Alimentaria Mexicana

To call this Mexican food is a fallacy. I'm not a Mexican but growing up in Arizona I know what Mexican food is. I eat it more Mexican food than I eat American food. I'm practically Mexican, or at least more so am than any of the staff I saw at this restaurant. To the review... At the time of this writing, this restaurant doesn't even know what salsa is. I had to explain to them what salsa is, then they brought something that was better but still bad. If I were hungry and had no other options, I'd eat their food and call it decent food... but I'd never come here for "Mexican" food. At a minimum, for the tacos which we tried all types, a decent salsa would have brought the tacos from a 5/10 to a 7 or 8/10. First photo attached is the "salsa" they provided for a table of four. One of which is basically Chinese Chili Oil (confirmed because I was eating with Chinese people). Other is... burn your bung hole to the moon spicy paste. Tiny amounts of each were provided lol. Second photo attached is after asking if they have an alternative salsa. Guac (didn't try it but looks watery) and some sort of sweet mango "paste" (not good). The place seems to have decent quality food, but they shouldn't be calling their restaurant a "Mexican" restaurant. It's sad that when we Googled this place a top review was "the most authentic Mexican food outside of Mexico". Whoever made those claims must have been born and raised on Granville Island and never managed to escape. Oh, and service was okay. They were friendly. They were busy so it's tough to fault them on service... but it would have been nice to eat our gross Chicharrones without having to ask for plates halfway through. Didn't really matter though because we couldn't quite finish them due to insane salt levels. I hope this was somewhat constructive feedback. Isn't salsa cheap and easy make in-house? Do people in Canada not like Pico de Gallo? That simple addition would change your dishes for the better.

Enjoyed a family birthday dinner here tonight. As it is ‘Dine out Vancouver’ month there was an option for a set menu. Good value with 3 courses plus desert for the price of $35. Was a busy Friday so food took a while and servers were quite busy, but pleasant, and gave us more time to chat. Food was fresh full of great taste and some unique options.

My first time visiting Granville Island, trying this restaurant. I chose the halibut tacos and they were absolutely delicious. It was only 2 tacos but the portion size of the fish was large. The flavours were there. I left full and happy. Will be recommending and coming back myself.

Great location, great food, and great service. It was our first time going there and enjoyed our time there.

We were given a table by a lady who clearly didn't want to be at work today. We ordered one beer and one taco, both came not as we ordered and both were just OK. Accordingly we didn't leave a tip and got eyeballed as we left....tip only for exceptional service say the guides, maybe a little for "as you would expect" but not for poor service....we had just an hour before enjoyed two beers and an appetizer on the waterfront, with excellent service and far better product for less money...they clearly got the appropriate tip....pull your socks up and things will gt better.

I ordered the carne asada tacos and the guacamole and chips. The tacos were a very generous portion, but I would say a lot of onions for me.. I also wish it was served with more salsa options and more limes on the side. 1 lime for 3 tacos is not enough. The guacamole however was very fresh, recommend as a great starter for a group of 2 people.

It's a good spot for big parties trying to eat together at Granville Island. The patio seating was nice, and it was nice inside as well. The appetizer portions were small and I wish they'd serve more chips with the guacamole and salsa. The pork belly was good. The drinks were fabulous. I ordered the Niña Piña and Horchata and both were so tasty! The service we got was outstanding even on a busy lunch day! But, FYI, because we came in a big group, the service charge was already added to our bill, which we didn't even see right away so our server got a double tip.

Was craving Mexican food and thought we'd go here. The atmosphere was really nice with the patio. We were quickly seated on what seemed to be a less than a busy weekday. However, once I saw the menu I knew it was a bit pricey but still ordered some tacos drinks and for 20 dollars we got the 2 thinnest tacos imaginable with cheese being an additional 3 bucks. The taste and quality were below average at best. The same could be said about the drinks as well. Avoid this tourist trap Vancouver has much better Mexican food to offer

The best Mexican food we had. Must visit place! Their green spicy sauce is awesome so is salsa and guacamole.

We came here specifically for drinks. The ambiance outside just screamed good time so we knew to come in. Luckily it was happy hour so we sat at a table near the bar and watched the chefs work their magic. Our bartender was friendly and mixed up some delicious Paloma's for us. We figured the pitcher was the best bang for our buck so we sat down and prepared to hang out for a bit. We had a great time! People came by and checked on us but for the most part they let us chill. We didn't end up trying any food and we were surprised that in the time we hung out we didn't crave anything but we loved watching everything be made. The chef definitely keeps an eye on his kitchen and even had the team run out food themselves so it doesn't sit there long. His attention to detail was excellent and the kitchen seemed to be running smoothly.

