The Bib Gourmand is an interesting award in its own right. Michelin describes it as an award for recognizing “good food for a good price” and is marked by a relatively fixed price limit. While the price limit may vary from location to location depending on a respective region’s cost of living, inspectors are still searching for high quality.
These 5 restaurants around False Creek Flats received Bib Gourmand awards in 2022:
Phnom Penh
244 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC – (Google Maps)
Phnom Penh Restaurant in Vancouver is a popular and casual dining spot which specializes in Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant is known for its signature dish, the “Chicken Wings,” which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and come with a sweet and sour sauce.
Apart from the famous chicken wings, Phnom Penh offers a wide range of dishes, including noodle soups, stir-fries, and rice dishes. Their beef luc lac and butter beef are also highly recommended. The portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable.
The restaurant’s interior is simple and unpretentious, with a bustling atmosphere and communal seating. The service can be a bit slow during peak hours, but the food is worth the wait. Overall, Phnom Penh Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone looking for delicious Southeast Asian cuisine in Vancouver.
Phnom Penh was previously featured in our article, Things to Do & Where to Eat in False Creek Flats.
Website | Instagram
Fiorino, Italian Street Food
212 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC – (Google Maps)
Fiorino is a cozy and intimate Italian restaurant located in the eastern fringe of the False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The restaurant is owned and operated by Chef Dino Renaerts, who brings his extensive experience in fine dining to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The menu at Fiorino features classic Italian dishes made with high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. Some of the standout dishes include the handmade pasta dishes like the pappardelle with wild boar ragu and the gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce. The seafood dishes, such as the grilled octopus and the seared scallops, are also highly recommended.
The interior of Fiorino is rustic and charming, with exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and candlelight adding to the cozy atmosphere. The service is attentive and friendly, with Chef Dino often coming out to chat with guests.
Overall, Fiorino is an excellent choice for a romantic date night or a special occasion dinner. The combination of delicious Italian cuisine, cozy ambiance, and personalized service makes for an unforgettable dining experience.
Website | Instagram
Song (by Kin Kao)
317 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC – (Google Maps)
Song (by Kin Kao) is a modern Thai restaurant located to the north of False Creek Flats. The restaurant is owned and operated by chef Tang Phoonchai, who has created a menu that combines traditional Thai flavors with contemporary techniques and ingredients.
The menu at Song (by Kin Kao) features a variety of small plates, entrees, and desserts, with an emphasis on sharing. Some of the standout dishes include the grilled pork skewers, the massaman curry with short ribs, and the whole fried sea bass. The restaurant also offers a selection of cocktails and local craft beers.
The interior of Song (by Kin Kao) is sleek and stylish, with a large bar area and an open kitchen. The service is friendly and knowledgeable, with the staff happy to provide recommendations and explanations of the dishes.
Overall, Song (by Kin Kao) is a great choice for anyone looking for modern and creative Thai cuisine in Vancouver. The combination of bold flavors, stylish ambiance, and attentive service make for a memorable dining experience.
While Song is a new sister restaurant to Kin Kao, they are wholly different concepts. For one thing – and perhaps most importantly given the Michelin boost – Song accepts reservations while Kin Kao does not. The common ground is that they both serve Thai comfort food.
Website | Instagram
Lunch Lady
1046 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC – (Google Maps)
Lunch Lady offers award-winning Vietnamese food in Vancouver’s vibrant Commercial Drive neighbourhood, which also happens to be on the eastern edge of the False Creek Flats neighbourhood.
Lunch Lady first rose to prominence after being featured on an episode of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Local restaurateur Michael Tran established a partnership with the original Lunch Lady and brought the restaurant concept to Vancouver in 2020. The eponymous Lunch Lady herself visited the Vancouver location in 2022, shortly before Michelin Guide awarded the restaurant a Bib Gourmand.
The pho (not the vegetarian or vegan ones) on both lunch and dinner menus are also hers, as well as the two lunch appetizers. The daily brunch menu has riffs on dishes the team relished in Lunch Lady’s Ho Chi Minh neighbourhood.
Lunch Lady’s future plans include a patio replete with the colourful plastic chairs which made viewers and diners fall in love with the original Lunch Lady location in Vietnam.
Website | Instagram
Oca Pastificio
1260 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC – (Google Maps)
Oca Pastificio is a casual Italian restaurant located near Vancouver’s False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The restaurant’s focus is on handmade pasta, with all the pasta dishes made fresh daily in-house.
The menu at Oca Pastificio is simple but flavorful, featuring classic Italian pasta dishes like spaghetti carbonara, linguine alle vongole, and rigatoni alla Norma. The restaurant also offers a few small plates, salads, and desserts.
The interior of Oca Pastificio is minimalist and modern, with a bright and airy atmosphere. The service is friendly and attentive, with the chefs often coming out to chat with guests.
Oca Pastificio is also unique in that it operates as both a restaurant and a pasta shop. Customers can purchase fresh pasta to take home and cook themselves or order a pasta kit, which includes everything needed to make a pasta dish at home.
Overall, Oca Pastificio is a great choice for a casual Italian meal, with the standout feature being the delicious and freshly-made pasta.
Website | Instagram
This post is part of our Fine Dining in False Creek Flats series:
- Stars, Michelin Guide Restaurants
- Bib Gourmand, Michelin Guide Restaurants
- Recommendations, Michelin Guide Restaurants
For more places to eat in the False Creek Flats neighbourhood, check out Things to Do & Where to Eat in False Creek Flats
