Working downtown in a city as vibrant and multicultural as Vancouver comes with plenty of perks, not the least of which is the sheer number and variety of great restaurants near the Gossamer Threads office. While some folks brown bag it, we all indulge in take-out from time to time, and everyone’s got their favourite spots. Read out for a guide to eating in Vancouver, Gossamer Threads-style…

Spin Roll

Photo by Yelp!-er Crystal H.

Vancouver has more sushi restaurants per capita than any city outside of Japan, which means GTers have no shortage of choice when it comes to getting their sashimi fix.

Although the always busy Urban Sushi gets some of our business, hole-in-the wall Spin Roll Sushi gets the lion’s share of our take-out orders, offering tasty rolls and friendly service at a super affordable price.

Google Maps tells us that there are no less than 20 sushi joints within a two block radius of our office!

Gorilla Food

Photo by Yelp!-er Rajan S.

A fair number of GTers are vegetarian or vegan, and Vancouver doesn’t lack for meat-free options. One of the more adventurous spots that’s just a hop, skip and a jump from the office is Gorilla Food, an all-raw, all-organic, all-vegan place.

Photo by Yelp!-er Geoff P.

Their take on pizza is different, to be sure, but also heartily satisfying, and the fruit smoothies are heavenly.

Viet Sub

Photo by Yelp!-er Larry L.

Vancouver’s got just about everything when it comes to international cuisine, up to and including Bánh m&igrave, a sandwich of Vietnamese fillings served in a French baguette which emerged over a hundred years ago in colonial Vietnam. Our Vietnamese expat and Perl programmer Bao swears by Viet Sub, praising the special sauce they use on their subs as being streets ahead of most Vietnamese restaurants, on or off a sandwich.

Few sandwiches can match the Vietnamese Bánh mì

La Tacquiera

Authentic Mexican tacos on soft tortillas. Mmm.

La Tacquiera does one thing and one thing only: authentic Mexican tacos on soft tortillas. Be sure to add plenty of pickled onions, just don’t underestimate the upper range of their hot sauces.

Photo by Yelp!-er Reena M.

This tiny spot has proved so popular with the downtown lunch crowd that a larger restaurant has recently opened up outside of the downtown core, but thankfully the original location’s still up and running.