Restaurants in Nanaimo

“First time having a bar burrito. It was excellent, good value for your money. Very friendly staff. I will be back!”

“Excellent friendly service paired with delicious food. This has become a regular spot for us. Delicious every time!!!!”

“Always great food. Fresh and hot and quite authentic :)”

“Love ❤️ the pizza and the crust”

“I highly recommend the Crow & Gate pub. Good food, good atmosphere. It is like stepping into a pub in a village in England. Loved the surrounding gardens too.”

“My wife, daughter, and our friend went to Nori tonight for dinner, we are new to the island and our friend had never been before either, so we went off a recommendation from a coworker of mine. The food was absolutely fantastic, great quality, amazing portion size for the prices, and the best part of all was the service, exceptional staff that very obviously worked together as a team, always making sure we were being helped regardless if it was our dedicated server (Lily who was awesome) or not. Highly recommend going for a wonderful experience on a food and personal level. Thanks for the great dinner!”

“Mille Grazie! Your food is always magnificent! Not only did you fit us in without a reservation on a busy weekend night, after I called the wrong restaurant; but you gave us a wonderful table with amazing staff! Very special mention to the Ceaser I enjoyed before dinner! Highly recommend it! May you have a wonderful 2024! You always make your guests feel like part of the family!”

“We had an amazing treat at Ironworks Cafe & Creperie. So many tempting choices, both sweet and savoury. Three of us wanted to share two crepes, and asked if our choices could be cut into thirds. Renee plated the thirds individually with full garnishes. 🌟🌟🌟 We had the ‘Four Berries and Cream” (sweet) and the ‘Spinach, Artichoke & Brie” (savoury). Hmmmmm. Latte was excellent. 🌟 Locally owned, caringly staffed, local ingredients. So impressed. Thank you.”

“Came here for dinner last night and was not disappointed! The food and service were top notch! All the staff were extremely friendly and welcoming! The atmosphere was lovely! Will definitely be back! Thanks for being one of the few fine dining restaurants in Nanaimo we can enjoy!”

“Best vegan food in Nanaimo! Highly recommend checking it out”

“the absolute best ! always fresh and always tasty !! our favorite go to.!”

“excellent food. I've been a couple of times and will definitely be back.”

“Wow! Great eggs Benny! I’ll be back soon!”

“I just called twice and got hung up on both times before someone even took my order! Extremely poor service!”

“Gangsta sammich and truffle fries. ⭐️10/10”

“Incredible food, excellent service, rad environment, price is on point AND our server helped make the night for my teenager :) I can not say enough great things about this place. Go here! Make it your spot.”

“Had an amazing birthday dinner this past weekend. Awesome service and amazing food, very well presented! Will be back very soon!”

“Taelor's 25th Birthday with Zenon, Maya & Josh, Kaelee & Elliott, Raegon, the girls grandma Sharon (my mom), & myself enjoying a wonderful meal and a special time together at this magnificent local restaurant that I highly recommend for it's food, ambience, and of course service, helping to make for a memorable evening. ❤️ 🎂 🎁 🎊 🎉 🥳”

“Ordered for the first time tonight , everything was so good. Highly recommend! Delivery was prompt and courteous.”

“Stumbled upon this great little spot in Nanaimo while visiting the Island. Quick and short drive from Departure Bay. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Great ambiance. The food and coffee were great and arrived quickly. Definitely a spot worth a visit.”

“The new patio rocks. I must say the host , the gentleman that brought us to our table was incredibly polite and super helpful.
Highly recommend this place as the staff are a joy to be around as they all seem to love their job and that makes us enjoy our night.”

“I had the chicken tandoori and garlic naan takeout last night and it was delicious. Their food always exceeds expectations. I love it there”

“Absolutely amazing food & friendly staff!”

“Fish n Chips !!!?Got a smile.I told them i was use to eat Fish n Chips everywhere i seen sime to try.I am commercial Fisherman and High quality family oriented Fish market East Coast.Theses Fish and Chips are probably the BETTER ones i tried from Coast to coast of Canada.And the size worth it up. ☆☆☆☆☆”

“Sealand Pho offers an amazing Vietnamese dining experience with breathtaking Marina views. The staff was friendly, and the ambiance was warm and inviting. A must-visit for authentic pho enthusiasts and the perfect spot to enjoy delicious food with a stunning view. Highly recommended!”

