Vancouver, B.C. is one of Canada’s most vibrant and gorgeous cities. When traveling, one of the most important things to consider is the cuisine. Which restaurants should you try? What food is the city famous for? And with so many places to choose from, how do you know you’re eating the best of the best? Luckily, Vancouver Foodie Tours has you covered.
“Vancouver is very unique in that we have authentic, multicultural cuisine that is influenced from all over the world,” says Joyce Chua, Community Manager for Vancouver Foodie Tours. For example, there are classic Canadian foods like poutine, over 600 sushi spots, award-winning Chinese restaurants, and some of the best seafood in the world. There are even multicultural food fusions, like the Japadog—a Berkshire pork hotdog slathered with a secret sauce and seaweed flakes. This means there’s a lot to explore in the city’s dining scene.
Founded in 2010, the tours are designed to show off the best of many local restaurants and food vendors throughout the city. “We run delicious food tasting tours in Vancouver,” she says. And all the food is already paid for. “The ticket price covers it all. You book your ticket online ahead of time and show up on the day of the tour.”
There are a few different tours to choose from, and all of them offer an amazing culinary experience. “Our most popular tour is the Granville Island Market Tour,” she states. As Chua also leads the tour, she certainly knows what she’s talking about. Weaving through the crowds of Canada’s second-most visited destination, she brings groups to the front of the line of 8 of the best food shops to try over 20 unique and tasty dishes.
For something a little more indulgent, there’s also the Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour, where you spend three hours sampling everything from the mouthwatering dim sum, local B.C. wine pairings, and award-winning gelato, among others. Or check out classic comfort foods and desserts on the Gastronomic Gastown Tour. Meanwhile, the World’s Best Food Truck Tour offers a smorgasbord of food truck delights, from gooey grilled cheese to fried fish tacos. “The passion and the expertise that the food artisans put in really impresses people.”
In fact, these tours are one of Vancouver’s major highlights. “Both Granville Island Market Tour and World Food Truck Tour are designated Canadian Signature Experiences, which means they are a ‘must-do’ while in Canada.”
No matter when you decide to visit Vancouver, the tours are available. “For the most part they are year-round,” says Chua. “The only one that’s seasonal is the Best Food Truck Tour, which operates April to October because many of Vancouver’s food trucks hibernate for the winter.”
“All of the tours are culinary walking tours, so we actually walk to the different locations.” Making them walking tours was a stroke of brilliance, as it allows not only a chance to really get a feel for the city, but also work up an appetite for the next stop. And as you travel from place to place, the knowledgeable guides keep a running commentary of the city’s history, architecture, and can give recommendations on where to visit.
This is more than just a job to Chua and her co-workers. All of them are locals who love the chance to share their passion for the city. “All of our tasting locations are places that we genuinely love ourselves,” she says. It’s not just tourists that she gets to share her knowledge with, either. Many live just outside Vancouver, so they don’t know about all these special places, allowing them to rediscover their own city. “It’s very special to be a local in such a coveted place.”
Chua definitely recommends taking the Vancouver Foodie Tours at the beginning of your trip. With knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, you’ll get advice on where to go and what else you might like to explore. “We love to bring people together through the love of food,” says Chua. “We are passionate about creating memorable experiences in all that we do.”
-By Ettractions Digital Content Editor, ALLISON BENNETT
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