Where to find finger-licking good ribs in Vancouver
There are a few ways to find delicious ribs in Vancouver, but the simplest way is to sniff them out. Every high quality barbecue joint will have that smoky, mouth-watering scent wafting through their front door and into the streets. It’s a sign that perfectly prepared ribs are waiting for you inside. When you’re craving a heaping helping of ribs, here’s where you’ll find them.
Devil's Elbow Ale & Smoke House
562 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3Modeled on a Prohibition-era speakeasy, Devil’s Elbow knows the importance of good drinks with great food. Their beer and whiskey lists are carefully selected to complement their amazing smokehouse fare. Like all great smokehouses, the pork back ribs are a highlight. Roasted over cherry wood and brushed with an apple bourbon sauce, these ribs are the perfect blend of smoky and sweet.
Country Rds Bbq
2 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1A4Peckinpah specializes in traditional North Carolina barbecue. Unlike the sweet, sticky and familiar Texas-style, the Carolina-style prefers the smokey, crisp and firm bite that’s only possible with a cookhouse smoker. Their ribs in particular take full advantage of the regional approach and are served with a chili-vinegar sauce that harkens back to America’s founding fathers. It’s the dedication to one particular style that sets Pekinpah apart from other BBQ hotspots in the city – drop in for a true taste of the Carolinas.
Edible Canada at the Market
1596 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S2Specializing in simple and rustic Canadian cuisine, Edible Bistro is celebrated for its dedication to local sourcing and seasonal flavours. Their bison short ribs are a perfect example of their approach. Cooked up with a juniper thyme jus and served with wild berries and cauliflower, these ribs highlight everything that’s delicious about the West Coast. Edible will give you a master class in true Canadian cuisine.
Buckstop Classic Barbecue
833 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L7Buckstop’s take on barbecue is simple: start with the best varieties of American Southern BBQ and prepare dishes exactly as they would be done in their home states. The ribs are a perfect example, available in either St. Louis- or Texas-style. Both varieties feature the smoky flavour you’d expect while highlighting what makes their particular regional variation so great. For the St. Louis ribs, the grilled style gives them a distinctive crunchy texture. The Texas ribs deliver fall-off-the-bone tender meat with that sticky sweetness favoured in the Lone Star State.
The Flying Pig
104-1168 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2S2The Flying Pig is a restaurant best described as “nouveau Canadian,” putting a high-end, gastro spin on the best flavours the country has to offer. No matter what time of day you come in, there’s a rib dish that’s unlike anything you’ll have in the city. At lunch, it’s the braised beef short rib jumbo macaroni that’s baked with a cabernet mushroom cream sauce. In the evening, be sure to order the red wine braised beef short rib, which comes with a healthy portion of roasted bone marrow.
Tuc Craft Kitchen
60 Cordova St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1C9If you’re looking for ribs with a twist, head to Tuc Craft Kitchen. The contemporary fusion restaurant brings unique flavours to familiar favourites, ranging from bison made with fennel to pork belly in a star anise red wine reduction. Their signature ribs dish doesn’t use beef or pork, but lamb, along with a delicious orange glaze. The Middle Eastern inspired flavours will change your perspective on the typical rib dinner.
ShuRaku Sake Bar & Bistro
833 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K7No list for almost any type of food in Vancouver would be complete without a nod to the city’s world-famous East Asian cuisine, and ShuRaku has the best Asian-style ribs in the city. Coated in a Japanese BBQ sauce, they’re deliciously tender and a nice departure from the Southern-style ribs you’ll find elsewhere. If you manage to resist simply ordering more ribs, be sure to check out the rest of the food options on offer. The menu is packed with fresh sushi and other Japanese delights, plus an extensive list of sake (which also goes great with ribs).