“We were referred here by a contractor friend on the promise that the kimchi is SPICY. He was right; this is the most authentic and best priced Korean we have found so far and the spice level was absolutely satisfactory. The smoked duck, glass noodles, pork bulgogi, and kimchi stood out, but every dish was fantastic. Service was attentive, the location is quiet but central, and portions were ample.”

“Food was good. Service was good. Black Current Pale ale was tasty”

“Chicken teriyaki Don was well priced and great portion. The sauce is perfect, the chicken is fresh and I'm pleased with the amount of vegetables. I'll be making this my go to sushi place for nanaimo.”

“Tried the curry trio tonight. Penang curry, pineapple curry and green curry. All were fantastic with so much flavour. This time the green curry was my favourite, but all were amazing!”

“⭐️ A Memorable Dining Experience at SIMONHOLT
I recently had the pleasure of dining at SIMONHOLT, and it was an experience to remember. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, setting the perfect backdrop for an evening out.

I started with the coconut prawns appetizer, and let me tell you, they were outstanding. Each prawn was perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful, complemented by a delightful dipping sauce that added just the right kick.

For the main course, I couldn't resist the Tomahawk steak dinner. The steak was cooked to perfection—tender, juicy, and seasoned just right. It was accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables, making for a hearty and satisfying meal.

On another visit, I tried the Pan-Seared Pacific Cod & Prawns, and it was equally impressive. The cod was flaky and flavorful, paired beautifully with succulent prawns. The dish was thoughtfully prepared, showcasing the freshness of the seafood.

What truly sets SIMONHOLT apart is the quality of the food combined with reasonable pricing. Every dish is prepared from scratch, and you can taste the difference. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff who made sure everything was just right. Whether you're a local or just passing through Nanaimo, I highly recommend stopping by SIMONHOLT for a meal that won't disappoint.”

“Best sausage rolls I’ve ever had!”

“Rishu and Cassie are both wonderful in providing us a warm service this morning. These type of people who are cheerful to greet everyone are a total gem. Thank you!

Every time I am here we are treated well. Congratulations to the whole team. Special mention to the following: Edward(dynamic personality), Christian(always cheerful), Anne(so accommodating) Babelyn and Rowena are always wonderful. Thank you guys! Such a great team!”

“I was a little confused. I went to order a couple of those quenchers tonight, I was there at 730pm. Apparently you stop serving them at night? I was fairly disappointed. I wasn’t impressed with the behaviour of the staff member who helped me either. Staff member was a touch rude. Maybe if you can put up signs of what you stop serving after 7pm or whatever time it is you shut down services.

Update - this Tim’s is my go to. Closest to my home. Ever since the previous experience I have always been able to order Tim’s quenchers, frozen or not frozen know matter what time of day. In fact I was just there at 915 tonight and ordered everything we wanted and had absolutely zero issues.

I’m going to update to a 5 star.”

“The staff here are always polite and serve with a smile. My order is usually ready quickly, and everything tastes fresh—especially the French Vanilla and breakfast wraps.The place is clean and has a calm vibe. It’s a nice spot to grab a coffee or relax for a bit. I always leave satisfied. Definitely one of the better Tim Hortons locations I’ve visited!”

“I recommend the food -but I really hate the fact that when I get A+W coupons in the mail and take them to your store, you won't accept them. I also dislike the fact that when I try to contact A+W Canada to complain, the "Contact Us" function NEVER actually works!”

“McDonald’s you have been so good to me, at times of need when I needed you, you were there for me, thank you!

Parking: If you ever need to park at McDonald’s you should have no problem because everyone is usually in the drive thru.

Kid-friendliness: Kids love Mcdondald’s, who doesn’t love McDonald’s unless you got to the gym everyday and eat lettuce.

Wheelchair accessibility: I don’t really know much but I know wheelchairs can get in there.”

