The best 10 restaurants and places to eat in Nanaimo, April 2024

"One of the best Japanese restaurants outside of Japan out there! The sushi’s were delicious with beautiful plating! Very creative and original, yet..."

Isabelle Brossoit

Ian Macpherson

Andino

Joshua Aune

Zalathai Restaurant

Wheelchair Accessible

"They only do take out when we went here, no dine in yet. We ordered Crab Rice here twice now (one medium spicy and not). There medium spicy is..."

Tere Arboleda

"Super tasty, and the lady taking my order was so nice. We had yellow curry, pad Thai, coconut rice and spring rolls. All super tasty. Can’t wait to..."

Aubrey Lively

"The best Thai food I’ve had on Vancouver Island. Som Tam is my favourite. The only downside is that I live in Courtenay and wish you could open..."

Danielle Weiss

"Chefs special is always my go to when ever I visit this place. Last time I ordered duck curry and it was fabolous! Also if you are a peanut sauce..."

Mathius Permana

"On a short vacation to Nanaimo for a few days and discovered this gem! We ordered takeout for the first night and food was very delicious, portion..."

Amy Huang

"Amazing food, always fast and fresh, and run by a lovely couple. They are considerate of my dairy and egg intolerances and I’ve never had an issue..."

Mara Mahovlic

"Tom Ka soup is amazing, pad Thai is good kinda sweet, coconut rice is great and I love the pad se..."

Rachel Cass

"Our go to Thai food. Love all of it but especially the salad rolls and curry dishes. Excellent..."

Heather Anfossie

Calico Cat Tea House

"My partner surprised me with a tea leaf reading and lunch, and all I can say was wow! Beautifully decorated, the food can be accommodated to be..."

J Speed

"I loved this place so much. I was taken for a tea leaf reading by a friend when I visited from Vancouver. The reading was great! The high tea amazing..."

Louisa Farrell

"What a unique experience and even though I went in the middle of the pandemic, I was very impressed with the precautions taken. I felt safe the..."

Tammi Parsons

"From the moment you are greeted at the door, Calico Cat is an experience you won't forget. I enjoyed the BEST carrot cake (gluten free too!) Generous..."

S Walton

"Loved Loved this place It was an experience I will not soon forget Our tea leaf reader Heather was spot on with everything she told us. She was..."

Jan Ulrich

"We had a reading with Heather and she was fantastic! Such a fun experience. We also had lunch afterwards. The mushroom soup is un friggin..."

Clint Menard

"OMGGG soy cuttteeeee!! It has an antique cottagecore vibe sadly it’s hidden but I would love if it was more popular. I shared the 3 tier platter..."

Abi Biddic

Smokin' George's Bbq

88/100 (2314 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

Free off-street parking

"I'm addicted. This place serves the best everything. Seriously. You gotta eat here. Smoked brisket, pulled pork, bacon. Just get the Super Feast with..."

Jackson Middleton

"The best bbq food I've ever had. I spend winters in Arizona and they have plenty of bbq places. But you can see them opening up packages because..."

Gulzar Hallman

"Love this place, best BBQ, pulled pork tostadas today were awesome. The wings are to die for, along with ribs, beef brisket, smoked chicken,..."

Gary Bray

"I went in a couple days ago with my brother for lunch. They bent the rules and allowed us to order their version of a breakfast sandwich. HOLY..."

Darren Havard

"We tried Smokin' George's for the first time this evening and we will definitely be returning. The food was delicious, affordable and great portions...."

Krista Keno

"So great to have a place in town with real ribs!! Everything we’ve tried we’ve loved!! You can’t go wrong! Take out or eat in! We really..."

Kathryn McVittie

"If you have three or more you need to get one of the platters to try everything! The smaller platter is enough for four normal people or Two very..."

Joseph Hawryluk

"We weren't hungry at all.....we just couldn't pass it without stopping in! Our two daughters and us shared a pulled pork sandwich, mozza sticks, deep..."

Sandra de Graaf

"Great food, full of flavor. Staff very friendly. Great place to..."

Cail Low

"Great food, fun environment and personal service. Always stop in when I’m in town. If you like smoked and BBQ meat than it’s must taste place to..."

