Restaurants in Nanaimo

“We were just at this place. Great staff. Friendly. Food is amazing. I recommend Ironworks Cafe. Special mention to Renee, really friendly Thank you Rico and Rona”

“Absolutely amazing food and service. Best food in Nanaimo. If you haven't tried it yet be sure you do, you will not be disappointed. Every time we go back, we are not disappointed. Yum”

“10/10 every time, whether you’re on a date or with a group, service is excellent & food is delicious. Cannot wait for their spring menu!”

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

“We stumbled upon the Crow & Gate while visiting the island! Loved the atmosphere, everyone was friendly and the food was delicious! Highly recommend this place.”

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

“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!”

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

“Ordered for the first time because of all the 5 star reviews, and was not disappointed! Pizza was SO delicious, and everyone was so friendly. Their dips are also amazing. All the 5 star reviews are telling the truth 💯”

“Oh Happy Bake made four different vegan cakes for our event. Holy moly were the cakes delicious and beautiful! Not only that, but they were wonderful to deal with. I highly recommend.”

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

“Amazing service, delicious food !”

“🍕 I always buy pizza in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Honestly, it's one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a while! The crust is perfectly balanced—crispy yet soft at the same time. The toppings are fresh and bursting with flavor. I will definitely be coming back!”

“Sushi was THE BEST we have ever had!! Staff are super friendly and helpful!! Prices were reasonable, atmosphere was busy, and fun!!”

“We visited twice the week of May 4-9; both times the food was excellent, fresh and flavorful; the drinks delicious; and the ambiance & service from Jordan and Nicki was outstanding - highly recommend, and if we ever visit Nanaimo again, we will be back to Bar Luna!”

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

“We always bring family and friends to Horang for celebrations and get together we absolutely love the food and service very friendly staff food is always fresh 😋”

“Food and staff were amazing, highly recommend”

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

“Great service. Amazing food. Would recommend the beetroot hummus appy.”

“The Cactus is always our go to on the way up island as it’s consistently amazing for food, drinks and service but this time was exceptional for two reasons. The first being our server Shane, he was the best server we’ve EVER had. It was our anniversary and he made it an even more spectacular day than it already was. His service was perfect in every way, friendly, fun, engaging, and knowledgeable. The second being your new menu! We had the scallop ceviche which was to die for (forgot to take a pic) prawn crunch roll and salmon aburi roll, which were equally as delicious! Beautiful presentation and taste!”

“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.”

“We visited Gabriel’s Café in Nanaimo for breakfast and coffee on our last day and were pleasantly surprised. The breakfast was excellent, with fresh, high quality ingredients. The café states that it prides itself on sourcing local produce, and that commitment is clearly reflected in the food.

The coffee was also very good by Canadian standards. I ordered a Piccolo and had to explain what it was, but the staff were happy to accommodate. It was served in a larger cup than the traditional Australian style Piccolo, but the flavour was excellent. Best of all, the coffee didn’t have the burnt taste that is often found elsewhere.

Friendly service, quality local ingredients, and great coffee make this a café well worth visiting when in Nanaimo.”

“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. ☆☆☆☆☆”

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

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

“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!”

“I wasnt really expecting much as this place looks very low key but my package of dynamite roll was amazing! The rice was just right! I will definitely be back. The price was great as well! Certainly some of the best sushi I have had in Nanaimo!”

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

“Absolutely amazing food & friendly staff!”

“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!”

“I need my java Ana espresso so why not !!!”

“The staff at this McDonalds are some of the most kind and understanding workers I've interacted with at a fast food restaurant. They also were able to get through orders very quickly. The interior of the resteraunt is very clean and tidy. Definitely an above average McDonalds location.”

“Just had a great experience with the staff at this McDonald's! I made there life super hard today with a complex order for 13 people. And they treated me amazing and the food was great! Many years ago I left a 2* rating here but it seems life this store has done a great job! Thank you so much for taking care of me!”

“This location is like gambling, you never know if your experience will be bad or good unless you try the food. I became a regular at this location and as soon as they knew my regular order the quality seemed to improve. 4/5 stars because they tell everyone the ice cream machine doesn't work past 10pm everyday.”