Great location Great staff Good for indoor dining Great hot outdoor dining Delicious menu Fresh tasting Delicious drinks Great for large crowds Great for intimate dining

This is the second time I've dined here & I really enjoy the food here. It's on the pricer side but lovely to have as a nicer meal out & definitely will dine here again in the future. My friend joined me for supper this weekend. Once a table was determined for us (inside), we observed how popular the covered patio is in the evening. We agreed that sitting inside the restaurant is our preference in the evening. To start we shared some guac & chips (this was the largest bowl we've ever had of guac & chips - giant chip pieces too!). It had sprouts & sunflower seeds on the guac (beautifully garnished) and very tasty guac (we both recommend using the guac on the fish tacos too). The fish tacos are only 2 tacos per plate (other tacos 3) but each had a very large breaded piece of fish. It was filling but completely messy. It truly tasted great - like all the messiest foods do (in my opinion) & you'll need extra napkins to the table right away! I thought it was nice that we were asked about preference of salsa hotness (an effort to customize the meal). I wanted something a bit more of a kick than mild, so we both expected there would be another salsa cup arriving for me but that didn't happen. Meal was still very delicious even with the mild salsa. We actually didn't have room to even consider dessert after tacos. The mocktail was really interesting (sorry forget the name!), wasn't overly sweet & a darker red colour. We did find it a bit odd that the waitress & any other waitstaff seemed to not attend our table & general area after our plates were removed. Maybe it was the timing of the other tables starting into their food & we simply were forgotten about being there earlier than the others around us? I would of asked for a coffee or maybe even another type of mocktail if someone checked in with our table. After all, we visited so long that our water jug sat empty for a good 20 min before we finally got our bill. Things I really liked here... -Good size of servings. -They have lovely plated presentations (the guac was beautiful but I was too hungry to bother fighting with iPhone photo storage availability and honestly, just ofer that guac!). -Their mocktail choices make you still feel like you're drinking something special. -The restaurant table & size can accommodate families, larger groups, couples & friends gathering. -Large menu so lotschoices. -Food comes out decently quick. -Lighting (at evening) is easy on my sensitive eyes in the dining area (further back into the restaurant & bathrooms is brighter). -Lower & well spaced tables good for someone with a walker or wheelchair to navigate/be seated without stressing about asking for the right table area on your reservation. -Flat entrance & no change of levels in restaurant (but I didn't see accessible buttons for the main door or patio door). -The bathroom stalls are an open to any gender with one large entry point. -There's 1 handicap bathroom outside of this area so no navigating around other people to access a stall that works good for your needs (granted due to the openess of gender bathrooms, the handicap bathroom unfortunately is occupied by very abled people too). -Returning from the bathrooms, there's a giant wall full of their branded items to purchase. It's not something one would see from the restaurant seating area but cool idea for Granville Island edible souvenirs or if you really liked something from the restaurant & definitely nice use of space. Things that could use a little extra umph to bring the experience up to the level of food price... -The bathroom stalls (including the handicap) were in need of care & attention. That should be done regularly & often if everyone is sharing one bathroom area with each other... -there's random amount of spots around this location for parking options, but nothing specifically designated towards this restaurant (that either of us could see). Nor was there an ask if parking could be validated for us. -Restaurant has a louder environment. Not the loudest I've encountered but would give some challenges visiting over a meal for those sensitive to louder environments or with hearing aids. Maybe that might be why some chose to the covered patio area vs inside. -As we went last minute to Granville Island & early on an Sat. evening, we forgot to call to check on reservations needed. However, we were only 2 people, tables visibly free (most not seated until we were long finished with our meal) & no line-up when we arrived (earlier in the traditional supper time frame). Yet we were made to feel "very lucky" to be seated. Same vibe I recall from last year but on a weeknight too. So if you want to avoid that long awkward wait as you stare at empty tables, just call ahead. Overall, a good meal, lovely location to grab food or drinks on Granville Island (I bet it's awesome people watching during the day on the patio!) & for the most part decently accommodating for mobility & sensitivities.

Food is fantastic! We had birria, chicken and cauliflower tacos, everything was delicious and perfectly seasoned. Service is first rate too!

First time came to the Alimentaria Mexicana and ate a nice lunch. I ordered Mushroom Tostada and Horchatal. It was a good combination of meal and Mexican drink. I looked menu but I don't know what I wanted to eat. So I asked staff and got a good order for my meal. If you are confused about the menu, I recommend that you ask the staff at the restaurant. The interior is casual and there is seating outside. I will be back!

Lunch time and we wanted to try this place as we heard about their tostadas. However, the only tostada on their lunch menu was the mushroom one. Decided on the carne asada con queso tacos instead, and hubs went with the Flank steak. Hubs liked the flavor of his steak and the veggies that accompanied the dish. He also liked the flour tortillas, although he would've liked a couple more. The tacos were also good - just the right amount of saltiness from the cheese and not too oily. There were 3 tacos in the order, and they were actually quite filling. Pretty busy place, and we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Our waitress was friendly and checked on us often. Would still like to return to try the tostadas.

