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Victoria is full of lovely cozy cocktail bars and fancy-pants restaurants which, don’t get me wrong, I am also obsessed with – I would never turn down an invite to inhale the Mussels de Cha Cha Cha at The Tapa Bar, let me tell you.
But what really gets me going is a tasty, cheap eatery where you can get a super delicious meal that won’t break the bank. When I travel, I want to go to the restaurants that locals love… there’s nothing worse than realizing I’ve been caught in a tourist trap. So, I have listed my absolute favs below to save you all from that terrifying experience. OK, I’m going to get to it now because my mouth is watering just thinking about all these great gems…
Maiko
Oh Maiko… ily. Firstly, this one is kind of a cheat because technically it’s not in Victoria, but believe you me, it’s worth the drive to Langford. Maiko is run by the most adorable couple and is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall joint. In my humble opinion, they serve the best sushi in/near Victoria. The ingredients are unbelievably fresh, and it’s so cheap! One thing I love about their rolls is that they are a bit skinnier and longer than other rolls I’ve had (sliced into 8 pieces instead of 6), so they are perfect bite size pieces. No awkward stuffing-of-a-baseball-sized-piece-of sushi-into-your-face here!
To top it off, the service is fab and uber friendly, and I seriously hope you’re getting in your car or on the bus to head there right now, because I am confident it will become your favourite too.
Pho Vy
I’ll be honest, I’ve never actually eaten the pho at Pho Vy, but only because the bun vermicelli bowls are too scrumptious to pass up! If you’ve never had a bun bowl, please do yourself a favour and just head to the nearest Vietnamese restaurant to devour one. It’s essentially a bowl filled with thin rice vermicelli noodles and veggies: lettuce, cucumber, carrot, mint, green onion and bean spouts. In addition to this goodness, you can choose from several protein options to top it off. The bun at Pho Vy comes with crushed peanuts and caramelized shallots as well, which are on point. I flip back and forth between the spring rolls or the grilled prawns as a second topping, but I always get the garlic pork. Let’s be real, all the toppings are amazing, but I dream about that garlic pork. It’s a seasoned ground pork patty that’s sliced up and placed on top of all your other bowl ingredients. It’s salty and juicy and all around delish. The pièce de résistance is the salty, sweet, sour nuoc cham dressing that comes with the bowl… droooool.
If you do want pho, I have friends who love it, so I can confirm it is also tasty. Same with the salad rolls, Vietnamese iced tea, blended smoothies and Vietnamese iced coffee. Basically, all you need to know is that I took my dad here last time he was in Victoria, and now he’s obsessed with Vietnamese food.
Bao
Bao is a trendy little Asian restaurant that serves a variety of different dishes: fluffy little bao sandwiches, ramen, Japanese curry and bibimbap to name a few. My hubs always orders a melange of bao sandwiches but I must order the Tan Tan Men every time, otherwise I probably won’t sleep that night. Their ramen is to. die. for. The broth is so dang flavourful, and the spicy tan tan ground pork topping is drool worthy. Also, you must add a perfectly cooked jammy egg because I’m pretty sure it’s illegal not to.
Friends who have tried different dishes confirm that everything is amazing and made with the freshest ingredients and a whole lot of love. The Vietnamese iced tea is also tasty as heck, so be sure to add one of those onto your order.
Superbaba
Two words: fresh pita. Superbaba is a stylish, casual eatery that serves the most amazing Middle Eastern wraps and — the star of the show — the soft, supple pita bread that embraces all the tender chicken thigh and sumac mayo I could dream of.
Did I mention the sumac mayo?? The fries come with a side of the mayo for dipping, and you should definitely order extra, because you’ll need it.
And the underdog of all the ingredients? The pickled turnips. I didn’t realize how much I needed pickled turnips until I tasted those pink chunks of goodness. If you’re feeling like you need less carbs (which is okay, I’m not here to judge), you can also get bowls piled high with greens, grains, tasty spreads and dreamy toppings. Wash it all down with a mint lemonade, and don’t miss out on a turmeric cookie or halva chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Divine.
