The Davie Mongolian BBQ (1161 Davie Street, Vancouver, phone 604-669-4545) is an affordable, all-you-can eat version of the Mongolian BBQ on Broadway. Fill up a bowl with your choice of thinly sliced meat, tofu, vegetables, and a plethora of sauces, and watch as the chef quickly cooks your selections on a massive, round metal grill, and then scoops your meal with a flourish into a clean waiting bowl. If you’re so inclined, add some garnish of sweet pineapple or sesame seeds (pictured below). For dinner, you can eat as many bowls as you like, for a low price of $10.99, which also includes rice and salad. What a great deal!

Thai Away Home (web site, 1206 Davie Street, 604-682-8424) is a casual, fast-food style Thai restaurant located in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown Davie Street district. Davie Street is great for people-watching while eating in at this restaurant, or enjoy take-out at home. My favorite is their Pad-Thai, which is fried noodles with tofu, bean sprouts, eggs and prawns (pictured below, $8.95).

Clubhouse Japanese Restaurant (web site, 255 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, phone 604-879-8998) has an eclectic set of menus with everything from the familiar sushi rolls, sashimi, and teriyaki, to more exotic rolls with ingredients such as cream cheese, and names like “Appetizer for Sumo Wrestler” and “Happy Unagi Roll”. Don’t miss the house specialty, which is okonomiyaki (pictured below) – also known as Japanese pizza - a crepe-like creation made with seafood or your choice of other tasty ingredients ($7.95). Their drinks are excellent too: on a hot day try one of their daiquiris made with fruit slush and rum ($5.25), or one of their non-alcoholic fruit slushies ($3.65).