Spice things up at these Caribbean restaurants in Vancouver
Unlike Toronto, Vancouver doesn’t have a particularly strong Caribbean influence. Yet in a city as culinarily diverse as ours, you’re bound to come across the warm, spicy flavours of the West Indies. These six places will transport you to the tropics with their Island flavours and one-love vibes.
Calabash Bistro
X1-428 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J7This multi-purpose space in the Downtown East Side is not only home to authentic Caribbean fare in its top-floor restaurant, it also hosts live music many nights a week, has a resident DJ spinning reggae most nights, houses online Foundation Radio in its downstairs lounge and acts as a gallery for displaying work by local artists. All with the Island spirit guiding the way. For food try hard-to-find-in-Vancouver Ackee and Saltfish or anything from their Jerk Board or curry selections.
Sula Indian Restaurant
4172 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3P7Escape to the tropics at The Reef, a Caribbean restaurant spanning the warm, bright flavours of this exotic locale. Curries, jerk seasoning, tropical fruits, addictive johnny cakes and of course the cocktails — Mojitos, Caipirinhas and more — all make for amazing food and drink from breakfast till late night. Hit their patio at the right time in summer and you might just feel a welcome, tropical-like sun beating down as you quench your thirst and sate your appetite with some of the best Caribbean around.
Riddim & Spice
1945 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A8For a quick, affordable and Jamaican-inspired meal, head to the Drive’s Riddim & Spice. The $5.99 jerk chicken special is well worth it, with its fragrant spiced rub, side of rice and salad, leaving you well satisfied and with your wallet still intact. They also offer a range of rotis (not common in Vancouver), fish dishes, curries and Jamaican patties — those quintessential Caribbean hand pastries filled with savoury beef and spice. Casual, comfortable and offering a good dose of the Island flavours you crave.
The Lion's Den Café
651 15th Ave E, Vancouver, BC V5T 2R6This quirky café at 15th and Fraser has been a stalwart in that once-deserted block that is now chock-a-block with hip restaurants, cafés, hair salons and shops. Luckily for us, The Lion’s Den wasn’t gentrified out. Offering a unique mix of Caribbean and Japanese cuisines (the husband-wife owners each hail from these regions), service is always friendly and the menu filled with comforts such as jerk chicken, okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancake), goat curry and teriyaki chicken. Wherever you’re from, you’ll instantly feel at home at this truly fusion restaurant.
The Patty Shop
4019 MacDonald Street, Vancouver, BC V6L 2N8While tucked away in an area that doesn’t see much foot traffic, The Patty Shop has nonetheless become a Vancouver institution. This is likely because of its singular devotion to the Jamaican patty, something not easily procurable on our city streets. The small counter (unstaffed, so ring the bell for service) is where you place your order for a beef, chicken, curry or vegetarian patty, or a box of frozen ones for home, all of which come in flaky, flawless pastry, their fillings spiced just right. Handheld perfection.
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