How to have the perfect night out in Chinatown

A series I’ve wanted to write for a while is about how to have a perfect night out in Vancouver. 

When I lived in Chinatown, one of my favourite things was to take visiting friends on a tour of the neighbourhood in the evening, stopping at different spots depending on the mood. It’s my favourite food neighbourhood in Vancouver, and for good reason. My theory is affordable rents meant the best restaurants and drinking spots all setup shop in town. 

What follows is a guided tour of Chinatown, based on how you want to spend an evening. For example, say you’ve got a date you want to impress, or just want a cheap night of drinking. My hope is I can cover every scenario you might need to have your best night out on the town.

This is part one of the guide, with part two coming at a later date. 

A night to impress your date

6 pm: Skip the Michelin stars and go get on the waitlist at Bao Bei at 163 Keefer St. You can book it ahead of time, but it tends to be busy. I haven’t been in over nine months, but every time I went early I managed to get a spot on the waitlist, which is great for those of you, myself included, who don’t plan ahead of time.

While you wait, head over to Pizza Coming Soon at 179 E Pender St. and pull up to the bar. The restaurant, which I’ll be reviewing at a later date, has an excellent natural wine list as well as creative cocktails. Don’t be fooled like most of my friends I’ve taken there, this is a Japanese restaurant, not a pizza place. I guess the pizza just hasn’t gotten there yet?

• You can also try your luck at La Boqueria at 291 E Pender St., a little Spanish place serving excellent pinchos. It’s cozy, with a varied drink list and a great selection of Spanish wine. 

7:30 pm: Assuming you get into Bao Bei, congrats, you’re in one of my favourite restaurants. It’s a sharing meal place and boy does it deliver.

A few small things I recommend:

• Get as many schnacks (yes, it’s spelt that way), especially the marinated eggplant, crispy tofu (be sure to save the sauce for other dishes) and the pickles;

• Mantou buns are always a popular one.

If you only get one dish, get the sticky rice cakes. It’s a combination of pork, greens, mushrooms and bamboo with Chinese rice cakes. It’s one of the more unique dishes, very simple, with a glutinous texture and goes well with the pork and sauce. It’s something I always order. 

• Their dessert specials have never disappointed, so try to save room. 

Didn’t make it into Bao Bei? Don’t leave Pizza Coming Soon or La Boqueria. Both offer great dishes to choose from.

• Still can’t find a place? Last, but most definitely not least, is Addah at 555 Gore Ave. The space is large — probably too large — but the food is a mix of steakhouse meals and, no joke, Nepalese food. I was told on my last visit the chef was from Black and Blue Steakhouse, and the quality of the meat dishes is very clearly exceptional. The vibe is a little weird, as the space is too big and the tables too spread out, but the quality of the food more than makes up for it. 

9:00 pm onwards: From there, head over to one of the local speakeasies Laowai at 251 E Georgia St and Bagheera at 518 Main St. Yes, there are multiple ones. Unfortunately, it can be a bit dicey getting in, so it’s best to have a backup opinion. 

And that great backup option is Boxcar at 917 Main St.. In the summer they have a massive patio, otherwise it’s a snug fit with a relaxed vibe. Think darker space, a bit noisy but not too noisy. 

A cheap night out

Maybe you’re hanging out with some friends and aren’t looking for anything fancy. Maybe you finished work and are heading out with some work buddies. Either way, there are many affordable options as you wait for next week’s paycheque.

6:00 pm: There are two spots I’d recommend starting at for an early dinner. Red Beef Noodle at 550 Main St. is an affordable spot, with soups under $16, which is a steal for their quality. An assortment of appetizers will round out a filling meal, which can be had for under $30. 

An alternative noodle spot to visit is Ramen Butcher one block away at 223 E Georgia St. If you’re looking to load up, this is the spot. Most ramen are $17.50, but the real deal is you can order an extra serving of noodles for free. Yes, that’s right, for free. Load up, because that’s essentially free carbs.

7:30 pm: You stumble out of either soup place. Now it’s time to have some fun. I’d recommend heading south on Main to The American, located at 926 Main St. It’s got affordable beers, video games and a classic fun vibe. It’s a great way to spend a couple hours reminiscing with friends about all those times you played video games at each other’s houses. 

9:45 pm: Still hungry? The burgers at The American are top-notch, though their fries were always a tad too crispy for my liking.

If burgers aren’t your thing, grab a slice of pizza at Straight Outta Brooklyn a couple blocks back into Chinatown at 648 Main St. For some reason, they close at 10, which I’ve never understood. It’s not the best pizza, but for the price after a few beers? 5/5. 

10:00 pm: Now it’s time to find another spot. May I suggest London Pub across the street at 700 Main St.?

Let me describe the vibe for you. I watched my friends arm wrestle multiple times, almost spilling each other's beer and barely anyone noticed or cared. 

If you like a throwback to older pubs, with an eclectic crowd full of TVs, dart boards and reasonably priced beer, then this is your spot. It’s got the British pub vibe without the brits.

Likely, you’ll spend the rest of your night there. Knowing Vancouver, you might as well stay, because nothing much else is open late. 

This is part one of the series. The next one will share where to go if you’re a more refined drinker, as well as the perfect itinerary for all you hipsters.

What places did I miss? Reply and let me know!

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