10 Must-try Restaurants on Kingsway

Head over to Kingsway to experience a mouth-watering variety of Asian cuisine

The diagonal crossroad of Kingsway stretches from Mount Pleasant and Little Saigon to Metrotown in Burnaby. The unique street features a whole host of authentic restaurants—from hole-in-the-wall eateries to fine-dining banquet establishments. While best-known for a concentration of Vietnamese pho restaurants, Kingsway also offers a wide variety of pan-Asian culinary styles to choose from.

Click through for our top 10 places to eat on Kingsway…

Ken’s Chinese Restaurant, Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1097 Kingsway

A cross between a hole in the wall and a standard Chinese eatery, Ken’s has a reliable menu of traditional items done well. Whatever you order—from seafood to every part of the pig or cow—wash it down with Ken’s tasty dried-scallop fried rice.

Icy Bar, 3618 Kingsway, Killarney & Kensington-Cedar Cottage

A part of Vancouver’s Asian dessert craze, Icy Bar already has multiple locations (including two on Kingsway) cementing its popularity. Stop by for a plethora of fruity desserts, icy concoctions and traditional Asian-style sweets. I recommend anything with mango in it, like the mango ice cream mochi icy bowl or one of the syrupy honey toasts.

Pho Thai Hoa, 1625 Kingsway, Kensington-Cedar Cottage

Pho Thai Hoa is known for their classic Vietnamese fare, including legit pho offerings, rice platters and soup dishes. You can’t go wrong with the house special pho for all your beef noodle soup cravings. If you’re looking for Vietnamese comfort food, this is the place to fill your belly and warm your soul.

Green Lemongrass, 1086 Kingsway, Kensington-Cedar Cottage

Originally from the well-regarded family of House Special chef Yen Do, Green Lemongrass is another Vietnamese staple in Vancouver. The restaurant offers up a nice variety of authentic dishes including all the classics, and I highly recommend ordering a noodle dish, like pho or the mixed dry noodles.

Thai Son Restaurant, 373 East Broadway, Mount Pleasant

Another staple in the neighbourhood that embodies the East Van Vietnamese dining experience, Thai Son has a few local locations, including one on East Broadway near Kingsway. Order one of the broken rice dishes with lemongrass chicken or barbecue pork to satisfy your hunger.

Western Lake Seafood Restaurant, Victoria Drive, Kensington-Cedar Cottage

While Kingsway adjacent but still in the neighbourhood, Western Lake is easily one of the finest Chinese banquet-style restaurants. They offer well-prepared, delicious seasonal seafood, finely cooked meat dishes and a popular dim sum service. Their Dungeness crab and prawn dishes are particularly delicious and include all the fixings.

Shanghai Elan Restaurant, 4500 Kingsway, Crystal Mall, Burnaby

Venturing into the Burnaby section of Kingsway, Shanghai Elan is great for fancier Shanghai tastes. Located inside Crystal Mall, the restaurant offers some intriguing takes on and styles of Shanghainese cuisine. The buns, wraps and dumplings are all tasty and showcase diverse, more adventurous Chinese flavours.

Sushi Garden, 4635 Kingsway, Metrotown

One of two locations in Burnaby, this Metrotown restaurant has long been a popular stop for Japanese cuisine. Located across the street from the mall, Sushi Garden’s fresh fish, sushi rolls and cooked dishes are all dynamite. Beware of long lines out the door during peak hours.

Tung Hing Bakery (Tiệm Bánh Đồng Khánh), 1198 Kingsway, Kensington-Cedar Cottage

Banh mi, Vietnamese baguette subway sandwiches, are a staple of Vietnamese cuisine, mixing your choice of meats (cold cuts, lemongrass chicken or meatballs) with French-influenced fixings for a simple but delicious meal. Located right in the heart of the Little Saigon neighbourhood, Tung Hing makes one of the finest banh mi sandwiches in East Vancouver. Get the house special and thank me later.

Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, 4755 Kingsway, Metrotown, Burnaby

There’s nothing quite as comforting as traditional hot pot with copious amounts of meat, fresh seafood and vegetables. Little Sheep has a few locations in the Vancouver area, including one on Kingsway in Burnaby. They offer the full hot-pot experience with your choice of soups and sauces for a refreshingly filling meal.