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Plan meals by neighbourhood and cuisine, not by old price-band lists. Richmond is the region’s deepest destination for Chinese food, with dim sum, noodles, dumplings and regional specialities spread around Canada Line stations and commercial plazas. Vancouver proper offers strong Chinese Canadian dining around Chinatown, Main Street and Kingsway, while Japanese restaurants range from casual ramen and izakaya counters to carefully sourced sushi. The Pacific coast appears through salmon, shellfish and spot prawns when in season. Granville Island is useful for market grazing and picnic supplies; Commercial Drive brings together cafés and varied immigrant food traditions; Punjabi Market and South Vancouver add South Asian options. Reservations are sensible for destination restaurants, but some of the best exploration comes from choosing a corridor and following what is busy. Because businesses change quickly, confirm a restaurant’s current address and opening status rather than relying on inherited directories.