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”

“Amazing service, delicious food !”

“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!”

“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.”

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

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

“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!”

“delicious pizza, they’re special of the day is often very creative and tasty. I have not had a bad slice and I’ve had many slices at this shop. The staff are always friendly and their service is quick and efficient. Not only are they great for stopping in for a slice but I’ve also bought full pizza pies and always delicious. I’m a big fan of their pepperoni because there’s lots of pepperoni on the pizza. Lots of other places, cut stuff up so small and make it just blah, but this place knows how to do it right.”

“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!”

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

“🍕 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!”

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

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

“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”

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

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

“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.”

“The food was wonderful. This is the best breakfast spot on the island for a vegan! The staff were welcoming and great. The restaurant was busy even an hour after opening. I would recommend the freshly squeezed orange juice and the Jingle Pot
Lots of options for everyone.”

“Went there for the first time on my birthday. The staff is so welcoming and friendly. Luther was superb in his work, confirmed our dietry preferences and looked for all possible options we could try. He was very well spoken and knows his work well. Made me feel so special on my birthday. Thank you Cactus club for the amazing team you have. And thank you so much Luther for you exceptional service, your patience is worth appreciation and i am big fan of your talking skills. Have wonderful days ahead!!”

“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!”

“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”

“one of my favourite restaurants in nanaimo! i love the atmosphere of the place, the service is always good, and there are lots of vegetarian options on the menu!”

“definitely my favourite sushi place in Nanaimo!! their food is always fresh and so delicious, it is also ran by a super lovely couple. i absolutely LOVE their tuna sashimi, and the chicken katsu!!! would definitely recommend to others who have not been their before😊”

“Absolutely amazing food & friendly staff!”

“I think we should give hazel a masive rasie she is the hardest tims worker i have ever seen took 10 seconds to make my food she is as quick as a horse and as a kind as a dog definitely recommend”

“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 absolutely love this place the workers deserve a raise they are absolutely amazing i love them so much this is my favourite place I want to work here when I’m old tysm for the kindness here - the 67 kids”

“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!”

“Went thru the drive thru yesterday. Service was fast and efficient. Had to pull thru and wait for my food at the front of the building despite there being no one behind me. Made it kind of awkward for people trying to back out and leave. Other than that, everything was right and quickly brought to my car.”

“Worst experience ever. I let my first slide. The 2nd I can't. They messed up my order not only once but, twice. I asked for a burger with no pickles and onions and I got pickles and onions. My second attempt saw me getting nothing on my burger. The manager didn't care that I had asked for a refund and wanted to out of there asap. Last time for me.”

“Give my guy Jake a raise already He actually is the goat. The guy literally made me the freshest food at McDonald’s super uncommon, really nice and chill guy that too in the night Super, super rare. Overall he’s 100 out of 10 man. Make him supervisor or the manager already”

“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.”

“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!”

“⁣ 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!”

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

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

“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”

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

“From Calgary - we drive through Nanaimo once every year to head up or down island. We discovered The Vault about 5 years ago and try our best to make sure we have time to stop for a coffee and a bite to eat. The place is always busy - which is a good sign and the food and coffee are delicious. The breakfast wrap is sooo good and I usually clean them out of their Snickerdoodle cookies. Always worth the stop - and much better than the food and coffee on the ferry.”

“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!”

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

“Excellent customer service!”

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

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

“We came here on Friday, August 21st, 2026 and had one of our best experiences so far. Our waitress's name was Emma, and she was absolutely lovely!

She truly made our experience even more enjoyable than it normally is when we eat here. We shared many laughs and smiles while we were there. I was also incredibly appreciative of how seriously she (and the kitchen/chefs) took my new obscure allergy. They brought out the list of ingredients to ensure I was comfortable. We had a lovely evening!”

“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!”

“very nice little cafe with lots of greenery.”

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

“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!!”

“I went for lunch with coworkers and we ordered our food ahead of time so it would be ready shortly after getting there as we only had an hour. We had to wait about 25 min after arriving to get our food, which was disappointing. I had the jalapeno burger with a gluten free bun. The bun was very good, but the rest was a little bland. I don't know where the jalapeno was supposed to be in the burger (I think maybe the jam?) but I couldn't taste it at all. My side salad was quite good and I enjoyed it more than the burger. The atmosphere was very nice and we enjoyed ourselves overall. I wish I could give 3.5 stars, as I'm not quite at a 4, but I think 3 is too low. Maybe I just need to give it another try!”

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

“Been trying these across Canada and this one was amazing customer service 🙌 the item I got was the taco bowl $17.72 came to with a drink. Location is in a mall and the vibe us usual mall noise but I was there mid afternoon so pretty low key. The food was okay 👍 thanks Taco Time for the great experience.”

“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.”

“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!”

“Ordered 3 different Combo Meals at the weekend for the family and all were great tasting and value for money. We'll be coming back! Thank you.”

“Great experience. I googled “best sushi Nanaimo” as we were craving. The sashimi slices were huge and excellent quality. Chef arranged the platter to look like a flower. Would definitely come again. Thanks for a great meal!”

