Wish you could fly off to Asia this Asian Heritage Month (and every month after), but your wallet says otherwise? Good news! You don’t need an expensive plane ticket to experience the flavours of Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and more.
Vancouver is a foodie paradise, with lots of authentic Asian eats at wallet-friendly prices. So here’s how to explore Asia on a budget without breaking the bank.
Cambodia 🇰🇭
It’s always been a dream of mine to eat at a Michelin-recognized restaurant, and in Vancouver, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to do it.
Phnom Penh Restaurant serves rich Cambodian-Vietnamese flavours that are both comforting and unforgettable.
Our food spread at Phnom Penh Restaurant
Be sure to order their famous chicken wings, because they are incredibly delicious and seriously addictive. It’s no surprise that celebrities like Jimmy O. Yang make sure to have them when in town!
The restaurant gets quite busy (my friends and I waited about 35 minutes before getting seated), but the wait is 1000% worth it.
Phnom Penh’ Restaurant‘s famous chicken wings
China 🇨🇳
Kam Do Bakery is a classic Hong Kong bakery that greets you with the warmest smell of fresh baked goods as soon as you walk in.
Their pineapple buns are probably the best ones I’ve ever have (also, did you know that they don’t actually have pineapple in them?), along with their deep-fried sugar donuts, and soft sponge cakes. I’m sorry I didn’t get any photos, because I was too busy enjoying every bite!
I tried SO many delicious dim sum spots like the Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant, the Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood Restaurant, and the Grand Crystal Seafood Restaurant. Some of my favourites to order were crispy taro dumplings or wu gok, har gao, and juicy siu mai. Plus, I couldn’t resist snapping a pic of these adorable pig-shaped custard buns!
Pig-shaped egg custard buns at the Grand Crystal Seafood Restaurant
Aberdeen Centre in Richmond is a must-visit for food and shopping lovers. I love wandering the food court for quick snacks like the mango sago with grass jelly and mango chunks. Plus, the boba drinks come in the cutest Hello Kitty cups!
Mango sago at Aberdeen Centre
No visit to Vancouver is complete without a good hot pot at Boiling Point. I loved that their lunch special comes with free iced oolong tea. Plus, they noticed I was visiting from Montreal, and surprised me with a whole Boiling Point sticker sheet (and you know how much I LOVE stickers!).
Hot pot at Boiling Point
I’ve always loved roast duck, but I’d never tried it in wraps before. The duck wraps at Chongqing Restaurant were so delicious, and definitely worth trying!
Duck wraps at Chongqing Restaurant
If you know me, you know that I LOVE my rom-coms. One of my favourites, Always Be My Maybe, features a memorable dim sum scene right here at Vancouver’s New Town Bakery. Keep an eye out for the tall plastic cups of tea, just like in the movie!
Beef noodles at New Town Bakery
I wanted to make sure I ate here before leaving town, so I squeezed in a visit for brunch (LOL). Make sure to try their delicious beef noodles, and crispy, salt and pepper fried squid. Dee-licious!
Our food spread at New Town Bakery
Japan 🇯🇵
There are SO many great Japanese spots in Vancouver, this section could honestly be its own blog post. Narrowing it down to just a few was NOT easy!
Udon bowls at Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba
Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba has the BEST curry udon I’ve ever had, with fresh noodles that they make in-house. And when you go, make sure to leave room for dessert. The Hokkaido ice cream is AMAZING. I wish I could bring home a whole tub!
Hokkaido ice cream at Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba
If you’re looking for a unique experience, TAKENAKA Uni Bar is a must. From the front entrance, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into Japan.
Their lunch trays come loaded with assorted Japanese dishes made with the freshest ingredients. And if you LOVE miso soup as much as I do you’d swim in it if you could, you’ll be happy to know that here, it’s bottomless, and seriously delicious!
Lunch trays at TAKENAKA Uni Bar
Also, can we take a moment to appreciate their sashimi? It’s thick-cut, super fresh, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious!
Sashimi at TAKENAKA Uni Bar
If you’re looking for delicious and affordable sushi, head to Sushi Mura. My favourites are the spicy salmon rolls and their fresh sashimi platter. They also play great tunes, including K-pop to J-pop, so I couldn’t help but bop along and even karaoke a little.
I tried LOTS of other sushi spots around town as well, but for the full list, check out my previous article called Where to Eat the Best Sushi in Vancouver: 7 Spots You Can’t Miss.
