Khai Thai Cuisine (809 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-682-7000) is a nicely decorated, airy room with skylights, and a layout of tables and cozy nooks in which to enjoy a relaxing Thai meal.

Located conveniently in the heart of downtown Vancouver near hotels such as the Vancouver Westin Grand, as well as the Vancouver Public Library, Khai Thai Cuisine has affordable lunch time specials, with a variety of choices of curries and other Thai dishes such as the Pad Thai.

The combinations are $9.95 at lunch, and come with a green salad (pictured below), rice, deep fried spring roll, and a main course such as the Penang Curry with Chicken (also pictured below). I found the service was excellent and the flavors of the curry were so good that I finished every last spoonful!

Panang Thai Chicken Curry, served with rice, spring roll, and green salad (pictured above), all for $9.95 (at lunch time).

Kintaro Ramen (788 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-682-7568) serves hot steaming bowls of Japanese ramen noodle soup (the miso ramen is pictured below, $7.50). The soup comes with freshly made noodles and a wonderfully rich vegetable and pork broth. You can order your ramen with a choice of lean pork or more fatty pork, as well as choose some appetizers such as the pan fried gyoza (also pictured below, $3.25).

Miso Ramen ($7.50)

Pan fried gyoza ($3.25)

Ebi Ten Japanese Fast Food (388 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-689-9938) is a small, bright and efficient fast-food restaurant across from the Vancouver Main Library downtown and the Vancouver Westin Grand hotel.

At Ebi Ten you’ll find prepared California rolls and other sushi at really reasonable prices (in the $2 to $3 range), and if you’re in the mood for something fancier they will also make sushi on order. Another great choice is the Chicken Teriyaki bowl (pictured below, $5.94 before tax), which is served with either miso soup or a soft drink.

djj_rome writes on DineHere.ca:

It’s cheap, it’s fast and its run by Japanese students. Food here is really cheap and for $10 you can fill up on a great meal for lunch or dinner. Also a great place to get a snack before the Canucks game. I always stop here when in the area and wanting a quick meal.

The restaurant usually bustles with energy during lunch hour, but never fear, the line-up will move quickly!

Chicken teriyaki bowl served on rice with lettuce and Japanese mayo ($5.94 before tax)