The Best African and Caribbean Restaurants in Vancouver 2023
Gold: Kilimanjaro Snack House
Gold winner Kilimanjaro Snack House celebrates an unsung yet pervasive cuisine in our city: East African Ismaili Indian, its flavours rooted in central Asia and India—think silk road spices meeting tropical coconut and cassava in dishes like creamy coconut goat curry or chicken akni with cassava stew, brightened up with a side of carrot pickles and piping hot paratha.
789 Kingsway, Vancouver
kilisnackhouse.com
Silver: Arike
Davie Street’s Arike takes home silver for chef Sam Olayinka’s skilled techniques and elegant balance of PNW ingredients, creating inventive updates to traditional Nigerian dishes (boar ragout with cured tomato vinaigrette and Parmesan, or chicken dumpling with mango talkari). “The dishes are not a simple replating of traditional dishes,” noted one judge, “but reflect balance and intelligent re-composition so that flavours unfold on the palate in a beautiful narrative.”
1725 Davie St., Vancouver
arikerestaurant.com
Bronze: Baby Dhal
Bronze winner Baby Dhal’s comforting Trinidadian cuisine brings terrific heat and deep, luscious flavours—don’t leave without the classic Trini street food known as doubles: soul-warming chickpea curry between two pieces of fry bread.
2707 Commercial Dr.,Vancouver
babydhalroti.com
Honourable Mentions: Fassil and Calabash Bistro
Honourable mentions go to the warm and comforting Fassil for classic Ethiopian dishes and the always-buzzy Calabash Bistro,where playful dishes like Kung Fu roti (and live music) lead to dancing the night away.
Fassil: 736 E Broadway, Vancouver
fassil.ca
Calabash Bistro: 428 Carrall St., Vancouver
calabashbistro.com
Looking for more of the best restaurants in Vancouver? See all 70+ restaurants on the list.
