Vancouver Best Eats! - Northern Cafe

[@eminbc]

Recently ate there and had a wonderful Wonton BBQ Pork noodle soup. Broth was delicious and the wontons homemade by the mother of the clan. Love old Vancouver and these iconic places that have disappeared. Please stay.

[@Global_Feast]

@@eminbc Thanks for commenting! Glad you had a positive experience there. As delightful as mom’s home cooking is, we’re still suckers for the old school Hong Kong style noodle houses!

[@Gerhardium]

I've been going there for decades. It is what it is: cheap food that won't kill you until after you've left. Love it.

[@Global_Feast]

Was it Shakespeare who said something about “damning with faint praise”? 🤣. Thanks for your comment!

[@crazydoubleC]

I live down the street for ever, been going there decades. It’s really gone from full greasy spoon to a new novelty. Good for them. Love the Northern and its associated businesses

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for commenting! 😎

[@waykthufukup]

The last time I was there I noticed the lady washing dishes behind the counter throwing food scraps out the kitchen window. All the seagulls were waiting there on the roof to fight over the scraps!

[@Global_Feast]

Oh wow! We didn’t see that, but it would seem to fit in with the funkiness of the place! Thanks for your comment!

[@joncan2348]

Glad she did that and gave some food to the poor starving Seagulls.

[@THAILANDCANUCK]

It's a great place to eat! And the floors are crazy!

[@Global_Feast]

Yes they are! Thanks for commenting. 🙏

[@bettykong9003]

I think you’re such a great couple- very much appreciate your videos! I live in the Seattle area but like to come to Vancouver to eat! Thanks much for all your guidance to good eats😋

[@Global_Feast]

That’s such a sweet comment, Betty! Thanks for that. Where do you like to go when you come to Vancouver? We have some family in Seattle and love that city too. The charcuterie at Salumi is mind blowing! We’re in Montreal at the moment, and looking forward to returning to film some more hidden gems in Vancouver next week. Your comment really made our day! ❤️🙏

[@bettykong9003]

@@Global_Feast we moved to Washington about 5 years ago but didn’t travel much because of Covid. So now just started exploring Vancouver. We’ve gone to Richmond - lots of good food there. Had fun at the Public Market trying different things. I’ll keep watching your videos for advice! Have fun in Montreal- great place for eating as well!

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for the comment. We'll be doing more filming in Richmond when we get back to be sure. In the meantime, check out our video on Szechuan Delicious in Richmond. Great food and great value. Tonight we're going to Joe Beef and tomorrow we're eating at Au Pied Du Cochon in Montreal. Google those two and make sure your Lipitor prescription is up to date!

[@chisledstar]

My Brazilian coworker told me about this place about a year ago. She and her husband are BIG breakfast people and frequent this restaurant often. I rarely go into Vancouver, I live in New Westminster, but have been meaning to get out of my comfort zone to give this place a try. Thank you for sharing this review. If you're looking for another breakfast place to try, Amelia's in the River Market in the New Westminster Quay is AMAZING!!! Prepare for a bit of a wait. Whatever the wait though, is worth it. Perfect location too!

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for your comment and suggestion! We normally don’t go for breakfast places, but when we stumbled (literally) on this place, we found it to be so delightfully weird that we had to film it. Depending on your palate preferences, you may or may not embrace a place like this. We happen to like a little weird in our lives!

[@leechap3]

I used to eat here a lot before it was popular, the food was great, the prices low and the family is super friendly.

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for the comment! The family that runs it is incredibly friendly. They put a lot of ♥️ into the business.

[@thefallfever]

Cool spot and a great review! You both crack me up:)

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks so much for the nice comment! And we're glad you get our sense of humour. Really appreciate you chiming in.

[@martinthemillwright]

I can’t believe how popular that place is now. I used to eat there only if I was very hungry when I bought construction supplies. The burger and fries was a safe go to. Everything else seemed dodgy at best.