Nigel Rogers

"Smokin George’s recently catered my wedding for 100 people out in the Cowichan Valley. They were great to deal with, very friendly and easy to get..."

Nicole Harder

"We stop here every time we’re on the island. So good ! It’s a must eat here kinda place. Love..."

Cle Koz

"We had a staff party and Smokin' George did not disappoint. Awesome food, thank..."

Lisa Macpherson

"Definitely a great place to eat dinner. Love that all the menu items are local or Island made. Definitely 2..."

Sarah Corbett

"Had a craving for some really good food, ended up stopping in at Smokin George's for lunch and had the pulled pork poutine. Once again the service is..."

Derek Pohl

"Great dinner while visiting our VIU son in Nanaimo. You can tell there is care and love in their food! I had pulled port tacos with corn salsa,..."

Sally Mole

"Just got home with some smokin George bbq takeout after a long day of work . Life's good. Always great food and very..."

Scott Bird

The View Oceanside Grill

88/100 (1503 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

Non-smoking restaurants

"Oh my gosh where to start. I wanted somewhere with a wonderful View and enough space for friends to celebrate my 40th birthday. The owner, staff and..."

Aimee Rounding

"Food is incredible and the staff top notch. Can't wait for the patio in the spring and summer..."

Russell Alexander

"Just had lunch there...best burger I have had in years and my husband said the seafood chowder was excellent.....it was full of large chunks of..."

Gayle Smith Rettmer

"So Great!! This place finally has life to it again! Drinks are well priced. Food was fantastic and service was outstanding! Can’t wait to try the..."

Anna Merrifield

"The food was cooked to perfection and well presented. Reasonably priced entrees are difficult to find and one of the best bangs for the buck I’ve..."

Mike Ball

"Amazing service from Alicia and delicious food! Would 10/10..."

Cydnee Washburn

"Great food and good service. Patio had a great view of the fireworks..."

Curtis Morgan

"We celebrated our 25th Anniversary at Beach Fires - it was fantastic! Great atmosphere, delicious food and the service was awesome. What a lovely..."

Diana Vaton

"Great atmosphere! Great food! Great prices! You won't be..."

Adam Kennedy

"Fabulous taste of France with a WestCoast twist! We will certainly come back from the mainland as soon as we can. Thank you for the wonderful..."

Jeffino Romani

"Delicious food. Excellent service. Delightful atmosphere. Will frequent this spot for..."

Wintana Tedla

"I'm still dreaming about The View Seafood Mac & Cheese. My friends and I were visiting from the Mainland for one night and The View was one of the..."

Monika Chan

"I ordered the Lamb Sirloin ($29), which comes on a bed of scallion whipped potatoes and seasonal vegetables, topped with Dijon mustard. Flavor-wise..."

Suzanne Y

"Our server Shaina was amazing. The food was phenomenal. Drinks were good and the atmosphere very cute. The seafood flambe was very filling and the..."

Krystle Middle

"Absolutely outstanding. I cant tell you in a few short words how amazing the food was at the View. The flambe is really cool, but every dish had..."

Geoff Schmidt

"Salmon Oscar, prosciutto wrapped lingcod, seafood flambé, scallops, calamari, mussels and clams. Fantastic food and very friendly service. I was..."

John Jacob

"Truly enjoyed our first visit to The View, and we will be back again and again. We had the calamari, seafood flambé and Moroccan lamb and loved..."

Charlene Foss

"The food was delicious. The service was excellent. Perfect ambiance for a date night or a night out with family. Usually very busy, recommend making..."

Saima Khan

"This restaurant exceeded all my expectations. Food was superb, service was excellent, and the atmosphere was lovely. Our server Rebekah was..."

Jennifer K

Mclean's Specialty Foods

88/100 (570 ratings)

Speciality Food Market

Accepts American Express

Mid-range

"I did not plan to come to this specialty store but while walking around Old City Quarter. I saw this shop and the name of the store intrigued..."

Tere Arboleda

"Excellent and well-curated selection of international and gourmet items. Cheese and meat cooler, complimented by imported dry goods. January 25th..."

