Restaurants in Vancouver, WA are currently experiencing a vibrant food scene. Yes, there is another Vancouver, and it's in the United States. Many people know no other Vancouver than the Canadian city of the same name.
With the opening of the new waterfront, Vancouver, WA has become a destination in its own right - from the shadow of the larger city across the Columbia River. The waterfront and downtown entice people to wine, dine and hike miles of trails.
These restaurants in Vancouver, WA are five of my favorites. There are a variety of flavors to choose from, so there is something for almost everyone. Try them for breakfast, lunch or dinner! I'm sure you'll agree.
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7 Restaurants You Must Try in Vancouver, WA
WildFin American Grill
777 Waterfront Way, Suite 101//360-718-7701
One of the latest additions to the Vancouver Waterfront, WildFin is already popular with locals. It offers sustainable seafood from the Pacific Northwest and Alaskan waters, along with a selection of steaks, chicken, burgers and sandwiches.
The selection of seafood is impressive. You can choose between salmon, halibut, snow crab, scallops, mahi-mahi, cod and scampi. There are also Idaho trout. Steaks, chicken and burgers are also available.
There is also a large selection of appetizers. Choose from a wide selection of Oregon and Washington wines and craft beers to complement your meal. Growlers to Go are also available.
Try the garlic prawn starter - giant white Pacific prawns in a delicious creamy garlic sauce, served with artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Rosemary potato bread cubes are included to enjoy the sauce. Delicious.
Mixed Seafood Grill is a popular main course. With scallops, shrimp and Alaskan salmon seasoned with lemon-garlic vermouth butter and avocado-basil-lime verde, it's one of Vancouver, WA's best restaurants when it comes to seafood.
There is a wide selection of seating, both indoors and on the terrace. The view from the coast and the breezy sea air add to the atmosphere. There is also a large window behind the bar that lets in fresh sea air.
WildFin partners with Smart Catch, the James Beard Foundation that promotes sustainable seafood. With so many of the world's waters threatened by overfishing, this is essential to the healthy survival of our planet. The Smart Catch label thus identifies restaurants that serve fish or farmed shellfish in an environmentally friendly way.
Maryhill Winery and Tasting Room
801 Waterfront Way, Nr. 105 A//360-450-6211
Calling all wine connoisseurs and small plate fans, Maryhill Winery has become a popular winery for tastings and small bites. Maryhill offers fine food, award-winning wines and charming views of the waterfront.
Perfect for lunch or a light evening meal, the menu offers plenty of choiceSausage board, salads, sandwiches and a variety of seafood including prawns, clams and crabs. Finger food includes a tangy mix of olives and marcona almonds.
My favorites are the Dungeness crab cakes and the Mediterranean fried shrimp. The crab cakes are without a doubt the most delicious crab cakes I have ever tasted. Thick with juicy crabmeat, very lightly coated and covered in lemon aioli, they melt in your mouth. Then we heard the sizzle of Mediterranean prawns coming to our table. A feast for the eyes, the prawns are dressed with Maryhill white wine and accompanied by olives and lemon. They are cooked to perfection.
The tasting room overlooks the coast and has indoor and patio seating.
Maryhill is a tasting room where you can learn more about Washington wines. They source the grapes from different areas of the state. The soil varies considerably and affects the taste of the grapes. The wine waiter is very knowledgeable and provides background information on each bottle on the flight. Maryhill Winery has won numerous awards and was named PNW Winery of the Year.
Membership is possible if you are interested. Check into Cool Club, Taste of Maryhill or Premium Club. Each has its own advantages. Maryhill also offers deals on Memorial Day Weekend (her birthday) and Thanksgiving Weekend.
Grey's Restaurant and Bar
Hilton Vancouver301 W 6th St//360-828-4343
Just minutes from the coast, Grey's chef serves up some spectacular dishes using ingredients sourced from local farms and gardens. After a visit, stop by the farmers market - just a block away.
The menu offers a variety of dishes including beef, chicken, seafood and pork.
My favorites are the small plates – whether it's for lunch or dinner.
Start with a delicious soup – either today's soup or a delicious deep onion soup with Gruyere. Seafood small plates include melted crab dip, blackened shrimp or seared scallops. The melted prawn dip with artichokes, mushrooms and cheese is served with baguette and chickpea crackers.
My favorite is the blackened shrimp - Pacific white shrimp are placed on a bed of cheddar potato cake and vegetables, then topped with a roasted butternut cream sauce. Seafood lovers will also want to try the seared scallops. This dish started as a Valentine's Day specialty and has grown into one of the signature dishes. You can also enjoy a wide selection of locally brewed beer and wine.
Also check out the unique salads and vegetables. New dishes full of unexpected surprises are coming. Roasted baby carrots are served in a delicious dish with a sauce made from Greek yogurt, honey, sumac and pistachios. The salads please both the eye and the palate. Ingredients like pickled beets, Caracas oranges and candied pecans on frisee salad add wow factor!
If steak is more your thing, try one of the Natural Northwest Steaks at 1600 Degrees - your choice of top sirloin, New York, rib eye or tenderloin.
