With so many TV shows and movies filming around Vancouver, it’s no surprise that celebs are spotted out at local restaurants, cafes, and bars rather frequently. Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Shay Mitchell are just some of the bigger names that frequent Hollywood North. And they’re not shy when it comes to talking about their favourite eats & drinks in the city. So, why not check some of them out?
While the celebrity stamp of approval is not needed for a food scene as diverse as Vancouver’s, it certainly never hurts. So with that in mind, here’s our roundup of celebrity-approved restaurants to check out in the city.
Phnom Penh, Kissa Tanto, Saku, Golden Paramount, Keefer Bar
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We’re starting off this list with not one, not two, but five Vancouver spots, all offering a variety of delicious cuisines from around the globe. We’ll start with Phnom Penh, where actor Jimmy O Yang (Silicon Valley, Crazy Rich Asians) was filmed enjoying “amazing Cambodian, Hu Tieu.” The Eastside gem serves up an array of tasty Cambodian-style noodles & traditional Vietnamese fare.
Next up in Yang’s food tour is Kissa Tanto’s “smokey mash potatoes on fish roe toast,” and the “incredible katsu” at Saku on Robson. The former serves mouthwatering Japanese-Italian fusion dishes & fancy cocktails, and the latter offers guests a taste of the city’s finest TonKatsu.
Finally, we’ve got Golden Paramount in Richmond – where Yang enjoyed the bounty of spot prawn season – and a round of mini golf at the Keefer. We can’t think of a better way to digest all that delicious food.
Rodney’s Oyster House
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Who better to keep the ball rolling with the food recs than Melissa Fumero? The Brooklyn 99 star and the show’s Director of Photography Rick Page were spotted at Rodney’s Oyster House this spring, and they sure look happy about it!
“Enjoyed some amazing oysters, chowder, & lobster rolls with Rick Page today. That’s the post.”
And that’s it from us, too. Check out Rodney’s for some comfort food from the sea. Amy Santiago’s stamp of approval is all we need!
A La Mode Pie Cafe, Cartems, Ask for Luigi, and Rain or Shine
A few years back, Blake Lively shared four of her “favourite things in the world,” naming Cartems Donuts, pie from A La Mode, Rain or Shine, and dessert from Ask for Luigi. In addition to giving away her sweet tooth, these recs
And as for Rain or Shine, she isn’t the only celeb to sing its praises. Who could forget Kiernan Shipka’s cryptic “goodnight” post at the local ice cream shop??
Yes, this one’s also a bit of a throwback, but with a caption as equally mystifying as it is direct, how could we not include Kiernan Shipka’s “goodnight” post at Rain or Shine??
Bodega on Main
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No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Above is the cast of not one, not two…but FIVE different shows sitting together at one table at Bodega.
We’ve got cast members of Superman & Lois, The Flash, Batwoman, Supergirl, and A Million Little Things at one dinner party, in celebration of Azie Tesfai’s birthday in December 2021. Talk about a grand entrance!
Honey’s Doughnuts
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It’s no secret that Honey’s is a popular choice to satisfy the sweet cravings of the stars. And for good reason – the importance of a good doughnut fix cannot be overstated.
Among the most recent celebrity visitors are Kate Winslet, who “pines for Honey’s Doughnuts in Deep Cove,” and Vancouver native Shay Mitchell.
Lee’s Donuts
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Another Vancouverite worth mentioning is comedic legend Seth Rogen (maybe you’ve heard of him?) and his love for Lee’s Donuts.
The Granville Island doughnut shop was the first food stop of the day for Rogen and celebrity Chef David Chang in their Netflix series, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Also spotted there in 2019 were Dave Franco and Alison Brie!
Finch’s Tea and Coffee House
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Cole Sprouse is pretty much an honourary Vancouverite at this point (courtesy of Riverdale), and he’s definitely known to pop into Finch’s Tea for a cup of tea every now and again. With Riverdale’s final season coming to a close (production-wise) in spring 2023, you’ve still got plenty of time to ‘casually run into’ the star on your quest for coffee and pastries.
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill
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Jason Momoa isn’t shy about expressing his love for Vancouver’s food scene. The Aquaman and Game of Thrones star was spotted at celeb-hotspot Cioppino’s in full celebration mode earlier this year. Red wine, big smiles all around, and of course, a delicious meal prepared by world-renown Chef Heinz Beck.
While it’s clear that he enjoyed his meal, it’s our city’s ramen that keeps him coming back again and again. He’s made several trips to Marutama Ra-men on Bidwell Street, documenting his “small addiction” on Instagram like the true foodie he is.
The Belgian Chocolate Cafe
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From Joe Fortes to the rooftop terrace at Black + Blue, John Cena is no stranger to Vancouver’s food and drink scene. The WWE star visited The Belgian Chocolate Cafe for some coffee and pastries a few years back. A decision we can certainly get behind.
Minerva’s Restaurant
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Lucky for us, Ryan Reynolds’ favourite restaurant in the world is located right here in Vancouver. No, seriously. The actor and business mogul was quoted saying those words exactly. He even recently recommended Minerva’s in a Twitter response to Sam Cook, who asked about his go-to spots.
The Kerrisdale restaurant is a local favourite for Greek food since its opening in 1975, known for its hand-pressed pizzas, charbroiled steaks, and traditional Greek dishes like Moussaka. Might be time to check out Minerva’s for their happy hour if you haven’t already!
Miku
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It’s no shocker that Miku is on this list. What may come as a surprise is that their handcrafted sushi is so good, that it even captured the attention of Beyonce and Jay-Z a few years back.
While the couple generally likes to keep their private life private, every once in a while they’ll throw the ‘Beyhive’ a bone. This bone happens to be Miku.
Juice Bar
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Tom Haverford is certainly known to enjoy the finer things in life, and it looks like Aziz Ansari didn’t need to dig too deep for that character. The Parks and Rec actor, writer, and comedian was spotted at the Juice Bar (located inside Birds & The Beets).
Pro-tip: Check out the evenings-only bar and webshop if you’re an avid wine lover.
Gotham Steakhouse & Bar
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Why not end this list with another celebrity hotspot, Gotham Steakhouse & Bar. Among the stars to visit include the cast of Twilight, George Clooney, Halle Berry, and even The Rock. Now, if only we could guess how each of them likes their steak!
And that’s our list of celebrity-approved restaurants to check out. Happy dining, Vancouver!
