It certainly has been an eventful year in Vancouver’s food scene, with many new restaurants that opened up around town. Plenty of critically-acclaimed eateries made headlines, were voted best new restaurant, or gained a stellar review.

The Straight's Gail Johnson already looked back at Vancouver’s best new restaurants of 2015, a compilation of mostly high-end dining choices.

But here’s a list of noteworthy food places that also opened this year—inclusive of restaurants opening additional locations, rebranding, or launching completely new cuisines. It won’t be too late to check them out even in 2016.

1. Ancora (1600 Howe Street)

Filling the space of the old C Restaurant, this new addition to Vancouver’s fine dining scene comes with a Peruvian twist to their menu. Glazed sable fish, Peruvian halibut, and lobster risotto are just teasers to what Ancora has to offer. 

2. Beach Bay Café (1193 Denman Street)

Formerly the home to Raincity Grill, this independent restaurant sits in the heart of English Bay and offers spectacular beach views (hence the name of the eatery). The kitchen whips up creative starters and ingredient-driven mains, put together with a West coast flare.

3. Big Rock Urban Brewery and Eatery (310 West 4^th Avenue)

Complete with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall in the lounge for a full view into their brewery, BRU Eatery serves dishes like an Asian poutine with IPA kimchi, and eggs bennies during brunch. There’s also a stage for live entertainment (as if there isn’t enough to see already).

4. Brix & Mortar (1138 Homer Street)

The dining hotspot and lounge merged as one, and introduced a new 5,200 square foot space that also includes a fine-dining room. Their new food and drink menu serves a modern Canadian cuisine mixed with hints of French, Italian, and Asian influences.

5. Cannibal Café (433 Granville Street)

Their popular milkshake and burgers prompted them to open a second location in downtown. The second Cannibal Café is bigger and brighter, with the installation of skylights and 98 seats. But if you’re feeling nostalgic, don’t fret… because they have the same posters from their first location on the walls.

6. Ève Café (2002 Park Royal South)

Nestled on the second floor of the new Simons store at Park Royal, this French-Canadian café satisfies the appetite of hungry shoppers. Even if you’re not a shopper, the trip down is worth it for featured items like pork bahn mi, chicken fricassee, and a decadent chocolate fondue. 

7. Fat Mao (217 East Georgia Street)

Celebrated Chef Angus An continues his food ventures, and his noodle bar that opened in Chinatown this year serves up traditional Asian bowls mixed with Thai, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Singaorean influences. You’ll be able to find Taiwanese beef noodles, Dan Dan noodles, cold sesame noodles, and a variety of side dishes. 

8. Freebird Chicken Shack (810 Quayside Drive)

And again, Chef Angus An just can’t get enough of opening doors to restaurants. This New Westminster joint serves two types of Asian-inspired chicken—rotisserie and Hainanese. Designed to be more of a casual food-counter than a sit-down restaurant, customers can easily pop in to pick up some free-range chicken to take home for dinner.

9. Giardino Restaurant (1328 Hornby Street)

Modelled after an Italian country home and garden, Umberto Menghi’s Tuscan eatery features favourites like pizzas, pastas, and seafood dishes. The restaurant seats about 160 people and showcases vaulted ceiling, wooden beams, and hand-painted artwork. There’s also an 80-seat hidden garden patio at the back.

10. Grapes & Soda (1541 West 6^th Avenue)

Here, you’ll be able to enjoy your glass of wine and munch on small plates that are designed to complement your drink. Known as Vancouver’s first natural wine bar, the 25-seat spot opened by renowned Chef David Gunawan serves dishes that are inspired by a farm-to-table mantra.  Check out their happy hour, where everything on the menu is half price. 

11. Kin Kao (903 Commercial Drive)

Always packed and buzzing, this tiny little modern Thai eatery on Commercial near Venables offers both classic and inventive dishes. Just like the restaurant’s design, the menu is simple and serves items like pad Thai, som tam (papaya salad), and chicken satay. They also offer deep-fried sour-cured pork ribs, a handle types of curry, and Thai-style congee. To top it off, they have East Van craft beer on tap.

12. Kinome Japanese Kitchen (2511 West Broadway)

One can argue that cold Japanese noodles are the perfect summer dish. At Kinome, Chef and owner Ryoma Matarai makes his own buckwheat noodles in his small but cozy restaurant. There are also different kinds of dipping sauces that accompany the soba. If you decide to visit this restaurant, be sure to call ahead to make reservations as seats are limited.