“It's a McDonald's the only thing that's impressive is that there are nice employees there.

There's a man, he's east indian or Middle Eastern, working the morning shift very early, like 6:30 am, it's pouring rain very, very bad one of the worst I've ever seen.

I Can't seem to find my wallet, when I get up to the window, I am visibly frustrated and hungry I think I lost my wallet, and I end up having to pull over to the side of the parking lot got out of the pouring rain, and I finally found it, thank god! So I quickly go back into line, which sucked, but when I got up to the widow he gave me an extra pop because of my bad day and even though it's a trivial thing, he sympathized, and I just thought that was so humanitarian of him.

Thanks for the extra pop buddy, it did not go unnoticed and made a great impact.I appreciate it.”

“It’s always nice to get incredible service at McDonald’s. The manger must know what he’s doing because the staff look happy and treated us right. The cheerful young lady who served us was a delight. I think the option for Table Service is a nice touch. Honestly I haven’t had a sit down dinner in a McDonald’s in a long time… but I think next time I’m stop for a last minute road trip burger with the kids, and I’m in north h Nanaimo, I’ll seriously consider Mc’y D’s!

PS I think this might be the cleanest franchise iv ever seen!

Kid-friendliness: Staff was cheerful and patient as we narrowed down the hat was going in our belly’s.”

“Jasmeen

Great service and even remembered my forgotten croissant the next time i was.
Wonderful smile and very polite. What an asset to your team. Keep up the good work.”

“Good service, best rootbeer and now my favorite lattè's as well, where else do I need to go 🤗 O! 😯 and not to forget the Onion rings, they're delicious 😋”

“---

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I usually order from this McDonald's about once to three times a week, and overall, I get pretty good service. They do sometimes make mistakes with my meals, but hey, such is life! ? The customer service is friendly, the atmosphere is great, and the people here are wonderful. Working at McDonald's is no easy job (I know from experience as a former employee), so I really appreciate the effort they put in. Keep up the good work! ???”

“Asteras provides a wonderful dining experience with beautiful surroundings, excellent range of favourites and specials, and attentive servers. I absolutely love the calamari too!”

“A friend and I went to Jalapeño's for the first time yesterday and had a wonderful time. Friendly, helpful service; menu prices are more than reasonable; and the food was all delicious. We shared the choriqueso [like a cheese fondue with chorizo sausage in it] and it was fantastic. Melty, tasty, not overly spicy! We ate it as a starter and also put some of it onto our mains when those came out. We both ordered the taco trio [one carne asada, one carnitas, one al pastor] which comes with rice and beans. It was all good, but the beans were amazing! Feel silly saying that about beans, but they were the best refritos I've ever had. We also both had the hibiscus drink and it was fantastic, not super sweet and a nice floral taste. After our meal, we paid and each got one of their buñeolos [a crispy donut of sorts] to take home. That was crispy and coated in cinnamon-sugar. I'll definitely be back!”

“Beautiful and calming space with the kindest owners who share their love and appreciation of their customers. Incredible food and fresh made goodies with a variety of drinks to try each time you go. 10/10 recommend.”

“I last went here shortly after it opened, and before I moved to the mainland. I came back today and the food was phenomenal! They've really settled into their place in the community, I'm glad to see they are still open and the food was delicious!”

“The best pizza in town. Possibly the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!”

“Tried it from North Nanaimo for the first time. You’ve gained a new customer!”

“It was super busy on mothers Day, and my daughter and I went in around 5:15.
We ordered quickly but had to wait do to the number of people celebrating mothers day. We were on a bit of a time crunch so we got it to go. The staff was lovely and compensated us for the wait. It was unnecessary but very kind.”

“Very friendly staff. Jashan and Kingston were great- they gave us lots of options in creating our custom pizzas. Had a kids meal and an adults sized. Very happy - we could customize each 1/2 of a shared pizza. Good value. Excellent pizza! Great customer service. Two thumbs up ??

Kid-friendliness: Easy to please our picky eater here!”

“The vault is the coolest location in Nanaimo and going there is an experience. This spot is popular with locals and with tourists, as one of the best venues in town as well as just the coolest spot. The staff are amazing and the food is awesome. If it's poppin in there will you wait a bit? Yes, but that's because it is well loved.”

