Butchers



In Vancouver:

Downtown
East Side
West Side

Regional:

North Shore
Greater Vancouver
Vancouver Island

DOWNTOWN

SAVE-ON-MEATS
Now including save-on-seafood, -grocery and -produce, this friendly family-owned and operated storefront has been offering good value on meat since 1958. Pop into the diner in the back for the best-priced meals in the area. 43 W. Hastings St., 604-683-7761.

SO.CIAL AT LE MAGASIN CUSTOM BUTCHER SHOP AND DELI
So.cial’s trendy new meat market offers local duck, lamb, pork and organic chicken, and specializes in house-made charcuterie and terrines. Nosh on the barbecue roast suckling pig sandwich, a sloppy taste of heaven. Sausages and bacon are made on site, too. 332 Water St., 604-669-4488.

TANGO'S GOURMET MEATS
Features non-medicated, open-range beef along with Alberta prime and Angus beef; free-range chicken and a broad selection of cheeses. It’s also one of the few places where you can get your hands on Island Farms milk. 865 Denman St., 604-681-2121.

Back to top

EAST SIDE

COLUMBUS MEAT MARKET
Known for their barbecue-ready marinated skewers, ribs and whole-stuffed suckling pig, the old-school owners also offer a large selection of homemade Italian sausages, both cured and fresh. Stock up on the wallet-friendly family freezer packs. 1655 Renfrew St., 604-253-2242.

NIKUYA MEATS
Specializing in Kobe beef, Kurobuta and barley-fed pork, this store is the exclusive Canadian importer for Snake River Farms, which breeds the finest group of Wagyu/Angus cross cattle in the U.S. More than a dozen upscale Vancouver restaurants purchase Kobe beef here, including Tojo’s. 107-2828 E. Hastings St., 604-254-4129. Nikuya.ca

WINDSOR PACKING
A neighbourhood icon for 18 years. Along with the usual fare, friendly butchers offer items for day-to-day shoppers with easy-to-prepare foods such as steaks, chops and pre-marinated kebobs, lamb chops, and marinated wild salmon. Excellent sausages. 4110 Main St., 604-872-5635.

Back to top

WEST SIDE

THE BUTCHER
West Point Grey’s friendly neighbourhood butcher carries many local products such as Fraser Valley free-range chicken and pork, Salt Spring lamb and rabbit (when available) and grass-fed beef. Special sausage requests, such as wheat-free, are welcome. 4529 W. 10th Ave., 604-224-0602.

JACKSON'S MEATS
One of the only places in town to pick up a turducken—20 pounds of boneless fowl tucked one inside the other, with three separate savoury dressings; traditional parsley, sage and thyme for the turkey; sweet cornbread for the duck; and andouilli sausage for the chicken. Best order in advance. 2717 Granville St., 604-738-6328.

SHAUGHNESSY FINE MEATS
Part of the triple threat that share space here (including MacFarlane’s Selected Fish Market and Bocconcino Deli). Shaugnessy is best known for its on-the-premises dry-hung Alberta beef, and the best prime rib in the city. They also carry fresh local pork and chicken, milk-fed veal and local boneless duck breasts. 2233 W. 41st Ave., 604-266-6911.

Back to top

NORTH SHORE

THE BLUE GOOSE CATTLE COMPANY
Straight from the farm to you. Order this organic, free-range beef online and pick up at the North Vancouver warehouse. The 250,000 acre South Cariboo farm sells direct to the customer, at reasonable prices. 123-1305 Welch St., 604-980-9146.

THE FAT BUTCHER
A fully stocked display case holds smoked and fresh sausages—all made on premise—and grain-fed Alberta AAA beef. Custom-cut steaks, handmade cordons with a variety of stuffings, and many ready-to-go items. Heat-and-serve homemade Ukranian garlic sausage is fabulous. Attention dog owners: the owner smokes bones and even cuts them according to pooch size. Closed Monday. 111 Lonsdale Ave., 604-984-6328.

JOLLY MEATS AND FINE FOODS
Customers flock here for the bacon and pork roast with crackling left on. Sausages and meats are cured and smoked out back; those in the know pick up a tub of lard—pure rendered pork fat with a little onion added, great for sautéing game meats (though Scandinavians spread it on toast). A well-stocked selection of Scandinavian products like marinated herring and pickled red cabbage. 111 Charles St., 604-929-7937.

WESTLYNN MEATS & SEAFOODS
Marinated, unmedicated and organic meats here, including buffalo, bison, ostrich, rabbit, and venison as well as Happy Island Pig from Sloping Hills Farm and Pemberton Meadows’ all-natural beef. 118-1199 Lynn Valley Rd., 604-988-7644.

WINDSOR MEATS
Specializing in all-natural meats such as custom-cut 28-day dry-aged, hormone-free beef, hormone-free lamb, pork and chicken, plus wild game—buffalo, venison, and rabbit. They also stock marinades, condiments, specialty cheeses, and internationally sourced cured meats. 5357 Headland Dr., 604-926-6168.

Back to top

GREATER VANCOUVER

HERINGERS OLDE FASHIONED QUALITY MEATS
Alberta grown, no-hormone, no-antibiotic AAA Spring Creek Ranch beef, plus marinated meats, loaded pizzas, like-mama’s cabbage rolls, and ready-made lamb osso bucco. 190-12251 No. 1 Rd., Richmond, 604-274-6328.

HOPCOTT PREMIUM MEATS
The Hopcotts dry age their hormone- and additive-free beef for 21 days in large coolers for maximum tenderness, an extremely time-consuming and costly process (they lose over 10 percent of the meat due to shrinkage)—but the end result is beef of the highest quality. 18385 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Pitt Meadows, 604-465-7799.

JD FARMS SPECIALTY TURKEY STORE
Free-range, non-medicated, all-natural turkeys which make really great holiday dinners, plus fresh and smoked turkey sausages. The store also stocks organic goodies to accompany the turkey to the table; bread, spices, honey and more. 24726 52nd Ave., Langley, 604-856-2431.

Back to top

VANCOUVER ISLAND

COWICHAN BAY FARM
Drive up to this award-winning sustainable farm to purchase their poultry along with duck and quail eggs, confit, and homemade sausages. Rare-breed Navajo Churro lamb and grass-fed beef must be ordered a year in advance. Farmers Lyle and Fiona Young have recently opened the only provincially inspected poultry plant on Vancouver Island. 1560 Cowichan Bay Rd., Cowichan Bay, 250-746-7884.

FAIRBURN FARM
The only purebred herd of Bulgarian Murrah water buffalo in North America graze on this 130-acre, Victorian-era heritage farm. Currently selling steaks, roasts, sausage and salami. Limited supply of buffalo mozzarella—call ahead. Home-stays, cooking classes and Italian-style Sunday lunches on the veranda—orchestrated by chef, food activist, and innkeeper Mara Jernigan—are seasonal. 3310 Jackson St., Duncan, 250-746-4637.

SLATER'S MEATS
Look for elk, caribou, musk ox and bison, as well as 20 different varieties of handmade nitrite-free sausages. Aged cheddars, high-end sauces and condiments, and farm-fresh eggs, too. 2577 Cadboro Bay Rd., Victoria, 250-592-0823.

VILLAGE BUTCHER
Many Island sources featured: local lamb, turkey, organic beef and pork. Adventurous sausage making including a much-sought-after English blood pudding. The house-made jumbo Scotch eggs, haggis and meat pies keep Oak Bay residents sated. 208-2250 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, 250-598-1115.

Back to top

BACK TO SHOPS GUIDE HOME