Our family group of 6 had a wonderful time at Alimentaria yesterday and enjoyed their very fresh and flavourful menu items and drinks. Service was excellent and the food was delicious and presented very well. Great location - we found parking and the others came via the foot passenger ferry.

Mexican while at Granville Island Vancouver.....what more could you want? Great drinks, great service, great food, while in the heart of Granville Island. Everything on the menu looks great. Simply, you cannot go wrong!

Get the Carne Asada Tacos! Out of all the meals my friends and I ordered, this got the best reviews from everyone. I got the Chicken Adobo tacos which was fantastic. I still really enjoyed my meal, and would be happy if I got it again. The portion size for tacos is 3 tacos, which was satisfying and filling, however

Everything was really good. Their mushroom tostada was a nice modern twist. My favorite would be the tuna ceviche with chips. The ceviche had the right amount of sourness. We also had some yummy cocktails. I really loved the coconut margarita. The waiters were very nice and kept checking up on us. Very friendly. The restaurant is a great place to just hangout and have a round of drinks while enjoying the granvile weather. I give it a 4 just because the prices were a bit high. But over all very good experience!

I really like this place! I have been several times now, and am addicted to their Mezcalita cocktail! My mouth waters just thinking about it! Not too sweet, a bit tart, just the right bit of everything to make you want another...! I've tried numerous items and enjoy the fact that they have so many vegetarian options. Additionally, I often have trouble eating corn products, but I think the ingredients they use is different, so I am able to enjoy the food there. They have a fantastic selection of Mezcal - I've always HATED Mezcal, until the server took me through a tasting, and now I know that there are certain types of Mezcal that I LOVE! That brings me to the final bit: the service is so friendly and unpretentious. They really seem to know and love their menu and give great advice.

OUTSTANDING food! And we were Mexican, AND visiting from LA where Mexican food is authentic... this is by far one of the gems at Granville Island and I highly highly recommend it. Had their quesobirria tacos, fresh, guacamole, and adobo chicken tacos. Delicious!

Not your "typical" North American Mexican restaurant, but rather more like an authentic style you would actually find in Mexico. The food is meant to be shared, so dishes aren't particularly big, but enough to go around. We found ordering 4 between 3 adults was sufficient. And when the food came it was very tasty, not greasy or stodgy like you often find at chain Mexican places. Staff were very attentive and helpful, service was quick but not rushed, and we didn't feel like we were required to vacate our table either. There's a small store in a corner of the restaurant where you can buy sauces and pre-made frozen dishes to take home, as well as some other souvenirs or cooking accessories. Overall, a very pleasant experience, to which we would happily return next time we're in Vancouver.

Came by for a late lunch a few weekends ago and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I haven't visited the space since it was Edible, but nice to see it plenty busy on a Saturday afternoon despite the rainy January weather. FYI there's pay parking in the structure attached to Alimentaria for your convenience if you're headed here on a date or don't want to circle Granville Island for an eternity. Between my boyfriend and I, we started off with a round of Modelo-based Micheladas to pique the appetite. These were exactly what we wanted - tart and refreshing with a good amount of Taijin on the rim. For food, we got the Tuna Ceviche, Bone Marrow Sopes, Duck Flautas and Mussels with Chorizo. The ceviche arrived first and it was one of our two favourites during the meal. Nicely marinated in lots of lime juice, the chunks of tuna were meaty and juxtaposed well with the creaminess of the avocado. Homemade tortilla chips were a great touch. Next were the sopes and these are a definite must order. My boyfriend isn't usually a bone marrow fan, but the textural contrast of the sope with the rich marrow made it much more palatable for him. We had worried we hadn't ordered enough given the portion sizes, but the richness of this dish had us thinking otherwise. The duck flautas came very shortly afterwards and we agreed that we could've gone without this dish. The meat was tender but we didn't feel that the cabbage slaw or sauce really did much to enhance the flavour. Lastly, the mussels with chorizo appeared and by this point, we were fairly satiated. The portion size for this is fairly substantial, but flavour-wise, I wasn't a huge fan. I think I'm still partial to Chambar or Cafe Salade if I ever have a hankering for mussels, but this is personal preference. Price-wise, Alimentaria isn't the most budget-friendly option, but it's definitely a nice change of pace from the usual brunch and lunch options we've got in Vancouver. You can also show your receipt at the attached marketplace for 10% off your purchase! I'll be back for the sopes, ceviche, and to try out the birria.

