The Americas
Brazil
The Brazilian community in Vancouver centres around the West End and Kitsilano. Boteco (Commercial Drive area) serves coxinha and pastéis. Several churrasqueira-style restaurants operate in the suburbs. Search for Brazilian community Facebook groups — they maintain the most current restaurant listings.
Mexico
Excellent Mexican food is citywide. La Taqueria (Hastings, Main Street locations) does outstanding tacos. Sal y Limon (Robson Street) is popular for street-food style Mexican in the West End. East Vancouver has several family-run taquerias preferred by local Mexicans over tourist-facing spots.
Argentina & Uruguay
Empanadas at La Casita (Commercial Drive). Argentina-influenced steakhouses exist in Gastown and Yaletown — look for churrasco and chimichurri on menus.
Colombia
Vancouver has a growing Colombian community. Arepa spots and Colombian bakeries can be found in East Vancouver. Patacon Pisao near Commercial Drive serves Colombian street food.
USA
American BBQ, Southern fried chicken, and New York-style deli food are well represented. Memphis Blues BBQ (multiple locations) does outstanding slow-smoked ribs. The Gastown area has excellent American diner food.
Europe
England / UK & Ireland
Multiple genuine British and Irish pubs: The Irish Heather (Gastown), The Blarney Stone (Gastown), Doolin's Irish Pub (downtown). Fish and chips at Go Fish near Granville Island and at Steveston village (Richmond).
France
French bakeries and bistros are distributed across the city. Beaucoup Bakery (Fir Street) is outstanding for croissants and viennoiserie. Thierry (Alberni Street) is a high-end French patisserie. French bistro food at Pastis (West Side).
Germany
Schnitzel's in various forms around the city. German delicatessens in the suburbs (North Van, Burnaby) stock imported German products. Oktoberfest-style events run annually — the World Cup timing means extended German beer garden pop-ups are likely.
Italy
Vancouver has an excellent Italian tradition. Commercial Drive has the original Italian neighbourhood — Caffe Calabria and Café Napoli for espresso culture. Downtown: Ask for Luigi for fresh pasta. Italian delis throughout East Vancouver stock imported products.
Portugal
Portuguese custard tarts (pastéis de nata) at Nata's Pastries (multiple locations). Portuguese chicken at several piri-piri spots. The Portuguese community is concentrated in the South Granville and Kingsway areas.
Spain
Spanish tapas bars are popular across Vancouver. Cobre (Gastown) does contemporary Spanish. Bodega on Main has a genuine tapas menu with a good Rioja list.
Asia & Middle East
Japan
Vancouver arguably has the best Japanese food in North America outside major US cities. Miku (Burrard Landing) for flame-seared aburi sushi. Ajisai (multiple locations) for accessible sushi. Ramen: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Robson) and Ramen Danbo (multiple). Richmond has an even greater concentration of Japanese restaurants.
South Korea
Korean food is exceptional in Vancouver. Muri (Robson) for Korean fried chicken. Hanwoori for Korean BBQ. The Kingsway corridor in Burnaby has the densest concentration of Korean restaurants — accessible by SkyTrain to Metrotown.
Morocco
Marrakech (West Broadway) serves traditional Moroccan tagine and couscous. North African cuisine appears across several downtown Mediterranean spots.
Iran
North Vancouver has one of Canada's largest Iranian communities. Lonsdale Avenue (accessible by SeaBus) has excellent Persian restaurants for kebab, stew, and saffron rice.
Australia
Australian food culture (flat whites, avocado toast, and quality café culture) has significantly influenced Vancouver's café scene. The "Australian café" model — excellent coffee, brunch food, minimalist design — is everywhere. Kafka's, Prototype Coffee, and dozens more.
Africa
Ethiopia & Eritrea
Vancouver has excellent East African food. Nyala African Cuisine (Commercial Drive) is one of the city's longest-standing Ethiopian restaurants — injera, tibs, and wats in a warm atmosphere. Commercial Drive has a small cluster of East African spots.
Nigeria / West Africa
West African restaurants are fewer but growing. Check Yelp and Google for current listings — this community is well-established in Surrey and Burnaby with several family-run spots serving jollof rice and egusi soup.
South Africa
Braai culture and biltong. Look for South African imports at specialty food stores; for restaurants, the Boerewors Trail community maintains an online directory of South African food spots in the Vancouver area.
Best Neighbourhoods by Cuisine
Richmond (Golden Village): Chinese (Cantonese, Shanghainese, Taiwanese), Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese. Best dim sum in North America. Accessible by Canada Line SkyTrain.
Commercial Drive: Italian, Ethiopian, Latin American, Middle Eastern. Most multicultural neighbourhood.
Kingsway (Burnaby): Korean, Vietnamese, Cantonese. Accessible by SkyTrain.
North Vancouver (Lonsdale): Iranian/Persian, Greek, Mediterranean. Accessible by SeaBus.
Main Street (Mount Pleasant): Contemporary international, farm-to-table, craft beer and cocktails.