour pork dom yum and beef laksa. Best seat in the house? The window.

Jang Mo Jib
268 Keefer St.

This is the newest location of the popular Korean chainlet (it took over the old Hons WunTun House address in 2017). Aim for the fully loaded hot stone bowls like the Dol Sot Bee Bim Bahb (beef, kimchi, fried egg and rice).

Virtuous Pie
583 Main St.

We’d normally balk at the idea of vegan pizza but the stuff here is downright delicious, especially the “Stranger Wings” pizza, which riffs on the buffalo chicken wing flavour. It sees zippily-sauced yet crispy cauliflower florets drizzled with faux blue cheese crema and studded with fried shallots and bright shavings of scallion.

Chinatown BBQ
130 E Pender St.

It might be new, but this subtly nostalgic place is straight up old school where it counts with attentive service and expert hands in the kitchen. Try the superbly moist BBQ pork and duck, or the sleeper favourite: curry beef brisket.

Oyster Express
296 Keefer St.

Small, charming room that boasts incomparable enthusiasm for local bivalves, of which a variety is served. If you can, try to make it during Happy Hour, which runs 5pm to 7pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Ramen Butcher
223 E Georgia St.

Some of the best ramen in Vancouver. Think classic, deeply flavourful tonkatsu-style loaded with thin, al dente noodles. Go for the spicy garlic “Red” option. Bonus: first round of extra noodles is free. Best seat in the house? Table #23.

Juke Fried Chicken
182 Keefer St.

Our go-to spot for fried chicken just so happens to use a gluten-free batter, so hooray if that matters to you. What we’re looking for is deliciousness, and they have it here. Even the ribs are sticky fantastic. Secret weapon: cocktails. Best seat in the house? Either Table #51 or #52.

Gain Wah
218 Keefer St.

If it’s late and there are no tables anywhere and you just want some hot noodles and maybe some stir fried beef with vegetables, either take-out or eat in at this venerable, no frills, always-happy-to-see-you institution.

Umaluma
235 East Pender St. (Closed)

We never thought that non-dairy gelato was a possibility until we tried some and were rightly blown away. Umaluma is the bees’ knees, like something out of Willy Wonka. Flavours to try: Drunken Cherry and Double Chocolate Truffle. Oh my…

Scent of a Sandwich
418 Main St.

A simple, unassuming shop offering well made sandwiches (always with excellent bread) and hearty soups. The one we like the most – even more than their grilled cheese – is their ice cream sandwich.

Kokomo
611 Gore Ave.

Irrepressibly sunny day-time cafe that caters to a young, health-conscious tribe hooked on 100% plant-based food. Good vibes here (even if it feels like an Instagram stage set during peak times).

Brooklyn NYC Pizza
648 Main St.

Sometimes a basic New York-style slice is all you need between lunch and dinner. These pies travel well too, so don’t hesitate to take a whole one home. Aim for the classic pepperoni or the cheesy “White” with mozzarella, smoked provolone, ricotta, grana padana, garlic and oregano.

Juniper
185 Keefer St. (Closed)

The gin and tonic program at this two-storey looker is out of this world. Menu ideal for sharing with tight charcuterie and cheese boards. If you like fried potato dishes try their “patatas” plate, which sees triple-cooked kennebec potatoes tossed in paprika oil alongside a garlic-heavy aioli.

Aubade Coffee
230 E Pender St.

A favourite of local coffee aficionados, this tiny shop within a shop fronts the voluminous Space Lab vintage store. Always superior quality beans masterfully ground and prepared to order.

Matchstick (Chinatown)
213 East Georgia St.

The Chinatown location of Matchstick is licensed so you can have a cold, local beer with your delicious galette. Or you can just enjoy the coffee, which is some of the best that’s locally roasted. Up to you.

Jade Dynasty
137 E Pender St.

The new and much improved Jade Dynasty is back and the all-day dim sum is where it’s at. Service can feel a little indifferent during busy times. Endure regardless for the har gow and the Singapore pork dumplings.

Dalina
687 Main St.

This is a victualling station for the more deep-pocketed newcomers to the neighbourhood, a place to get your Grana Padano, olive oil and such. Good coffee, too. Best of all: tiramisu.

Say Hey Cafe & Deli
156 E Pender St.

Your first time at Say Hey will not be your last as we’ve found it impossible not to return to thoughts of their meatball or roast “beast” sandwiches in idle, quiet moments of hungry contemplation.

Pazzo Chow
620 Quebec St.

There’s always something tasty on offer at the smallest Italian food store in the city. Owner Maya Sciarretta makes and retails her own sauces. If you ever see an Penne Arrabiata on special, pounce. The company’s Instagram telegraphs what’s up.

Floata Seafood
180 Keefer St.

A venerable, positively massive second-storey establishment that specialises in live seafood and dim sum, though the Peking duck steals the show. Feels delightfully stuck in the 90s after a few drinks.

Phnom Penh
244 E Georgia St.

Among the very best restaurants in the neighbourhood. The diverse, Southeast Asian menu is Tolstoyesque in length with the most famous dishes being butter beef, garlic prawns and lemon/pepper wings. Absolutely worth waiting in line for.

Mamie Taylor's
251 East Georgia St. (Closed)

Talented bartenders, properly made cocktails and some truly delicious, American-inspired dishes (we’re partial to the “ham grenades”) make this place a solid hangout.

