Vancouver is, in my opinion, one of the most blessed cities in the world when it comes to food.  I know that statement may cause arguments to begin with our venerable visitors, but I do stick by my belief that Vancouver has something for everyone and from everyone as well.  Our international roots have given us some of the most varied cuisine in my humble experience and, quite frankly, I like it !

My picks of the day for this post are:
Hon’s Wun-Tun House
The Tomahawk Restaurant

Both fit my hankering for good food, easy on the budget and a simple atmosphere.  “Home cookin’ ” would be my short description for these two classics.  Both restaurants have been a part of the dining tradition in Vancouver for a long time, each has a separate and wonderful niche in the local cuisine and neighborhood.  And I rate both as a “must eat” for anyone in Vancouver.

Hon’s - The classic Chinese cuisine restaurant in Vancouver.  Started with one small shop in downtown Chinatown and has grown into a small empire with multiple restaurants across the greater Vancouver area and a central supply-house for frozen Chinese food for many area shops.  Classic Chinese food with a modern kitchen facility and a wide menu.  From soups to vegetarian to curries and everything in between.  A great sampling of asian cuisine at a reasonable price and good service.  Expect a cafeteria atmosphere clean, quick and efficient and as I truely beleive that the Chinese were the inventors of “fast-food” you can also expect to be served and fed with speed and efficiency fitting of the title, yet much healthier than our local variety.

My favourites include (but are certainly not limited to) Pot Stickers; a type of pan-fried dumpling and the Curried Beef Brisket on Rice which is neither too bland nor too spicy for my lunch-time appetite.  Along with the ubiquitous cola which I find goes well with lunch, the meal is well portioned, tasty fresh and well prepared.  The Pot Stickers come with a small portion of sweet vinegar which helps to cut the pan-fried oil perfectly and accentuate the dumplings taste.  Share with a friend !  The Curry is a wonderful mixture of potatoe, beef brisket and rice which is prepared in advance so you won’t be waiting long and the curry is cooked right into the food rather than just packed in at the last moment.  Slow-cooked is the way to go !

The Tomahawk Restaurant in North Vancouver.  What can I say…. this wonderful little gem has been tucked away on the North Shore for many years and is truely a wonderful family resaurant.  On Friday nights you will find a wonderful ’specials’ menu with some great dishes to choose.  A choice of starter, one of two entrees and a desert from the specials menu will provide a fine-dining food experience without the huge cost of some of the more up-scale places and I’d bet the food is better at the Tomahawk any day.  Eat well, pickup the tab and keep on smiling ! 

The remainder of the menu you will find every day of the week, all-day !  The classic burgers, breakfasts and Canadian Bacon will leave you ready to come back often to try more wonderful dishes, and at the same time will stagger your appetite for hearty food.  You won’t find these dishes on most menus and you will be in awe at the down-home classics you will find.  The Tomahawk has been around as long as I can remember and continues to treat every new patron as family and friend.  Take a look at the wall above the counter and you will find the smiling faces of many local celebrities gazing back.  Pictures of the local and international actors and celebrities who have dined and enjoyed the steady atmosphere, welcome greetings and great food at this classic family restaurant.  Don’t miss out !

My picks are (a classic Tomahawk legend) the Mixed Grill which you may wish to share with a friend.  A giant platter of hearty cooking with enough Canadian Bacon to satisfy even “Bob and Doug”.  This is truely a feast for the hungry gold seeker !  You won’t be sorry if you love to eat off the grill here!  Although they do sling some greens onto the platter, I think it is more to keep people from having a heart attack as soon as they see the platter arrive.  Not for the faint of heart, but then I’ve never been afraid of my food.

Don’t miss these wonderful fixtures of Vancouver if you have even half a chance.   You may never know the full range of food in Vancouver without including both in your culinary samples.

Eat Well, and Live Well.