Review Argo Cafe - Vancouver

UPDATE (March 2022): Argo Cafe has renovated and it is better than ever! The food remains some of the best in town, but the inside is now elevated for a great diner experience. Photos included. Argo Cafe is one of Vancouver’s hidden gems!! A must-go for weekday lunch or weekend brunch. As a brunch regular, my favourite dish on the menu is Con Queso Eggs - it is to die for. The pancakes are a close second, though (sooo fluffy). Linda & the whole team at Argo are lovely people who make everyone feel welcome. I guarantee you that anything made off the comfort food style menu will be fresh and delicious.

Amazing! Have been wanting to try this place for years and it did not disappoint. Ordered the burger after reading reviews and it really was a tasty burger! We also ordered the chow main, chicken con queso dishes and tried both of the daily soups (carrot ginger and seafood chowder). Everything was delicious. Love the old school diner feel. Food came quickly and service was really friendly and super efficient. Highly recommend.

My husband and I recently tried Argo Cafe after a friend recommended it. It did not disappoint! Each meal comes with a soup to start (very interesting concept to start your breakfast/brunch!) We both got the Scotch broth which is lamb based. It was such a delicious soup! You are missing out if you don't order this soup (if you like lamb, of course!). My husband got the chicken and waffles and I got the eggs and queso dish. Both were delicious! We even got a dessert of the hazelnut brownie cake which was really tasty as well. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. We have no complaints at all. We will definitely be coming back because it's just so good! It seems like a bit of a hidden gem in the city. The visit is worth it just for he Scotch broth soup!

Argo is a great little hole in the wall in an area that is quite over saturated with chain restaurants. An office crowd comes around lunch time so make sure you grab food outside of peak hours if you can. Really great service, unfortunately I did not catch my servers name. I would highly recommend the Chowmein- it comes with some unexpected bites, just make sure you’re not allergic to anything! The soup rotates, the seafood soup was quite good too!

Argo always delivers with high quality ingredients and creative dishes. It's got casual diner vibes but you can get fancy and delicious dishes like duck confit and short rib benedicts. Both of which I recommend. The mix of chill unpretentious atmosphere and great food is so wonderful and welcoming.

This cafe offers a wide variety of dishes and our sirloin steak was a very tasty example..there is a spacious patio area, the service is super friendly and the prices are very reasonable…

It's a hole in the wall with enjoyable food and better than Lucy's East side Diner. Too bad it is not 24 hours. The floor has been redone as well as the upholstery.

Its been ages since i have been back to the Argo. I forgot how amazing the Argo Burger is. Argo does not do quantity over quality. They have mastered the art of both! Good job and I will of course be back.

The waitress Queen Linda was super helpful! she found us a real hotel and good food and coffee. Us Americans got lost and she helped us!

Not many of these Mom and pops Diners Left. This is a must for lunch. Food is great.

A no frills diner with great food and nice people.

What an adorable ,unassuming , little neighbourhood gem. Happy we need up going on a day it was open in the evening . Had the sweet potato Pierogies and a hamburger special. Great flavour on both dishes. Service was lovely .

Great food, Better prices, Awesome atmosphere. I'd go there everyday if I worked in the area, unfortunately I dont

Exceptional good value! The staff is most friendly.

Great food. Reasonable priced. Great service. They have it all.

Its a keeper. Great food at reasonable prices. Always stop when in Vancouver!

Love The Argo. Kids do too. Yummy chow.

You get way more then you expect!

Sometimes I ride across town just to eat lunch here...in the rain or snow

You guys are doing it right! Keep up the good work and great sounding menu's....you make out of towners' want to road trip to try it out...I know I'm coming down!

This is a small but quite popular diner/cafe located in Olympic Village, right by 2nd Avenue. The atmosphere is very casual, and they don't have printed menu: everything is written on the board. They have a breakfast menu that's served till 11:00, a lunch menu consisting of burgers, sandwiches, and various Western/Asian/Mexican plates, and a specials menu that rotates daily. I had their Argo Plate and Chicken Chilli Con Queso. Both dishes were quite tasty; the price was a bit higher for a diner, but still reasonable. The service was quite casual; the food comes reasonably fast and the staff were fairly friendly but generally leaves you alone. All in all, this is definitely worth checking out.<br/><br/>P.S. The staff asked me if I wanted soup, and I turned it down because I thought that it was going to cost extra (and I was too shy/scared to ask). But apparently, after checking their website, the soup is complimentary with their meals. So if the staff asks you, don't be like me and turn it down.<br/><br/>Argo Plate ($17.95):<br/>4/5<br/>This was from one of their specials menu, which rotates daily. It consists of short rib, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, and roast lamb, and is served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I found the lamb to be a bit tough and chewy; the pork was quite tender and well seasoned however, and the shortribs were tender and flavourful. The mashed potatoes were also very tasty, and were smooth, creamy and flavourful.<br/><br/>Chicken Chilli Con Queso ($14.95):<br/>4/5<br/>This consists of a thick stew-like chicken with cheese, and is served with either fries or rice. The stew was thick and very flavourful, and had a nice bit of spice. The chicken was tender and juicy (I think they used dark meat, which in my opinion is always superior to white), although I did find it to be a bit underseasoned on its own.<br/><br/>Summary:<br/>Food: 4/5<br/>Price: 4/5<br/>Service: 3/5<br/>Overall: 3.5/5<br/>Recommendations: Chicken Chilli Con Queso

