Planning your next culinary adventure? Perhaps you're considering Marseille, France or Venice, Italy. But have you thought about exploring the food scene in...Surrey, B.C.?
The behemoth Vancouver suburb - it's the second-biggest city in British Columbia by population - has just earned the distinction of being featured as one of Food & Wine's picks for The Next Great Food Cities - Global Edition, which appears in the May 2023 magazine issue.
In Surrey, "hyperlocal regional cuisine is a delicious draw," reads the description, which was penned by a Vancouver-based freelance writer.
Thanks to Surrey's broad range of regional Indian cuisine, the city is a must-visit for travellers (even if you're just travelling from Burnaby, Delta, or Vancouver, perhaps) to try restaurants like My Shanti, Chacha's Tandoor & Grill, or Clove.
However, it's not just Indian food making Surrey stand out. "Afghan Kitchen features kebabs cooked over coals and served with saffron tea, showcasing the best of the Herat province. At The Taste of Africa (10663 King George Blvd.), traditional Ghanaian dishes like jollof rice with baked tilapia and plantain fufu are made by an all-female kitchen. And for a mash-up of Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine, Guacamole Mexican Grill serves pupusas and arguably the best birria in town," notes Food & Wine. (Vancouverites take note: Main Street's Zarak is a sibling restaurant to Afghan Kitchen in South Surrey.)
"Unparalleled diversity puts this city’s dining scene on the map," notes Food & Wine.
Speaking of maps, if venturing into Surrey for a meal or two seems daunting, the city's tourism outlet has an excellent user-friendly way to get to know eats around town. The Surrey Spice Trail, introduced in 2021, is a self-guided food tour created to help steer curious food lovers through Surrey's six neighbourhoods, opening the door to deliciousness spanning numerous cuisines and flavours.