This was new to me but I also have not been to Granville Island in a while ! Parking: pay parking in effect 11am to 6pm , $2/hr on weekdays and $3/hr on weekends/stats. Luckily my event was at 6 pm so free ! Arrived just before six and the parking pockets seemed pretty full. By 9pm, there was enough spots. This restaurant had Kitsilano vibes , the interior was very rustic and homey. Did not get a photo but they had a retail space selling many of their food/treats and tools and fresh produce. When you dine it , your receipt will double as a 10% off coupon when you purchase anything from the shop side. They were prompt with taking our orders for drinks and the food and mentioned from the beginning to expect food to come at different times. They asked our party of 11 to not move around/ switch seats to not mix up the orders. Understandable.. until they still mixed up our orders when we didn't move. The space could get very loud and hard to hear people talking so that was maybe a factor. However they didn't make sure to repeat the order when they brought it, so much as someone raising their hand thinking the order was theirs, they put the food down. They put an order that had a request for no cilantro down at my other friend's spot just because she asked if it was " beef" and it was. But there were a couple different " beef " dishes. Our waiter made strong recommendations for certain dishes , especially from the daily limited shorter menu but when we decided to order it , they then told us it was sold out for the night and that was too bad. Perhaps they should check before making recommendations? I get with a tablet to put in orders someone could have just gotten the last one a second sooner. Water pitchers were not refilled at any point during the 2.5 hour dining. And they began to clean up and move the tables that had been added to make the larger table before we all left. No asking just proceeded to clean. One time a drink was spilled as it was cleaned up and flowed all over the edge , ending up trickling onto my friends foot to which the waiters said they would comeback to clean it up. They did not. That's enough about the service side !, The food itself was delicious. I tried the mushroom croquettes, beef birria and tacos de carne asada con queso. Got the Horchata drink and it was so rich and nice as well! I think this one was a coconut milk based one ,it was creamy and had a good mouthful. It remained a gritty or sandy texture through the rest of the drink but it was still nice. A generous 16 Oz glass was nice too. The tacos were my favorite- nicely crisped cheese as a base on the taco? My absolute favorite thing! Had good flavour. The corn tortillas were authentic and came in a oven mitt warmer bag thing. I thought the filling for the birria was too much for just 4 tortilla though but very beefy flavour and a mess to eat if you weren't careful. The dishware they had for use with sharing were a little small given that a lot of things had dripping liquid or sauces. But very aestetically appealing. Overall, it was an okay place to have a gathering and I still enjoyed the atmosphere. The food gave it the extra star.

Walked by this place while wandering around for a dog friendly patio. The wait was quoted at 1.5hrs which seemed typical as it was a nice Saturday afternoon. I left my name and number to the kind hostess and within an hour and a bit we were called back. Since the bf and I weren't really hungry we opted to try the more popular items: the carne asada taco and the beef cheek tacos. The server did give us advanced notice that the beef cheek would take some time to prepare which I really appreciate. Partway, she also noticed we were waiting a while so she offered us some chips on the house which the bf later on used as extra texture on his beef cheek tacos...lol. The carne asada taco came up really quick, it was really delicious - The pork was chewy and juicy, the guacamole(?) sauce on top was tart and creamy and of course the cheese was an excellent accent. However, the size is quite small for $7.95 - if you're hungry, you'll definitely need to order more as one may not leave you satisfied. Next, the beef cheek tacos. The bf remarked that he can see why it takes so much time to prepare as the meat was extremely tender and moist. Topped off with some Mexican chilli oil, it made a very filling meal. I'm glad the tacos filled him up because for the steep price, it would be a shame if it left him still hungry afterwards. As we ate, we also noticed tons and tons of people walking in, some made resos, others wanted to walk in. Closer to the end of our meal, I noticed them put up a sign that they were all full for tonight (reso and walk ins). If you're looking to eat here, definitely make a reservation or come early and be prepared to wait. Overall, service was really great and I just loved that the dogs had a place to rest next to us...no tacos for them though unfortunately haha...

This is my favorite patio to visit in Granville Island since they let my dog sit with me. The food is delicious and a bit pricey for what it is, but it's due to the location. The service is friendly, but they are too busy so it's quite slow. They are still amazing and do what they can. The bone marrow dish is roasted well, oozing with the richness of the marrow over refried beans and corn. The guacamole doesn't seem authentic with pine nuts and pea shoot sprouts, but I loved it. The steak tacos needed more steak, but otherwise really tasty. The tasting flights are overpriced but I still wanted to them.

Ceviche portion was huge ! 3 of us brought some home. Salmon tostada tons of salmon. Mussels and chorizo partner said one of best ever. Closed with carne asada tacos. Hefty! Packed with cheese and toppings. I was too full to finish. Pitcher of margaritas disappeared in less than an hour. Fast service super friendly server. The tortillas are so flavorful! Made from local heirloom corn from indigenous communities in Mexico . Zesty house made salsas.