“Our meal was ok. The one thing that is rather disturbing is we watched them putting our burgers together in the back without food safe gloves on. They were doing it all bare handed which in this day an age is not widely acceptable especially after the world event known as the pandemic (covid).”

“I haven’t had the best experience with this McDonald’s in the past but I gotta say today the worker Gabe was a real class act. I came in at night and had a problem with my order and he was extremely polite and corrected it immediately and made sure my order was correct. This is the kind of behavior that everyone working there should strive for.”

“We were a group of three for lunch yesterday. I had been going to Greek restaurants in Vancouver for 40 years before I moved back to Ucluelet. The wonderful experience surpassed all of the past ones with the best authentic lamb souvlaki and tzatziki, exceptional service and welcoming atmosphere I have ever experienced. Huge kudos to a truly destination restaurant.”

“I don't know how it took me so long to find this place! Friendly staff, good service, delicious food. I've tried the beef sausage roll, espresso cheesecake, and peanut butter cheesecake and all have been fantastic.”

“We had lunch at the Parksville location for the first time today but it definitely won't be our last. The food was delicious and the staff were wonderful!”

“⁣ Tucked just off the main strip at Departure Bay Beach is: Felice Cafe ⁣ There’s so much character inside you can’t help but grab a seat with a hot coffee (americano for me this time) and take in all the personalized touches. I had a chance to chat with the owner, who shared that from opening up the space with renovations, to the hand-drawn details and décor, he and his partner did it all themselves. ⁣ If you haven’t been yet, head over to Departure Bay Beach, pop into Felice Café, and treat yourself to a hot bevvy and a cozy spot to sit!”

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

“Such a great restraunt Everything is delicious 😋 highly recommend our favorite pho”

“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”

“Best pizza around 🤌🏻 the sweet garlic dip is to die for 😮‍💨”

“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!”

“amazing food! we loved the freshly made salsa as well.”

“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.”

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

“Very welcoming spot. The atmosphere is always relaxed and lively, and the staff are incredibly friendly. They make you feel like part of the place every time you visit. It’s the perfect mix of great beer and great people!”

“I've been to Longwood a number of times over the years and I must say that I always think that maybe it's a little pricey, but at the end of the day this place has remained consistent over quite a period of time. Great food! Great beer selection and a lot of times quality does justify price.”

“Tania's always serves up an excellent breakfast for us with phenomenal service too. We love this place and always stop by when we need brunch!”

“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”

“very nice little cafe with lots of greenery.”

“I have now been to the Milton Street Pub twice in the past 1.5 weeks. On both occasions I had some of my best ever food experiences. I had 2 different kinds of wings…Monster portions and quality ingredients. I also had the tomato soup ( homemade marvellous) and polenta fries. My partner had the burger which I tasted and fries which are absolutely the best. My Mother in law had the flatbread pizza…Yummy and my nephew had the Mushroom pasta…HOMEmade!!! We had the cheesecake ….WOW. The service on both occasions was amazing. Even gave me a Tylenol when I was in pain. Melanie was our first server…but everyone including the kitchen staff is determined to provide the best cuisine experience. The only issue was the first time atmosphere was a bit noisy and I have chronic pain issues so the chairs are a bit short for my long legs… Otherwise Perfection!!!”

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

“It's a fun place to eat and be merry!!”

“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.”

“My "go to" restaurant. Last night had the Valentine's day special. Portions were generous and delicious. No room for dessert, so had to take the strawberry cheesecake home for later.”

“Excellent customer service!”

“the Dim Sum here is amazing. Not too many options but they are great quality. I have not had soup dumplings this good since I was in Taiwan!”

“My immediate go to place at Wood Grove Mall in Nanaimo.... Their tacos are done perfectly... flavourful Ground Beef, shredded cheese, Lettuce and tomato... basic tacos... Nothing fancy... just for a quick Lunch on a busy day....Love the hot sauce... it's some of the best around...Make sure you visit on Tuesday for Taco Tuesday where you can get tacos at a great price”

“The calabrese pizza. The onions. The sopresatta The crust is amazing. 1st time, and I’m so happy.”