“Food and service were outstanding owner was helpful and kind I recommend this place highly”

“A health care provider recommended this coffee shop while I was waiting for a friend at the hospital. Am so glad I tried it out! delicious muffin that was fresh out of the oven and a tasty iced vanilla latte! highly recommend”

“This is the best Korean food on Vancouver Island.”

“Definitely one of my favourite coffee shops. I visit regularly- the staff are very friendly and attentive, the atmosphere is always relaxed and welcoming. The coffee is first class!”

“Cold front is back open! While possibly on the pricey side for just a cone this isn’t regular ice cream! This hand made gourmet gelato with lots of interesting and unique flavours - even for those who are vegan! Definitely worth a stop! You can even get pints or have them delivered! I’d highly recommend! Or have a sit down in the warm store. It’s never too cold for ice cream!”

“I was so pleased with out recent dinner (take out) from Flavours of India. The order was ready on time, it was correct and the food was definitely some of the best I've tasted! I kept saying 'this is so good!' Lots of left overs for lunch tomorrow. yumm”

“came to this bistro for the first time on March 22, 2025 for a surprise 70th birthday for a family member. Found the setting comfortable, the staff knowledgeable, friendly and the service top notch. Ordered the platter for two and it was so good, the calamari was the best!! Our table numbered 15 people and all food arrived hot and all family was eating at the same time. This bistro is amazing!! As we travel to Gabriola Island fairly often, we will be stopping here for dinner again!!”

“On a brief trip to Nanaimo I was so pleased”

“Most delicious Indian food in Nanaimo. Reminds me of my Grandmothers cooking.”

“food has always been great, the price is the best in town and the owners are lovely. Only place we will go for Sushi now.”

“it gets busy at around noon so get in early for brunch. eggs Bennie is really good”

“Have been ordering sushi there almost every week for ages. Staff are friendly, sushi is consistently excellent, and always tastes fresh. There may be less expensive sushi, but why pay less for a disappointing experience? This is a great place to eat!”

“Definitely a solid choice for some tasty BBQ in Nanaimo!”

“Feeling blue? Bar Luna has the answer to all your woes, with tacos and handhelds of the food in a blanket variety, I had the al pastor pork tacos with their spiciest offerings of in house hot sauce (hot enough to melt the tastebuds right off your tongue!) washed down with the Blue Island Iced Tea (with edible candied orange slice!) The perfect spot, nestled away in the quiet corners of Nanaimo BC 10/10 would recommend to anyone in the area, looking for a classy, comfortable, warm and inviting environment with all the tasty tacos and fixings for a spice aficionado like myself!”

“We were visiting from Vernon BC and came here for a night of karaoke. Didn't know what to expect but it was beyond our expectations. We had a blast and Erin was a fabulous host. Thanks again.”

“Decent not exceptional but not disappointing brunch. Our son loves their hot dog with peanut butter and bacon so I did it at brunch without the dog (great combination) . Service was exceptional. We will be back in our ongoing search for the best wings. Should be good.”

“Friendly staff and atmosphere and breakfast was delicious 😋 Fresh, home-cooked flavour, quick, attentive service - definitely will be back!”

“Exceptional service! Friendly and down to earth. And yes they make top Nanaimo bars—you gotta get em before they sell out! And you gotta while in Nanaimo! Eclectic sitting area with lots of chairs in a nice downtown district. I’ll be back!”

“Wow this place did not disappoint. I got salmon sashimi, spicy salmon rolls and Toro nigiri. They were all amazing and the toro was so good I had to have a second order. I also love how casual it is inside. I was dining alone and felt totally comfortable and the staff were very friendly”

“Awesome bar! Fantastic drinks and incredible atmosphere”

“My favorite restaurant in all of Nanaimo. Amazing service, delicious food, I cant recommend it enough. 10/10”

“very nice little cafe with lots of greenery.”

“Excellent customer service!”

“Highly recommended. We have bought many cakes and cookies from Oh Happy Bake, everything is great.”