Wow...best Mexican food I have EVER had. Honestly. My fiancé and I were traveling to Vancouver from the US and decided to pop around the public market before we settled on having a late lunch here. We had to wait about 20 minutes and were sat. My fiancé ordered a Mexican Coke which was a very small bottle and I opted for a margarita. The margarita was perfectly balanced and had a good portion of tequila without being overbearing. We decided to share an order of the battered shrimp and the carne asada con queso. The carne asada typically only comes with three tortillas but they upgraded ours to four so we could share. The battered shrimp was the perfect ratio of batter to shrimp. The shrimp was still soft, not over cooked. A spicy Buffalo sort of sauce covered the top. I loved every single bite and considered ordering more just so I wouldn't have to share. The carne asada con queso was fantastic. We tried the various salsas on our tortillas and the jalapeño salsa was my favorite. My fiancé loved the roja salsa. We ended this meal with an order of churros with a caramel style sauce. It was lick the plate good. We will absolutely be recommending this place to our friends when they travel here and will be back.

Would you eat at a Mexican restaurant with Greek chefs in the kitchen? Or vice versa for that matter? I won't even bring up little Johnny from the local high school in the kitchen at the steak house cooking up my steaks!!! No ... just no way! I can gladly report that I confirmed with the host & looked inside the kitchen to verify that - yes the chefs are Latino! That's a good start but I'll be honest my friends in Merica ... our Mexican food ain't up to par with what you all got going on down there! Insert sad face here! However, we up here in Canada do try ... that's all we can do! There has been a massive influx of Latinos into the Pacific North West recently ... I wonder why!? Hee! Granville Island is a tourist mecca suffering from a lack of American tourists who drive up or come in weekly all summer via the 'on hold' Alaska cruise season. It's a pity cause those missing US dollars are really hurting GI. This new restaurant here is funky chic cool like dat in appearance! Well done designers bravo to you! However, the price to eat here is steep. For Mexican food at that, I'm not so sure about!? You all know me - I heart tacos so I'm hoping they are spot on with that otherwise what's the point right!?! The new restaurant has come to slay - lots of seating & a funky cool atmosphere indeed! However, I need to hear some Latino music playing via overhead speakers ... come on now ... uno, dos, très ... cuatro! Anyways good luck to Alimentaria Mexicana! Aribba, andele andele!

The location, atmosphere, and customer service were all excellent, but I thought the food itself was just okay and considering the high price of what you get. The Grilled Cactus Cazuela itself was fine and quite tasty, but the soft tortilla wraps that came with it were not good. I appreciated that the tortillas came in a warm cover, but the tortilla itself broke apart so easily and when you put in the cactus salsa verde the dish itself becomes a wet mess to eat. The guacamole appetizer I thought could have used a bit more seasoning. The churros I thought were just okay as well. The elements of the ice cream and caramel sauce were nice, but the churro itself imo I thought had a texture that was maybe too thin or brittle when you eat it. The dish I thought stood out where the Tostadas. They were delicious and I would have probably ordered more of those.

The food is excellent - that's not really debatable. We took some out of town guests there last night for a special experience, unfortunately, the dining room was virtually overrun with mice. Our friends spotted 11 mice in the 1+ hours we were there. The staff seemed to have been unaware of the problem (but then how could they admit they were aware -- and yet how could they work a shift and NOT be aware??) Kind of hard to keep your food down with so many mice running around, We won't go back and can't recommend to anyone else.

Service was awful, drinks were not great, food was mediocre at best. Tourist trap location. There are many many other good Mexican restaurants in town, skip this one.

Ambiance is fabulous. Great music and friendly staff! Food is delicious and I definitely recommend!

Nice location. Creative menu. We enjoyed the beet ceviche and the shrimp rajas. Delicious flavor combos. Good prices, portions and service. Not just your traditional Mexican food.

Just popped in here last night and really enjoyed it!! From the margaritas to the tacos, everything was tasty. Even in our winter jackets in October, the patio transported us to Mexico. Love all the pottery the food comes in too, really wanna learn how to make them! Let's get to the tasting shall we! We started with a pitcher of margaritas and shots! The margaritas could have been just a touch stronger on the booze. We also got the chips and guacamole for the table. If you run outta your first chips, no worries they will refill another bowl for you! My partner and I tried the halloumi and grilled cactus to share and for me the salsa and cactus was a touch too bitter for my liking but the halloumi was awesome. My partner liked the dish but I probably wouldn't order it again. Before going to this resto I had scouted the interwebs to find pics of all the dishes and the carne asada just looked unreal so for my main event, I got the carne asada con queso tacos and they were reaaaaaal good! Great amount of cheese on them and alot of steak inside. I was definitely full after eating this plate and satisfied. Others at our table got the Birria Mushroom tacos which were insane! So flavourful and could easily pass as meat. Someone ordered the salmon tostada and usually tostadas are quite small, not this one! It was packed with smoked salmon and all the fixings. It looked delicious! Another got the Classic Birria tacos and said they were awesome, he finished them in like record timing. And lastly we got the cauliflower tacos and the cauliflower was seasoned and cooked beautifully! We finished our meal with the churros and dolce sauce which were both so heavenly! The churro was shaped like a donut with a lovely crispy outside and soft inside. We tried eight dishes and all were great! Highly recommend asking the staff for the hottest sauce they have, it comes out in a little squeeze bottle with no label and we put it in everything. That's saying a lot! We would 1000000% go back and thought the service was good too!

