Marc and Jen’s guidebook

Marc
Marc and Jen’s guidebook

Neighbourhood markets and cafes

Just around the corner, this charming Italian market and deli has been family run for over 100 years. Great for quick sandwiches, groceries, pastas, sauces and my favourite sourdough loaves. Open until 6:30pm M-F, closed Sundays.
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Benny Foods Ltd
598 Union St
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Just around the corner, this charming Italian market and deli has been family run for over 100 years. Great for quick sandwiches, groceries, pastas, sauces and my favourite sourdough loaves. Open until 6:30pm M-F, closed Sundays.
Just down the street, it's a popular place for coffee and sandwiches. Open 9am-4pm, closed Sundays.
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Finch's Market
501 E Georgia St
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Just down the street, it's a popular place for coffee and sandwiches. Open 9am-4pm, closed Sundays.
The Union Market, a legendary institution in our neighbourhood, was previously a Portuguese family-run bakery, market, and cafe. It has very recently reopened under new ownership after some thoughtful renos and upgrades. Now perhaps more a bakery-cafe than a market, it has been receiving excellent reviews from a very grateful community. <3 Definitely worth checking out the Portuguese egg tarts, the recipe for which was included in the sale of the shop!
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Union Market
810 Union St
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The Union Market, a legendary institution in our neighbourhood, was previously a Portuguese family-run bakery, market, and cafe. It has very recently reopened under new ownership after some thoughtful renos and upgrades. Now perhaps more a bakery-cafe than a market, it has been receiving excellent reviews from a very grateful community. <3 Definitely worth checking out the Portuguese egg tarts, the recipe for which was included in the sale of the shop!
Friendly coffee place on the other side of the park. Open 8/9am- 6pm every day.
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Wilder Snail Neighborhood Grocery & Coffee
799 Keefer St
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Friendly coffee place on the other side of the park. Open 8/9am- 6pm every day.
Charming neighbourhood restaurant with live music.
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The Heatley
696 E Hastings St
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Charming neighbourhood restaurant with live music.
A somewhat legendary fixture in the neighbourhood, especially in Strath kid culture, this strange little convenience store is open until 9pm for quick off-brand snacks or forgotten grocery items. Sadly the building has been sold and Wayne Grocery (not Wayne's Grocery) will not be around for much longer.
WAYNE GROCERY
898 Keefer St
A somewhat legendary fixture in the neighbourhood, especially in Strath kid culture, this strange little convenience store is open until 9pm for quick off-brand snacks or forgotten grocery items. Sadly the building has been sold and Wayne Grocery (not Wayne's Grocery) will not be around for much longer.
218 flavours just 5 blocks away! Try the durian gelato. I dare you. WARNING: they only accept cash or Canadian debit card(!)
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La Casa Gelato
1033 Venables St
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218 flavours just 5 blocks away! Try the durian gelato. I dare you. WARNING: they only accept cash or Canadian debit card(!)