“Great food, friendly loved it.”

“By far the best Poke I’ve had outside of Hawaii. Wow. Fresh. Nice selection of ingredients, toppings and sausces. I went for the “Island Dynamite”. Highly recommended.”

“Best Indian food in Nanaimo. Meat, chicken, and vegetable curries with delicious naan bread. If you are lucky enough to get there when they have their homemade samosas, they are heavenly. My husband and I have traveled a lot and sampled curries around the world. This is up there with the best. Very reasonable prices ( low ) and delicious. Lovely owners, great service. Highly recommend.”

“I've always loved Edo and this location in particular is absolutely wonderful! The staff are always so friendly and accommodating in person, and any time I've placed a delivery order with special requests they've always followed through on it! The location and pricing make it incredibly convenient as a university student, too. One of my fave places to eat, 100%!”

“Nice location easily accessible by bus [route #1] and with many other shops in the same mall/area. Very friendly and helpful staff, you can clearly see all of their items on display in the shop and they slice your bread when you buy it. The baked goods are incredibly fresh, picked up a pack of apple cinnamon hot cross buns [multiple flavors/varieties available!] and a loaf of bread, both were baked earlier today. The hot cross buns are amazing! Will definitely be back again to explore more of their offerings.”

“Pretty much the best take out in Nanaimo. If you like perogies you will LOVE this place.”

“A health care provider recommended this coffee shop while I was waiting for a friend at the hospital. Am so glad I tried it out! delicious muffin that was fresh out of the oven and a tasty iced vanilla latte! highly recommend”

“Today was our first time trying out Waffle🧇 Magic🪄and it was absolutely DELICIOUS😋 Definitely the first of many more🙂Hidden gem💯”

“The cupcakes make me life my mood. No words would do justice to the cupcakes they serve. Must try Red velvet if you like less sweet flavor. My friends like coconut coffee cupcake. But all the cupcakes are fantastic and fresh. The owner is also kind and honest with her work. Must try!”

“I can honestly say that these were the best cod fish and chips I’ve ever had! Excellent quality and proportion of cod to batter. This will be my go to restaurant for fish and chips from now on! Thank you for a great meal.”

“Sandwiches and stroopwaffles here are the absolute best, and we can't rave enough positivity about the carrot cake muffins and fresh meat pies. Good friendly service, always well stocked.”

“Best teen burgers & onion rings in town! Beats the other A & W franchise hands down.”

“i went to this a&w and their service was great and i had a great experience. i will come here again. Highly recomended”

“The service is excellent and quality of the food preparation was very good with some vegetarian choices. Overall, a pleasurable dining experience. Would recommend this restaurant”

“came to this bistro for the first time on March 22, 2025 for a surprise 70th birthday for a family member. Found the setting comfortable, the staff knowledgeable, friendly and the service top notch. Ordered the platter for two and it was so good, the calamari was the best!! Our table numbered 15 people and all food arrived hot and all family was eating at the same time. This bistro is amazing!! As we travel to Gabriola Island fairly often, we will be stopping here for dinner again!!”

“On September 1st 2023 My friend and I went for lunch and sat out on the patio. The food was terrific and our waitress was amazing. We were reluctant to go there, but we decided to take a chance, and we are so glad that we did. This jewel of a pub will be our go to for our outings. I can't say enough about the great service we received. Thank you so much, it was a real treat.”

“I can honestly say that these were the best cod fish and chips I’ve ever had! Excellent quality and proportion of cod to batter. This will be my go to restaurant for fish and chips from now on! Thank you for a great meal.”

“Everything was spot on , Pho fabulous .Fair prices , quick Service. Will be back.”

“I did a review a couple of weeks ago that wasn't very good but since then I have re tried them and was pleasantly surprised that it was as good as I was used to before. I wish I could take back my old review but this one will hopefully make up for it. Tks Guys Ivan”

“Best teen burgers & onion rings in town! Beats the other A & W franchise hands down.”

“Awesome rye bread...particularly the heavy and coarse rye. A staple for 4 generations of our family! Thank you Rolf.”