Peggy Richardson

"Everyone visiting Nanaimo..go to McLeans..most interesting items of very good..."

Lydia Bellan

"So many awesome imported items from the U.K. a great deli, as well as friendly staff make McLean's a huge favourite with our..."

Geoff H

"They have a wonderful selection of European cheeses but they're haggis is the best I've ever..."

Bob Nesbitt

"Great place for cheese! It's the only store I know of that sells sheep cheese...."

Wilfred K

"Finally my first visit and blown away by the selection of their specialty foods and cheeses. I decided to treat myself and chose a creamy brie, wine..."

Saskia de Quaasteniet

"A specialty store that has kept true to its name over the years! Selections are unique and carefully curated, and couple that with the knowledgeable..."

Frank Lee

Huong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant

88/100 (1548 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"I moved from Calgary in 2014 and we have lots of options for really great pho. Huong Lan is the best I’ve found on the island! It’s always..."

Ashley Danielle

"I would come here again to eat. The portion size was tremendous. And the food was excellent also the service was excellent..."

Rick Sakundiak

"Great food Loved our meal. Waitress was quick and helpful. Phò had wonderful flavors. Salad roles fresh and crunchy. Didn't really care for the deep..."

Cindy Crisp Armstrong

"My first experience eating Pho was at this restaurant. I've since been back many times. I love the staff, they are always friendly making sure..."

Kellie Vanderveen

"I'm thoroughly enjoying Huong Lan. I haven't been to a Vietnamese restaurant this good since I lived in Calgary. They have tripe, tendon, nice..."

Chris Maguire

"Great beef ball pho. My favourite place in Nanaimo to get..."

Delfina Villacorta-Mejia

"I eat at this establishment at least once a week. And I take their frozen soup for my work lunches. By far my most favourite place to eat!! Not to..."

Tenille Bueckert

"Love this restaurant. Plan ahead so you don't have to wait, but if you do have to wait it's worth it. Great..."

Michelle Schneider

"Literally best pho on all of Vancouver Island. If they delivered I'd eat it every..."

Riley Kat

"Awesome food, my wife and I love eating here, it’s definitely one of our favourite places to go out to eat. Everyone is really nice and friendly...."

Daniel A. Potvin

"I love this place! Always fresh and great food! Very friendly staff and affordable prices. Pick up some for date night or any night! I order at least..."

Erin Brigden

"Went in just before closing without realizing it, I offered to leave but the server was super nice and said it was no problem. Food came unbelievably..."

Keelan Biegler

"Our ferry delayed for two hours so when we finally arrived in Nanaimo, we decided to go for lunch at Huong Lan. The restaurant was packed at 12:30pm..."

candy L

"Hands down the best pho I had on the island! Great service, environment and flavor! Coffee is also very good! Will come back next time for sure..."

bing Zhao

"My coconut bubble tea was very yummy as well as my noodles 😋 Our waitress was friendly. I will definitely go back..."

Chieko A

"Bue bum hue waa delicious! Says spicy but just right. The viet coffee was good too just dont burn your finger like I did by touching it..."

Samjo

"Can't say enough good about this place. Price, quality, tasty..... amazing. On the plus it keeps. Wanted 23 large so bad, but was going to be busy..."

Brett S

"This is an amazing Vietnamese restaurant in Nanaimo. We had strawberry bubble tea, fried spring rolls and pho tai. The food was absolutely delicious!..."

Marcy

"All of the dishes we ordered were outstanding! The service was quick, and the food was fresh, beautifully presented, and..."

Nicholas Boers

Red's Bakery

"Really appreciated how they're the only bakery open early and late in the area. In all fairness, we only tried their Nanaimo bar in all of Nanaimo...."

Ellen Wong

"Visiting Nanaimo, we were looking for… you guessed it, drinks & nanaimo bars! This place has a great selection of Nanaimo bars (i.e. classic,..."

D Y

"We visited from the main land and heard great things about Reds and we were not disappointed. Fantastic service and selection of desserts! We had the..."

Bryce Koebel

"Delicious dessert, lots to choose from. Variety of Nanaimo bars, cheesecake, subs, and more. Lovely staff. The Nanaimo bar is a bit too sweet for my..."

