"Hidden behind the mess of construction for the new Broadway SkyTrain Line, Chef’s Choice has some of the best dim sum you can get in Vancouver proper. Tackle one of their thin-skinned, bowl-sized soup dumplings that burst with broth, plus classics like delicate shrimp-filled har gow or golden-baked buns stuffed with gingery barbecued pork. If you like congee, try their mixed seafood version, full of flaky fish, prawns, and scallops. Finish it all off with a custardy egg tart before you head down the hill for a walk on the Seawall. This small, friendly bistro is the city’s only Indigenous restaurant, and it uses ingredients that the region’s First Nations traditionally favor, from wild salmon to berries to game meats. Bison pot roast, sockeye served over wild rice, and smoked sablefish with polenta and roasted beets are among their standards, and you can pair them all with wines from Indigenous producers. Don’t skip the signature bannock, a traditional biscuit-like bread that can be made sweet with housemade jam or savory with sauteed mushrooms, melted brie, and bison gravy. This place is perfect for a quick, casual meal with a friend or two—just keep in mind that it’s a dinner-only spot that’s open from 3-9pm every day." - carolyn b heller, amber gibson