13. La Taqueria (1305 Welch Street, North Vancouver)

Serving authentic Mexican tacos for over 5 years, La Taqueria opened their third location (first in North Vancouver) at the beginning of the year. This restaurant and commissary kitchen produces corn tortillas for all of their locations. You’ll still be able to find their popular choices, like meat and veggie tacos.

14. MELU Juice and Health Bar (1110 West Pender Street)

Cold-pressed juice was a hit in Vancouver this year, and this is one of the shops that opened to quench the thirst of healthy Vancouverites. Their menu features juices, vegan nut mylks, and superfood smoothies (which can act as meal replacements for those too busy to eat). Other healthy food options are also available if you feel like you want more than liquid.

15. Nosh (101-510 West Georgia Street)

Another option for those busy white collared workers, the Glowbal Group opened up this grab and go eatery at TELUS Garden. The 1,600 square foot space has retractable glass doors and patio seating—definitely a winner in the atmosphere category. Nosh serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and happy hour… did I mention they also have an afternoon tea service?

16. Perch Restaurant (6133 University Boulevard) 

[Update: The Perch Restaurant is closed as of January 15, 2016].

You don’t usually find upscale cuisine at a university… students can’t usually even afford to eat out. But the Perch at UBC brings together high-quality ingredients and delicious dishes for a reasonable price. The most expensive item on the current menu is $24—grilled flank steak with bone-marrow croquette and charred onion. Don’t worry, this place isn’t restricted to university students.

17. Q Shi Q Japanese BBQ (159 West 4^th Avenue)

This restaurant is dedicated to meat on a stick. Vancouver has seen an izakaya boom as of late, and Q Shi Q is the place to check out if you’re all about BBQ skewers. Their menu offers a wide range of skewers, from beef to seafood to veggies. Small sides and desserts are also available at this 30-seat spot near Olympic Village.

18. Rain City Juicery (417 Front Street)

Yup, another one of these. This New Westminster juice shop makes 100-percent cold-pressed juices using organic ingredients. They offer a variety of rotating flavours, including beets, greens, and ginger beer juices. Rain City also makes a selection of light food items that are available for delivery.

19. Red Racer Restaurant (871 Beatty Street)

Decked out with a wooden-themed interior, this restaurant inside Central City Brewer is warm and welcoming. They serve BBQ specials including chicken, pork ribs, smoked sausages, and burgers. You’ll also find classic pub food like wings, chicken tenders, and a selection of sandwiches.

20. Sai Woo (160 East Pender Street)

Vancouver’s Chinatown keeps getting new additions to its food scene (this is good). Executive Chef Douglas Chang creates dishes mixed with influences from his Canadian, Chinese, and Jamaican roots. Baked sablefish with lotus root and burdock broth, wings glazed with soy and Coke, and house-made pasta with ham and peas are some of the featured items.

21. Tacofino (15 West Cordova Street)

Another popular Mexican restaurant in the city, Tacofino expanded early in the year and opened its flagship location in Blood Alley Square. The 3,000 square foot restaurant is dubbed the “Taco Bar” and offers more items than other locations. They also serve tequila and mescal-based cocktails, and local and Mexican beers.

22. Tartine Bread and Pies (1069 Davie Street)

Known for their coffee and dessert, this bakery, deli, and coffee shop opened a second location in the Davie Village. The food shop only seats a limited number of customers, but is perfect for those who need to grab something quick. Tartine offers tarts, meat pies, flatbreads, and dessert bars. If you have a sweet-tooth, check out their full list of pies on their website.

23. The Greek by Anatoli (1043 Mainland Street)

With a long history on the North Shore, this family-run Greek restaurant opened in Yaletown in the Spring. Unlike their first eatery, this new location offers modern twists on traditional Greek dishes. For instance, they serve a rabbit “popsicle”: a rabbit loin wrapped in double-smoked bacon and stuffed with house-made lamb sausage. Intriguing, right?

24. Trattoria (4501 Kingsway, Burnaby)

Another move for the expansion of Glowbal Restaurant Group, the chain restaurant moved into Burnaby and opened its 10^th property and the third Trattoria location. The 6,000 square foot dining space features 200 seats and a Woodstone pizza oven. There’s also a private dining space and a heated outdoor patio. Their menu continues to offer Italian-inspired plates like hand-made pizzas and pastas.

25. Village Bistro (1143 Davie Street)

After opening as Lips Resto in May, the stylish location closed for renovations in September and re-launched as Village Bistro in October. The eatery now focuses on serving Canadian comfort food, including brown butter gnocchi, grilled Sakura Farms pork tenderloin, and a variety of sandwiches and burgers.