Located at the Hilton in downtown Vancouver, Grey's offers a variety of seating options, including indoor seating overlooking beautiful Esther Short Park, patio seating and private dining rooms that seat 12 to 18 guests. There is also a bar menu and happy hour specials.
Thai orchid restaurant
233 W 11th St.//360-695-7786
Also in the heart of downtown, Thai Orchid has long been a favorite restaurant in Vancouver, WA. The family-run restaurant has been an integral part of Thai cuisine for over 15 years. They pride themselves on serving fresh and authentic Thai dishes.
The extensive menu offers starters, soups, salads, stir-fries, curries, pasta,and traditional dishes such as Pad Thai, Gai E-San (Thai-style grilled chicken),and Pla Tod Rad Prik (shrimp). Appetizers range from spring rolls, salad rolls, fried wontons, vegetable tempura to calamari fries and shrimp.
In the soup section, try tom yum (selection of meat/fish and seafood in spicy sweet and sour soup) or tom kha (selection of meat/seafood in coconut milk soup). One of my favorite dishes is Pad Thai: chicken, shrimp, tofu, onion, bean sprouts and rice noodles in Pad Thai sauce and topped with peanuts.
Also check out the wide selection of sushi a la carte: from squid, salmon roe with quail eggs, tuna, squid to red snapper and eel. There is also a wide selection of house specialty Maki: Sushi rolls - cut into 6-8 pieces. The larva bun is a favourite: cucumber, crab, salmon-wrapped avocado and tuna. The topping is spicy mayonnaise and sweet sauce.
The choice is so large that you may have to visit several times!
The atmosphere is relaxed and family friendly. Thai Orchid also offers catering and a private party room. Happy hour gets rave reviews!
Amaro's Table Downtown
1220 Main St #100, Vancouver, WA 98660, USA// +13607182942
Chic, a chandelier-lit hotspot with beautiful wallpaper, a classic bistro menu and handcrafted cocktails. A very stylish, exclusive feel in relaxed surroundings. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the food is out of this world! They also have a huge drinks menu with a focus on gin.
We had several delicious appetizers. Their homemade potato chips and homemade ricotta with figs were a good start. My main course, the beef tenderloin medallions, was an overall good meal. The beef was well cooked and served with potatoes and asparagus.
We also had fried chicken and corn fritters. The accompanying honey butter was super fabulous, as was the BBQ sauce.
There are many other options on the menu such as salads, burgers and extremely tasty pasta. If you are a fan of soft drinks, you should try the homemade iced tea. It is fantastic!
Lille rabbit
114 W 6th St, Vancouver, WA 98660, USA// +13607182633
The rustic setting for tacos made with local ingredients on homemade tortillas with 80+ mezcals. The restaurant is closed on Mondays, but be sure to visit the Sunday brunch from 23.00 to 15.00.
There are plenty of omelettes, eggs benedict, cakes, waffles and pancakes, all paired with a refreshing glass of mimosa. You can also choose some salads and other dishes to make your experience unforgettable.
I had their classic margarita and it was classic and delicious in so many ways. And then I had fish, mushrooms and Napoles tacos. All three were delicious. I was glad I found out about this hidden gem in Vancouver. Also the chorizo and carnitas are great. You can see that everything is homemade, right down to the chips and tortillas.
The margarita was pretty fancy and had a lot of flavor. There was a dusting of burnt lemon ash on the edge of the special. The taste was different from what I was particularly fond of. But the bar has a lot to offer and there was a wide selection of mezcal and tequila to choose from.
The Smokin' Oak Barbeque Restaurant, Bar & Catering
501 Columbia St, Vancouver, WA 98660, USA// +13604332755
Casual eatery featuring locally smoked Texas-style BBQ meats, savory sides and catering, plus a full bar. The atmosphere is classic American and the staff is helpful and knowledgeable.
I was blown away by how amazing my meal was. I ordered the fat sandwich and I encourage you all to do the same. A big pile of three meats, coleslaw, barbecue sauce and mac & cheese, all on a bun. It sounds like a heart attack, but it was delicious. The mac & cheese and cornbread were so good too.
The brisket melts in your mouth, the pork is tender and tastes fantastic. The large portions are a big plus and make the meal worth the price.
I highly recommend this place and be sure to try the home brewed beer and a few cocktails.
Not sure where to travel next? Check out this guide7 Great Things to Do in Redmond WA!
Visiting other Washington State destinations? Check out our other guide:
- 11 great things to doI Tacoma, Washington
- The 9 Best Restaurants in Tacoma North End
- 10 Must-Try Bellevue Restaurants
- 7 Great Things to Do in Redmond WA
- Where to Eat in Yakima Valley, WA
- A must in Seattle's seafood restaurants
Which of these restaurants in Vancouver, WA would you most like to try? Let me know in the comments section below!
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Jo-Anne Bowen
Jo-Anne Bowen is a freelance travel/food writer currently based in the Pacific Northwest. She was born and raised in Alberta, Canada. As a young professional, she took her first trip abroad with a six-week university course in Italy. This sparked her love for travel! Since then she has traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, Central America, Mexico and most states/provinces in the US and Canada. She is a member of ITWPA, Travel Massive and TravMedia. Check out their website:Travels with Jo Anneand orInstagram.