Where are the menus? Plastered all over the walls...so don’t ask for one. :-) Remember to look at the specials. So many delicious options. Today we chose the lamb shank (yes...at a diner), pork lion and seafood stir fry. Including a soup, lunch is totally worth $15.95. The servers are super friendly. Wasn’t going to have dessert after such a big meal, but when the server said the cherry pie had just cooled and I was gonna have the first slice....I was sold. It was fabulous and flaky. Argo is definitely the place to go if you are in the area.

I’m so ashamed..lived here most of my existence and I finally tried out this place for dinner. I pass by here a gazillion times as it’s part of my bike route during the summer months too. But wow this place blew me away with every thing that touched my palette. Was originally an old style German restaurant turned east meets west diner, Argo serves up so many irresistable creations from chow mein to duck confit (this was featured on “You Gotta Eat Here”). As their tagline goes: “Downtown food, at an East Van price.” This is soooo right!

My husband and I had a terrible experience at Argo. I ordered a soup and my husband (who is allergic to eggs) ordered the club sandwich without mayo. When our food came, my husband open up his sandwich to see if there was any mayo. It looked as though there had been a white spread on the bun but had been scraped off. We showed the owner and asked if the white stuff was mayo. He looked at it half heartedly he said it wasn't. We found out after we left that there was indeed mayo in the sandwich. If my husband had an anaphylactic reaction to eggs, this would have been a very serious matter. <br/><br/>And just to add to this horrible experience. I found a short black hair in my soup after almost finishing it. The hair certainly did not belong to my husband or myself.<br/><br/>We really wanted to like this restaurant, but after this experience. We will not be going back and would not recommend this restaurant to our friends.

Love going to Cafe Argo. The food is so well done without the need for gimmicks or snobbery. Will be back there soon for that Spanish Omelette...haunts me how good it is!

When you walk in the door of the Argo café, you will feel like you were walking into a 1940s era diner. Booths with tables covered in arborite and seats with vinyl fabric on them. This place looks like the set of a Guy Fieri episode. <br/>And then in the night time it turns into a restaurant that serves steak and lobster, pork tenderloin or Louisiana seafood pasta. <br/>A menu designed each Thursday and Friday around what the chef has available and is fresh and in season. Very cool concept.<br/>Tonight I started with a couple duck spring rolls. The spring rolls had a serious amount of duck! Wow! Very crispy and tasty and not greasy whatsoever. <br/>Next was a small cup of soup that came with my main course. A fish chowder which was good. Not too thick. <br/>For my main course I chose the sirloin steak with a peppercorn sauce and a lobster. Yep, steak and lobster! <br/>The steak was very flavourful and didn't need a shake of salt. Tender meat with a nice seared crust and cooked just a shade past medium rare. <br/>The lobster was very cool. A strong flavour of lobster that didn't need a side of butter. <br/>The frites were also a hit. Cut in house with a mandolin and then double fried. Wonderful thin fries. <br/>Highly recommended and I will definitely return!

Argo Café has been hiding on Ontario street until we started discovering the neighbourhood, thanks to the Olympics.A cash only diner owned and ran by famous chefs that make delicious fresh food at half the prices restaurants they worked at prior would have charged.Excellent service, tasty fresh food, decadent home made desserts and five flavours of milkshakes.They were so gracious to create a combo vanilla mocha milkshake. Thank you.

A hidden gem! <br/>My dinner started with lobster dumplings and deep fried pickles - amazing! Next dishes duck confit and BBQ pork tenderloin. Moist and delicious! Would love to come back and try their lunch menu. <br/><br/>

Argo Cafe was featured in the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here. The outside looks pretty run down and the inside is similar but it’s a busy local diner. Their daily specials change everyday and you can find them on their website. There weren’t any booth seats left so we sat at this counter here. The diner is small so there were a lot of things stashed at the counter.