“My daughter and I go there every morning to have breakfast, and we are treated with a great smile and service that we have not experienced anywhere else. The staff is amazing and so is the food! WE highly recommend this location !”

“Best Indian food in Nanaimo. Meat, chicken, and vegetable curries with delicious naan bread. If you are lucky enough to get there when they have their homemade samosas, they are heavenly. My husband and I have traveled a lot and sampled curries around the world. This is up there with the best. Very reasonable prices ( low ) and delicious. Lovely owners, great service. Highly recommend.”

“First time having a bar burrito. It was excellent, good value for your money. Very friendly staff. I will be back!”

“Always great food. Fresh and hot and quite authentic :)”

“It’s a great experience. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. Amazing food and service. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and make great recommendations. I am fully satisfy with your Food and service. Thank you so much.”

“I have been here twice. The service is great. The building seems a little dirty, especially the bridge entrance way and door. The inside was really nice. The food was really good.”

“Best sausage rolls I’ve ever had!”

“The vault is the coolest location in Nanaimo and going there is an experience. This spot is popular with locals and with tourists, as one of the best venues in town as well as just the coolest spot. The staff are amazing and the food is awesome. If it's poppin in there will you wait a bit? Yes, but that's because it is well loved.”

“I loved this family owner restaurant. We order lasagna and spaghetti for my kids that come with ice cream. The meat sauce of the pastas was divine.

A few months later;

I was back and the food was delicious and I had a very good moment with my family again here.
Jordan was the person who attended us and I must say he was super polite and kind, thank you 🙏🏼”

“The best pizza in town. Possibly the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!”

“First time having a bar burrito. It was excellent, good value for your money. Very friendly staff. I will be back!”

“Excellent customer service!”

“A friend and I went to Jalapeño's for the first time yesterday and had a wonderful time. Friendly, helpful service; menu prices are more than reasonable; and the food was all delicious. We shared the choriqueso [like a cheese fondue with chorizo sausage in it] and it was fantastic. Melty, tasty, not overly spicy! We ate it as a starter and also put some of it onto our mains when those came out. We both ordered the taco trio [one carne asada, one carnitas, one al pastor] which comes with rice and beans. It was all good, but the beans were amazing! Feel silly saying that about beans, but they were the best refritos I've ever had. We also both had the hibiscus drink and it was fantastic, not super sweet and a nice floral taste. After our meal, we paid and each got one of their buñeolos [a crispy donut of sorts] to take home. That was crispy and coated in cinnamon-sugar. I'll definitely be back!”

“We had an amazing treat at Ironworks Cafe & Creperie. So many tempting choices, both sweet and savoury. Three of us wanted to share two crepes, and asked if our choices could be cut into thirds. Renee plated the thirds individually with full garnishes. 🌟🌟🌟 We had the ‘Four Berries and Cream” (sweet) and the ‘Spinach, Artichoke & Brie” (savoury). Hmmmmm. Latte was excellent. 🌟 Locally owned, caringly staffed, local ingredients. So impressed. Thank you.”

“The aesthetic is comforting. like you're walking into someone's house. The food is amazing! and a pitcher of margaritas? YES PLEASE!”

“I recently ordered the Butter Chicken Rice at Noodle Box, and it was absolutely amazing! The dish was flavorful and packed with a generous amount of tender chicken. The portion size was perfect, and each bite was a delight. A big shoutout to Shakil, who provided excellent service and made the experience even better. The ambiance is warm and inviting, which makes it the ideal spot for enjoying good food in a comfortable setting. Highly recommend Noodle Box – tasty food and a great vibe!”

“Incredible food, excellent service, rad environment, price is on point AND our server helped make the night for my teenager :) I can not say enough great things about this place. Go here! Make it your spot.”

“Jasmeen

Great service and even remembered my forgotten croissant the next time i was.
Wonderful smile and very polite. What an asset to your team. Keep up the good work.”

“Very nice Relaxed atmosphere and good casual food. The burgers are fantastic. Good beer selection. We’ve been here many times and always look forward to going back.”

“The service is excellent and quality of the food preparation was very good with some vegetarian choices. Overall, a pleasurable dining experience. Would recommend this restaurant”