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for commenting. Northern Cafe is more of an oddity than a temple of gastronomy. We just thought it was so outright weird that there was a long running cafe upstairs in a creaky old building INSIDE a lumber yard that we simply had to go! "Dodgy" might be a little harsh though. A really sweet family runs the place, and while no Michelin stars appear to be on the horizon, the food was perfectly fine.

[@Carlie_2011]

Good to see that nothing has changed at the Northern Cafe since we went there before the pandemic. Found the novelty of the uneven flooring more enjoyable than the food. What's actually more exciting is learning that Rob is a part of the new line up for Strange Advance. I have We Run on Spotify and will just added World's Away. Best of luck with your tour. Look forward to more of your food adventures. Cheers.

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for the comment! Your observation about the flooring being more remarkable than the food is pretty spot on. This place is a marvellous oddity, but truth be told, if we want a bowl of won ton, this would not be our first call! But heck… it’s kinda fun. We just returned from the Eastern Canada SA tour very late last night, and after several days of bad food, exhaustion (and great crowds!), we’re looking forward to a soothing bowl of congee this morning. We’re heading to Richmond to explore some more great Chinese in the next couple of weeks! 🤘

[@Carlie_2011]

@@Global_Feast Good to hear that the SA tour is going strong. Too bad about the tour food. I've also had the wonton at the Northern Cafe and didn't find that the wow factor was there. My go-to is Congee Noodle House (one of your other reviews), Congee Noodle King, Congee Noodle Delight and Ho Yuen Kee. I luckily just had both wonton and congee the other day so you're not making me envious of your congee adventure this a.m. :)

[@Global_Feast]

Congee was like a warm welcome home Hug this morning! CNH is still our favourite!

[@justinshemluk]

This place and Bons is the best

[@Global_Feast]

The price point at Northern is substantially higher than Bons, but they both offer a no nonsense breakfast. Nothing trendy! You probably won't find the bernaise sauce at Bon's. We've been toying with filiming an episode there, but we're still on the fence... Thanks for your comment!

[@stewarts8597]

The place looks like it should be condemned but it one of Vancouver's little hideaway treasures, a family run business with very good comfort food.

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for the comment. It's a pretty fun place! Although... we can't figure out how they got past the building code...😉

[@lulutileguy]

never went up the stairs my world is at the bottom but for wonton will make exception, building center underneath is great also

[@Global_Feast]

It did indeed look like a well appointed building centre! The wontons are "okay" . We recommend the dumplings with noodle in soup at Congee Noodle hose on Broadway!

[@SEAescapes25]

You guys are a scream. I had to jack up one side of the TV and everything looked level 😂😂

[@Global_Feast]

Ha ha... Thanks! We try to mix in a little entertainment with what we hope is good information! We're still a little dizzy from trying to walk on that floor...

[@SEAescapes25]

@@Global_Feast Mate next time pack a 2" block of wood in one shoe and you will be sweet, just make sure it's the right shoe 😂😂

[@Global_Feast]

No comments about packing wood. This is a family show.. 😉

[@SEAescapes25]

@@Global_Feast When are we going to hear you play something 🤔👍

[@Global_Feast]

We’re playing in Montreal tomorrow night.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXquaZiEnr6Zb5Ysi=056bA6if2DP-cJPN

[@darlene9154]

Oh my goodness, I have to try that place. There is still one left in New West. Amelia’s on 12th street. It’s a diner and All the city worker guys go there for lunch.

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for the comment! If you want good basic grub, follow the trades and the cab drivers!

[@robertbessler5513]

Food for thought... all Sockeye are wild... you cannot farm sockeye salmon.

[@Global_Feast]

@@robertbessler5513 yup. Virtually all farmed salmon are variants of Atlantic species. I think that their sign was meant to reassure salmon lovers that might not have been aware of that. Wild salmon rules!

[@martinshaw8374]

It looks like a place Anthony Bourdain would appreciate

[@Global_Feast]

No doubt! He was a fan of the funky…

[@kennethl4172]

Apparently Northern Cafe is the oldest cafe in Canada.

