We made the list!
It’s always nice for little old Victoria to get some recognition amongst the massive metropolitan areas of Canada when it comes to our culinary scene.
Greater Victoria is small but mighty, and the city also has to deal with some of the highest lease costs for restaurants to endure across the country
Greater Vancouver had a whopping 13 restaurants make Yelp’s top 100, and they also snagged the number one spot with Vancouver’s Northern Cafe and Grill.
Despite the odds not always being in our favour, we push through and find our success where we can and now, Yelp has noticed.
The foodie community on Yelp has celebrated several Victoria restaurants and these three spots made their Yelp’s Top Places to Eat in 2023:
#19 – Shirley Delicious Cafe
A gem that is nestled in the woods along Highway 14. This spot served up carefully crafted baked goods, brunch, lunch, coffee and other delicious treats to surfers, travellers and locals alike.
They are known for their sandwiches which are made on house made focaccia bread, made fresh every morning. The sandwiches are pressed and served panini style with local greens.
Their soups are also well known to people coming in out of the wet, cold Vancouver Island air looking for something to warm their bones.
Make sure to save some room for a Pain au Chocolat or a muffin to-go on the way out!
- Where: 2794 Sheringham Point Road, Shirley (past Sooke)
- When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Tuesdays
#31 – Fishhook
Fishhook has a small space on the corner of Blanshard and Fort Street that creates Indian fusion with a local twist.
They serve both take-away and do sit-down service and use top-notch local ingredients.
Fishhook has become known for their curried seafood chowder, open-faced tartine sandwiches, mainstay dishes and pickled vegetables.
The Belly is one menu item that stands out— it’s a salmon sandwich with sauerkraut that has the feeling of a seafood Rueben.
- Where: 805 Fort Street, Victoria
- When: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday
#55 – Jam Cafe
The most well-known lineup in Victoria is the Jam Cafe line.
Every weekend and many weekdays, the Herald Street cafe will fill up as soon as they open and an eager queue will form along their sidewalk or under their patio’s umbrella coverage in the rain.
The wait is well worth it though.
They’ve got bennies, Tex-Mex brunch items, hash, French toast, waffles, pancakes and more. As far as Yelp is concerned, Jam Cafe is the preeminent breakfast spot in Victoria and brunchers would likely agree.
You really can’t go wrong with an order of chilaquiles and bottomless Drumroaster drip coffee, which is roasted locally in Cobble Hill.
- Where: 542 Herald Street, Victoria
- When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., seven days a week
What is your favourite spot in Victoria that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments!
