I have eaten a lot of dishes inside and outside Vancouver restaurants in the past year, these are dishes that are standouts, ones that you remember for a long time to come. This list is devoted to my favourite dishes that I have eaten in 2023 at restaurants that are still open to this day.

Note: These are not in any ranking order

Wild Prawn Anticuchero

This dish was a stunner with crispy quinoa, togarashi, aji criollo, cilantro almond pesto; by Chef Ricardo Valverde.

Suyo is located at 3475 Main St, in Vancouver. Follow them on instagram @suyorestaurant

Seared Hokkaido Scallops 

Perfectly cooked scallops, on a bed of lobster & truffle risotto were outstanding; by Chef Warren Chow.

Wildlight Kitchen + Bar is located at 107-5380 University Blvd in Vancouver. Follow them on instagram @wildlightrestaurant

Red Snapper Flakes

An incredible dish cooked in the best olive oil with challah was a standout that featured Israeli olive oil.

Shmone is located at 61 W 8th Street in New York. Follow them on Instagram @shmonenyc

Gnocchi

Rainbow carrots, ricotta, ‘soil’; outstanding in every aspect and everything is made in house including the ricotta; by Chef Rory Byrne.

Vivace on the Drive is located at at 1728 Commercial Drive in Vancouver. Follow them on Instagram @vivaceonthedrive

Halibut 

An outstanding dish with bottarga cream, Tuscan kale, and zucchini;; by Chef Isaac Ko.

Carlino Restaurant is located at 1115 Alberni St, Vancouver. Follow them on instagram @carlinorestaurant

Morel

White Asparagus, Spot Prawns; an outstanding dish pairing three seasonal items together in a flavourful sauce with morels accentuating the plate; by Chef Edward Cheng.

Missing Chopsticks is located at 13880 Wireless Way #130 in Richmond. Follow them on Instagram @missingchopsticks

Roasted Zucchini with yellow curry

So simple yet so flavourful, it was the star of the meal at this vegetarian focused restaurant; by Chef Colin Uyeda.

Folke Restaurant is located at 2585 W Broadway in Vancouver. Follow them on instagram @folkerestaurant

Crispy Skin Striped Bass 

An outstanding dish with yu choy, maitake mushroom, cured pork XO; by Chef Kristian Eligh.

Marilena Café & Raw Bar is located at 1525 Douglas Street in downtown Victoria. Follow them on Instagram @marilenacafe

 Galbi

The star of the meal was the outstanding Korean bbq cab short ribs aged for 35 days served with arugula salad, ssamjang, lettuce, pickled radish, jangajji, kimchi, rice.

Jeju Restaurant is located at 120 Fourth St #101 in Tofino. Follow them on instagram @jeju.tofino

The Caramelle 

A delicious pasta dish with summer corn, pancetta, caccio peppe and pecorino; by Chef Behshad Zolnasr.

C Prime Modern Italian Steakhouse & Wine Bar is located at 1015 Burrard Street in Vancouver. Follow them on Instagram @cprimesteak

Tuna Tartare 

This appetizer was a stunner and I loved the grilled pineapple and avocado in this dish; by Chef Ying Gao;

Riley’s Steak and Fish is located at 200 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver. Follow them on instagram @rileysvancouver

Seabass Wellington

Love the flaky crust and flavourful fish on the inside with potato rosti, broccolini, blistered cherry tomato, beurre blanc; by Chef Fernando Burgues.

Coast Restaurant is located at 1054 Alberni Street in Vancouver. Follow them on Instagram @coastrestaurantyvr

For more of my best savoury dishes, see last years list for 2022.

By: Richard Wolak