Overall we had a pleasant experience! We went on a Friday night at around 6:30pm and they originally quoted us 45min wait which was fine. We decided to go across and grab a drink and an appy somewhere else while we waited except the table was ready in 10min. It was completely fine but just wish it was a bit more accurate in terms of quoting times. We rushed over and got our seat, it was a very cool vibe. Service was ok, felt pretty rushed. We ordered a margarita and a Paloma and drinks were really good! We ordered tuna ceviche which was very fresh and flavourful. We also ordered another dish I don't remember the name of however it was also packed with flavour. We would for sure come back!! I would highly recommend making a reservation as it does seem quite busy!

This place is in a very busy market place. The food is very authentic as far as Mexican food. They were a bit understaffed, so the food and drinks took a very long time. I will definitely try this place again to see if the service gets better. However the food is really good, and expect tourist prices. The menu does not match what you find on the Internet, so by all means check with the hostess stand for the latest and greatest menu.

Who knew you could get great nouveau Mexican fare in Vancouver? After circumnavigating the classic Stanley Park Seawall, we walked to the Aquatic Centre to catch the Aqua Bus to Granville Island for lunch. By the time we made it to Alimentaria my dogs were barking loudly and we were very happy to finally sit and rest. We sat outside to enjoy the spectacular sunshine and promptly ordered a pitcher of margaritas and the chips and guac. Margaritas were fine, and the thick chips were hot and crispy, the perfect conveyor of the guac, which had the added the crunch of peanuts. Excellent! My friend had the chorizo and potatoes and I had the roasted cauliflower. Both very delicious and reminiscent of Frontera Grill in Chicago (a high compliment for sure!). Service was fantastic.

While they are convenient when one visits Granville Island they have a young staff and chaotic service. They spend lots of time moooving chairs and sun shades while running back and forth. Getting clients seated, taking orders or getting the bills done... not so much. More than half the available tables both outside and inside were empty still what a flurry of activity. Food, while not your standard menu, was Mexican as one would expect. Probably faster than eating in the food court however two drinks and two main courses ended up just under $100 so not the best value.

This was a good place to eat while while in Granville island . The ceviche had good flavor albeit a bit sour for my taste . Husband ordered the marrow which was good .

Save your time and eat ANY place else! I came in and asked for a table for three. The hostess said it'd be a 25 min wait. We were super tired and hungry but decided to wait. After a half an hour she told us it would be another 15 mins but maybe longer. How much longer? She had no idea! We were clearly frustrated at not be quoted an semi accurate wait time but things got interesting. She then told us that the restaurant is "reservation only" and could suggest some other dining options. Literally she told us to take our business else where. What a joke! So after almost an hour we were turned away even hungrier then we'd arrived. What type of restaurant turns customers away? Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs!

We had a great time here checking out Alimentaria Mexicana. We were here for happy hour and had such a great time. We have someone with a cilantro allergy and they took it so seriously and the food was so good. Definitely will be back again.

Great authentic food. Server had to be flagged down a couple times but otherwise a good experience.

I am thoroughly blown away by Alimentaria Mexicana. It's a wide open, somewhat cold feeling space, but the service, food, and beverages warm my body and soul. I went here with a group for a late lunch. We all decided to share a wide assortment of the menu. We ordered as we went and allowed the plates to arrive as they were prepared. Literally every single dish was just perfect. Many of them were familiar, but all were uniquely special. First off, the Guacamole. It was your standard typical avo-yummo that you know and love, but with the wonderful fresh additions to pop it over the top. Pea shoots, feta, and pumpkin seeds all provided wonderful moments of additional texture and zing. Next, was the item I DEMANDED we order -- Birria Tacos. We ended up getting two orders. Birria is somewhat a new trend to Vancouver over the past couple years and I'm glad to see it continue here. The consome that they provided was rich and decadent. If we weren't in a pandemic I would have been double, nay triple-dipping. What showed up next was the Bone Marrow Sopes. Okay people, that's enough! We've hit 5 stars already. This was just rich and decadent opulence. My fave of the meal. The refried beans were just perfectly cooked and seasoned to begin with, but then, having the buttery marrow overtop... it was one of those unexpected dining moments that I love. And after all that, we get Duck Flautas coming our way? How do you say ho-man en espanol? Crispy and tender in one or two wonderful bites. Then a couple orders of Ceviche showed up. It was a perfect balance of fresh citrusy twang, tender tuna, and creamy avocado on a crunchy corn tortilla. Yum. Still coming... we finished the lunch off with the Halloumi and Grilled Cactus Cazuela (stew). We didn't expect it to come in a pot and with tortillas -- heck we didn't even SEE the tortillas show up on our table, so we just spooned it on our plate and ate it with a fork. The cactus and salsa verde was actually a great end-of-meal palette cleanser. Tangy and punchy with tomatillo. Everything was darn near perfect.

