Gold: Moltaqa
Yaletown’s Moroccan hot spot scores gold this year. Our judges praised Moltaqa for its charming environment (“beautifully decorated, with the scent of sandalwood incense gently wafting from wooden burners”) as well as its deeply, but subtly, spiced cuisine. From the Moroccan classic chicken pastilla that features a “crackling crisp house-made phyllo pastry” to the slow-cooked lamb tagine enhanced with sticky-sweet figs and apricots to the made-in-house merguez braised in an electric harissa, each dish is an exercise in both complexity and restraint.
1002 Mainland St.
moltaqarestaurant.ca
Silver: Fassil
Taking silver this year is Fassil, with its traditional Ethiopian cuisine. From bouncy and sour injera to its various wots (spiced stews; a must-try is the lentil-based misir, which features berbere powder), dining at the Broadway restaurant is what one judge called “a fun, hands-on experience… where you feel like family.”
5-736 E Broadway
fassil.ca
Bronze: Baby Dahl Roti
Bronze goes to Commercial Drive darling Baby Dhal Roti and its homestyle Caribbean fare—do not miss the rich, braised oxtail with the buss up shut roti.
2707 Commercial Dr.
babydhalroti.com
Honourable Mentions
Kilimanjaro Snack House
789 Kingsway
kilisnackhouse.com
Axum
1279 E Hastings St.
axumrestaurant.ca