“Ordered the chicken and beef lunch box for take-out. Both were delicious! My order was ready and packaged when I arrived. Very friendly, efficient customer service. Highly recommend Umai Sushi. :-)”

“Love The Nanaimo Bar! The staff and owner are amazing! The vibe is 100% always. Tasty drinks at a very reasonable price. 🍻”

“Very nice restaurant to experience teriyaki meals.”

“LOVE the slapdown!!!! Always fast, always friendly, always kind when it comes to service. And always, always delicious when it comes to food!”

“Great pizza here! Fresh ingredients and delicious crust. The mega thick crust is also thin but slightly thicker than tortilla thin. So many varieties and options for base sauce, cheeses, toppings, meat, spices and sauces.

Service is excellent. The staff are very welcoming, professional and friendly. They are community-focused and support local causes and schools as well.

The atmosphere is wonderful. I see all ages here. Comfortable seats, good lighting, and good music (not loud, good taste)

The cakes are good too!”

“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!”

“This place is great!!! Food is awesome, service is great and reasonable prices! Highly recommended”

“Great food, friendly loved it.”

“The roast beef and the lemon squares 🤤”

“We go there all the time when we're riding our bikes downtown or walking our dogs. Always fantastic customer service and delicious drinks, we either get the hot chocolate, specialty teas or Italian soda ...all very very good! :)”

“Enjoyed wonton soup really delicious”

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

“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”

“Usual poke to find on the island, the portions are a good size for the price, and staff is very accommodating for modifications. Fast and tasty meal, plus they are among the places that are still open at 8 around Nanaimo.”

“the best burger I have ever had ...”

“Very good sushi, friendly staff who accommodate my allergy, and usually very little wait time.”

“As coffee shops go, one may be tempted to imagine that all Tim Horton’s are the same. They are not.

My 5 star review of this particular location on Northfield is due to many factors: the generously long drive-thru lane; the quality hockey-themed dark wood tables and chairs; the availability of the double chocolate donut (not available at all locations); the overall cleanliness and easy accessibility of washrooms - WITHOUT having to get an access key from staff; the option to enjoy your coffee break with authentic mugs and saucers; and of course…the wonderful staff; including the lovely AMANDA, who is always dressed professionally and colourfully, putting a daily smile on customers’ faces.

Winter time is here, and for most drivers, a hot cup of something at Tim’s is in order. This particular Tim’s would be my top choice in all of Nanaimo.”

“The food was OK....but was not impressed with the dust on the rungs of the chairs and the dividing glass on the booths were pretty dirty...especially when the sun shines through the dirty windows.”

“No service I know the food is good, but I was tired of waiting and left. Nice joke, folks.. You won’t be seeing me again anytime soon I really did like your food though.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Coming from Ukrainian heritage, I can confirm the perogies are world-class. Forgive me, Auntie and Mom, but you would agree. They are delicious, tender, do not separate, and are a real deal for the money! The cabbage rolls were also very good. I hope people will come and support this kitchen. There are not a lot of Ukrainian options in Nanaimo and on Vancouver Island.”

“Absolutely amazing food and service. Best food in Nanaimo. If you haven't tried it yet be sure you do, you will not be disappointed. Every time we go back, we are not disappointed. Yum”

“Delicious food, waiters are very attentive, and super nice atmosphere. Plus it’s all at an affordable price. Can totally recommend it and will definitely come back again”

“I don't know how it took me so long to find this place! Friendly staff, good service, delicious food. I've tried the beef sausage roll, espresso cheesecake, and peanut butter cheesecake and all have been fantastic.”

“Lovely and very accommodating waitress, Ashleigh! Delicious food too. Both my mother and myself have food restrictions (gluten for me and many things for my mom) and they were able to accommodate us perfectly. Great view too!”

“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.”

“Excellent customer service!”