You will remember things you forgot existed. First time I ate at Argo I was reminded of the joy of shoe-string french fries, the likes I got as a kid in hotels in the 70s and 80s. Second time I had a club sandwich, it was as classic as it gets. The turkey was actually carved, not processed, the bacon was cooked perfectly, a third piece of bread separated them and it was all slathered with mayo next to those great fries like the good old days. <br/>Lovely staff too, the younger girls are a couple of sweethearts and the woman who appears to be the owner is a really nice lady. The rest of the wait staff are friendly and quick. <br/>If you are of a certain age it is the kind of place you will remember that hasn't been around in about 20 years or so and you'll return.

Precious little for vegetarians here, folks.

Good Food at Great Price. Ate there today after seeing them featured on 'You've Tot To Eat Here'. Diner is small and divey looking but brings you back to the 'old day's' - not a bad thing if you like nostalgia. Food did not disappoint, was decently presented and delicious. Hubby had duck salad which wasn't even on today's daily special but owner was very accommodating. Good tender duck chunks and dressing was just enough, not drenching the fresh crisp varied lettuces and mango. I had the seafood pasta with rose' sauce which was quite good although it seemed a little strange that the sauce was white and they threw in some red pesto? that when I mixed it up, gave me the rose' sauce. We ordered a smoked chicken penne pasta with spinach and mushroom sauce to go as well for our son at home and it was equally delicious. For the price, the portion is very good compared to more expensive restaurants. We shared a vanilla milkshake which was awesome, not too thick and not too watery and just the right sweetness - reminiscent of an old fashion milk shake. We bumped into some friends there who also was there for the first time and they agreed the food was great and they would be back too. Would highly recommend and we'll definitely be back to try the vast array of 'fine' food they serve for such a small 'hole in the wall' type place.

I can't shake the feeling that this place is dirty. But the burger was pretty normal, doesn't leave an impression like Vera's.<br/><br/>I could be happier if I tried their other dishes.

2 words, cheap and delicious. We had the omelets, both were great. Very smll<br/>Menu. This place is cash only

Shockingly good. Nobody tell them or anybody else that the food is fantastic and could be priced much higher, LOVE this secret legend. Tell no one and DO NOT POST on food review sites. I will never judge a book by its cover again.

I'm Sold.. Wanted to go here for a long time , as I work in the area. Friendly service. Huge cup of coffee and it was damn good. I got a Spanish Omlette and it came quickly. It was very flavorful and quite a hefty portion. Instead of hash browns or fries it comes with little tater-tots/potato chunk thingies. They rock. <br/><br/>It's cash only , and I only had debit..but the server assured me that he would front me the meal as long as I came back. That was a very nice gesture.<br/><br/>Highly recommend this place, cant wait to get back and try more of the menu.

A real jem. Food is great, not your topical diner fare. The specials board is inspired and choosing one item is not an easy task. Not one person in our party was disappointed. I happily recommend this place.

Four-star food, two-star price.. The place looks sketchy on the outside, and it looks like it's transplanted from the forties, but the food definitely isn't. The daily specials are worth checking out, and you can see and taste the detail put in. Be sure to ask about the desserts. The pavolvas only show up every so often, but mine came with two scoops of sorbet and fruit compote. And a tiramisu where you can clearly taste the espresso inside (the lady said that they ground the beans that morning for the espresso just to make the dessert - after tasting it, I'll believe that).

Not a café - A DINER. A Teamster recommended this place (and that says alot!). Above average diner food from a charming, but dilapidated hole in the wall. <br/><br/>The décor is retro, but really run down, kinda sticky, and in desperate need of reinvention. Avoid having to use the loo. <br/><br/>The daily special menu is impressive. There's everything from Duck Confit and Lamb Chops to Burgers and Fries. <br/><br/>For some bizarre reason tho, they just don't know how to cook regular rice. It's always mushy! Time to invest in a rice cooker.

Best kept secret. The word is out. This diner is the best palce for a $10 buck lunch. Every order includes a choice of two home made soups. Bring cash because they don't take any cards.<br/>The place is always busy for breakfast lunch, but turn the tables quickly. If you are by yourself, look for a spot at the counter. Their asian fare is authentic and the meat dishes are savoury classics.<br/>The secret is out though and this place is crazy busy. If you can wait try 1:30 or can't wait 11:30 if you are in a hurry.