[@Global_Feast]

Thanks for the interesting note! We're wondering what your source of information was? A cursory Google search for us was inconclusive..

[@kennethl4172]

@@Global_Feast I recall it was on Global News about a year ago. It should be on one of the framed news article on the wall.

[@DSquared17]

They probably use club soda to the pancake batter to make them fluffy. 😊

[@Global_Feast]

Could be! We didn’t ask the secret…

[@Global_Feast]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bImmc6yve7CeoqMsi=TYVJrP6hU0p4jOtc

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

wow and zamzam water

[@Global_Feast]

We're unfamiliar with that expression, but we'll go out on a limb and assume it's a positive one! :-). Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!

[@cdnsilverdaddy]

it was all over the place as best breakfast

[@Global_Feast]

Definitely an experience! You go there as much for the atmosphere as you do for a big breakfast!

[@colleenmckinlay2916]

So glad I found your channel. Having grown up in Vancouver - Kitsilano area- this restaurant intrigues me. Definitely up for a visit. Love the funky , old Vancouver charm. Those stairs are a bit of a concern ….haha. And so remember those corner stores and Mom and Pop restaurants. Wonderful memories of a by gone era.

[@Global_Feast]

Well we're glad you found our channel too! Also glad that you get the reference to the corner stores and cafes of our youth. Definitely a bygone era! Northern Cafe will never be a gastronomic experience that will make you swoon, but damn... it's funky AF!

[@cdnsilverdaddy]

@@Global_Feast go back to Memory Corner (Taiwanese) in Richmond. No reservations but the interior really is like a Taiwanese street/alley. Reminds us of home

[@enkadude]

Too bad they don’t have Chow Mein on the menu anymore. At least they still have wonton soup.

[@Global_Feast]

Ha ha.. we can’t remember the last time we went out for chow mein! Szechuan noodles yes, but chow mein… not so much. That’s a very 1960s menu item! Thanks for chiming in!

[@joesutherland225]

Paul's Cafe north Burnaby not the same anymore

[@Global_Feast]

Paul’s on Hastings (near Alpha) was Legendary! The go to place for high school students who would rather smoke and drink coffee than attend regular classes… 😉 We would think it reasonable to expect at least a few changes over the last 50 years!

[@maggiecrysler]

got sick there; spent all nite with head in toilet. AVOID>

[@Global_Feast]

Sorry to hear. That sounds like an awful experience! Quite different from the experience that we had there. 😢

[@doublej5045]

Expensive

[@Global_Feast]

Well, it ain’t budget exactly… but hey, it’s vancouver! Even a half decent burger in this town is 20 bucks before tax and tip!

[@canucksasquatch]

over rated

[@Global_Feast]

Food wise you’re probably right. It leans more to Ripleys Believe It Or Not than the Michelin Guide. We still had a very enjoyable time there. A very entertaining morning for us!

[@modtomodern]

Over priced, iffy quality, I stopped going 5 years ago. Jeez, are these two straight. I bet she was wearing capri's and Birkenstocks.

[@Global_Feast]

🤣we appreciate comments that come in all flavours. Some are sweet. Some are a little salty. And some are even bitter!

[@eminbc]

Haha Love their comeback. It's an internet thing that brings out the nasty I suppose.

[@Global_Feast]

@ Glad you appreciated that!. Our rule of thumb is “never say anything on the Internet that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face”. 😊

[@modtomodern]

@@Global_Feast I will happily say what I said, to your faces. Not bitter but you two are so straight acting like you made some great foodie discovery. Many of us have been going to these places for years. I eat in neighborhood places that you would be afraid to park near. So what flavor is a foodie wanna-be? Bland as white bread.

[@Global_Feast]

@modtomodern 🤣 Thanks for the morning chuckle. "Bland as white bread" really made us laugh. Rob has been the keyboard player for Alice Cooper and Laurel has been a stage actor for years. We've lived in India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Given those bona fides, one might be inclined to think that bland is a bit of a stretch... But as we said, we appreciate comments in all flavours!