2022

Restaurant Awards 2022: These Are The Best African and Caribbean Restaurants in Vancouver

Our judges have spoken: these are the best African and Caribbean restaurants in Vancouver.

By Vancouver Magazine /

Best African and Caribbean Restaurants in Vancouver 2022

GOLD: Arike, 1725 Davie Street

SILVER: Moltaqa, 1002 Mainland Street

BRONZE: Baby Dhal, 2707 Commercial Drive

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Fassil

dish from arike
Arike, our gold winner.

Arike

Arike takes the gold, captivating our esteemed judges with its rare-to-Vancouver combination of Nigerian flavours and Pacific Northwest ingredients. The West End spot shifts its menu with the seasons, but whatever time of year you go, expect a feast; think artfully plated aromatic West African curries, spicy jollof rice and banana-leaf steamed sweet corn and preserved chilies, courtesy of chef Sam Olayinka. Olayinka’s father hails from Lagos, and he takes his precision and presentation from past stints at casual-fine and actual-fine dining destinations (Cactus Club and Bacchus, respectively). The pack-a-punch spices and bold flavours transport with the taste of a faraway home.  

Moltaqa

Meanwhile, date-night-chic Moltaqa takes silver—judges applauded the homey tagines and homemade merguez, served in a trendy tile-lined eatery.

Baby Dhal

Commercial Drive’s casual-cool Baby Dhal scoops up the bronze thanks to serious spiced Trinidadian curries and tender, buttery roti. Honourable mention goes to longstanding neighbourhood hotspot Fassil, the warm and unfussy go-to for Ethiopian fare.

Want More Restaurant Award Winners? Read Them All Here

Vancouver Magazine

Vancouver Magazine

The editorial team at Vancouver magazine is obsessed with tracking down great food and good times in our favourite city on earth. Email us pitches at [email protected].