Jennifer K

"Well, it was so delicious that I couldn't even get a photo of it before I finished it! We got a nanaimo bar and the raspberry blackberry cheesecake...."

Robyn

"Tried this place for the first time today and purchased a Nanaimo Bar Cheesecake and it was incredibly delicious. At first I thought it would be..."

Linda MacLean

"Super nice staff! Their pork sausage rolls look similar to other commercial items … but so much better! They are super tasty with a subtle surprise..."

Seagall

Kaldi Cafe

"Awesome service! Delish coffee at a reasonable price and a very comfy spot to sip back your morning brew. And love the coffee card idea! They keep it..."

Kristina Anonamiss

"-edit- This seems to be a review for Shoppers drug Mart, guess it was a mix up on my part. Super friendly and helpful people, and a cool pager setup..."

Shawn Markey

"A very relaxing atmosphere and great way to start the dsy. Thanks for the help with the tea..."

Jen H

"Stopped by for a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Warm friendly service, local coffee, and great..."

Jon Russell

"Very good coffee inside the mall - now has light..."

Daniel Haslam

"Great coffee, cozy vibe, and a great music..."

Andre

"Nice place to sit with friends and have a coffee and..."

Bill Irwin

"Great place nicest people and..."

Joe Josefsson

"Nice..."

Yard Plots

Samantha Anne

Prakriti Arora

Rowan O'Callaghan

Zacharius Tschritter

Shecka

Saigon Kitchen

87/100 (1557 ratings)

Non-smoking restaurants

Wheelchair Accessible

Free off-street parking

"It was a rainy day but the experience from this restaurant makes the day better. My girlfriend and I went to try Saigon Kitchen and unfortunately the..."

yves eleazar

"Best authentic Pho in town.PERIOD. yummy food,reasonable price, excellent customer service, nice atmosphere.(Opinion from a person who would choose..."

J DOAN

"I highly recommend this place to everyone if you would like to look for a good Vietnamese cuisine in town. Staffs are very friendly. Restaurant which..."

Hana Van

"Best beef rolls I've had and I used to live in Saigon. Wonton soup had a subtle sweet note to it I really..."

Chris Tweten

"Great food and service. Also, the pho here tasted..."

D Y

"The service was fantastic. We are a family that mainly orders vegetarian food. We had the veg spring rolls, curry, crepe and chowmein. We also had..."

Shayain Gustavsp

"Best authentic pho I have had.... ever! Had pho dozens of time in Vancouver and surrounding areas but nothing compared to this. The broth was to..."

Dan Jankowski

"Best pho on the island with traditional broth made from scratch! Great curry too, and their staff/ ownership is super friendly and personable. Great..."

Taryn Pickard

Ai Sushi Go

Wheelchair Accessible

Dinner

Lunch

Cheap Eats

Milton Street Public House

87/100 (1104 ratings)

"This small town English style pub in set in an historic Nanaimo house. It offers prompt and friendly service in a semi private “living room”,..."

T Rey

"Can’t say enough about this restaurant. The staff is fast, friendly, accommodating and the food is amazing. Their on tap Italian Pinot can’t be..."

Sherri K

"Gem of a place. Great food and friendly staff in a cozy atmosphere. Especially love the chicken club wrap (smoky, creamy and delicious) and their..."

Maria Mihok

"A gothy vibe vintage house that has been converted into a restaurant. Excellent service and delicious appies. We shared the calamari, red pepper..."

Brittney Yoo

"The server recommended I sit at the bar as I was alone. I’m glad she did, as the locals were friendly, engaging and knowledgeable about Marbled..."

Dave Baird

"This staffing shortage is really hurting our hospitality industry. I really would have liked to give Milton Street five stars, because I liked the..."

Geoff Schmidt

"Never knew this place existed until I saw it online. Decided to check it out and it was amazing,very nice. Excellent food and presentation,great..."

Junior Rodent

"Delicious! Word of warning to tartar traditionalists - the tartar is not traditional. It was a mildly flavoured lemon sauce of some sort; I liked it,..."