Propaganda Coffee
209 East Pender St.

Expect to find good beans and expert baristas at this large, open concept cafe. The quality pastries are a bonus, as is the free (and strong) wi-fi.

New Town Bakery
148 E Pender St.

New Town is just one of those places that everyone has to visit when they come to Chinatown. The variety of pastries is crazy, but we go for the coconut buns and pork baos every time.

Prime Time Chicken
416 Main St.

I haven’t eaten the fried chicken since Prime Time moved here from its Gastown location years ago, but I’ll sneak a potato wedge or two now and then and will almost always seek out a vanilla soft-serve ice cream cone when it’s hot enough out.

Rhinofish Noodle Bar
550 Main St. (Closed)

This is the best Taiwanese beef noodle soup that one can get in Chinatown. Also of note: Ma Po Dou Fu Fan, or minced pork and tofu rice bowl with spicy soybean sauce. Good looking room.

Bestie
105 E. Pender St. (Closed)

Chinatown might seem like the least likeliest of places to find excellent German currywurst, pretzels and beer, but here you are. A cool space made better by great staff. Pro tip: Leberkase. Where to sit? Table No. 5.

Choose your 3 favourite Chinatown restaurants

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THE COLOUR PALETTE

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Blue/Orange facades of Ho Sun Hing Printers & Fresh Egg Mart on East Georgia; the leafiness of Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens; ugly blue LED streetlights; Erin Templeton shop facade; cheese sauce at Bestie; Mamie Taylor’s green walls; Matchstick Coffee’ house “Catalogue” blend; yellow window shutters above Fat Mao; orange awning above New Town Bakery; omnipresent decorative red and gold; freshly horked old man loogie; marinated eggplant with soy, garlic, and ginger at Bao Bei; stinky summer fish gut puddle; the best table in the house (#43) at Kissa Tanto; green signage at Kent’s Kitchen; dead alleyway pigeon tri-colour; dried tokay gecko on a stick.

THINGS TO CHECK OUT

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DEAD LIZARDS FOR YOUR PENIS*
$8.99 (AND CHEAPER) HAIRCUTS
PARADES WITH BAGPIPES, DRAGONS, & SIKHS
THE RENNIE COLLECTION AT WING SANG
VINTAGE ODDITIES AT SPACE LAB
THE OCCASIONAL RAT
PRESENTS FOR COOKS
GAMES OF POOL AT THE LONDON PUB
THE VIEW FROM THE KEEFER PARKADE
AMAZING JAPANESE KNIVES AT AI & OM
OUT OF THE ORDINARY BLIM WORKSHOPS
SWEET VINTAGE AT DUCHESSE
TERRIFYING GUTTER PUDDLES
NICE GUYS AT THE SHOP
THE PLAZA SKATEPARK
SUPPLIES FOR LIQUOR LOVERS
A WHOLE LOTTA PIGEONS
LEATHER BAGS AT ERIN TEMPLETON
* the dried lizards (tokay geckos) are a traditional Chinese medicine for impotence, tuberculosis, and asthma.

FASCINATING THINGS OF NOTE

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– The oldest standing structure in Chinatown is the Wing Sang Building on Pender, built in 1889 by Chinatown pioneer Yip Sang.

– Market Alley, spanning from Main Street and Carrall between Hastings and Pender, was a turn-of-the-century hotspot for opium production, gambling, and after-hours debauchery.

– Dr. Sun Yet-Sen Classical Chinese Garden was the first of its kind to be constructed outside of China.

– Vancouver’s Chinatown is the largest in Canada and one of the largest in North America.

– A city ordinance was passed in 1937 that prohibited Chinese-owned restaurants from employing white women. In 1939, city council amended the law to permit white waitresses in Chinatown restaurants that served “English meals to English customers”.

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canadawordmark

There are 10 comments

  1. Half of the places on this guide are indirectly responsible for the loss of Chinatown’s cultural heritage though. A couple are even giant middle fingers.

  2. Yeah, blame the small businesses, not the developers or the benevolent property owners that sold for profit.

  3. I think you listed every restaurant in Chinatown apart from The Union. Any particular reason?

  4. I think you mentioned every restaurant in Chinatown except The Union. Any particular reason?

  5. Hi Nick. As per the introduction, we don’t count that block of Union St. (Hogan’s Alley) as being in Chinatown, but rather in Strathcona. As such, the Union, Harvest and Tuck Shoppe weren’t included. Expect to see the Union in our updated guide to Strathcona, which will be published soon. Cheers and thanks the comment.

  6. Have you or anyone done a guide to the butchers and even markets in Chinatown and beyond (T&T) – i.e. is there a “best”roast duck and how do prices, quality and selection compare?

  7. Not exactly. A good idea. If you’re interested in a recommendation, I had the duck at Chinatown BBQ on Pender St. recently. Super delicious. Before that, my favourite was always Money Foods on Gore St.

  8. Kent’s Kitchen beats Prime Time Chicken any day. HUGE portions. You can get 3 meals out of $7.95. The amount of Cantonese food that is being made on a typical lunch hour guarantees its freshness, whereas PTC, freshness is not guaranteed.
    The veggie steam buns at New Town are so great!
    Please, don’t blast your stereo in Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen garden, people! It’s rude and ungentlemanly!