“First time trying Noodlebox. I tried their pad thai with chicken (I've eaten many pad thais in Thailand). The flavor was spot on, but the noodle was undercooked. Beansprouts were crispy but there was no chives. :(
The cashier was friendly and the service was quick. Next time I'd like to try their Cambodian jungle curry. Sounds interesting.”

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

“The food was OK....but was not impressed with the dust on the rungs of the chairs and the dividing glass on the booths were pretty dirty...especially when the sun shines through the dirty windows.”

“We were just at this place. Great staff. Friendly. Food is amazing. I recommend Ironworks Cafe. Special mention to Renee, really friendly Thank you Rico and Rona”

“Arrived at 2 so had options from the regular and happy hour menu. The street corn dip was fantastic. Combo plates included enchiladas and our favourite dish - Chile Rellenos. Great staff, funky atmosphere and amazing food. Can't wait to come back!”

“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”

“Best pizza around 🤌🏻 the sweet garlic dip is to die for 😮‍💨”

“We had lunch at the Parksville location for the first time today but it definitely won't be our last. The food was delicious and the staff were wonderful!”

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

“We visited Gabriel’s Café in Nanaimo for breakfast and coffee on our last day and were pleasantly surprised. The breakfast was excellent, with fresh, high quality ingredients. The café states that it prides itself on sourcing local produce, and that commitment is clearly reflected in the food.

The coffee was also very good by Canadian standards. I ordered a Piccolo and had to explain what it was, but the staff were happy to accommodate. It was served in a larger cup than the traditional Australian style Piccolo, but the flavour was excellent. Best of all, the coffee didn’t have the burnt taste that is often found elsewhere.

Friendly service, quality local ingredients, and great coffee make this a café well worth visiting when in Nanaimo.”

“So, full disclosure: I'm from Vancouver B.C., and no, I don't live in Nanaimo. But I happened to be in the neighborhood visiting friends, and we decided to grab breakfast... mostly because, for reasons unknown to science and local logic, half the restaurants in Nanaimo were closed on Victoria Day. Lol, not sure what that's about, but hey, we ended up at White Spot.

And boy, let me tell you... our server was absolutely amazing. I genuinely wish I remembered her name so I could give her a proper shout-out, but she was ridiculously kind and welcoming. Like, suspiciously nice for a holiday morning.

The food? Solid. Now, traditionally, White Spot is not my go to breakfast joint. Why? Because I've had trauma. Back in Vancouver, one location served me a dish that was basically a grease pit disguised as breakfast. You know that moment when you order food and it's just… swimming in oil? Like, not even swimming..more like doing laps. Disgusting, right? Yeah, that was my Vancouver experience. It was so bad it made me ghost White Spot for a long, long time.

But the Nanaimo location? SOLID. They did a fantastic job tailoring the food for our table of four, and for the first time in what feels like forever, my breakfast plate was NOT a grease pit. No oil swim meet. No heartburn warning label. Just good food.

So I guess the moral of the story is: if I ever want White Spot again, I have to drive all the way to Nanaimo. Haha. Worth it, though. Very satisfied with both the food and service here!”

“The three flavour tofu is amazing! Great food, nice green tea. Calm atmosphere, great choices, friendly staff. A bit on the pricey side but worrh it. Updated from previous review on 2026-04-12”

“Kind staff, fresh from the oven gluten-free scone (!), great coffee. Thank you!!! 😊”

“sooo good. the spring roll was INCREDIBLE. service was fast, the sub tasted extraordinarily fresh. the atmosphere of lanterns was GORGEOUS!!! and the free candies was a nice touch. heavily enjoyed this place. barely anybody there!”

“Great Staff. Very generous helpings, our donairs were chock full of succulent lamb. Therefore, filling and delicious ( one must try the sweet and spicy sauces)
Will be back MANY more times!”

“absolutely delicious, everything was so fresh and beautiful, it was a wonderful start to a bday in the family. We will be back!”

“The food was so good I didnt offer my husband any!”

“First time ordering. The 5oz Cheeseburger, onion rings and strawberry milkshake were all excellent. I appreciated that my burger was wrapped in foil before putting in my take out box. Small detail went a long way. Recommend!”