Tiffany McLaughlin

Dami Sushi

87/100 (1638 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

Felice Cafe

Wheelchair Accessible

"Tried Felice for the first time yesterday. The restaurant is clean and very welcoming. The staff were very friendly. The food was amazing, so good!..."

Geoff H

"Great food, I enjoy the beef bulgogi lunch box. The strawberry cheesecake is perfect dessert to end my meal. If you're near Departure Bay Beach, stop..."

Hotelierk14

"Awesome first experience at Felice this weekend! Such a beautiful, bright cafe right next to Departure Bay Beach. Great selection of menu items, I..."

Shannon A

"Incredibly delicious! Absolutely fantastic service and friendly staff! The bulgogi beef on rice, the chicken, the macaroons, and the bubble tea ---..."

Karlee Wilson

"Supporting local business tour This is a great place for food and dessert at any time ! ( sorry that I finished the lunch box and drink before I..."

TOM CHEN

"This is a hidden gem of Nanaimo. Not your average Cafe. The 5 stars is for the panini alone. The food is hand made, loaded with flavor, and well..."

Eliot Korney

"Tried this place because it's one of the few bobba tea spots, and it is really good! Also tried their homemade panini and really enjoyed it, all of..."

vanlerberghe yann

"Amazing food ALWAYS and such kind owner's!!! Never had a bad experience there . They are our favorite eat out spot..."

Jodi ThisLifeThisGoAtIt

Crow & Gate Pub

87/100 (3763 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"Always the best in Canada! Beautiful building, great staff, great food, great beer! It's only downfall is that it's busy every time for good reasons..."

David Symons

"Food looked delicious. We were too full to eat but loved the place. Where else can you order a Merridale cider and sit in a manicured English garden..."

Stephen Stefanyk

"We love it! we drive up from Victoria just to go eat there, it's a relaxing atmosphere. Does get really busy at times but inside or outside it's just..."

Helen Main

"Great food, lovely staff and beautiful patio dining surrounded by stunning gardens. Inside is cozy and inviting. Favorite location to..."

Katrina Cairns

"It was our first time there. The atmosphere was warm welcoming, the food delicious and the staff were awesome. The Landscaping is absolutely..."

Michelle Roy Larson

"Such a beautiful establishment. Had an old Irish pub feel with fantastic beer and food! If you’re around the area it is a “MUST check it out”..."

Joshua Peters

"I love the Crow and Gate. Friendly, lovely atmosphere and great Kilkenny Cream Ale. Got here when it's busy (honestly when isn't it busy) so it..."

Karen Tidswell Vant Haaff

"We have been going to the Crow and Gate for over 30 years from the time when they used to have jousting and everyone in medieval costumes. It was..."

Cathy Freelove

"What an awesome find! My daughter brought us here while on a visit to Nanaimo. We will be back. The interior is just like a British pub, complete..."

Lorna Constantine

"My favorite pub lunch on the island. Out of the way and worth..."

David Paterson

Bistro Taiyo

Wheelchair Accessible

"Stopped by for an early dinner on Tues. the shop was kinda busy for a tues dinner. Service was excellent. Our waitress the short hair lady was very..."

Duong T

"Terrific sushi place in Nanaimo's old district. The fish in the sushi rolls tasted fresh and the miso soup was very tasty, especially on a cold,..."

Sebastian Montoya

"Great experience! We didn’t have a long time before taking the ferry back to Vancouver, so we stopped by for a quick lunch. The waitress was super..."

Julien Valat

"My all time favourite Japanese restaurant. Beautiful, kind, lovely staff, consistently delicious and well-made sushi. I have been frequenting this..."

Stacey Harakas

"Great food crafted with care. I had a Don dish with a beer some green tea. It was delicious. Green tea had a wonderful depth to it. Great job team!..."

Adrian Symons

"Always a great experience at Bistro Taiyo! Patio has expanded during COVID. Great atmosphere, tons of amazing menu options (sushi, Izakaya, bento,..."

Gabrielle Bishop

"This place is phenomenal. I’ve only stopped by a few times when visiting Nanaimo but I keep coming back here because they have some of the best..."

Fraser M

"Best ramen in town! The broth is rich and full of flavour. Noodles were cooked perfectly. They have a very generous portion so come hungry! Had some..."

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