Budget - Vancouver Restaurants

 

Red Sea Cafe (Ethiopian Restaurant)

The Red Sea Cafe (670 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-873-3332) is an authentic Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurant located on East Broadway near Fraser street.

The menu has a good selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, with vegetables such as okra, kale, green beans, and cabbage, and meats including chicken, lamb, or beef (some of which is pictured below).

The stewed vegetables or meats are served on a spongy-like sourdough flatbread called injera. (Click here for more info about Ethiopian cuisine.) In the Ethiopian traditional cuisine, those enjoying the meal use their right hand to pick up pieces of the stew with the injera and eat without utensils. At the Red Sea Cafe you have the opportunity to eat the traditional way, or you can use a fork and knife if you wish.

Prices are very reasonable: one serving of a meat or vegetable with injera costs around $8.00. If you are very hungry, they offer a combination platter for two to share, that has four items (around $15 per person, including tax and tip).

Spiderwoman, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (click here for review link) writes:

I tried this restaurant for the first time the other day.
Got #4 on the menu. A lamb dish with tumeric, ginger, etc…

I was really pleased with the ambiance. It’s so clean and peaceful.

The food was fun to eat.

Traditional Ethiopian cuisine
Traditional Ethiopian cuisine – stewed meats or vegetables served on a sourdough flatbread.

The decor of the Red Sea Cafe features some interesting art pieces from Africa
The decor of the Red Sea Cafe features some interesting art pieces from Africa.

22,423 views - Posted Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

 

Kintaro Ramen (Denman, West End)

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).

Japanese miso ramen noodle soup
Miso Ramen ($7.50)

Pan fried gyoza ($3.25)
Pan fried gyoza ($3.25)

19,508 views - Posted Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

 

Ebi Ten Japanese Fast Food (Vancouver Downtown)

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

19,501 views - Posted Thursday, January 3rd, 2008