Things I like to do

Get a bike (Mobi bike share, CycleBC or Cycle Vancouver rentals) and cycle the sea wall! Take an Aquabus or False Creek Ferry around False Creek inlet and hop off at Granville Island or Stamps Landing for a drink and a snack. Get sweet treats at La Casa Gelato, Earnest ice cream, Crackle Creme or Mello. Take the skytrain (actually a subway downtown) to waterfront station and hop on the Seabus for a cheap 'harbour cruise' to Lonsdale Quay in North Van for lunch or dinner or more brewery touring. If you are here during baseball season, (Apr-Sept), there is nothing like a Vancouver Canadians Minor League Baseball game at historic Nat Bailey Stadium!
It's an easy walk past Science world toward Olympic Village where you can catch one of the little ferries that zig zag around False Creek. A great way to get to Granville Island or beaches if you don't want to bike.
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Aquabus Ferry Ltd.
1587 Johnston Street
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It's an easy walk past Science world toward Olympic Village where you can catch one of the little ferries that zig zag around False Creek. A great way to get to Granville Island or beaches if you don't want to bike.
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False Creek Ferries
1804 Boatlift Ln
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It's an easy walk past Science world toward Olympic Village where you can catch one of the little ferries that zig zag around False Creek. A great way to get to Granville Island or beaches if you don't want to bike and a great view of the city.
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The Village Dock station
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It's an easy walk past Science world toward Olympic Village where you can catch one of the little ferries that zig zag around False Creek. A great way to get to Granville Island or beaches if you don't want to bike and a great view of the city.
If you don't want ride all the way to Kits before a rest, stop here for a pint on the patio with the most fabulous view of False Creek and the city and mountains. Also a great destination for a decent brunch.
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Mahony & Sons
601 Stamps Landing
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If you don't want ride all the way to Kits before a rest, stop here for a pint on the patio with the most fabulous view of False Creek and the city and mountains. Also a great destination for a decent brunch.
Ride on the south side of False Creek to Kits Beach. Take a swim and get some fish and chips.
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Парк Kitsilano Beach
1499 Arbutus St
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Ride on the south side of False Creek to Kits Beach. Take a swim and get some fish and chips.
If you have transportation this should not be missed. It's not quite as long as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but it's higher and FREE! You can also hike around the forest trails. Particularly great when the weather is not perfect.
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Lynn Canyon Park
3663 Park Rd
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If you have transportation this should not be missed. It's not quite as long as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but it's higher and FREE! You can also hike around the forest trails. Particularly great when the weather is not perfect.
Ride bikes around Stanley park (counter clockwise only) and if the weather is nice stop at Third Beach for a late afternoon swim. Used to be the best concession in the park - perhaps still is? grilled onions on your veggie/hotdogs?
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Стэнли-парк
610 Pipeline Rd
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Ride bikes around Stanley park (counter clockwise only) and if the weather is nice stop at Third Beach for a late afternoon swim. Used to be the best concession in the park - perhaps still is? grilled onions on your veggie/hotdogs?
A little bit farther than La Casa, but A LOT richer, this inspiring ice cream makes the world a better place. Get the Spruce Bud if the have it!
Earnest Ice Cream | Quebec St.
A little bit farther than La Casa, but A LOT richer, this inspiring ice cream makes the world a better place. Get the Spruce Bud if the have it!
Another location, is easier to walk to, but it is their factory storefront located in a light industrial area just east of Clarke Drive. London Fog is my favourite at the moment!
Earnest Ice Cream | Frances St.
Another location, is easier to walk to, but it is their factory storefront located in a light industrial area just east of Clarke Drive. London Fog is my favourite at the moment!
Best creme brulee! Served in jars so you can even have it torched and take it home to eat slowly.
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Crackle Creme
245 Union St
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Best creme brulee! Served in jars so you can even have it torched and take it home to eat slowly.
Expensive delicious DONUTS!
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mello
223 E Pender St
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Expensive delicious DONUTS!
Cheap "harbour cruise" from Gastown to Lonsdale Quay. No outdoor seating on the boat, but you can still get a view and kids love it!
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Seabus
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Cheap "harbour cruise" from Gastown to Lonsdale Quay. No outdoor seating on the boat, but you can still get a view and kids love it!
There are at least 4 Mobi bike stations within 2 blocks of us in any direction.
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Mobi Bike Station
1305 Arbutus St
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There are at least 4 Mobi bike stations within 2 blocks of us in any direction.
Cycle City Tours And Bike Rentals
If you are here during baseball season, (Apr-Sept), there is nothing like a Vancouver Canadians Minor League Baseball game at historic Nat Bailey Stadium! I don't even like sports, but the beer, hotdogs, peanuts, mascot races, 7th inning stretch all can't be beat. Win or lose, a 'nooner at Nat' is a true North / American vibe and they even have fireworks at some of the evening summer games.
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Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club
4601 Ontario St
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If you are here during baseball season, (Apr-Sept), there is nothing like a Vancouver Canadians Minor League Baseball game at historic Nat Bailey Stadium! I don't even like sports, but the beer, hotdogs, peanuts, mascot races, 7th inning stretch all can't be beat. Win or lose, a 'nooner at Nat' is a true North / American vibe and they even have fireworks at some of the evening summer games.

