If you’re in downtown Vancouver and looking for a cheap bite to eat, here are 11 spots I regularly seek out at lunchtime. Every dish I list here is under $20, and most are under $10.
Grab-and-go burrito
Mighty Bowl: 108 W. Eighth St.;
360-433-9925
Mighty Bowl offers a variety of grab-and-go burritos priced between $4 and $6. Options for fillings include bean and cheese, chicken, and soy curls. I had the soy-curl version of this tasty handheld treat and enjoyed the crunchiness and chew of the filling.
You can grab a burrito from the cold case cold or ask for a hot one at the register. I don’t think I’ve ever had a burrito from Mighty Bowl. I tend to stick to their bowls, but rolling their flavorful beans, rice and salsa into a tortilla elevates all these ingredients.
Sandwich and cookie
Bleu Door Express: 2411 Main St.,
360-693-2538
The daily selection of sandwiches at Bleu Door’s Express Window include choice of baguette, croissant or focaccia. For $16, you get both the sandwich and a cookie; another $1 will get you a side salad, too. I recently tried the baguette sandwich with ham, capocollo, salami, provolone, arugula, tomato, pickled onions and basil aioli. It’s as if owner Bonnie Brasure was receiving my telepathic signal for a lunch like the simple but exquisite ham-and-cheese sandwiches I ate in Paris or the ham, cheese and cornichon one I picked up at the ubiquitous Pret A Manger in London. Although it was more complex than just ham and cheese, the high quality of the bread, meat, cheese and other fillings reminded me of their European counterparts.
Soup
OMW Market: 207 E. McLoughlin Blvd.; 360-859-3011
Every week, OMW Market posts its soup list with one selection per day ($7-$11 with housemade bread or crackers). I often plan my lunches around getting my favorites — African peanut with chicken, avgolemono (Greek lemon chicken), or French onion. One time, I stopped by without checking the schedule and was surprised by a satisfying vegetarian soup with chickpeas and gnocchi. Their housemade bread and crackers make excellent dippers.
Deli sandwich
La Bottega: 1905 Main St.;
360-571-5010
This Vancouver favorite recently changed ownership. Would the sandwiches still be top tier? I tried the deli special sandwich ($15) with capocollo, soppressata, fresh mozzarella, Calabrian aioli, lettuce, tomato, peperoncino, fresh basil, Italian vinaigrette on ciabatta bread. It’s a well-stacked mix of flavors and textures that comes with excellent housemade potato chips. The owners may have changed, but the deli sandwich was the same high-quality offering I expect from La Bottega.
Red Curry with Tofu
Thai 4 U: 1919 Main St.,
360-952-2667
This food truck behind Doomsday Brewing stands out among Vancouver’s many Thai restaurants for its fresh ingredients at a good price. The red curry with tofu ($13.50) comes as a flavorful mix of aromatics, spices and coconut milk served with a side of steamed jasmine rice.
Syrup Trap: 1104 Main St., Suite 111; 360-836-8321
Syrup Trap specializes in made-to-order overnight-rise Liège waffles filled with Belgian pearl sugar that caramelizes in the waffle maker. The Original ($5.75) is dusted with powdered sugar and placed in a bag — the perfect sweet treat to grab while wandering downtown.
Chili dog
The Wiener Wagon, 1199 Main St.
When thieves took this food cart for a joyride and damaged it, the community sprung into action to get this longtime local favorite back to serving hot dogs, mild Polish sausage and hot links with an array of toppings. My favorite is the chili dog ($5.75) with shredded cheddar, onions, jalapenos and onions. But the cart serves many variations — customized hot dogs and sausages with classic toppings such as chili, mustard and relish as well as some unusual choices including Fritos, pineapple, mushrooms and tomatoes. These simple offerings never go out of style.
Nikki’s Chickpeas
Slow Fox: 108 E. Seventh St.;
360-721-0634
Calling Slow Fox just a chili place is an understatement. Yes, you must try the Cincinnati 5-Way Chili and Bootsy’s Chili Dog, but chef and owner Derek Saner’s veggie-forward offerings like salads and Louie’s Lentils with tomato, peppers, yam and kale are unexpected treasures. Nikki’s Chickpeas ($9), an occasional offering not on the regular menu, is one of my favorites. It has tender chickpeas cooked in tomato-based sauce with warmth and a bit of fire from a secret spice mix. The dish comes sprinkled with bits of fresh cilantro and grilled pita bread. Get there before Slow Fox permanently closes on Sept. 7.
Beans and Cheese Burrito
El Burrito Mojado: 808 Harney St., 360-845-6054
This easy to miss gem around the corner from The Columbian serves a long menu of Mexican classics at very nice prices. Many items could make this list, but it’s the Beans and Cheese Burrito ($6.75) that won me over. It’s a perfect example of how a few ingredients (in this case, tender pinto beans with a bit of pot liquor, cheddar cheese and a flour tortilla) put together the right way can be divine. I like to load mine with the restaurant’s hot red salsa.
Cheesy Roll Ups
Razo’s Tacos: Vancouver Farmers Market, 605 Esther St.,
360-518-2253
At the Vancouver Farmers Market, I like to get Cheesy Roll Ups (three for $8) from Razo’s Tacos. Rolled corn tortillas from Portland-based Three Sisters Nixtamal are filled with Oaxaca cheese and queso fresco with choice of pork, chicken or grilled vegetables, as well as onion and cilantro, all topped with more queso. I usually pick the grilled veggies because Razo’s Tacos sources produce from farmers at the market.
Dan Bing
Small Eats: Vancouver Farmers Market, 605 Esther St.,
360-440-0652
Dan Bing ($12) makes the perfect farmers market breakfast or lunch. It’s a Taiwanese scallion egg crepe rolled around pork or vegetarian floss (crunchy threads of tasty proteins) and drizzled with a tangy but slightly sweet soy glaze. I alternate between the pork and vegetarian floss. Small Eats also offers a rotating selection of steamed bao. Fillings include pork, pork rib, beef mapo tofu, vanilla custard and chocolate ($4 each). The menu also includes flaky layered garlic scape pancake ($8). If I’m really hungry, I grab a steamed bao or two to eat while waiting for the rest of my order.
