Cheap Eats

When you think of Vancouver neighbourhoods, the usual suspects come to mind, like Gastown, Commercial, or Yaletown, Not many of us think about Riley Park. What’s it known for anyway? That’s what Vancity Buzz and Chowmenow went to find out. Sure, there’s Nat Bailey Stadium, but when we sauntered from 16^th to 41^st, we found a mecca of restaurants, bakeries, delis and coffee shops with quality and charm not to be missed.

Before we get to Longtail, I’d like to mention this River Market out at Westminster Quay. If I’m honest, I haven’t been to New Westminster very many times for someone that’s lived in the Lower Mainland for the better part of three decades. It’s partly because the streets are infuriating, sometimes ending abruptly for no reason and often just before getting me where I want to go. Otherwise, it’s because I haven’t had many memorable dining experiences in that part of Vancouver.

Cobblestone streets, historic architecture, independent shops and a thriving restaurant scene, Gastown has quickly become revived as the new, trendy place to go if you’re looking to shop, drink, eat and people watch.

Commercial Drive can be described in one word: eclectic. Here you can expect a little bit of everything, from restaurants to bars, bakeries to cafes. And the crowd is no different, as stroller-pushing moms walk alongside dreadlocked hippies, Italian men sipping cappuccinos, and students rushing to catch the 99 B Line.

Like the Canucks coaching staff, things in Vancouver are changing. So naturally, when a city starts adding trendy food carts and bike lanes, communities start to follow. Like SoMa for South Main, the area referred to as Hastings Sunrise is taking a much more chicer title: East Village.

As the new divider between the East side and West side of Vancouver, Main Street is the epicentre for all things indie. This extends to not only coffee shops and fashion boutiques, but also the restaurant scene, as plenty of folks with a passion for food happily call this area home.

Is there anything better than spending your days at Kits Beach? Yes, actually. Eating while spending your days at Kits Beach.

When you think of affordable areas to eat in Vancouver, Yaletown probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Fine dining, world-renown chefs, and high-end lounges quickly make 5 bucks look like mere pennies (which isn’t saying much since they don’t exist anymore).

Sometimes hunger can make us so ravenous that only a large pizza, a bucket of fries, and a tub of ice cream will settle those raging pangs. Other times it’s more manageable with something much lighter, like say a medium pizza instead.