Nearby Brunch Favourites

You can't stay this close to Chinatown and not go out for dim sum for brunch. There are lots to choose from, but this place is our favourite. Don't miss the deep fried squid, the green beans and mango pudding!
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Floata Seafood Restaurant
180 Keefer St
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You can't stay this close to Chinatown and not go out for dim sum for brunch. There are lots to choose from, but this place is our favourite. Don't miss the deep fried squid, the green beans and mango pudding!
Extremely popular counter service brunch spot. After 5pm Wed-Sat it becomes 'Thank You Pizza' serving Sourdough Wood Fired Pizza, beer and wine!
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Hunnybee Bruncheonette
789 Gore Ave
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Extremely popular counter service brunch spot. After 5pm Wed-Sat it becomes 'Thank You Pizza' serving Sourdough Wood Fired Pizza, beer and wine!
A 20 minute walk east; (take the Keefer St pedestrian bridge over the tracks for a cool view). My son's favourite is the chicken and waffles.
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Yolks
1598 E Hastings St
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A 20 minute walk east; (take the Keefer St pedestrian bridge over the tracks for a cool view). My son's favourite is the chicken and waffles.
A little farther east on Hastings, always a line-up, but worth it! You could take bus #16 or #14 on Hastings at Hawks (10 minute ride).
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The Red Wagon
2128 E Hastings St
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A little farther east on Hastings, always a line-up, but worth it! You could take bus #16 or #14 on Hastings at Hawks (10 minute ride).

Nearby dinner spots we love

All Asian all the time!
Favourite high-end 20's Shanghai style Asian with fabulous cocktails.
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Bao Bei
163 Keefer St
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Favourite high-end 20's Shanghai style Asian with fabulous cocktails.
Legendary family run Cambodian restaurant with a line-up that's worth the wait. (Or you could get take-out).
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Phnom Penh Restaurant
244 E Georgia St
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Legendary family run Cambodian restaurant with a line-up that's worth the wait. (Or you could get take-out).
Best authentic Japanese ramen, also with vegetarian and vegan options.
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The Ramen Butcher
223 E Georgia St
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Best authentic Japanese ramen, also with vegetarian and vegan options.
A selection of 8 different Negronis and 'Mediterranean Sea Octopus'! What's not to like? (Also got Michelin's Bib Gourmand)
Fiorino, Italian Street Food Chinatown Vancouver
A selection of 8 different Negronis and 'Mediterranean Sea Octopus'! What's not to like? (Also got Michelin's Bib Gourmand)
Great place for drinks/dinner. This new location (previously in Gastown) has recently opened on 200 block East Georgia right next to Phnom Penh across from Ramen Butcher. My favourite place for a pint and a really good burger. (Please encourage them to bring back the full Irish breakfast!)
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The Irish Heather
248 E Georgia St
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Great place for drinks/dinner. This new location (previously in Gastown) has recently opened on 200 block East Georgia right next to Phnom Penh across from Ramen Butcher. My favourite place for a pint and a really good burger. (Please encourage them to bring back the full Irish breakfast!)
Fast, affordable take out Japanese bento. My favourite is the Katsu Don.
Manpuku Bento
288 E Pender St
Fast, affordable take out Japanese bento. My favourite is the Katsu Don.
Family run traditional Vietnamese and street food with amazing modern fruity cocktails. Try the Damn Good Chicken and Rice with a Saigon Sunrise! The pho is also superb.
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DD MAU Chinatown
145 E Pender St
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Family run traditional Vietnamese and street food with amazing modern fruity cocktails. Try the Damn Good Chicken and Rice with a Saigon Sunrise! The pho is also superb.
Upscale Italian-Japanese fusion from the folks behind Boa Bei. Might be hard to get in since they were awarded a Michelin star, but sometimes there is a seat at the bar.
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Kissa Tanto
263 E Pender St
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Upscale Italian-Japanese fusion from the folks behind Boa Bei. Might be hard to get in since they were awarded a Michelin star, but sometimes there is a seat at the bar.
No actual pizza - it's a 'Japanese Snack Bar'.
Pizza Coming Soon
No actual pizza - it's a 'Japanese Snack Bar'.
Just down the block from Hunnybee and Crackle Creme, this new place serves yummy Mexican-Japanese street food.
Miso Taco
Just down the block from Hunnybee and Crackle Creme, this new place serves yummy Mexican-Japanese street food.

