5 Best Restaurants in Hastings Vancouver
Hastings Street is named after Rear-Admiral George Fowler Hastings of the Royal Navy. It’s home to some of Vancouver’s most famous landmarks, like the Harbour Center, Marine Building, and Vancouver Club.
Aside from that, it’s known for having a wide range of restaurants, from casual to high-end, as well as a lot of pubs and places to hang out at night.
If you’re willing to try and drop by this place, then keep reading as we’ve listed some of the best restaurants in Hastings Vancouver.
Best Restaurants in Hastings Vancouver
There are numerous restaurants on Hastings Street offering a range of cuisines and experiences. Before you pick out where to dine, it’s important to consider the kind of atmosphere you’re looking for and the type of food you want to enjoy.
From small, family-run establishments serving traditional meals to stylish eateries serving fusion dishes, the choice of restaurants on Hastings Street is diverse.
Because of this, we chose a variety of restaurants and rated them based on the following criteria:
1. Just Waffles Restaurant
CRITERIA | RATING |
Specialty | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Reputation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Years in Operation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Recognitions | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Customer Feedback | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Just Waffles is owned and operated by Kathy and Calvin Klein. This restaurant specializes in Belgian liège waffles, and we couldn’t help but notice their extensive waffle menu, which includes fruit, eggs, and even pizza waffles.
First and foremost, we think that Just Waffles Restaurant is more than a dessert place for kids because they serve all-day breakfast waffles and have an extensive menu of savory and sweet waffles.
We also liked how they have a diverse beverage menu to complement their waffles, including coffee, juice, soda, and ice cream floats.
In addition, Just Waffles also offers real alligator sausages, which we think sets them apart because it gives their menu a unique twist.
We highly recommend this dish as the alligator sausage is tasty and it adds a bit of excitement to the meal without being too overpowering.
However, if you prefer a more sweet dish, you may want to check out their smores strawberry waffle. This dish features smores and cookies on top with the sweetness of fresh strawberries for a truly indulgent treat.
That said, we were a bit bummed that they don’t have delivery services for their waffles and other menu items, since some people might not be able to visit the restaurant physically. We also wish they had vegetarian options on their menu.
Despite this drawback, the majority of customers we’ve spoken with have praised their staff’s friendliness and the quality of their waffles.
Overall, we thought Just Waffles Restaurant should be included on our list of the best restaurants in Hastings Vancouver, because of their unique waffle creations and delicious beverage options.
If you’re craving for some waffles and want to know if they serve them at the restaurant, you could send them a message here.
Pros
- Specializes in Belgian liège waffles
- Serves all-day breakfast waffles
- Offers real alligator sausages
Cons
- No delivery services
- Vegetarian options not available
Customer Reviews
Sociable and pleasant staff
“Well, a local and friendly spot. Good for kids to enjoy their favorite waffles. The lady at the counter (probably the owner) is very sociable and nice. The service is quite good…” -Nasrin M.
Delicious waffles and toppings
“Delicious waffles made by wonderful people! The waffles and the toppings are hot and delicious. Didn’t only filled our stomach but also our hearts can’t wait to come back next time to try something different…” -Winnie T.
2. Bai Bua Thai Cuisine
CRITERIA | RATING |
Specialty | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Reputation | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Years in Operation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Recognitions | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Bai Bua Thai Cuisine is a one-stop shop for Thai food such as curries, soups, and stir-fries, as well as traditional dishes like Pad Thai and Tom Yum Soup.
We also particularly liked the extensive vegetarian selection on the menu, which included favorites like lettuce wraps, papaya salad, and glass noodle salad, and we think you would too.
But out of all their salad, we think their 30 Som Tum is a must-try! This famous thai salad is packed with vegetables, fresh chilli, garlic, peanuts and fish sauce which gives a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors.
Moreover, the papaya and peanuts add a crunch to the dish and serve as additional protein.
We also appreciated how generous their portions are, as most of their dishes are good for two to three people, making them an ideal place for families and friends.