I liked the shrimp tacos, they were battered nice and crisply. The $13 guacamole was tasty but was a very small portion and definitely overpriced, and their chips and salsa was also very meh and extremely bland. Steer clear of the halloumi + cactus dish. It was slimy and weird, like a very sour, overpowering and bitter and viscous soup. A little bit more pricey overall, which is the norm for Granville island, but not worth it in this case.

We were so excited to go to this place, it's located in a great spot and the menu has great potential. The result was mediocre all around. There is zero ambiance inside and it was freezing cold, most patrons were wearing their outdoor clothes inside. The service was so slow between dishes and the staff seemed uninterested. We ordered 5 dishes and were either bland or just drenched in grease and cheese to hide the lack of creativity in taste. The margarita pitcher we had was just watery and flavourless and overall was a very disappointing visit that came at $190 price tag. Located in a top touristic spot, Alimentaria Mexicana seems to not care for repeated customers but yikes, what a mediocre place. There are many other great Mexican restaurants in Vancouver with great food and service, this place is better to skip.

Busy even on a rainy day. Helpful staff. Husband had a Humans IPA, I had the Classic Margarita. Both very good. Actual lime juice - no gross/sweet mix. Shrimp Tacos were amazing, lots of shrimp. Carne Asada Queso Tacos were delish, lots of flavour. Tasted authentic.

I went here last week when I was visiting my niece in Vancouver. We didn't have a reservation and we didn't have to wait too long for a table. We ordered tacos and they were pretty good but at the end of our lunch I looked into my coffee cup and there was a huge clump of white goo at the bottom of my cup. I didn't notice the cream was rotten when I put it in my coffee but honestly I've never seen anything like this before. It didn't look like rotten milk. . I called the waitress over and her reaction was really surprised and said she'd talk to her manager. They took the coffee off my bill but most restaurants would have offered desert or something. It really turned my stomach and we will never go back.. the waitress never once apologized...I mean it was disgusting..

This place does NOT take allergies even close to seriously. My boyfriend has celiacs and will get incredibly sick if he eats gluten. Some cross contamination is inevitable, but this place straight up served him flour tortillas instead of the gluten free corn tortillas they said they could accommodate. Our waiter asked us if we had any allergies, my boyfriend very clearly said he had celiac, and yet he still received flour tortillas. We did not realize they were gluten until the GI side effects set in hours later. It was the only thing we'd had to eat other than food from a 100% gluten free cafe. In addition to that, the food I had was bland and unimpressive. Nothing about the restaurant was even close to authentic Mexican food - which is fine, I guess, but if it's going to be inauthentic Mexican food it should at least taste good and not give people food poisoning. Very disappointed. I will say that my drink was really delicious, and the guac wasn't bad - but there were about 10 chips total to go along with it.

Great Mexican food with a modern twist. This isn't your typical tacos and refried beans style restaurant. The food tastes like Mexico. Smoky, sweet, spicy, and sour. There is nothing bland on the menu. Plenty of veggie options available! I had the cauliflower tacos and heirloom beet & tomato ceviche and they were delicious. Other favourites at the table were the carne Asada tacos with cheese and the tuna ceviche. Margaritas were on point and they did not skimp on the tequila. My friends and I were reminded of our group trip to Cancun a few years back. the Patio is gorgeous and shaded by large umbrellas. The staff is absolutely lovely and very helpful. Prices are mid range. Note: if your idea of Mexican food is a taco salad in a corn chip bowl this is not the place for you. Try Las MargAritas on West 4th. The only downer is that it's currently only open Wednesday through Sunday. We will all definitely be back.

We're used to a more typical menu at the Mexican places in the US, but we sure enjoyed the upscale choices here. Yes, premium prices (location, I'm sure) but the choices kept up, no complaints. Service was good and fast (post-beautiful weekend afternoon) and friendly too. We came with few expectations and had a great time. We'll look forward to a return.

