Food

UBC Food Services provides many great facilities directly on campus to satisfy your hunger. A full list of locations and opening hours for all restaurants and eateries is available online.

U Boulevard neighbourhood

The U Boulevard neighbourhood (located on campus near the Alumni Centre, the Nest and the Aquatic Centre) has several options including a great ice cream shop called Rain or Shine, Japanese udon noodles at Nori, Lebanese cuisine at Jamjar, tacos and burritos at Tacomio, Pan-Asian fare at Bao Down, and affordable hot pizza at Uncle Fatih's.

University Marketplace

Additional places to eat are available in close proximity to campus in the University Marketplace, including several options for sushi, pizza, and burgers. Fast food restaurants include Subway, McDonald's, Vera's Burger Shack, and A&W, as well as a food court in the lower level.

Wesbrook Village

If you find yourself on the south end of campus, Wesbrook Village has a number of great food options. You’ll find great vegan pizza at Virtuous Pie, fresh-baked goods and comfort food at Doughgirls, sushi, noodles, fresh salads and more. Biercraft is also in the neighbourhood if you’re looking for a great pub for gathering over Trivia Night with your friends and lab mates. 

Affordable Food Outlets

If you are on a budget, check out Sprouts Cafe and Agora Cafe.

There are restaurants and cafés to suit every budget in Vancouver. Sushi and Chinese food are in delicious abundance in the city, but you can find many restaurants that suit your culinary interests. We polled our Graduate Student Ambassadors and their top picks include the Naam (for amazing vegetarian fare), Peaceful Restaurant (fantastic handmade noodles!), the Eatery (sushi in an eclectic atmosphere), and Jam Café (possibly the most popular brunch spot in Vancouver).   Tourism Vancouver also provides a good database of places to try.

Even the top restaurants in Vancouver can be within your budget at least once a year. Dine Out Vancouver is an annual event allowing food lovers to eat out at specially reduced prices.

Whether you’re looking for special ingredients for your favourite meal from home or an economical way to meet your grocery budget, there are many options, both on and off-campus.

Groceries on campus

There are several grocery options on campus, including the chain supermarket, Save On Foods, in Wesbrook Village (South Campus), Grocery Checkout in the Nest, and Granville Island Produce in University Village.

Groceries in the city

Large supermarket chains

Some supermarket chains in the city include Save-On-Foods, Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Walmart, Safeway, Whole Foods, and Costco. Costco requires membership and you buy in bulk to make savings.

Smaller Grocery Stores

There are several smaller or specialty grocery stores across the city. Some of the most common are Choices Market, Marketplace IGA, Urban Fare, Kin's Farm Market, and Nesters. 

Ethnic Grocers

From Indian to Chinese, Mediterranean to Latin American, there’s a great chance you’ll find the ingredients you’re looking for to make your favourite recipes. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the ethnic grocery options here in Vancouver:

• Mediterranean & European: Parthenon Supermarket, Jasmine Mediterranean Foods & Halal Meats
• Asian: Fujiya, T&T, Filipino groceries and bakeries along Joyce Street, 88 Supermarket
• South Asian: Punjab Food Center, Fruiticana, and many others on Fraser Street
• Persian: Persia Food Products, Yaas Bazaar
• Latin American: Los Guerreros, Fresh is Best

Granville Island

The Granville Island Public Market is open every day from 9 AM to 7 PM and offers fresh ingredients including seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables, fresh pasta, and baked goods. Depending on the time of year, you can find local wild mushrooms, fresh masa, and shiso leaves. In addition to ingredients to make your own recipes, there are numerous restaurants and food stalls.

Alcohol

You must be 19 years of age or older to purchase alcohol and go into some establishments that serve alcohol. In BC, you’ll need two forms of photo ID to get served. Appropriate ID includes:

• passport
• driver's license
• student ID
• British Columbia Identity card

It is most common to shop for alcohol in government-run liquor stores and private wine shops, but some eligible grocery stores may carry a selection of alcohol as well. For more information on liquor policies in British Columbia, please visit the BC Government website.

Tipping

It is customary to tip your food server or bartender. The usual rate is 15% of the price of the meal or drinks. If you are dining out with a large party, the restaurant may have a policy to already include a tip when they present your bill.