Super popular fancy places in the slightly dodgy area north of Hastings! (some with Michelin recommendations if you're into that kind of thing!)

If you're going to walk to any of these places, I would suggest crossing Hastings at Jackson and then heading west along Powell.
Pricey, but I love a tasting menu so you don't have to decide what to order.
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The Mackenzie Room
415 Powell St
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Pricey, but I love a tasting menu so you don't have to decide what to order.
We have yet to experience this place, but it looks amazing. If you're going to walk, I would suggest taking Jackson across Hastings to Powell and along to Dunlevy.
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Belgard Kitchen
55 Dunlevy Ave
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We have yet to experience this place, but it looks amazing. If you're going to walk, I would suggest taking Jackson across Hastings to Powell and along to Dunlevy.
Delicious Japanese - not too fancy!
Dosanko Restaurant
566 Powell St
Delicious Japanese - not too fancy!
Wildly popular high end Quebecois. Never been, but would like to someday. Used to be hard to get a reservation - now they have a Michelin star, so maybe impossible?
St. Lawrence Restaurant
Wildly popular high end Quebecois. Never been, but would like to someday. Used to be hard to get a reservation - now they have a Michelin star, so maybe impossible?
Also extremely popular but as fancy family style Italian, with a Michelin recommendation. They apparently make their own fresh in-house gluten free pasta.
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Ask For Luigi Restaurant
305 Alexander St
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Also extremely popular but as fancy family style Italian, with a Michelin recommendation. They apparently make their own fresh in-house gluten free pasta.

Local Craft Breweries

Excellent sour beers paired perfectly with Italian snacks. Try a flight and the Aperitivo Italiano meats and cheeses!
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Luppolo Brewing Co.
1123 Venables St
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Excellent sour beers paired perfectly with Italian snacks. Try a flight and the Aperitivo Italiano meats and cheeses!
Craft beer and pizza just 8 minutes away! Convenient place to run for a 6 pack to take away too.
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Strathcona Brewing Company
895 E Hastings St
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Craft beer and pizza just 8 minutes away! Convenient place to run for a 6 pack to take away too.
Giant shady patio - delicious hotdog creations - excellent beer!
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Superflux Beer Company
505 Clark Dr
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Giant shady patio - delicious hotdog creations - excellent beer!
Another great stop in the industrial area north of Hastings. The legendary Burdy foodtruck's chicken parmesan sandwich is on my summer to-do list for sure!
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Container Brewing Ltd.
1216 Franklin St
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Another great stop in the industrial area north of Hastings. The legendary Burdy foodtruck's chicken parmesan sandwich is on my summer to-do list for sure!
My personal fave. I recommend the award winning Avant Garde Pilsner or Skyline Lager paired with Tacos from the food truck out front. On a sunny day, the tables on the street-front 'parklet' are a great destination right on the bike route.
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Bomber Brewing
1488 Adanac St
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My personal fave. I recommend the award winning Avant Garde Pilsner or Skyline Lager paired with Tacos from the food truck out front. On a sunny day, the tables on the street-front 'parklet' are a great destination right on the bike route.
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Off the Rail Brewing
1351 Adanac St
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Beer and lobster rolls!
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East Vancouver Brewing Company
1675 Venables St
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Beer and lobster rolls!
A little farther south, but can easily be added to the brewery tour.
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Strange Fellows Brewing Company
1345 Clark Dr
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A little farther south, but can easily be added to the brewery tour.
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Powell Brewery
1357 Powell St
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Not actually a brewery, but it's on the way.
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Odd Society Spirits
1725 Powell St
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Not actually a brewery, but it's on the way.
Specializing in assorted South American ceviches!
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Andina Brewing Company
1507 Powell St
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Specializing in assorted South American ceviches!
You might want to consider starting or finishing your craft brewery tour here. (It's a 30 minute walk away).
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Parallel 49 Brewing Company
1950 Triumph St
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You might want to consider starting or finishing your craft brewery tour here. (It's a 30 minute walk away).