Finally a new restaurant in Granville island after a long lull. The drinks were excellent- tried both the Paloma and the margarita and washed down very nicely. The jalapeño salsa had a nice bite. We tried a few dishes. The guac was excellent, and had a few twists making it more interesting. The tuna ceviche was a pass- uneven large chunks of tuna without much flavor other than lime. If the carne asada tacos had come out hot they would have been amazing, but semi cold toasted cheese made it less enjoyable. We love Mexican food so will give it another shot in a few months once they've got their kinks ironed out but not a bad first pass.

Alimentaria Mexicana (meaning Mexican food) recently opened back in July 2021. In fact, as of this review, they are still in soft opening mode. This means their menu is still in flux and their food selection limited. The vibe of the place is lively and inviting with upbeat music and simple but tastefully decorated surroundings. They have a good table reservation system where they can call or text you when your table is ready. That was handy for me as there was a 30 minute wait when I got there. It allowed me to walk around the nearby shops while waiting. Food-wise, this is where Alimentaria tries to set themselves apart from other Mexican restaurants in Vancouver. A word of warning: if you are looking for typical traditional Mexican food, this is not the place for you. Also, if you are expecting typical generous-sized portions such as when you get at many Mexican restaurants in the U.S., you will be disappointed. AM is more about the finer side of Mexican food. They craft specialty modern dishes up that you don't find at other places. Like many restaurants that serve fancier foods, the portions are small compared to what one might expect (think tapas or appy-sized but entree priced). You might not expect that given the casual look and feel of the place. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. I tried the bone marrow and the mushroom dishes. Both were layered with flavors and done up well. The presentation of the food was simple but well executed. Pros: Nice casual atmosphere, tasty food that you can't really find elsewhere Cons: Don't expect to get full (especially if you're hungry or have a big appetite) unless you are prepared to spend a lot.

The ceviche is excellent so fresh !! We ordered mushrooms tostadas, there are so great! The services is good, the ambience is nice totally recommended !

- Food was kinda hit and miss. Guacamole was really nice, cauliflower tacos were decent, halloumi & cactus in salsa verde was ok, beat ceviche was bad, horchata drink was great. - Service could be improved. Took a long time to greet us once we'd been seated and to even bring us water. Server wasn't taking away the empty dishes/glasses despite us ordering multiple things that come out at different times to share. No personality from server or explanation of menu or food we ordered. - Sat on patio so can't speak to atmosphere inside. Nice to have a sunny evening restaurant patio option on Granville Island. - Will go again to try other items on menu.

I stopped in for Lunch on Saturday. The food was delicious, it has a great selection interesting dishes. I was one of the first tables seated but unfortunately didn't get seen by my waiter for 20 mins., while the tables around me that had arrived later were eating. The menu has good sharing choices for multiple people, but it wasn't geared toward a single person. Other than the tacos, most dishes were too small or to large for one. Will try this place again with a group.

Good innovative Mexican food, delicious and with great selection but the portions are a bit small. Service is nice and friendly.

So sorry to write this blah review. My husband and I popped in here (on Oct 30th) finding that Bridges was permanently closed. Although we were in the mood for seafood, we gave AM a try. The servers were sweet and honest with their recommendations. The service for food arriving was quite slow, however. I ordered the shrimp tacos, hesitantly, as the menu said they were batter fried; but I love fish tacos. I should have stuck with my initial hesitation as they were very bland, and indeed should not have been batter fried. Grilled shrimp or fish go in a taco, Folks, not batter fried. Too much bitter and large chunks of cabbage and onions. My husband ordered a bean and beef dish. He was also unimpressed with the blandness and bit of smoke/ash taste. We asked for chips; but they do not come complimentary. They were large slices of tortillas and just mediocre. For a treat and because the Market Donut Shop line was very long, we tried the only dessert they had: churros. We sent them back to the kitchen as they were over fried and hard as a rock. It took a long time to get a new order and they had little pizazz. Not a treat at all. The accompanying dipping sauce was a watery and cigarette ash taste "caramel". We felt the tables were too close together and it was very noisy with people talking loudly to drown out the other tables and the unnecessary music being played. It was too much bothersome noise for a restaurant. Remember the days of quiet and personal conversation at restaurants? I prefer my fish tacos at the little authentic (non English speaking) Mexican pop-up in Blaine and the fish tacos at the Blaine oyster Bar. Or, anywhere in California. But, this is Canada, so I surmise that it may be difficult to find a Mexican eatery up here which we would return to. I see quite a few people were happy with their meals and maybe the AM will develop into a very good Mexican restaurant; but we, unfortunately, will not return: price, ( well, I do imagine their rent is very $$$), slow service, bland, ashy/ smokey taste, noisy, odd ingredients (battered shrimp?), poor dessert. Sadly, I don't think this Mexican restaurant will survive on Granville Island. People will want more seafood and unique restaurants for the restaurant atmosphere. Otherwise they will just eat inside the Market.