La Taquisa
If you are looking for a burrito the size of a small baby, then look no further than La Taquisa. Not only will it fill you up (I’ve only managed to finish one once), but it will please your taste buds immensely. The massive tortillas are stuffed with refried beans, tons of veg, a protein of your choice and your fav salsa. I love the chicken mole with chipotle mayo added on. All of La Taquisa’s fillings are made fresh from scratch, and you can really taste the difference. Because they have seafood, vegan, and vegetarian options, there’s legit something for everyone. If you feel like a football-size burrito is too much food for you (weird, but ok), don’t fret, they have a plethora of other items like tacos, sopes, and tortilla soup to choose from.
Let me tell you, it’s a good day when I can grab a burrito and a guava Jarritos to sit on their little patio and slide into a food coma.
Red Fish Blue Fish
RFBF is not a secret; in high season, tourists jam-pack the dock where this container cookery sits. But trust me: the sometimes hour-and-a-half line-up (no exaggeration) is completely worth it. The Fish and Chips are so good that words don’t do it justice. The fish is unbelievably fresh, and the tempura-batter is light and crisp – no greasy, thick batter here. The fries are perfection, and the Deep-fried Pickles are thin slices of salty goodness. If a fried meal is not your jam, the Tacones, Grilled Fish, or Chowder can save the day. Everything is scratch-made, fresh as heck, and so full of flavour, you won’t be disappointed.
After a long wait in line and snagging a seat on the dock, you will be rewarded with delicious food and one of the loveliest views in the city. Maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to see an otter bopping around the harbour between bites of flaky fish. Heaven.
Thai Green Elephant
Tucked away in Esquimalt is this magical little Thai restaurant called Thai Green Elephant. The staff are so friendly and the food is just perfection. Everything I’ve tried is delish, and I genuinely attempt to try something new every time I go. But, the one thing that must be ordered is their Ped Trod Grob: crispy fried duck with crispy greens and mouth-watering tangy tamarind sauce that I could eat with a spoon. This dish is my soul mate.
Add on a creamy curry, veg, or noods and some fluffy rice for the ultimate comfort meal. The Thai iced teas are the perfect sweet treat to add on to your meal – don’t miss out on those either!
Taco Justice
This sassy taco truck serves up some of the best tacos I’ve ever had. Put aside your thoughts of authentic Mexican tacos and embrace Taco Justice’s unique Asian fusion tacos. Try the heavenly Belly 2 Belly taco which is absolutely stuffed with the most flavourful slow-cooked pork I have ever tasted, and balanced with a crunchy slaw. Or the Green Bastard taco, which is piled high with deep fried avocado wedges – oh baby. If you are still hungry, get the Nachos Libre; a poutine-esque side dish of waffle fries, cheddar cheese, veg and two sauces.
Pro tip: grab about a million napkins because these tacos are messy, but so worth it.
Island Poké
Island Poké, where have you been all my life?? I am so happy that this Hawaiian specialty has made its way to Victoria, because it’s now one of my favourite new foods. I like to build my own bowl when I order poké, and I have it down to a science, but they have signature bowls to choose from as well. You start by choosing a rice or lettuce base, and from there, add a ton of different veg and whatever protein you like and you’ve got yourself a belly filling meal that won’t make you hate yourself afterward. I love the marinated salmon and tuna topped off with both the wasabi aioli and sesame sauce.
Unless you have a massive appetite, I would recommend the regular-sized bowl. Don’t worry, she still thicc as heck.
Standard Pizza
Standard Pizza is a beautiful combination of gourmet, wood-fired pizza at take-away prices. The crust is supple and chewy and the ingredients are fresh and high-quality. I am a red sauce lover, and Standard’s is simplistic perfection. After eating traditional pizza in Naples, I have a new appreciation for margherita pizza, and would highly recommend Standard’s.
Other amazing pies are the Spicy Hawaiian and the Meatlovers, but you really can’t go wrong with any pizza. My hubs and I have shamelessly polished off an entire pizza to ourselves in the past.
Pro tip: check out their Instagram or Facebook page for imaginative specials.