Grocery Options

If you need more than what you get locally at Benny's or the Wilder Snail, here are some suggestions depending on what you are looking for. We do most of our shopping at Donald's on Hastings or Santa Barbara Market on Commercial drive, but they aren't really walking distance.
Although they are a little corner store, they surprisingly carry a lot of groceries including produce, frozen meat, all kinds of dairy, bread, etc. Sour dough bread from the Swiss Bakery is my weakness.
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Benny Foods Ltd
598 Union St
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Although they are a little corner store, they surprisingly carry a lot of groceries including produce, frozen meat, all kinds of dairy, bread, etc. Sour dough bread from the Swiss Bakery is my weakness.
Canada's largest Asian grocery chain is awesome and somewhat over whelming (eg there are ~20 different types of frozen sticky rice 3-4 different departments.)
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T&T Supermarket
179 Keefer Pl
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Canada's largest Asian grocery chain is awesome and somewhat over whelming (eg there are ~20 different types of frozen sticky rice 3-4 different departments.)
There are several produce markets around Chinatown. I'm not sure which is the best, but they are quite nearby if you're walking for groceries.
San Lee Enterprises Co
There are several produce markets around Chinatown. I'm not sure which is the best, but they are quite nearby if you're walking for groceries.
Tin Lee Market
260 E Georgia St
These 3 markets are where we do 90% of our grocery shopping: Santa Barbara, Donald's or City Avenue. Best to go if you have a car, although you could walk to Santa Barbara in 30 minutes, or take the #20 bus east on Hastings at Hawks.
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Santa Barbara Market
1322 1322 Commercial Dr
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These 3 markets are where we do 90% of our grocery shopping: Santa Barbara, Donald's or City Avenue. Best to go if you have a car, although you could walk to Santa Barbara in 30 minutes, or take the #20 bus east on Hastings at Hawks.
These 3 markets are where we do 90% of our grocery shopping: Santa Barbara, Donald's or City Avenue. This location would be a easy bus ride east on Hastings (take the #16 or #14 from Hawks Ave).
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Donald's Market
2342 E Hastings St
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These 3 markets are where we do 90% of our grocery shopping: Santa Barbara, Donald's or City Avenue. This location would be a easy bus ride east on Hastings (take the #16 or #14 from Hawks Ave).
These 3 markets are where we do 90% of our grocery shopping: Santa Barbara, Donald's or City Avenue.
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City Avenue Market
2279 Commercial Dr
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These 3 markets are where we do 90% of our grocery shopping: Santa Barbara, Donald's or City Avenue.
Large discount grocery store chain with a good selection of processed, canned or frozen food, smaller selection of produce or unprocessed food. Can be a bit of a gong show at times.
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Sahota’s No Frills
1460 E Hastings St
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Large discount grocery store chain with a good selection of processed, canned or frozen food, smaller selection of produce or unprocessed food. Can be a bit of a gong show at times.
There's parking underground and they will reimburse it if you spend $20(?) There's also a liquor store just across 8th Ave with a small amount of free 30 minute parking just below it.
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Whole Foods Market
510 W 8th Ave
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There's parking underground and they will reimburse it if you spend $20(?) There's also a liquor store just across 8th Ave with a small amount of free 30 minute parking just below it.
If you're going to be in town longer term, this is where we do the other 10% of our grocery shopping, fish and meat - grass fed beef.
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Famous Foods
1595 Kingsway
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If you're going to be in town longer term, this is where we do the other 10% of our grocery shopping, fish and meat - grass fed beef.