Here’s where you can find Indigenous cuisine in & around Vancouver

The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation is coming up at the end of the week, and we want to spotlight some amazing Indigenous-owned and operated restaurants in the Vancouver area. After all, the stomach can be a wonderful vehicle for acquiring knowledge in addition to new tastes!

This year marks the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day (“Every Child Matters”). The day is all about listening to Indigenous voices, asking questions, and taking responsibility for our continued learning about the history of Canada.

In terms of learning more about BC’s diverse Indigenous food scene, Indigenous Tourism BC has several highlighted culinary tours on its website. So, grab a fork and get ready to sample delicious bannock (pan-fried flatbread) and other Indigenous staples!

Mr. Bannock

We’re starting with Vancouver’s first-ever Indigenous food truck, Mr. Bannock, which has been featured on everything from Rachael Ray to BC Achievements. Chef Paul Natrall of the Squamish Nation uses traditional cooking methods like smoking clay and stone baking to produce delicious bannock tacos, sandwiches, and even waffles. So if you’ve worked up an appetite after a hike or day outdoors, you know where to head.

Where: 433 West 1st Street, North Vancouver

Tawnshi

Next up, we come to one of the best spots for hand-crafted charcuterie around, and a great pick for group picnics. Tawnshi’s Indigenous-inspired boards and boxes offer a beautiful Charcuterie Board ($190) and an equally stunning Gluten-Free Charcuterie Board ($195), both of which have sizing options and can be made pescatarian or vegetarian. The standard “small” size can feed five to eight people, though!

A smaller Charcuterie Gift Box can be purchased for $55, and baked bannock and cookies are available for $26 per box.

Where: Delivery available to Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond & Burnaby

Thunderbird Cafe

The Thunderbird Cafe is located inside the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, and offers guests a variety of First Nations dishes with a modern twist. Their menu boasts a selection of affordable daily specials like salmon chowder and chocolate bannock mini donuts. Oh, and you don’t have to purchase admission to the museum to stop by the cafe!

Cafe patrons can also take advantage of the cultural centre’s many group tours ($18-$20 per ticket), which include a Holistic Tour & Indigenous Tea Offering, a new Paddling Through the Nations canoe tour, and their iconic What We Treasure tour, which was listed as a Canadian Signature Experience.

Salmon N’ Bannock Bistro

Salmon N’ Bannock on West Broadway is the city’s only Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant. The team uses traditional ingredients to create authentic flavours in each dish – ranging from smoked salmon burgers to Pemmican Mousse (smoked & dried bison, cream cheese, sage, and blueberries). They also have gluten-free bannock for folks with food allergies.