From what we’ve seen, Bai Bua Thai Cuisine has maintained a minimalist restaurant ambiance with wood and black accents. You can check that out on their instagram where they post pictures of their restaurant and delectable Thai cuisine dishes.
They also have big windows that look out onto the street, which we think adds a nice touch of natural lighting.
However, we noticed that they have limited dine-in seating, and the restaurant can get quite crowded during peak hours.
Although this can be an inconvenience, we appreciated that they deliver and offer online ordering, making it easy for customers to get their favorite dishes delivered to their doorstep.
All in all, we highly recommend Bai Bua Thai Cuisine for their authentic Thai food and convenient delivery services, making them one of the best restaurants in Hastings Vancouver.
Pros
- One-stop shop for Thai food
- Extensive vegetarian selection
- Offers deliver and online ordering
Cons
- Only open three days a week
- Limited dine-in seating area
Customer Reviews
Tasty and authentic thai restaurant
“Authentic Thai restaurant with very tasty food. Love their lunch manual with very reasonable price. Even have nice dessert. Highly recommend will come back for another meal.” -Ken W.
Good value food
“Small cozy authentic Thai food. Great staff, good value and very tasty!!! Always my go to choice when I’m in the area. Especially their Pad Thai!! Must try if you’ve never!.” -Richard T.
3. The Indian Chef’s Kitchen & Bar
CRITERIA | RATING |
Specialty | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Reputation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Years in Operation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Recognitions | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Staff Feedback | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
The Indian Chef’s Kitchen & Bar serves authentic Indian food with vegan and gluten-free options.
The restaurant has a long menu with both traditional Indian dishes and new takes on old favorites like tandoori chicken, tikka masala, and many others.
As soon as we walked in, we immediately noticed the beautiful decor and spacious banquette seating. We also liked that the restaurant lets people pick up their food or have it brought to them if they’d rather eat in the comfort of their own homes.
If you plan on coming, we have several recommendations. First, their vegetable pakora is a must-try for those who enjoy fried food without the guilt.
It’s marinated in a tangy batter with traditional Indian spices, deep-fried until golden brown, and topped with spiced vegetables!
Secondly, we think it’s also worth ordering their lamb seekh kebab for those who love smokey and juicy grilled meat with a burst of flavors.
Last but not the least, we think you should get the Indian chef’s special “Gulab Jamun” with ice cream, which admittedly also made us drool.
This traditional Indian dessert is a must-try for dessert lovers as the syrup-soaked balls blend perfectly with the creamy ice cream.
It’s also worth mentioning that they have a team of experienced chefs from Singapore, Germany, and across Canada because we think the variety of cultures present in the kitchen allows for a unique take on traditional Indian dishes.
Looking at their menu, they have a wide range of North Indian food options, which we absolutely love.
Other than that, we found it appealing that they only use omega-3 rich canola oil on all their dishes, as this oil is low in saturated fats.
Now, we’re not big fans of their relatively higher prices. We also wish they had an online reservation system for dine-in customers so that they don’t have to wait in line for a table.
Still, you can order ahead here by selecting “Start Order”, just beside the follow button, which would bring you to their menu options. We found this convenient so you can order in advance and specify special requests.
All in all, we think The Indian Chef’s Kitchen & Bar is one of the best restaurants in Hastings Vancouver for those looking for authentic Indian food cooked with healthy ingredients.
Pros
- Authentic Indian food
- Vegan and gluten-free options available
- Serves both traditional and modern Indian dishes
- Wide range of North Indian food options
Cons
- Relatively higher rates
- No online reservation system
Customer Reviews
Delicious food
“The food is absolutely delicious! PERFECT! My Indian friend who just moved to Canada keeps telling me the food is at least as good as what you would enjoy in India, if not more…” -Joel F.
Tasty food
“Tasty food, large portions. Polite and nice staff…” -Arash V.
4. Obanhmi
CRITERIA | RATING |
Specialty | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Reputation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Years in Operation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Recognitions | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Availability | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Another option worth considering is Obanhmi. This establishment is the go-to for one of Vietnam’s signature sandwiches, the banh mi, a sandwich baked with rice and wheat flour.