Having been featured on Food Network show “You Gotta Eat Here!”, we have also heard from friends about wanting to dine at Argo Cafe. With the sudden vacation I got, Mr. H and I finally had a chance to try out some restaurants that are only open on weekdays, such as Argo Cafe. It was exciting to know that not only does Argo have its regular menu, but it also changes its daily special. The extensive list of the daily specials can be found on its website, and the choices look promising. Mr. H:  Eating at Argo Cafe’s been on my To-Do list for, like, ever.  So long, in fact, that I had forgotten what they were famous for from their Food Network show a while ago… I guess it was just “Argo Cafe = Food Network diner = yum, go eat”.  We finally had an opportunity to grab some lunch out together, so away we went!  I in

The Argo cafe is the epitome of a greasy spoon. The servers and owner know the names of all the regulars and know the latest dirt on what's going on in their lives at the moment. To say this place has character would be the ultimate of understatements. You feel like you're a friend, even though you know no one.<br/>

I was worried that if too many people knew about this amazing restaurant it would get too popular and I’d never be able to get a table, and the prices would go up. But then I Googled  “ Argo Cafe” and realized everybody already knows. I was keeping a secret for nothing. Greedy. For those who don’t know, Argo is a hole in the wall, off the beaten track. If you are having trouble finding it, look for the crowd of construction workers loitering on the corner. (OR, if you are looking for work as a construction laborer go stand outside the Argo , someone will pick you up). Argo is open early, and closes early, so you want to get there for lunch. They’ve got a regular menu of standards; breakfast, burgers, clubhouse, chow mein, etc. But you must look past this to the “Daily Specials” menu. There you will find not one, not two or three, but ten or more (!!!) daily specials. And this stuff is gourmet! We’re

I made a special request for a Salmon Burger with tartar sauce and it was cooked magnificently! The salmon tasted delicious and was cooked perfectly; not overcooked or undercooked. It was also seasoned lightly with some salt and cooked so the first layer was slightly crispier. Something interesting in the burger was the coleslaw paired as part of the burger. I found it surprisingly refreshing due to the crunchy nature of the veggies. Not a fan of pickles and onions, but that's just a matter or personal preference. I also like how they toasted the buns a little but it st

Since I don't watch TV anymore (no, not even the Food Network), I'm probably the last foodie in Vancouver to know about Argo Cafe . The one line on the website says it all: "Downtown food, at [an] East Van price". And oh -- CASH ONLY. The location is remarkably unappealing with small windows that afford barely a proper glimpse inside. Right next door is the Pedal Bike Depot. Maybe ironically, just one street over on Quebec is Organic Lives . Not too far away is the Olympic Village and more new condos and gentrification, so if you have Argo Cafe on your list, I'd go sooner than later. Even with the building boom slowed down, it's likely that gentrification will eventually wipe out the entire block in which this comfortably priced greasy spoon presently resides. The Argo Cafe is open 7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, closed weekends and holidays. The kitchen switches over to the lunch menu at 11am. We were told the place is basically non-stop busy all day. Still, it's diner food and not cand

Argo Cafe is in a building on a block in a neighbourhood where not much has changed (lately). The Olympic Village’s gleaming rigid order preens a few blocks away, but here on Ontario Street, it’s still more or less 1954, the year the cafe opened. Plain (order from the list on the wall) and simple (Theresa and I sat at a Kermit-green Formica table) the Argo offers friendly service and decent diner-style food. I had the Platter – a breakfast combo of bacon, ham or sausage, two eggs, potatoes, toast and french toast or pancakes for a super cheap $7.50. The sausages were meh (tiny and overcooked) but the home-mad

Bang for your buck fine dining. An unassumming hole in the wall dive with unexpected European AND Chinese meals,

The benefits of having unemployed friends is not just that you have someone to hang with on your days off but that they always know the best places to go for good cheap eats. My favourite free bird introduced me to the Argo Cafe located in the industrial

The Argo Cafe is certainly a place I would not have found on my own. It was HM who alerted us about this hidden gem. After doing a bit of research on line, it appears that is very well known and popular with people who works around the area. The Argo Cafe is perhaps one of those place you will not bother check out. At a quick glance, you might not even think it is a restaurant. Th painting outside is very gaudy. There is the heavy metal door and the windows are barred. If I did not know anything about this restaurant, I don't think I would even go in for a cup of coffee. Maybe that's the way it should be. The Argo Cafe is already … packed to the brim everyday. There is no way they can take in any more customers. Their opening hours are limited. They open only on weekdays for breakfast and lunch and closes promptly at 4:00 PM. It is obvious that they are there to meet the needs of the people who work in the light industrial zone. Let's face it. This place is a dive and very much a hol

I used to have a category for small restaurants (e.g. eateries) but since I don’t make the distinction anymore, it’ll be ok if I categorize this as a restaurant. Tanya took me there for lunch as her office is in the neighbourhood (Mount Pleasant) and I li