Assorted sushi at Sushi Mura
Hello Nori is perfect for fresh, hand-rolled temaki made right in front of you. Don’t miss the bluefin tuna, snow crab, and Hokkaido scallop rolls. They’re absolutely delicious!
Snow crab hand roll at Hello Nori
For dessert, try Hello Nori‘s mochi ice cream. I love the bite-size portions, and variety. I enjoyed the mango, vanilla, and matcha flavours.
Mango, vanilla and matcha mochi ice cream at Hello Nori
Oh, and I can’t forget Japadog, the city’s iconic Japanese-style hot dog stand. I make sure to go here every time I’m in Vancouver.
Be sure to order their signature Terimayo Dog. It’s topped with Japanese mayo, fried onions, and seaweed. Oh, and don’t skip the fries on the side!
Terimayo hot dog at Japadog
Korea 🇰🇷
Vancouver has SO many Korean food options, I didn’t get to try as many as I wanted to (Zoomak is high on my list for next time. I’ve heard great things!).
I did make it to Sing Sing Beer Bar to celebrate a friend’s birthday though. It’s a great spot for tapas-style bites and drinks (make sure to go during Happy Hour!). Their fries are crispy and addictive, and the kimchi grilled cheese is a must-try fusion favourite.
Our food spread SURA Korean BBQ
Everyone loves Korean BBQ, and SURA Korean BBQ definitely lives up to the hype. Some of my favourites were the crispy pajeon, japchae noodles, and the bossam (I’m all about those lettuce wraps loaded with pork belly, kimchi, and ssamjang!).
Also, don’t miss their galbi-jjim AKA tender braised beef ribs in a sweet soy sauce that just melts in your mouth.
SURA Korean BBQ‘s braised beef ribs
Philippines 🇵🇭
Honestly, I didn’t get the chance to properly dine at any Filipino restaurants this time (send me your suggestions for next trip—I heard there are lots of good spots in town!). BUT I did manage to enjoy Filipino flavours all over the city!
I stumbled upon the cutest little Asian café in Richmond called miion Café, and instantly fell in love. If I ever owned a café, I’d hope it would feel just like this place. Their ube cheesecake was perfect, and side note: their hojicha latte is so smooth and comforting.
Ube cheesecake at miion Café
I always love treating myself to a cup of ice cream here and there, and during this trip, I found an ube-macapuno flavour at Baskin-Robbins that really surprised me. It even had little coconut slices mixed in, which made it even better.
Ube-macapuno ice cream at Baskin-Robbins
Aling Mary’s in Surrey came highly recommended by a couple of my good friends, and it did not disappoint! Their pandesal is soft, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet.
And of course, I had to enjoy mine the true Filipino way: dipped in a hot mug of Kopiko coffee in the morning. IYKYK.
Aling Mary’s pandesal
And of course, I had to stop by Jollibee, because who can resist that crispy fried chicken with their signature gravy? Plus, the pineapple juice and peach mango pie? Masarap!
Jollibee fried chicken
Taiwan 🇹🇼
I LOVE noodles, so I made it a point to try some Taiwanese noodle soup while in town. Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle, located inside Aberdeen Centre, totally hit the spot—authentic, rich broth, and HUGE portions that guarantee you’ll have leftovers.
And TBH, when I reheated the rest for lunch the next day, it still tasted just as good as the first time!
Beef noodle soup at Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle
If you LOVE milk tea, CHICHA San Chen is a must. It’s even Michelin-recommended! Their teas are brewed to order, and the flavours are rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced.
Milk teas at CHICHA San Chen
Vietnam 🇻🇳
I LOVE Vietnamese food, and I really wish I had time to try more spots, especially the street food and cozy Vietnamese cafés!
I’ve heard Vancouver has tons of amazing pho spots, and that the banh mi from 88 Supermarket is super affordable, and really tasty. I’ll definitely be eyeing both for my next trip!
Our food spread at Anh and Chi
I was invited to dinner at Anh and Chi, another gem of Vietnamese cuisine and another Michelin Bib Gourmand spot (can you believe I ate at THREE Michelin-recognized places this trip?!).
The grilled skewers were absolutely delicious, and the vermicelli bowl with beef and prawns will have you salivating from the very first bite.
Vermicelli bowl at Anh and Chi
Remember, traveling to Asia can be expensive, but eating like you’re there doesn’t have to be! Bon appétit!
The Lilac Blog 
Which meal was your favorite?
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