Where to Eat at YVR Vancouver International Airport

Need a good place to eat at YVR Airport? Look no further. Here’s the first Eater guide to YVR International Airport. It maps out every food option throughout each terminal, from quick snacks to leisurely meals, hockey bars, and more. Got time to leave and see a bit of the city? We’ve even got a guide to the best dining bets a few minutes away from the airport. Essentially, it’s all you need whether you’re rushing for a flight or hoping to kill a long layover.

[Compiled by Robyn Hanson]

YVR Standouts

[email protected]: Hidden away upstairs in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Airport, [email protected] offers Pacific Northwest inspired fine dining, including sustainably-caught Ocean Wise seafood. It’s an elegant retreat from the airport atmosphere, with views overlooking the mountains and runways. [Directly above US departures]

Monk’s Grill: The legacy of Monk McQueen’s, the former seafood restaurant on Vancouver’s False Creek, lives on here at the domestic terminal. One of the better restaurants at YVR, the menu features BC seafood (including the popular fish tacos), as well as other hot entrees such as burgers, steak, and breakfasts. [After security, Gate C45]

Jetside Bar: Also Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Airport, this elegant bar will make you forget you’re even at an airport, except for the floor to ceiling views of the runways below. Craft beer, BC wine, and Fairmont cocktails await. Pricier than average, but then again, this is Fairmont. [Directly above US departures]

White Spot: An oldie but goodie, White Spot has been a BC institution since 1928, famous for their Triple “O” burger served on a toasted bun with a sliced dill pickle, fries, and coleslaw. It’s not fancy, but that’s precisely the charm. The menu has evolved over the decades to feature family-friendly comfort food, including the children’s Pirate Pak – a meal served in a paper pirate ship. [Domestic, before security, level 3]

Vino Volo: A newcomer to YVR, this upscale wine bar chain will allow you to imbibe on BC and international wines by the glass or by tasting flight, while sampling regional BC cuisine as share plates or entrees. [International before security: Arrivals, Level 2, USA terminal Gate E83]

DOMESTIC TERMINAL

Palomino Bar & Grill: A more casual version of Milestones, a Canadian casual fine dining chain. A good place for brunch before flight, and a decent menu for lunch and dinner, revolving around North American staples: burgers, salads, pasta, steak, and seafood. [Gate A2]

Stanley’s Happy Landing Lounge: A bar conveniently located next to the domestic terminal’s baggage carousels. Beer, spirits, and casual bites. [Before security, Level 2]

Euro Café: A café serving food on the go: coffee, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches, soup, and salads. [Gate C43]

Starbucks: Vancouver’s been addicted to Starbucks since 1987, and its love affair persists even here at YVR. [Before security: Level 3, after security: Gate A2, Gate 33]

Tim Hortons: Cheap coffee, donuts, breakfasts, and sandwiches. The breakfast sandwich on the jalapeño biscuit is surprisingly delicious as far as fast food breakfasts go. [ Before security: Level 2, Level 3, after security: Gate C28]

A&W: Ice-cold root beer, burgers, and onion rings. It doesn’t get better than this combo. [Before security, level 3]

BG Urban Café: A rebranded Bread Garden, the BG Urban Café offers cafeteria-style breakfasts, lunches, and dinners including hot grilled sandwiches and decadent cakes.[Gate C43]

Brioche Dorée: A bakery café in the airport serving quiche, bagels, croissants, fruit cups, and sandwiches on crusty baguettes. Though it’s not authentically French, it’s above average fare for YVR. [Gate 26]

Camden Food Co.: Organic and fair-trade cuisine for the ethical traveler. Deli sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, and baked goods are there to tempt you. [Gate C43]

Green Bean Café: Fresh sandwiches with interesting toppings (ex: cheese with roast fennel, apple and red onion) and breakfast samosas are just some of what you can find at this domestic terminal café. They also sell beer. [Gate B20]

Harvey’s & Swiss Chalet: Two Canadian institutions in one handy location! Build your own burger at Harvey’s, and rotisserie chicken comfort food at Swiss Chalet. [Before security, level 2]

Jugo Juice: Huge fruit smoothies in a variety of combos, including protein-enriched smoothies and wheatgrass shots. Although they also sell light meals (grilled wraps and paninis), the smoothies won’t disappoint. [Before security, level 3]

Pizza Hut: Personal pan pizzas, chewy breadsticks, and chicken wings. [Before security, level 3]

Rice Tales: Healthy Asian cuisine made to order – rice bowls, noodles, curries, sushi, as well as gluten free options. Ideal for those not in a rush – the food prep takes time. [Gate C43]

Subway: This is your standard Subway with six inch/foot long sandwiches, as well as salads and wraps. [Before security, level 3]

Vera’s Burger Shack: “You can’t beat Vera’s meat” is the motto of this popular Vancouver burger chain. Chow down on 6oz burgers, hot dogs, sliders, double-fried fries, and old-fashioned milkshakes. [Gate C43]

Wok’n’ Roll / Toshi Teppanyaki: Chinese, Korean, and Chinese fast food catering to North American palates. Don’t expect authenticity. Items include noodles, wonton soup, and General Tao’s chicken. [Before security, level 3]

INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

Hanami: Vancouver is famous for its Japanese restaurants, but this isn’t one of them. [Before security: Level 3]

Koho Restaurant and Bar: A casual full service restaurant and bar, with beer on tap. Food is unremarkable but offers a variety of options, from Thai curries and mussels, to nachos and chicken wings. [Before security: Level 3]

