Eaters Gotta Eat: Cadeaux Bakery Owner Eleanor Waterfall’s Favourite Eats in Vancouver

“I love to support the small guys,” says pastry chef-owner Eleanor Waterfall, whose roots growing up in her parents’ Chinese-Canadian restaurant in Vernon formed a foundational love for small businesses. “When it’s family-run, people truly love their customers.” Prior to opening Cadeaux Bakery with her husband 12 years ago, Waterfall worked at countless culinary institutions in the city (Chambar, Lumiere and The Dirty Apron among them).

Today, she’s carrying on the family-run tradition from her Gastown bakeshop—her nine-year-old son loves folding boxes for a few extra dollars—and eating at spots with staying power. “There’s a reason some places have been around forever. I feel so lucky to introduce my kids and friends to them, because food is all about love for me.” Read on for a few of Waterfall’s faves, and then catch her serving up some tasty treats at Yes Shef on November 6.

Bao Bei

163 Keefer St.
“I get the cino margarita [with dried tangerine peel infused reposado, ginger and lime] and all the ‘schnacks’: crispy tofu, crispy eggplant, pea tips and kickass fried rice.” For dessert? The ice cream, of course, which is supplied by Cadeaux.

Meo

265 E. Pender
“My new favourite cocktail bar. Tannis [Ling] does such a wonderful job, keeping things vibrant and fun.” You’ll find Waterfall sipping on a crisp paloma and snacking on a milk bun with curried potato or a beef bourguignon burger.

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Fat Mao

217 E. Georgia
“I just crave their hot and sour soup with the fat rice noodles.”

READ MORE: Fat Mao Is the Best Casual Restaurant of 2025

Red Wagon Cafe

2128 E. Hastings
Waterfall recently hit this Hastings-Sunrise spot for the first time after meaning to for years, and fell hard. “I had the chilaquiles—so delicious, so fresh—and of course I had to have a milkshake.”

Neighbours Restaurant & Pizza House

5108 Victoria Dr.
This mom ’n pop Greco-Italian restaurant’s legacy began in 1982. “It was passed down to the current owner [Mitsy Tsoukas] from her parents. She took over and revamped it. I just love places like that,” says Waterfall. On her table? “The pizza. It’s deep-dish, but not greasy. We get vegetarian, with artichoke and fresh tomatoes, and the house deluxe. Phenomenal.” 

Kam Wai Dim Sum

249 E. Pender St.
“I love the family. The parents started it in the tiniest place on Gore Street, then their daughter worked there and then their son William came home and revamped the business. It has revived Chinatown, just like Tannis has [with Bao Bei, Meo, Kissa Tanto]. I want to give patronage to those places.” Take note: Kam Wai’s newest location is set to open up soon on East Hastings near Nanaimo. 

Chambar 

568 Beatty St.
“This restaurant was such a pivotal moment in my career and life, so I go back a couple times a year. You must have the lamb tagine [with honey, figs, and almond couscous) and the mussels Congolaise with coconut cream.”

Pepino’s Spaghetti House

635 Commercial Dr.
“I have such a soft spot for Pepino’s. The chicken piccata, spaghetti, and pork chop are amazing. Also the caesar salad. And the tiramisu,” says Waterfall. “I’m an ambassador for Callebaut chocolate and I had some fancy chefs come a little while ago, so I thought, ‘I’m gonna try to get them into Pepinos.’” At 5pm on a Tuesday, she took them to the unassuming entrance on a quiet section of Commercial Drive. Everyone was a bit confused until Waterfall opened the door. “It was packed inside. They loved it!” 

Dosa Factory & House of Dosas 

1345 Kingsway & 1391 Kingsway
“I love dosas.” From these East Van dosa spots, Waterfall’s ordering hers with either cottage cheese and peas, eggplant and beef or lamb vindaloo. Plus a Paneer 65 curry-spiced appetizer. 

Britannia Sushi 

1016 Commercial Dr.
“This is our go-to sushi spot. I especially love the dynamite roll there because they don’t put crab meat in it.”  (Waterfall can’t eat raw fish.)

Sunrise Market

300 Powell St.
“This is a family run business—multi-generations—and we’ve been shopping there for 20 years. They have everything: from Asian ingredients to organic, sugar-free, everything… and such a great variety of products at such a great price. It’s the only market I can go to and get two bags of groceries for $30.”