With chillier temps, blustery winds, pouring rain, and the occasional snow flurry, sometimes you just want to get cozy from the inside out.
With so many restaurants dishing up delectably warming eats, there are plenty of places where you can soothe your weather-weary soul with food.
We've rounded up some of the best cold-weather comfort eats to check out in Vancouver this fall and winter.
Savoury pies
Sure, a slice of warm apple pie with ice cream or autumnal pumpkin pie is what the chillier months are all about, but nothing beats warming up with a piping hot savoury pie. Fewer spots in Vancouver fit the bill as handily as Peaked Pies when it comes to golden pastry domes over hearty, comforting fillings like chicken, mushroom and leek or beef curry; they even have veg and vegan options, too. Get your Aussie pie "peaked" with mashed potato, mushy green peas, and gravy for that extra layer of deliciousness.
You can also find savoury pies, like Moroccan Chickpea, Beef Bourguignon, or classic Chicken Pot Pie at The Pie Hole.
Mac & Cheese
Move over KD, macaroni and cheese is an absolute must-have in the cold months if you're craving something rich and cheesy. While the venerable dish is a year-round favourite (often as a side) at most diners, BBQ joints, and even some steak houses, if you're looking to make a meal of it, head to Brewhall, where they team up gooey, melty cheese with cavatappi pasta for the maximum noodle to sauce pairing, and they're always coming up with fun twists on the classic.
It's also hard to resist the Truffle Mac & Cheese at The Flying Pig; sure, it's on the "side" but we won't blame you if you make it the star of the show. For plant-based eaters, the Mac at Meet's Vancouver restaurants is always a crowd-pleaser.
Fondue
Do you fondue? The classic European apres-ski dish with impeccable 70s throwback vibes is still available in Vancouver. Dip bread cubes, veggies, and pickles into a bubbling pot of melted cheese and get your camera ready to record a stunning cheese pull moment. Head to Röosh in Gastown to tuck into a great fondue made with emmenthal and gruyère with your choice of veggies or chorizo for dipping.
You'll also find classic fondue at The French Table. The cozy bistro does a three-cheese fondue, a Burgundy fondue, or gooey servings of Raclette.
Laksa
Turn up the heat with laksa, a Southeast Asian rice noodle soup in a fiery coconut milk-based broth. You'll find soul-soothing bowls of this soup in several iterations at Shiok, one of Vancouver's hidden gem spots for Singaporean eats, where you can slurp up the spicy seafood soup with different styles of noodles. You'll also find laksa at popular local restaurants like John 3:16 Malaysian Delights, Hawker's Delight, and - of course - Laksa King.
Coq au Vin
French food tends to lend itself quite nicely to any discussion of comfort eats, and that most definitely includes Coq au Vin. The hearty chicken, wine, and veggies dish is an absolute classic, and one that often tops the lists of what ambitious home cooks hope to master. But if you would prefer to trade your apron for a menu and order up Coq au Vin, head right to Riley's Fish & Steak. The new-ish Vancouver restaurant is doing the iconic dish of red wine-braised chicken more than justice (and be sure to get an order of their buttery, garlicky brioche to soak up all that sauce).
Japanese spaghetti
While we might often think of Japanese fare as being rigorously light, when the cuisine melds with some of the flavours and techniques of Italy you're often in for a hearty treat. Pairing pasta with Japanese ingredients isn't new - in fact, Japanese spaghetti is a whole subset of the cuisine. If you head to Kamei on Broadway, they're offering a decadent twist on the tradition with their udon noodle pasta dishes with creamy, rich seafood sauces. One riffs on carbonara, with a poached egg, sea urchin, and salmon roe, while another is all about cream and crab.
Long-time fans of Japanese pasta also flock to Marpole's Cafe de L'Orangerie, which specializes in comforting Italian-Japanese fushion, including their most popular offering, Masago de Creamy Spaghetti.
Pancakes
Perhaps one of the ultimate comfort breakfast items, pancakes piled high with butter and a dousing of good maple syrup are a venerable way to kick off a fall or winter day. East Van's Red Wagon is top of the game for pancakes, particularly if you are an omnivore and like a little pulled pork with your morning meal. Their thick, hearty pancakes are the perfect foil for the smoky-sweet shreds of meat (but also will hit the spot on their own, too).
Vancouver is aces at the brunch game, so you'll find wicked good pancakes all over town, including at spots like Jam Cafe, OEB, or The Templeton - just to name a few. For an alt take on the usual pancakes, hit up Maxine's for brunch and order their signature Dutch Baby.
Tomato soup & grilled cheese
The rain is coming down in buckets, and baby, it's cold outside. This is precisely when you yearn for a cozy bowl of tomato soup and its ultimate teammate, a grilled cheese sandwich. Vancouver comfort food mecca Burgoo Bistro has turned this tradition into a near-art form (in fact, any of their soup-sandwich combos are going to nail it) - look for the menu item called After School Special, which is their Straight Up Tomato Soup and Cheese Grillers togehter - as they should be.
Another great option is Fable Diner, where you can get a comforting bowl of Tomato Soup and a Grilled Cheezus sandwich.
Spaghetti & meatballs
It's impossible not to include (more) pasta on any list of comfort eats, and when you land on a perfect Spaghetti and Meatballs it's hard to imagine anything more satisfying in the cooler months. The dish is at its finest locally at Pepino's (and its next-door sibling Caffe La Tana), with tender meaty orbs atop perfect pasta.
While you can certainly get the red sauce veteran at many local restaurants, if you're a meatball purist, take heart, because you'll do well at places like Ask For Luigi, North Van's Farina a Legna, and Savio Volpe for the dish a la carte - and then you can pair that comfort dish with beautiful pasta to round out your meal.