First and foremost, what makes Obanhmi unique is their creative twists on this popular street snack as they add ingredients like pork belly, lemongrass chicken, and a variety of pickled vegetables.
Obanhmi also has vegan and vegetarian versions of banh mi for people who don’t eat meat or have other dietary restrictions.
If we’re being honest, we recommend their entire menu, but perhaps what we liked the most is “The Classic”.
This French-influenced banh mi is filled with Vietnamese mayo, ham, and jambon which brings out a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors!
The fact that they also serve authentic Vietnamese coffee also caught our attention, as we thought this was the perfect accompaniment to their banh mi.
We’re just a bit iffy about their limited indoor seating, but we understand that a small shop like Obanhmi can’t accommodate many customers at a time.
But they do offer pickup and delivery services, and they offer discounts to make their services more accessible to everyone.
Also, the people we talked to about bahn mi raved about how fresh and tasty it was, with tasty fillings and crisp bread. Check out more of their insta worthy banh mi’s here.
Ultimately, we highly recommend Obanhmi if you’re looking to try this popular Vietnamese street food. They have a wide variety of bhan mi sandwiches and they can accommodate numerous dietary restrictions.
Pros
- Creative twists on banh mi
- Caters to a variety of dietary restrictions and preferences
- Serves Vietnamese coffee
- Pick-up and delivery services available
Cons
- Limited indoor seating
- No desserts on menu
Customer Reviews
Tasty vegetarian options
“The tofu sandwich is very tasty, great for vegan/vegetarian. The Thai iced tea is not as sweet as I’m used to but was still good. Overall price is good…” -Luong T.
Yummy bread selection
“Delicious!!!! Freshly baked bread and yummy, quality fillings. Clean location and tons of street parking.” -Jack J.
5. Hi5 Pizza
CRITERIA | RATING |
Specialty | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Reputation | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Years in Operation | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Recognitions | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Availability | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Hi5 Pizza provides fresh pizzas and donair. While they can’t accommodate dine-in customers, they have takeout and delivery services within Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
It’s convenient that consumers can order online and won’t have to worry about payment because they accept nearly all payment methods.
What sets them apart is that they have classic and specialty pizzas that consumers can customize to only include ingredients they want.
In fact, what we liked best about Hi5 Pizza is their “Build Your Own Pie or Donair” option, which allows customers to choose from a wide range of toppings to create their own perfect pie or donair.
We liked that you can choose up to six toppings, your choice of base sauce and cheese, and one protein ingredient such as chicken, bacon, pepperoni, or beef, and we think you would too.
If we’re being completely honest, though, we have to say that their pepperoni pizza is the best thing they serve. The crispy crust is smothered in tangy tomato sauce, savory melted cheese, and of course, pepperoni!
Other than that, Hi5 Pizza also has various side dishes on their menu such as poutine, fries, chicken wings, and cheesy bread.
Having said that, we’re not big fans of their limited delivery service area, and we were disappointed to find out that they don’t offer delivery outside of their local area.
Despite this, we believe Hi5 Pizza is one of the best restaurants in Hastings Vancouver because it serves a wide range of delicious pizzas and donairs with customizable toppings and side dishes.
Pros
- Serves fresh pizzas and donair
- Takeout and delivery services available
- Accepts nearly all payment methods
- Classic and specialty pizzas
- Customizable pizzas and donairs
Cons
- Cannot accommodate dine-in customers
- Limited service area
Customer Reviews
Delicious toppings
“I had a creamy Chipotle chicken pizza slice today. The owner suggested a ranch topping and it worked so well. The sauce was delicious with just enough spices…” -Pisces C.
Crispy and chewy crust
“It’s like a fresh slice but a million times better, crispy yet chewy crust, the garlic sauce is on another level. Can’t wait to try the donairs!… -William R.
FAQs about Restaurants in Hastings Vancouver
All in all, Hastings Vancouver is a good choice if you’d like to explore different food options. Located in the city center, it offers a wide variety of eateries, ranging from cheap fast food to fine dining restaurants.
Here are a few related articles you may want to check out to continue your food trip journey: