Food Courts in Vancouver, BC

“One of the countless beauties of Japanese cuisine is the quiet grace of its tableware—pieces that serve their purpose without demanding the spotlight. It is a level of pairing you rarely find anywhere else in the world. Plates, bowls, small condiment dishes, spoons, and chopsticks feel so deliberately curated that they seem custom-designed for a single, specific dish.

Yet, I’ve often wondered: is this exquisite tableware truly essential to experiencing the soul of Japanese food?

My visit to Torimaru Ramen today proved that it isn’t.
Their rich, velvety chicken paitan ramen instantly brought back memories of the early days of Marutama Ramen in Vancouver. With its slender white noodles, perfectly seasoned soft-boiled egg, and the option for kaedama (extra noodles), Torimaru captures all the hallmark comforts of classic tonkotsu while delivering the refined elegance of modern, new-wave ramen. Come to think of it, ramen as everyday comfort food was born from humble food carts to begin with—a world away from all that ornate tableware.

If you aren't quite accustomed to the intense richness of a concentrated chicken broth, their complimentary fresh garlic and chili oil offer an effortless, customizable gateway into their star dish.

My only wish? I really hope they consider offering a larger paper takeout bowl down the road—because then, I wouldn't hesitate to order a triple portion of extra noodles.“

“A great addition to Lonsdale Quay! Highly recommend their bowls and salads!“

“A great food court. Many options, and tons of seating! Definitely could handle large groups eating from different establishments located in the food court if ordered in advance.

Great place for a quick bite to eat while touring the waterfront.

Peace ✌🏻“

“Great little Mexican secret spot! A friend insisted we go here, it's a stall in a food court in the International Mall dt near China Town. Menu has good choices I had gluten-free taco plate. If you enjoy Mexican you should try this place“

“A very cool find for good eats at UBC for a reasonable price. As far as I could see, it was predominantly Asian cuisine (Japanese, Chinese/Canadian-Chinese, Korean, etc) and a Donair/Shwarma option. I chose to order from Grill Master, and would HIGHLY recommend it. Lots of options, with a good variety of vegetarian options as well, not too greasy, and (as someone who sits in the 10% of people who react negatively to too much MSG) doesnt leave you feeling bloated or with headaches. A perfect budget-friendly option for students or workers taking their lunch break.

Looking forward to the next time I'm around UBC so I can try some of the other options available there😋🍱🍜🍤“

“First time trying the food court but I’ve been a long time member. Even with no sitting tables around there are plenty of places you can go to sit or just having a place to food your on a table or ledge makes it comfortable to eat. Also ease of ordering if the many digital stations they have to order your food. There are lots of pigeons around though that may harass you a bit as you eat. You can’t beat the prices here though!! Will def come back to try some of the other foods.“

“Absolutely love this food court - I've eaten at basically every restaurant in the food fair and they're all above-average, especially for a food court, and Broye is a welcome addition as the resident coffee shop.

The Persian place (Tops Chef Persian) isn't getting nearly enough love, so I'm going to call it out specifically. Their chicken rice bowl is soooo filling and has so much veg in it and is only $12, which is shockingly affordable for 2026. I'd fully expect to pay like $18 for it most places (and it'd still be a great deal). Strong recommend.“

“We visited Little Japan, a small restaurant owned by a lovely couple. The food was excellent, with generous portions and great service. You can add a fried egg to your meal for just $2 🍳. If you're in the area and looking for delicious food at a reasonable price, I highly recommend checking it out! ✅
I forgot to mention, the food court was clean and also the public washrooms😊“

“Food was great. Good portions and taste was good. Owners were very friendly. Hot sauce is actually hot which I was happy to see.

My only complaint is don’t pay them in USD use a credit card. They don’t use any type of exchange rate. My total was $57 and some change in CAD and I handed them $60 USD and he gave me $2 and change back in USD. I didn’t feel quite as bad since they gave us some Prawns for “free” but definitely was $15 difference in CAD and USD“

“I tried the new bubble tea! The cheese definitely is sth new and I love it. The cheese and fresh strawberry make a good taste together.“

“I’ve been missing the chicken rice in Singapore, so I decided to try the chicken rice here. The chicken was delicious, and the meal was very affordable, especially since it came with a drink. It was a satisfying meal and definitely worth trying!“

“I have had lovely lunches at Place Vanier.
The staff are always lovely and have so much to say about the food they serve, you can tell they genuinely care about their craft. It’s a bit out of the way for me, but absolutely worth making the trip every time. The salmon burger is worth being late for a lecture for, 12 out of 10 guys! Amazing!“

“It’s always awesome to have great and fresh food with amazing varieties of items of both vegetarian and non vegetarian that are sure to please everyone’s taste buds and one such place is there within easy reach and reasonable pricing. This is the place which has been in operation for several years now helping many office workers in the tower and many people in and around the area. The portions come with choice of meats and two vegetable items totally complimentary! For the carb, they serve hot rice with a surprising addition of a fried papad at no charge. This has been my ‘go to’ place for my lunch everyday for many years so long I was working in the tower office and now having retired visit this place without fail whenever I happened to visit downtown Vancouver. Great quality with no change in taste and flavour for years. Checkout their special item of the day, that is on every weekday Recommended highly!

Vegetarian options: Vegetable items - brussels, cabbage, chickpea curry, kidney beans curry, sautéed masala potatoes“