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

“Went there for pre Mother’s Day Sat evening. For a busy evening service was great. Reservations were on time, got a nice table by the big bay windows.
Bread was amazing. My wife had the salmon zougla, I had the seafood linguine and son had a 7oz steak and prawns. Food was hot, and all dishes were awesome. Everything tasted fresh, very flavourful. Steak was 1inch thick, perfectly cooked to med rare. Pasta was fresh, vegetables were colourful, seafood tasted fresh as well. Salmon was Amazon. Will head back there for Father’s Day. Nice location and very comfortable place to eat dinner. Parking is at a bit of a premium.”

“So refreshing to see a small company take such a beautiful and influential stance on love for every icecream, of every colour and origin story!! (we aren't just talking about ice cream). 🩵🔥”

“Great fresh pizza, the crust is quite special. It's nice you can build your own pizza, too. Very comfy atmosphere and friendly staff, you really don't see too many places like this anymore. Fair price too, I definitely recommend.”

“I bought a cake for my wife’s birthday. The cake was incredible! The lady working was very accommodating and I loved the little “hole-in-the-wall” bakery. 10/10. Will go back!”

“Very nice restaurant to experience teriyaki meals.”

“I was pleasantly surprised!
Only 20$ for a healthy meal, with good proteins and healthy nutrition.

The employee was a little rude at first when I didn't understand them, other than that it's a cool spot.”

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

“Great food, friendly loved it.”

“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”

“Stopped in at Serious Coffee last weekend while road tripping around the island and honestly wasn't expecting much but the harbor view from the window seats totally sold me. Ordered a maple latte and a breakfast sandwich around 9am on Saturday and both were solid, nothing fancy but well made. The staff behind the counter were friendly and quick even with a line out the door, which I appreciated since we were trying to beat the crowds at the seawall. Parking nearby was easy to find too, so overall a nice little stop before we kept exploring Nanaimo.”

“The roast beef and the lemon squares 🤤”

“Enjoyed wonton soup really delicious”

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

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

“Easily my favourite pizza place if I want budget slice or two of pizza. Crust is above average. The sauce is flavourful, and always a good selection of slices when I come in. Handy that they have an app in order to preorder my slices before I get to the location.”

“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.”

“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”

“From Calgary - we drive through Nanaimo once every year to head up or down island. We discovered The Vault about 5 years ago and try our best to make sure we have time to stop for a coffee and a bite to eat. The place is always busy - which is a good sign and the food and coffee are delicious. The breakfast wrap is sooo good and I usually clean them out of their Snickerdoodle cookies. Always worth the stop - and much better than the food and coffee on the ferry.”

“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.”

“The very very worst KFC going. Do not waste your time or money”

“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 !”

“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”

“Fae made our dinner and evening extra special. Food was fantastic and she made sure our every need was taken care of. Definitely will be back when we visit Nanaimo!”

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

“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.”

“our go-to location on the island. nice to be greeted with smiles 😁 always get the spicy peanut bowl, but tried the Cambodian yellow curry today and it was delicious! bits of mango on top so good.”

“From Calgary - we drive through Nanaimo once every year to head up or down island. We discovered The Vault about 5 years ago and try our best to make sure we have time to stop for a coffee and a bite to eat. The place is always busy - which is a good sign and the food and coffee are delicious. The breakfast wrap is sooo good and I usually clean them out of their Snickerdoodle cookies. Always worth the stop - and much better than the food and coffee on the ferry.”

“Excellent customer service!”

“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!”

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

“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”

“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.”

“First time there this past Saturday. It was amazing. Thank you”

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

“Great food, great service and friendly atmosphere. Especially love the garlic naan. aloo gobi, beef samosa”

“Pros:
1. Food was great
2. Service was great
3. Plenty of parking
4. Great atmosphere

Cons:
The portions are small, and the prices are slightly higher, especially for the chicken burger.”

“Best fish and chips ever!! ❤️❤️❤️”

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

“Best Vietnamese I've had in ages. Excellent food and good, family-run restaurant. I knew it was a winner the moment I stepped in the door and smelled what was coming out of the kitchen.

Menu was extensive. Food came out of kitchen piping hot - no premade combos here. Everything was fresh, delicious and authentic.

It was so good, that I grabbed a bahn mi to go for later.”

“As a group of six we were delighted to find such a lovely place to stop for brunch. Dropping our son at university was the reason for our visit. Rick the manager went out of his way to chat with us and help explain what was available. Three of us had breakfast ciabatta, a ham/cheese panini and two lots of waffles. All delicious. Drinks were good, place was spotless. Staff not overly engaging but polite. Rick thanked us for visiting which was a really nice touch. We will return. Many thanks.”

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

“Absolutely loved the falafel platter at Donair Dude - Nanaimo! The falafels were perfectly crispy outside and soft, flavourful inside. Every item on the platter tasted fresh — from the creamy hummus and garlic sauce to the salad. Portion size was generous and filling, especially for the price. The staff were friendly, service was quick, and the restaurant was super clean. One of the best Middle Eastern meals I’ve had in Nanaimo. Highly recommend for anyone who loves authentic, fresh, and satisfying food!”

“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!”

“A great little get away from the hustle. A short ferry ride from Nanimo. It has a great cafe with delicious food. Beautiful hiking trails, tons of space to picnic and play and miles of quiet Beaches!”

“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!”