Milestones Bar & Grill: A part of the Canadian casual fine dining chain, Milestones offers reliably good brunch, lunch, and dinner options. The menu features BC seafood, steak, prime rib, salads, as well as a range of BC wines. [Gate D53]

Galiano Bakery Café: Fresh baked goods baked daily on premises, as well as hot breakfasts, made to order sandwiches, soup, and salad. [Before security: Level 3]

Starbucks: Failsafe for espresso lovers. [Before security: Level 3, After security: Gate D67]

Tim Hortons: Cheap coffee, donuts, breakfasts, and sandwiches. [Before security: Level 2, After security: Gate D67]

Euro Café: A café serving food on the go: coffee, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches, soup, and salads. [D66]

A&W: Ice-cold root beer, burgers, and onion rings. It doesn’t get better than this combo. [D67]

Burger King: You’d think that Burger Kings would be fairly common around Vancouver, but you’d be wrong. But here it exists in all its Whopper glory for those craving the famed flame-grilled burger. [D75]

Fortune Wok: Westernized fast food Chinese staples: 6 types of noodles, wonton soup, fried rice, and spring rolls. [Before security: Level 3]

Hanami Express: Japanese food tailored to westernized palates, including sushi and bento boxes to go. [D67]

Subway: A standard Subway offering fresh sandwiches made to order. {D67]

Toshi Teppanyaki: Made to order teppanyaki dishes, such as yakisoba, teriyaki, and udon. They also serve sushi. [Before security: Level 3]

Wendy’s: An American fast food classic serving burgers, fries, salads, and Frostys. [Before security: Level 3]

U.S.A. TERMINAL

Canucks Bar & Grill: Newly opened and themed after Vancouver’s beloved NHL hockey team, the Canucks Bar & Grill features fresh seasonal, and locally sourced fare, as well as vegetarian cuisine. The menu also features full breakfasts, premium spirits, wine by the glass and beer on tap. [Gate E81]

Euro Café: A café serving food on the go: coffee, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches, soup, and salads. [Gate E93]

Starbucks: One of the best people watching locations at all of YVR, conveniently located next to the Bill Reid statue. This Starbucks makes for the perfect meeting spot. [Gate E86]

Tim Hortons: Cheap and ubiquitous, Tim Horton’s is the first place Canadian politicians head when they pretend they want to know what’s going on with the average Canadian. For all others, a box of Timbits will do. [Gate E84]

Cinnabon: Freshly baked cinnamon buns topped with lemon cream cheese frosting. What’s not to love? [Gate D75]

Hanami Asian Cuisine: Westernized Asian food, including bento boxes, noodle soups, and California rolls. [Gate E85]

Orange Julius: There’s something satisfying about sucking back an icy orange smoothie from Orange Julius after a long flight. [Gate E87]

Skyway Café: Healthy, fresh, casual fare when you’re not feeling too fussy. Menu features smoothies, pastries, paninis, wraps, and salads. [Gate E87]

SOUTH TERMINAL

Galiano Café: A simple family-run cafe serving hot breakfasts, muffins, homemade soups, salads, made to order sandwiches, as well as espresso and yes, beer. This is your only dining option inside the South Terminal. [Before security at the food court]

BEST BETS AROUND YVR:

The Vancouver International Airport is technically located in Richmond, a city often quoted as having the best Chinese food outside of China. Craving authentic Taiwanese, Cantonese, or Shanghainese cuisine? It’s literally only minutes away. If you’ve got time then take a 15-minute drive south, you’ve got the historic village of Steveston, famous for its fish & chips and seafood restaurants with views of Canada’s largest fishing fleet.

1) The Flying Beaver Bar & Grill
Located along the Fraser River across the street from the South Terminal, this riverfront pub shares the same building as the Harbour Air seaplane terminal. Come here for the novelty of the location, although the pub food (burgers, salads, nachos, chicken wings) isn’t bad. Their patio, however, is a standout; where else can you nosh on pub food while watching the seaplanes land and take off?

2) Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
Want to taste Vancouver’s famed Chinese food without straying too far from the airport? Hop on the Canada Line three stops to Bridgeport Station. There, at the base of the station, is Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant, best known for their dim sum and seafood specialties. A higher end Chinese restaurant, their dim sum won the gold prize at the 2013 Vancouver Chinese Restaurant Awards.

3) Dinesty
A fun, lively restaurant in a modern, contemporary space, Dinesty offers tasty Shanghainese and Taiwanese cuisine for those seeking a more casual atmosphere from traditional Chinese sit-down restaurants. The menu is varied (steamed buns, noodles, dumplings, including their signature Xiao Long Bao) and offers excellent value. It’s also a short (5 minute) walk south of the Lansdowne Canada Line station, so easily accessible via public transit.

4) Shanghai River
For upscale Shanghainese, you can’t do much better than Shanghai River. The Xiao Long Bao is considered the best in the city, and its location near the Brighouse Canada Line station means easy access to and from the airport.

5) Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood Restaurant
Located in Aberdeen Centre, one of Richmond’s many Asian shopping centres, Fisherman’s Terrace will give you an authentic taste of Hong Kong style dim sum. Chaotic and busy, it’s best not to be in a rush when dining here. Its location at the Aberdeen Canada Line station does mean it’s extremely convenient to get to from the airport.

· YVR Airport [Official Site]