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”

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

“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!”

“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.”

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

“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!”

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

“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!”

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

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

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

“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!”

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

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

“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. ❤️ 🎂 🎁 🎊 🎉 🥳”

“Yum....I enjoyed this a lot! The mixture of flavors and the attention to details. The poached eggs were perfect! The corn and bean cakes were the perfect landing for the eggs, salsa and goodness.
The only thing: I wish they would have asked/we would have told them NOT to butter the toast!”

“Came here for a staff dinner to celebrate another year of success, and to have the owner treat us for a Christmas dinner. Service was on par, the food was delicious, and my Old Fashioned was tasty. Everyone had a good time.”

“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!”

“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”

“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. ☆☆☆☆☆”

“Pretty good sushi and teriyaki here. I had the beef bento which came with a loy of sides and was fairly prices (approx $18ish after taxes). While you can stay in and eat this place is more for take out so keep that in mind.”

“Beautiful atmosphere. My wife is Thai and asked them to give the curry like they do in Thailand. Was extremely hot. Love it!

They had the curry ready for 5pm as we had a flight to catch.

The indoor decor is beautiful too, all the plants make the place feel relaxing.

Suggestion: update the tables and chairs. The cloth and glass is a bit old fashioned.”

“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!”

“Every time i visit this tim hortons im always greeted and served with a smile. If i had to shout out one person it would be that one new hire i never quite got his name, but he is always so sweet and understanding! will definitely recommend this location to my friends and i WILL be coming back!!!”

“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.”

“It's a good place to come to

Vegetarian options: I am not a vegetarian but the options are all good

Dietary restrictions: That has no concerns to be but is good on the restaurant side

Parking: The parking is good. Lots of room

Kid-friendliness: Yes, it is

Wheelchair accessibility: Is good”

“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.”

“Shoutout to the lady working at this location this morning who dealt with an extremely entitled and disrespectful elderly woman who sat at one of the only 2 out of probably 30 tables that was dirty, called over the lady working the register to clean it while she sat and watched, even saying - no joke "you missed a spot" then proceeded to tell her "there are some crumbs on that table over there, too" pointing to a table that had just left and sat and stared at her while she cleaned it. She dealt with her with class and patience that I myself wouldn't have been able to muster. The audacity of some people astounds me. Wish I had her name to put in the review. She deserves a raise!”

“---

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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!”

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

“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.”

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

“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!”

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

“This place is still one of the best on the island. I’ve been here a few times over the years and I’ve never had a bad experience. I can’t recommend it enough if you’re in Nanaimo!”

“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!”

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

“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!”

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

“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”

“A great, lively atmosphere with friendly servers! That spicy dill dip was SO good!”

“This was a good stop when we were visiting Nanaimo on a rainy day. The staff there was great; he got our orders done in a timely and professional manner and honoured the BC Ale trail reward too!
The restaurant has a decent pizza, and food menu. My favorite drinks of our flight were the Cider and Nitro. Very clean atmosphere, with a patio, music stage and TV in the dining room. It's not busy at all when you visit during the early noon.
I highly recommend visiting Wolf Brewing Company if you're ever in the Nanaimo area - this place is a gem!”

“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.”

“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!”

“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!”

“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”

“Just got some fries on this busy Christmas shopping Sunday. I got to say whoever cooked them today made them perfect. No need for ketchup nothing it was perfect absolutely perfect”

“1PM Sunday Mary earned a new customer for life. The highly capable woman cashier 1000% must be rewarded. It was strong. + Reward the young man cooking the magic from the back of that cadillac. 1000% I felt vindicated and worthy leaving the establishment and I have a powerful young woman and chicken capable man and Real Farm Quality In House Fresh Cut Chicken to give thanks for that…….
🐓🐓🐓🍗🍗🍗🍗”

“Nice staff,friendly almost immediate acknowledgment”

“Just your average Starbucks, the coffee may not be as great as some cafe’s in town, but it’s still good and consistent! Service was great, kind staff, and a clean store.

Vegetarian options: Limited but some options

Dietary restrictions: One GF sandwich option

Parking: It’s Vancouver, parking is always a struggle

Wheelchair accessibility: Accessible”

“My favorite place in town for Japanese food. I've never been disappointed with what I've ordered. Prices are fair, portion sizes good, food looks great. I personally recommend the deep fried salmon bento and the japchae.”

“Stayed in the hotel for about two weeks. For us it was perfect, the new renovated rooms are super comfy. The pub downstairs is super chill, with a very local group of regulars.

Kid-friendliness: Kids allowed until 8pm.

Wheelchair accessibility: Through the hotel entrance at back.”

“This is 5 stars for an old pub and old feel. Lots of beers on tap, food looked like cozy pub food, old building around for .. forever. Servers were friendly, and my pint was great value! Like? Under 6$?! Honestly it's an old pub, so if you like visiting nostalgic and pub feels, this is your spot.”

“Had an americano and delicious gluten-free almond blueberry tart, and my mom had a pot of tea with raspberry cheesecake she said was to die for :) great ambience, very accommodating staff and I’d definitely go again soon!”

“I liked everone wears masks feel safer but right now i think the temperature is not comfortable too cold! it was good and comfortable before! keep the masks but make the place warmer! thank you!”

“Just wanted to congratulate the workers that were working during the day on November 27th. I don’t usually review bad customer service but I will admit I’ve had questionable customer service and food quality (drinks just tasted way different than other locations) here but the workers today were super nice and attentive and friendly and the drink was definitely made with love and care because it tasted amazing and not so carelessly made like some of the times I’ve been here. The ladies (and one man) working today were also very efficient, more so than I’ve seen in the past. The wait was still a bit long, but I don’t mind since there’s always only 2-3 people running the whole shop, but if you’re the girl with the glasses and dark brown hair working, your drink rocks! I was very pleased :) Hope you get all the things you want in life!”

“I’ve been enjoying the ice cream and Orange Julius treats for many years. They are tasty and made with care by great staff. There is one employee in particular who has been there for years providing quality service. This clearly shows that the employees are happy and as a result, they bring that positive energy to their customers. Well done!”

“very nice little cafe with lots of greenery.”

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

“Excellent customer service!”

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

“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.”

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

“Great food, friendly loved it.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“Awesome bar! Fantastic drinks and incredible atmosphere”

“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”

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

“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!!”

“Me and sister Aniki went for bday supper, as always was awsome thnks”

“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”

“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.”

“Best sausage rolls I’ve ever had!”

“I had a pretty good time here. The views were the best part of this dining experience. As for the food, it was average and a bit overpriced. I suppose a lot of tourists wouldn't mind it. Overall, one thumb up.”

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

“Excellent customer service!”

“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.”

“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!”

“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.”

“First time for us! Fantastic service - all servers were attentive, friendly and had a great sense of humour. Such a beautiful setting. The food was absolutely delicious!! Will definitely be back!! Thank you😊”

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

“Food was great. Nice to have some
gluten free options. Staff is great.

Dietary restrictions: A couple of gluten free options. The GF baked spaghetti is awesome!”

“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”

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

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

“I finally did something other than a burger 😂😂Yummmmm just had the cheesiest thick French onion soup with a side of Moroccan quinoa it was a flavour explosion in mouth! My son had panko crusted Brie & a Cesar salad not one bite left! The server was attentive friendly & all around another wonderful experience at my favorite burger joint!”